Champions League sections are never easy so we are as well having one which is unequivocally difficult on paper. Despite finishing second from pot 4 in their group last season (a remarkable achievement), Celtic spent the vast majority of their time in the tournament under pressure. They had possession less than their opponents in all six group games, so although we were successful in the group stage, there should be no doubt as the the size of the challenge.
Conversely, we looked Juventus in the eye, which, in retrospect, could be regarded as over ambitious.
When Martin O’Neill’s Celtic drew Barcelona and Milan in the group section of the Champions League the manager was clearly exasperated at the apparently preposterous task. It was Martin’s last throw in the competition and he was anxious to break into the knockout stage for the first time.
The mood music seems different this time. Neil Lennon has been to the knockout stage already so the pressure to breakthrough is not there. Celtic can take one game at a time without the burden of having to prove themselves in this competition. They are now a part of this league, they might not win it, but they can compete with anyone.
We will be second favourites for each game, which is surely the way we would all prefer it to be. Despite what happened last year, even Barca will expect to comfortably overcome Celtic. Surely we can’t be as organised again?
Don’t bet against it.
STV painted an interest picture of the SFA this morning. The Association declined advice from Uefa to come into line with most of Europe (including England, crucially for many Scottish clubs) and extend the transfer window until the first business day of the week.
Doing so, however, would make a mockery of their suspension of Rangers International’s transfer embargo, which expires on 31 August. To accept Uefa’s advice would draw attention to their oversight in not noticing that August ends on a weekend.
We all know this to be the case, but the Association would rather ignore their mistake than help out member clubs and draw attention to it.
Even Jim Farry checked the calendar.
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TET
I’d say we are trying to ‘build back’ to a position of strength…
B11OYS
bournesouprecipe@gmail.com
B11OYS
17:50 on 30 August, 2013
Guys, does anyone know how i make the Champ League sound file into the ringtone on iphone 5?
not got a clue, have saved it on my mac but not on phone.
You can buy it in itunes…seen it as a ring tone a couple of days ago!!
Awe Naw
I cannot accurately interpret your first paragraph.
In response to your second :-
When Celtic paid Henrik his big contract (and he was worth every penny), Sutton, Hartson and the rest wanted an upgrade on their terms. Maybe Vic would have been worth it too but I doubt many of us rate him as valuable as Henrik.
A box office player is not just a one-off cost. It produces wage inflation in the whole squad.
Vic was going sooner or later. This way we got £12m out of it, we may have got less if we waited and his contract ran down. Your prediction carries the assumption that Vic was willing to resign.
Starry Plough
Email sent :))
Till later all
Sevco shares flying today. Big volume too. Do the Ramsdens winners go into next year’s CL?
SFTB
The sqaud delivered and no debate about it. Therefore they should be rewarded as much as …possibly more than other non footballing employees …why the descrepancy ?
HH
Now, I’m only a snottery wee amadan, but I can’t figure why we haven’t paid the (supposed) asking fee for Finnbogason, goin on his goal/game ratio.
Also puzzled why Cardiff seem to be the only other club seriously looking at him, I’d have thought EPL teams would have been all over it… what am I missing, apart from the obvious?
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
17:46 on
30 August, 2013
Sorry to interupt your discussion with SFTB but Celtic made Victor Wanyama an improved contract offer last season. His genius agent advised him that it would be better to refuse this offer as QPR were sniffing around at the time. When this came to nothing he then spent another year on the same salary, just what could Celtic have offered him that would have satisfied him and kept the other first team squad members from not reaching for their agents number to demand the same. The player, and his agent did not want to stay in Glasgow.
When the board mess up I have no problem with criticism but this time I cannot see how they were at fault.
Apologies again for interupting
Istanbulcelt Oscar’s Green & White Army
Wow – what a story. Will definitely try and catch the programme.
Sorry Awe Naw
The details might be too fine and lengthy to make much sense just now, especially as ma tea is oot.
For a very simplified response, I’d say that “rewarded as much as or more than non-football employees”, I’d say yes. Peter Lawell is overpaid and over-bonused, as are, to my mind, every CEO and manager who earned obscene salaries in the wake of the Lee Iaccoca managerial cult.
However, removing Peter’s pay and bonuses, and he is the only one who earns more than our players I’d assume, will not make the difference between keeping a player here on £20k a week (an arbitrary figure) when double that is available from clubs with TV finance enhancements. Peter’s money would spread quite thin through this squad.
I’ll catch your updates later
Just in to say…
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….PFayr supports WeeOscar
11:31 on 30 August, 2013
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Agreed about – Efe M8.
Indeed, if Efe is allowed to stay in his rightful position of CH and is given the chance to develop a partnership then I feel that Efe’s cementation in the defence is – THEE – key to Cellic’s solidity and the restructuring of the spine of the team. My only fear is that the manager will move Efe to RB or, MF like he did last season and didny give big ‘ricey’ the opportunity to settle properly. imo
HH
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Re: Bily McNeill – I remember listening to Davie Provan on SSB one day when, DP was doing a bit of ‘hunskelping’ of BFSDJ. Anyway, BM’s name was drawn into the discussion
when DP popped in with – “….ah, Mr McNeill – now we’re talking about the most decorated man in the history of Scottish Football.”
Well said Davie Provan.
Oh, and thanks Mr McNeill for bringing Murdo Macleod to the Cellic – Murdo’s my all-time favorit Celt. Murdo isny the best player that I’ve seen in the hoops – that was KK – but Murdo put more intp a Cellic jersey than anyone I’ve seen.imo
HH
Sftb the emoticon for venom is probably the wee red angry face!
I believe that shalke were genuinely worried about leaving themselves short and that’s why they hung on. As you say we on the other hand took t he money. I believe that to be a bad decision ( we got away with it though). I think the contrasting decisions says a lot about what’s viewed as a priority at either club. I also believe that the slavish prioritisation of money often leads to bad consequences.
Overall our strategy is right – but we also need to care more about football and sometimes be prepared to be flexible.
As for the poster who praised minty – it wasn’t me was it????
intp=into
typo
gremlins
Cheers to ACGR for CL ringtone forwarded to several other tims – max anger from zombies @ work today 8)
Some one posted earlier,that the family of Lee Rigby will be at Ipox tommorow at the invitation of Sevco.
I also know there will be a Lee Rigby flag waving ceremony at half time.(you cant pick your in laws)
What is it with this mob.
Nothing against the Rigby family or Lee Rigby himself (god rest his soul)
But did any of the football clubs in England do this ?
This love in with the british army,but not paying their taxes
deffinately embarrassing.
Are we stronger at the end of this transfer window?- well we have lost 3 players who didnt want to play for us- at least one of whom seemed to have made his mind up on this and downed tools half way through last season. We have brought in replacements in all of the positions vacated- and as for whether the new guys compare with the old guys- we need to wait and see- just like we would with any other players, so only time will tell
JimmyQuinnsBits
18:00 on
30 August, 2013
Now, I’m only a snottery wee amadan, but I can’t figure why we haven’t paid the (supposed) asking fee for Finnbogason, goin on his goal/game ratio.
Also puzzled why Cardiff seem to be the only other club seriously looking at him, I’d have thought EPL teams would have been all over it… what am I missing, apart from the obvious?
Like the rest of us, you’re missing all the pertinent information mate! He sounds like a good player. I have no idea what he’s worth. I have no idea what, if any, negotiations etc. were being had. Fact is, we usually are not privy to enough information to make a rational judgement in what is effectively a closed and private negotiation. Hence the reason for all the irrational gnashing and wailing about how Celtic have failed. Fall all I know Celtic have offered the asking price. For all I know they haven’t.
Its not like Sevco to manipulate military deaths for their own purposes?- That celebration of war last remembrance day was almost tasteful- wasnt it?
Raman – Green tie ?
Hmmm
we want to be in the champion’s league as well – greets super swally on stv – bwaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhaaaaaaa
Doddsy saying Lubo reminded him of Tugay. Honestly!
JimmyQuinnsBits, Napoli were interested in young Alfi, but were told that they had to pay a 7 figure sum, so backed off. Heerenveen are now talking about keeping him, which I don’t believe – especially since he is now injured.
I suspect that they have played a bad hand. They need the money, they are broke. They have scared everyone away by asking too much, and one of the more serious suitors (us – I assume!) won’t be able to sign him after tonight. So that seems to leave Cardiff. By the laws of supply and demand, if the demand is only from one club then Heerenveen won’t get as much for him as they think.
Its hard not to listen to SSB for entertainment value.
However the last caller of a blue hue was green with envy and hurting so much my radio started bleeding.
Its the side servings of schadenfreude that make qualifying even more tasty.
istanbulcelt oscar’s green & white army
Thanks for your very important post about Algeria. I run an international occupational health business and we do a lot of work for a client at the El Merck site which is similar to the site which was attacked.
It emphsised just how exposed these people were and how difficult it was to get them help.
Some of our clients cannot leave their camp or hotel without bodyguards and a chauffeur due to local dangers.
It will not be pleasant viewing but I expect it will be compulsive. Saturday night is not really the best time for it so I will record and watch when I can watch it properly.
God bless the people who work in these conditions and their families who have to live through so many uncertainties.
Big Nan
17:08 on 30 August, 2013
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Not only was Jimmy Walsh one of the greatest players I ever watched at Celtic Park.
He was also a guy I travelled to Filbert St. to pay good cash money to see when he first went to Leicester.
Jimmy was a SPECIAL footballer.
God bless him.
up_over_goal
18:03 on 30 August, 2013
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah if everything comes out that i have been told, then it should be captivating.
Auldheid
18:20 on
30 August, 2013
Its hard not to listen to SSB for entertainment value.
However the last caller of a blue hue was green with envy and hurting so much my radio started bleeding.
Its the side servings of schadenfreude that make qualifying even more tasty.
Oh you are awful! But I like you…
Pukki passed medical. Finally a STRIKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KLV
No quiz tonight, Bhoys as at Batman (formerly Bundoran) Bhoy’s 40th :-). I know, I know, he forgot to count the years at primary school :-):-)
HH
CRC
So, Biton has signed on and Pikku is close to signing…….excellent ….!!!!
So is it Sally the tim Magnusson- or STV Sevco news?
CRC,
Are you going as Robin?
NatKnow, Apricale,
cheers…. I know the problem is that, as ever, we don’t hear whats going on in the background. That’s the the only game for the fan though; conjecture. I know stats can mislead, but they’re mighty impressive, albeit for lesser know teams (we wouldn’t be looking otherwise)
Hrvatski Jim
18:22 on 30 August, 2013
!!!!!!!!!!!
Agree, Saturday night is a bad time to air the show.
Like some of your clients, when i leave the camp i would get a military escort usually 2 4×4’s with 4 soldiers in each armed to the teeth.
All the best Jim! H H
rothbhoy
17:24 on
30 August, 2013
Thought we were supposed to be in for Michael Ciani (French central defender) from Lazio.
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pas beaucoup de gens savent que
Bada Bing
If you are around, you need to submit your 2 predictions for Sunday’s game..
HH
CRC
Huv they found swally’s war chest… Big jump in the share price