Amid the noise ahead of our Champions League duties the most important news in European football went largely below radar. Angel Maria Villar Llona pulled out of the race to become Uefa president ahead of next week’s election. This leaves former Ajax chief, Michael van Praag and Slovenian FA president, Aleksander Ceferin, left in the race.
This is good news. The big Spanish clubs have been prime movers in clawing as much power for Europe’s richest leagues, their cause would have been boosted if Villar Llona was elected. By contrast, van Praag’s Ajax heritage reflects those marginalised by smaller TV deals, including Celtic.
We don’t want an inextricable slide towards a Champions League where meritocracy is replaced by the rich looking after themselves. This is the desire of rich clubs in Spain and Germany, who worry about the commercial drift towards the FA Premier League.
Instead, regionalisation of Europe’s leagues is a far better option, even for the Spanish, who if they want to earn commercial deals comparable to the English and Welsh league should team up with Portugal and France.
Every month I’m asked by an 11-year-old, “Will Celtic win the Champions League in my lifetime?” If we want to be champions of Europe again we need to end the national league structure which has disenfranchised more than half of the continent already, including many former powers in the game.
News that Leonel Messi has returned to light training after injury means he is almost certain to start against Celtic on Tuesday. His base fitness and lifestyle is such that a few days training is all that he’ll need to be match ready.
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CORKCELT on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 9:47 PM
Yea me too.
Too much Impetus on Man City
ANGELGABRIEL on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 5:40 PM
When the new version of Rangers defeated us at Hampden , they beat us in a penalty shoot out.
They had the better possession stats.
Meanwhile we , despite playing crap still managed 33 shots during the 120 minutes.
They conjured up 14.
The problem was only hitting the target 12 times from our 33. Including missing a proverbial sitter.
History is , I hope, unlikely to repeat itself.
The stats above are all from my dodgy & mentally scared memory from watching it in the boozer.
…………………………………………………….
Pretty much my recollection too……..maybe it was caused by the boozers?
Nah!
I remember having a wee moan at half time regarding Johansen and GMS’s performances…..or rather…..the complete lack of them.
Brown(struggling with injury) and Bitton were not much better but at least they were involved.
After Erik’s introduction i felt they had no threat and it was only a matter of time before we finally showed a little composure to stick one of our shots into the back of the net.
So in the aftermath i took a bit of solace from the fact that our midfield was non existent, yet we still managed to have so many efforts and with a little composure would have actually strolled it.
Despite it being a very bad day at the office, it took the lottery of penalties to actually decide it.
On Saturday in Paradise we will be a completely different side.
Brendan seems to have instilled our players with much more confidence, gave them more freedom to improvise and generally just let them off the leash, but has also shown how switched on he is tactically to change what needs to be changed to get the result so personally……..i cannae wait for OUR payback.
May it be hard and merciless.
Shoot on sight, shoot from distance. All corners whipped in right under the bar.
Fuderingham is their weakness, exploit it.
HH
Andy struggling in the fourth set. C’mon son.
Twentyfirst
I pick them up tomorow. Have two but if you are only looking for only then fine. Will get rid of other
BEATBHOY on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 9:52 PM
I prefer Artificial.
Only one…
Andy having a Murray
MWD
ADI_DASLER on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 9:59 PM
Only one…
Is that a space for Saturday? If so, where?
FAC the Act
KTF
https://justbhoy.wordpress.com/2016/09/07/not-buying-it/
Vfr800a8
If he only needs one tkt
Vfr800a8
I wont know until tmorro..
But it wont be huns section …..thats for sure..
ADI_DASLER what section of the ground ?
BBN
Ok. Just saw your last post.
FAC the Act
KTF
Murray does am Andy
MWD
Torontony
I am now worried if you are friends with those 3 musketeers ( Lennybhoy, MWD and ACGR) oh and add that BT fhella :-)))
Almore, we actually drove by Kilbride the other day, just mentioned to Brother in Law, who was totally unaware of that, time permits will pop in to visit
Every day is a school day :-))
Hail Hail
CorkCelt: I have to be honest, I’m sick of it too. It’s all over the newspapers, the radio stations and the TV. Even social media is full of it. It’s the talking point in our staff room and colleagues placing all sorts of bets. ‘Biggest Derby in the world’ they say. ‘Fans at war’ they say. Bragging rights at stake, past glories resurrected and history & traditions being promoted. Speculation, misinformation and hyperbole will be the order for the next few days. So, I’m going to make a bold prediction:
Man. City will win it easily.
Oldtim
330 + odd steps to top of that big ornament :-)
Auroraborealis79
Certainly no’ real, anyway!
Andy looking like a big droopy moody mumbling teenager now. Mishikori ripping him a new one.
MWD
MIKE IN TORONTO on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 9:01 PM
Almore … sorry to eavesdrop .. but that is interesting. I hadn’t heard of Kilbride. will need to give it a look one day.
*I worked in traffic engineering for years and one of the tasks was inspector when the roads were getting line painted.
It’s a pretty boring job but for liability reasons an employee from the municipality has to be there.
The trucks travel very very slow so there’s not a cemetery in the area that I don’t know of as I gazed out of the window.
About 60/70 kms north of Toronto in a place called Caledon East is the oldest Catholic church in what was once orange Ontario.
A stroll through the graveyard identifies the Irish names of the original settlers. Among them is a lad from Dumbarton whose brother once played for the bhoys.
Cowiebhoy: Hope you get a chance to visit it.
Aurora: You beat me to it. Great minds think alike…….
Long time lurker occasional poster was just wondering if anyone knows of anywhere showing Saturday’s game in chicago
Moonbeams I’ll bet a cyber pint on Andy:)
Almore
Ha ha! Well disguised.
ADI_DASLER ping me an e-mail at vfr800a8@me.com to let me know; if the other guy does the same, I can forward his email address to you.
FAC the Act
KTF
Tontine Tim: Thanks for that info. Will keep it in mind for my next visit. I have a relative in Kilbride which is how I came across the graveyard.
SIPSINI
you’re on.
MWD
SIPSINI
No wait! :-)
MWD
Unusually for me, I have to go to work tomorrow so I’m off to mo leaba.
Oíche mhaith & Coinnígí an creideamh (KTF)
Funny how daft things can brighten up the working day.
Got a wee laugh today while out n about on work duties.
Was being ushered around a particular establishment by a young sevconian. He is a nice lad and certainly not a hun.
We have talked about the fitba a few times and he is open and honest about it all…….doesn’t even seem to wear blue tinted specs.
Anyway…….so as im being taken into the department i needed to get to there were a few words exchanged between my escort and the guys on the reception in that area.
When we returned after completing my task…….Zadok suddenly started piping out loudly from the reception desk and i kid you not……..the young sevconian asked……..what is that?!
Much to the mirth of the bhoys at the reception who responded………’Exactly’
Guess you had to be there.
Have fun wae a hun ;)
Yip Andy. Agreed. You are an idiot.
SIPSINI he’s a lost cause.
MWD
This game on saturday
I am looking forward to it to be honest.
I dont care,I know who they are and where they came from and to me it doesnt matter what they call themselves.
The media bullsh**t about …” the return of etc etc” …. ” old firm rivalry renewed ” and ” Rangers looking for a 55th title” is annoying .but thats all it is,
If Ibrox was sold and developed for houses and The New Rangers shared a ground with Airdrie and everyone acknowledged they were a new club and they somehow made their way up the divisions and came to Celtic Park for a league game I would enjoy seeing them getting thumped.
And I will enjoy watching them getting thumped on Saturday.
Then I look forward to the new team going bust trying to keep up…just like their predecessors
More voltage Igor…shrieks Mr King Frankenstein…
Moonbeams…
I blame that butterfly ;)
SIPSINI
I’m pretty sure Andy probably will :-)
MWD
Adi Dasler
One would be great mate. Can you tell me how to access Pauls e-mail ? Cheers mate HH