Later today, the Europa league qualifier is live on BBC Scotland, and that can’t be bad.
You can always turn the sound down.
Celts face Jablonec, of Czechia, which is what the Czechs call their country. The BBC still call it the Czech Republic, in the same way they called Ireland the Irish Republic. As far as I know, however, none of the Czech towns have been prefaced with “London” to annoy the locals.
Currently ninth in the Czech league with one win and one draw, they are one of the continents lesser known clubs, but we’ve come across a few of them of late.
According to Soccerway.com, Martin Dolezal is the man to watch out for, he’s the clubs second top scorer of all time, and if he scores 22 tonight, he’ll overtake the current leader.
However, Celtic have been active in the transfer market, and former England keeper joe Hart has been added to the rotation list between the posts.
Hart kept Fraser Forster out of the England side when the latter was at his peak, and therefore must have been good at one time. His ambition , however, is without question, taking a pay cut to move north on what’s clearly a promise of first team football, which he wasn’t getting at Tottenham.
Alex Rae, one of Radio clyde’s football experts implied that “scratching around for goalkeepers in their mid thirties ” was a sign of despration, before mentioning that it worked with alan MacGregor at ibrox…
Thats just one of many examples of a media narrative designed to throw discord among the Celtic support. James McCarthy, the Irealnd international has also arrived to bolster the midfield initially, and to keep Chris Jullien company in the treatment room during the cold winter months.
Whichever way you look at it though, it’s a marked change from the transfer policy under Peter Lawwell.
These two have been given longish contracts, and at their ages thats something that would not have happened on Peter’s watch.
Ask Lustig, ask Sinclair or anyone else who turned thirty and wanted the security of two years, never mind four….
The reasoning is simple.. Celtic cannot afford to allow the new Ibrox entity two runs in the champions leaague. They might still qualify this year, although key men Madden and Beaton are ineligible, and a league title this season would propel them automatically into the money stages.
Hopefully, they get neither, as it would show that ignoring financial fair play actually works, and even if there must be a real fear that the current owners would simply take the money they are owed and dump the club anyway, i think we’d rather se them beaten on the field as well.
One factor that will come into play is the news that full capacity in grounds will be allowed from Monday…
We are delighted to announce that we have received confirmation from the local Safety Advisory Group that following Tuesday’s Scottish Government announcement and positive reviews of recent matches and associated protocols, full capacity crowds will now be permitted at Celtic Park from Monday, August 9 onwards.
It has been too long since we have heard the roar of a packed Paradise, and we cannot wait to welcome you home to Celtic Park!
We have been working relentlessly behind the scenes to bring our supporters back, and we are thrilled to finally be able to make this announcement.
Once again we would like to thank you for your assistance and co-operation in working within the established matchday protocols, something which has been crucial in delivering this attendance.
Celtic Chief Executive Dom McKay said: “I would like to thank our fans for all the fantastic support they have given us in reaching these levels. I would especially like to thank our staff for their tireless efforts and hard work in getting us to this stage.
“Our team have been a leading force in Scottish sport, writing and exercising protocols and procedures to allow us to return to train and play. Now, through their hard work and leadership, we are finally welcoming you, our fans, back where you belong. I must also thank the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and the Safety Advisory Group for all their co-operation.”
Sales information relating to FK Jablonec next Thursday, August 12 will follow shortly. Due to ongoing UEFA protocols for the month of August, we are unable to offer some seasonal seats for UEL games, but alternative seats will be offered to Season Ticket holders affected by these protocols.
It gives us the greatest pleasure to finally say again – Welcome Home Celts!
Over at Ibrox, they have released a statement as well…..
Gauny no boo ur players
This news, welcome as it is, means that a large protion of our lives that has been missing can be re-introduced. but please, behave responsibly and remember that the plague is still out there.
Although they have changed their name to Rangers it’s still a dangerous variant.
That reminds me, Cinch are threatening to pull their sponsorship money as they couldn’t see their name anywhere at Ibrox, as was in the contract they agreed.
This is apparently because the “rangers ” chairman sells cars as well, and doesn’t like the conflict of interest.
You’d think he wouldn’t be worried, given his skill in selling a second hand club to the masses…
elsewhere, and over on Sentinel Celts, Auldheid has outlined the reasons why we should still be pursuing honesty and transparency from the board, and this is doubly important as we have seen the new approach from the new man.
sentinelcelts.com/2021/08/05/the
Things are going to be different, but the priority just now is to avoid becoming the first ever team to be knocked out of European competitions three times in a season at the point of entry.
On the pitch, Celtic are getting better. whats needed now is a win that would boost confidence in the players themselves and in the managers ideas.
It’ll come, but we could do with it being sooner rather than later.
In other news, if you’ve got a few bob to spare, have a look at McTears.co.uk…they do auctions, and this , amongst other Tic collectibles, is up for sale…
It’s the Jimmy Johnstone Faberge Egg, expected to go for around £7-10,000…..which is a lot of money, but it is very nice.
There’s another auction likely to take place soon, the Annual Alfredo, in which newspapers compete to sell the Ibrox asset and rake in a huge commission.
for three years now, the item has failed to reach it’s reserve price, which is coincidentally where he’ll end up if rumours are true he’s another who wants to run down his contract.
We’re doing a podcast today, possibly even during the game, so if Celtic should lose you can repeat the misery when it goes on site later.
In the meantime, a drunkard has scrawled something about a Director of football coming in as soon as we’ve sorted the team out.
Then, as someone leaked on Twitter, it’s time for his recommendations to the board, and we have seen evidence the new CEO isn’t happy….
Just delighted at the return to Paradise next week and the ambition the club is showing with its signings.
I know some people hate talking about other clubs on here but I believe you should watch your rivals and learn about them.
When it looked like we were certs for 10 IAR ‘Rangers’ supporters switched their tack to ‘ we just don’t want you to get 55 first.’ That to me is the key. We have 4 less, when we go past them it means their anthem is
“We are simply second best.”
Of course, we can say “you only have one”, but frankly once we have more that 55 it doesn’t really matter.
If the pattern is after O’Neill they win some, after Strachan or 9 IAR they win some as we move forward they risk liquidation again trying to catch up.
Rodgers leaving when he did was wrong but Lennon did well. I don’t know his personal circs. but if he and his family are based down south and if he had left duruing the first Covid Lockdown we might have thought’ here we go again’ but it would have been for the best, hindsight eh!
Why did Celtic let Howe dictate the pace of his recruitment? As a corporate entity, Celtic needs a Risk Register constantly updated. Number 1 ensure the club remains solvent, number 2 if the manager leaves for any reason have two or three alternatives in mind. No one who has a chance of managing in e, g. the English Premiership is a serious contender for Celtic unless they are trying to rehabilitate themselves Rodgers like.
I hope it works for Ange, so far he is doing OK, but in the background we should old serious information on two or three realistic alternative as manager updated every six months.
I recall another manager talking about bringing in players with the right mind set. Honestly though there have been issues with the CDM role. Ange’s preferred tactic needs a solid deep lying midfielder who can read the game and properly anchor the team. For all McGregor’s technique, anticipation and creativity he can’t do it and for all Soro’s energy, work rate and passing ability he can’t do it. Hopefully, James McCarthy can mentor them.
That is one of the biggest problems with our defending
Still need a goalscorer unless the man from Japan can
The man from Japan can! Plenty Youtube videos…..
That “CDM role”, it should be special, with “a glass and a half going into every half pound.”
He’ll mibbaes need a fitness regime though, that’s an awfy lot of milk!
Soro needs to time his runs and tackles. He`s a red card waiting to happen.
At last Edouard has been dropped!!
Got Celtic tv on. Have to listen to this guy caterwauling Irish ditties
Nobody could accuse Auldheid of not being resolute, the hare and the tortoise come’s to mind, with the tortoise collecting the gold winners medal. Thinking back to 2012 and how the forces of darkness beavered away building their dam to pursue the big Lie. I often wondered if the dam had burst and the truth had escaped, it took 7 years for the 5Way to appear. “No More Rangers”. There would have been no catastrophic collapse of Scottish football, when you think about it most SPFL clubs supporters would have continued to support ‘their team’, the dead club supporters would have moved to Edinburgh to support Hearts or Partick Thistle, but only after years of internal strife. IMO, Celtic would have more than survived, indeed we would have thrived, as the four years without relevant competition proved, the share price rose, entry to the CL qualifiers would have been a given, perhaps we might have moved into the EPL eventually. One thing is certain, Celtic FC would have retained its founding ethos and Scottish football would have become more honest and more confident in itself. The fallacy of both them and us getting entry into the EPL was just that, a fallacy, they have enough hatred of their own. We don’t need to have sponsorship from companies that sell and feed of hate, like SKY and the MSSM. If only. Money in football is the priority for those that run football all over the world, not sport or for any other reason, even Brother Walfrid acknowledged that. Good luck to the team tonight COYBIG.
There is no defence for that defence. Like watching a poor under 11’s team. Shambles.
Good win Bhoys.
Milk carton midfield in that second half. A simply 10 foot pass is beyond some players.
Yep, disappeared for 15 minutes. Passing poor in just about every area of the park.
1st things 1st it’s a win in Europe, an away win in Europe and in present circumstances it’s very welcome for the manager, the players and, 1st and foremost the supporters.
If we delude ourselves into thinking we beat a good team then we’re in big trouble.
But let’s just see how we go vs Dundee at the w/end. We definitely need building blocks, and this is certainly ONE.
I refuse to finish this on a downer so I’ll shut TF up right now!
Hail! Hail! The Glasgow Celtic.
It’s not really Europe any more though. 3 league based competitions with pre-qualification it’s a mess designed to take away the cup aspect and condition us for a European super league that we’ll never get in to.
Now we know why Hart has an e missing from his name. Looked like he’s here with nothing to prove. Bentley’s don’t cut it up here mate. We’re still a split team and losing 2 against a team of that calibre is very worrying.
We win ffs Christie’s and furishimas goals were top class. Can only beat what’s in front of us. Work in progress
Bitton is a good midfielder. Never a centre back
Agreed.
Furuhashi. I’m obsessed with nuclear disasters
Agreed but I’m not loving the idea of a Keane/Ljunberg/Wright type in goal. That’s the spine of the team.
Thought he could’ve come out to block instead of making himself big where he stood. He’s another who needs belief. We have a broken spirit from last year he’s probably buying into last years vibe under piss pot Lenny who fucked the club up with his cap in hand attitude to lawells ways. New leaf now. Let’s get behind the bhoys. Good times ahead
I thought button could’ve stopped that second goal he looked half hearted. Sublime pass for the japs goal though
It was Furuhashi’s touch that made the pass. It was a straight forward pass, it didn’t take the defence out, simply Kyogo’s ability.
Well that’s something to rejoice a signing made by our manager who has ability. I thought Christie’s header was brilliant
Great cross and a very brave diving header.
Bit over the nihilism on here. We have been spoilt better teams than us have gone through transitions when great managers leave. We still have the bucks and a decent manager to make a fist of it. I don’t think we will win the league this year but we might. Have a bit of faith
Just watched St Johnstone getting a draw in Istanbul against a Galatasaray team with a point to prove. Superb defensive performance and with a bit of luck they could have won. This is a club with a fraction of our resources, yet we’re still nowhere near having a team that is capable of competing for anything this season. It is ridiculous that we’re still sprackling about to bring in a proper right back, left back, central defender and striker when we’ve known since last year what positions require urgent attention. The negativity and pessimism is well founded.
I think as it stands the negativity is well founded because your mind is coloured with past success. It’s different now and it’s going to be a process. If it fails then Ange will probably walk before facing the sack. Huns went through it why can’t we?
Nothing to do with past success and everything to do with a club being disgracefully and criminally run by a bunch of Tory yahoos who don’t give a fvck about a football team that should be striving to being the best it can possibly be. They alone have steered this club to a position that is nothing short of scandalous.
Was Nihlism a German international?
The jap…FFS man
Weered he’s a jap. Can’t be bothered spelling his name out
Like saying you’re an Irishman. Don’t get all woke on me now
Ian…If I knew what woke meant I would probably go TOKE
more like calling me a paddy without knowing my credentials
In 2019-20 Barcelona’s salary limit was €671m. What future do we have even with our best team in a generation against that. They are urinating on FFP.
They got hammered by a kraut team. There’s something to be said about having a mentality and strength as a unit. But you’re right. Champions league is pie in the sky
whats mijtylands in 2021
Grealish moves to Man City for £100m…. Fvcking mad.
Well he’s a great player the market in comparison would say that’s what he’s worth.
No doubting he’s a good player, certainly not great. Maybe Pep will push him along that road.
To be joined by Kane. Outrageous.
Yeah the games a bogey. The beauty of the underdog is being compromised by eugenics. Though it can’t go on it will meltdown at some stage. Fans of the so called big teams will be outpriced and Rupert Murdoch can’t live forever neither can middle eastern rich men
Chinese pirate outlets offering 5k streaming for ten Bob will kill Murdoch and his ilk and resrtructre football. That’s capitalism and that’s WW3. Wife pass the tinfoil!
Do you think Lionel would accept £15k a week and a semi in Cambuslang.
Dunno don’t care. As long as we beat Dundee I’m happy.
For 15 he can have a hard on
Glad to have the win, share everyone’s worry about the ‘defence.’ I like Bitton when he keeps his head but Welsh would be a better fit with the Swede. Others need time to settle. Ange’s giving us roller coaster at the moment but so much better than last season’s spiritless efforts.