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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Hearing via twitter another two defenders may arrive – one a left back.
Pauloantony
Even if watt is loaned out still can’t see us bringing in a forward mate.
Personally I would hold on to watt.. Am sure Lenny will reveal all in the next few hours! HH.
TBB I asked.for Pirlo
Pps
Get Adam Matthews signed up long long long term :)))
FFM/morrissey
You both don’t like my posts ah well next time after this post just troll past if it bothers you that much, oh and by the way morrissey, “tony is daft as a brush” hahaha that comes from a guy who jumps out aeroplanes,? Aye good wan.
TBB
I’ve come to expect that our need for a LB will continue to be ignored ……
I like Izzy …but …he’s weak defensively …
How about Efe in midfield ?
He could be a VW replacement and I’m not saying that cos he’s African, btw.
unew mike
It’s not asking toooooo much, is it :¬)
TMcL
is that a team or a club ?
rc @10.53
Nice post.
Wednesday was up there with the best, and it’s a Celtic thing to overturn a 0-2 euro deficit, -now with four out of five successes.
Not going near the ticket office on foot.
EK Boy
Big Fraser is by far our best goalkeeper in just about living memory ……
You obviously never saw Ronnie Simpson!
Petethebeat
I take it you didn’t see his cameo in Aberdeen
Izzy for Everton I was told during the week
I laughed but you never know
Teemu looks the part: fast, good touch and an eye for goal. He’s been played out of position whenever he’s got a game, so he arrives with something to prove. It sounds like a familiar Celtic story and it’ll do me.
Tom McLaughlin
Nice One!!!!!
Outside celtic park. . They just bbrought teemu out and I was first to shake his hand and get a pic with him
I met gary hooper the day he arrived at cp… shook his hand as he got out the car
Omen ?
Thats some way to find out Ive been sacked from the CQN coupon…
PFayr supports wee oscar 10:53
Efe with confidence is a fine player, I think That Juve game early in his time at the club, Commons publically slating him and settling into a new country took its toll, seemed to have his confidence back on Wednesday.
EN
PFayr – forgot that about Aberdeen – old age.
Like Victor, he does have good technique for a big guy though. Plus he is quick.
Anyway, grass cutting beckons.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=oI8GZWRcUlA
Pukki song
The GB will have fun with this; they might even win Eurovision.
PukkimaniaCSC
PFayr
Yip, tidy player, but we lose too many goals from his area of the box. It’s the default strategy now for any team we face – draw out the centre backs and cross to the back post, 6 yard line.
TBJ
Prove it
Doubting Thomas CSC
Left back and hopefully alfie, great window.
Pukki is more a creative link airtime similar to Andy Thom, reckon Hooper replacement still to come
We need cover at LB that’s for sure but we still need a Goal Scorer…Pukki has been brought in and good luck to him but he is not a Goal Scorer in my opinion.
Buy a left back and bring in a forward on loan.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
telbhoy67
“just about” was the clue , I remember as a wee Bhoy Ronnie Simpson playing for Celtic – other than Artur ( who pfayr flagged up) there are very few stand-out custodians over the last 40 odd years.
HH
Soal
Pic on fb
Conversation with a nice lady colleague on Thursday morning who doesn’t support any ‘team’ in particular, –
nice lady; “Take it you were at the game last night”
me; “yes”
nice lady; “Talk about luck”
me; “pardon”
nice lady; “What is that Samaras like, – that hair is a mess” – “What a state”
me; “What about Scott Brown his is nice and short – don’t you like him either?”
nice lady: ” He’s just a thug ”
CaughtInATrap CSC
TBB point being is that I think.next year is too late for Pirlo
Also agree with your previous points about naka maloney and commons
We need more creativity than commons
But I also think a midfield genius will bring the best out or rogic and mcgeough
PFayr Ouch I suspect Tom,s remark was close to the bone , lighten up man. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Pukki will be our last signing of the transfer window.
Hateley: “John Greig walking the corridors is like a new signing.”
The bhoy biton looks a good player
But it looks like Neil won’t get his proven goalscorer :(
Indeed we have injected some speedy forwards but none of them have been goal scores
I say again pukki 30 goals in 6 years in Finland Spain and Germany. Indeed with shalke, he was played out if position and not much opportunity , however in Finland he was played as a striker and only delivered occasionally Indeed a project to be played beside our goalscorer. But we don’t have one
Hoping Pukki turns out how I think he can – he seems like one with all the attributes and if he (or someone at Celtic – not confident of our coaching though) can put it all together then he could be something special.
Doesn’t really make sense that they’ve doubled their money (going by reports) even though he didn’t really feature… wish we could do that with our bench warmers.
I mean, when we’re £35m in debt that £1m could be dangerous!
In all seriousness, as much as the debt story that’s doing the rounds is laughable I don’t think we should fall into the trap of ignoring it like they did – we should look into these things even if it is to dismiss/explain them. Anyone know the true story?
Ernie Lynch
10.50
I agree. It’s a generational thing. Too much, too soon, too easy for a lot of them
Ekbhoy
I’d only sell FF if we have someone lined up
I continue to get the impression that FF wants to move elsewhere
I find him very ponderous at times ….he has not started the season well ….
Tom McLaughlin
10:58 on 31 August, 2013
‘I remember Billy Connolly talking about some jobsworth constantly moaning about his lot and Billy telling him, “Why don’t you get a job you like?”’
####
When you think about it, that quip doesn’t reflect particularly well on him.
It kind of suggests he’s maybe a wee bit out of touch with the day to day reality of how ordinary people live.
Not everyone can do what he did. They might not have the talent nor the ruthless ambition.Why, he even got an invite to a royal wedding, and it doesn’t get much better than that..
I think we may well get a surprise and Celtic will sign another two players in this transfer window one of them will be on loan.We havnt got long to wait an see 11pm tonight the door slams shut.H.H.
TBJ
‘Im away to take that Egg of my face
LOL
Enjoy
Malone bhoy
Just back from holiday … What is this debt story ?