Celtic Diary Friday August 29: A Different Adventure…

The draw for the Europa League group stages takes place at noon today in Monaco. Whilst it’s certainly the poorer of the two european tournaments to be involved in, at least we are guaranteed European football until Christmas.

How much fun it will be is another question, however.

On the plus side there will be a chance to visit and play a different set of teams from the usual faces. no Barcelona, no Benfica and so on. Instead, celtic will face one team from pot one, one from pot three, and one from pot four;

Any excuse, honestly.

It doesn’t look any less difficult than the Champions League, does it ?

Instead of speculating about who we might get, its worth noting that theres potentially some fantastic trips in there. Warm, friendly  places with sunshine.

And Liverpool as well.

We’re stuck with it, so we might as well enjoy it.

Oh, and a big well done to the Legia Warsaw fans who presented this banner at their Europa qualifier last night;

Such attention to detail, which , ironically , a lack of which is what caused them to be in the qualifier in the first place.

By the time the group stages are over, we’ll have a fair idea of where our club is going. We’ll know whether theres any hope for Ronny and Jonny, whether the new players are any good, and if those already there have managed to adapt.

So no more moaning until at least then.

( The author reserves the right to change his mind as soon as we get horsed by some club whose name is worth more in scrabble than its players are on the open market. )

Eurosport 2 is covering the draw, and who knows, we might actually end up looking forward to the games.

Peter Lawwell will speak to the nation on Radio Clyde tonight, and hopefully we will get some sort of clarity about his plans for moving the club forward, at least to the position we were in a couple of years ago.

Lets give him a chance. We might be happy with what he says.

Hang on, lets ask him. You know, like a sneak preview….

“Peter, are you going to make us feel a little more confident about how the club is being run after you say your piece tonight ? ”

Oh.

Another new signing has rolled into town, well, loan signing, and he can’t wait to get started, even though it appears the downsizing means he has to provide his own shorts.

Wakaso Mubarak is here, on a year long loan from Rubin Kazan. And he’s ready to make a name for himself.

Well, anything has to be better than Wakaso, which is what a very drunk man called me once, when he couldn’t get his words out properly.

“At the last World Cup I was with Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan, Kevin Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari.

“It was good to be with such people because you learn a lot from them. I believe I can make it as big as them.

“I took advice from some of them to come here. They told me Celtic is a great team with a fantastic history, that I can make it big here so I said ‘okay’.

‘I am very happy to be here,I will bring glory and victory to Celtic.

“In my mind I won’t be here for only one season. I know I will make it big and stay with Celtic for a long time.” 

‘I wanted Celtic to be in the Champions League but unfortunately they couldn’t make it – that is part of the game.

‘We have the Europa League to face and that is like the Champions League, so we need to manage that.

‘It is my ambition to excite the Celtic fans. I want to make it big here and help Celtic be very successful.

‘The history of Celtic boosts my morale and gives me even more motivation to do well.

‘The players who have passed through here also excite me.

‘I want to make history for my country and for the team because I am the first Ghanaian to play for Celtic and I have to set an example for the upcoming ones. I need to make history for the team, for my nation and for myself.’ 

‘I’ve learned a lot and it always makes me feel I can make it great,  to be great you have to work hard and I’m ready to do it.

‘I don’t really know much about Scottish football but I know a little about Celtic because I have been watching Celtic since I was young and I saw the amazing supporters they have here. And the kind of players that pass through here makes me feel and see that Celtic is a great team to be at.

‘I’m here to build my career up again like I was doing in Spain and to help the team.’

He certainly seems confident, and thankfully he’s been watching Sportscene on the iplayer so he knows all about us…

And more than happy to get away from Russia, where he hinted that racism was a bit of a problem.

“I can’t talk about racism but for me it was difficult. The weather in Russia and the people, the language, it was hard for me. The football and my off-field life wasn’t bad.

“But each and every place has its differences. It wasn’t bad but it also didn’t go as I had wanted. That’s why I decided to switch.” 

Russia is not noted for its tolerance, as this chap found out at the airport;

 Striker Stefan Scepovic moved closer to a move to Celtic yesterday-a permanent one at that- and he will have a medical in France ( no, I don’t know why either ) and could be here in time to face Dundee at the weekend. Once he goes to Dens Park, action will be needed to make sure he doesn’t make a break for the airport at full time.

There are other names being bandied about as Celtic look to add to their under strength 40 strong squad, but surely this guys worth a look, if we are economising ? He can do everything;

Defender Cosmin Moti saved two shootout penalties to send Bulgarian side Ludogorets into the group stage of the Champions League for the first time.

The centre-half, 29, went in goal after keeper Vladislav Stoyanov was sent off in the final minute of extra time.

In an an incredible finale to the tie with Romanian champions Steaua Bucharest, Moti scored the first spot-kick and then saved two penalties. 

Ludogorets went into the draw and will face Liverpool, amongst others. In case you hadn’t heard of them before in the group stages, they are from Merseyside, in England.

 With three days of the transfer window left, those players who want out will be frantically hoping their agents can fix them up with someone who will further their careers at the top level.

 Or get them more money and a nice signing on fee.

 Virgil van Dijk wants to be at the highest level, so Lawwell has proved he has a sense of humour by offering him to Newcastle. Or so they say, anyway…

 the Chronicle (Mark Douglas) is reporting today that Virgil van Dijk was offered to Newcastle twice last week, so if that is true we suppose the Dutchman could be a good possibility.

That’ll teach him.

 Kris Commons ios the subject of specualtion as well, with a host of lower EPL sides interested. However, Lisa Hague, or Mrs Kris Commons , as she is almost never called, said, on twitter;

Lisa Hague @a_rose1dresses · Aug 28

On Tuesday we asked a question regarding Ronnie Simpson, and what he did in a European Cup Final. As most of you remembered, he famously back heeled the ball away from an onrushing Italian forward….

 Today, identify this former Celt, and try not to gloat about the story behind the picture…