Europa League action tonight, and despite the recent run of form, it’s difficult not to get excited about it. If you consider excitement to be placing yourself behind the couch and asking the wife if they’ve scored yet.
Bayer Leverkusen are the opponents, and they’re quite a good side. Although they’re not very good at choosing right backs either, having spent millions on Jeremie Frimpong, who will never be a right back as long as he has a hole in his arse.
But he’s bloody good going forward, and Celtic haven’t really got a left back as such, so it doesn;t take a genius to see where our problems might be tonight. And, like everyone else these days who has to perform at Celtic Park in Europe, he’s looking forward to it;
“It’s nice to be back- I was happy to see the inside of Celtic Park again. I’m looking forward to seeing my former teammates and the fans, but when the kick-off whistle sounds tomorrow, there is only one task: to win.”
On his surprise move to Germany, he added ;
“I was not looking to leave Celtic, when the chance came to join Leverkusen it was not something I was actively looking to do. I was happy with my teammates, happy with the fans.”
This actually makes sense, a better offer was put to him, no one expected him to take it, but he did. See also Keiran Tierney when Everton first made a move.
The board have to tell them, and after that it’s up to the player. Tierney , of course, as Rodgers admitted, was talked out of that move, but the seed had been sown.
Back to Leverkusen, and briefly, according to Wikipedia,
Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH, also known as Bayer 04 Leverkusen (German: [ˌbaɪ̯ɐ ˈleːvɐˌkuːzn̩]), Bayer Leverkusen, or simply Leverkusen, is a German professional football club based in Leverkusen in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.[4] The club competes in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, and plays its home matches at the BayArena.[5][1]
The club was founded in 1904 by employees of the German pharmaceutical company Bayer AG, whose headquarters are in Leverkusen and from which the club draws its name. It was formerly the best-known department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a sports club whose members also participate in athletics, gymnastics, basketball and other sports including the RTHC Bayer Leverkusen (rowing, tennis and hockey). In 1999 the football department was separated from the sports club and is now a separate entity formally called Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH.[5] Bayer were first promoted to the Bundesliga in 1979, and have remained in the top division ever since. The club’s main colours are red and black, both having been used as the main shirt colour and with red and black stripes also having been used as home colours.
Bayer Leverkusen have finished five times runner-up in the Bundesliga without winning the competition, a record in German football. The club has won one DFB-Pokal and one UEFA Cup.[6] Bayer also finished runner-up in the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League, falling 2–1 to Real Madrid in the final. Their local rivals are 1. FC Köln.[7]
What is not so well known is that they pioneered the free kick into the corner, designing their home crossbars to bend a bit in the middle so players were forced to aim for the corner, as this picture from 1955 illustrates….
A progressive club even then, they were the first to introduce the Home Season Book, where people could watch the game from their armchairs long before live tv, as you can see from the houses at the side of the pitch.
Their current sporting director is Rudi Voller, who once formed a famous strike and dive partnership with Jurgen Klinnsman in the German national team. Voller has twice managed Leverkusen, once for a fortnight in 2000, which laid the foundations for his three week spell in 2005.
They do seem to have a fairly rapid turnover of managers, the current boss, Gerard Soame , has only been in situ since July, when he replaced Hannes Wolf, who had held the post since March.
On tonights game , he said;
“I expect a great atmosphere tomorrow – great fans and a game characterized by attacking football. Celtic have a lot of good players and will want to make life difficult for us – we want to prevent that.”
Just once, I’d like opposition managers to mention the team before the atmosphere…..that at least would quell my fear that these sides look forward to coming to Glasgow, when in fact they should be having to be coaxed from the team bus when they arrive with sweeties and cakes.
In reality, this side score a lot of goals, and Celtic concede plenty.
This could be a very long night indeed.
By the way, if you’re a betting man, Patrik Schik, who lobbed David Marshall from the half way line, plays for Leverkusen, and with Joe Hart not a man to stand on his line, a cheeky fiver on a forty yarder could pay for christmas.
Celtic are still learning at this level, with very few of the new look side having any real experience to speak of, and those that have are injured.
So it’s no surprise that Postecoglou will rely on teamwork rather than individuals. Which is what he expects the Germans to do as well…
“I think it has always been a system-based league in terms of their best teams always incorporating fantastic individuals.
“Their strongest teams have always had clear structures in their football teams.
“My teams are fairly similar in that way and definitely it’s a league where, if you are passionate about football and what is happening, it’s one you follow closely.
“A lot of things they do and the way they work incorporate things that can benefit us.
“We have always got a strong connection with German football in Australia.
“Quite a few Aussies have been through there and we have had links there.
“In general you understand that the strength of the Bundesliga is such that it’s always a league people follow.
“Certainly I have because it’s a league which produces fantastic teams and fantastic footballers.
“You always respect and analyse the opposition. Both the collective and the individuals within that.
“You want to provide your players with the best possible information.
There’s no doubting his knowledge of football, but he needs to get those ideas across to the players.
Things have been a little shaky this season, and confidence may well be low. Last time out, Celts were two ahead early on away to Real Betis, but seemed to be surprised at that, and while they were thinking about how well things were going, suddenly they weren’t.
Concentration is the key, especially if Celtic do concede, as you can bet that cheeky fiver on Leverkusen players being fully aware that Celtic are vulnerable after they concede.
Just putting a stop to that will be a major achievement.
Since any predictions from the diary tend to be Celtic 7, the other lot 0, it’s probably true even the largest green tinted specs wouldn’t see that possibility, and like everyone else, any sort of win would do.
Leverkusen’s only loss in their last six outing was 4-3 to dortmund, which shows they have a bit of fight about them as well.
Not only will any win do, it will be a damn fine result if we get one.
Back to Tuesday for the caption competition….
Michael Annis
Charlie trying to get his foot out of his ear to stick it in his mouth
Today
Here hen this vodka slips down nicely!
Neil Lennon in lies to Celtic fans shocker.
What’s the jakey been saying now?
Was it the one about Frimpong agitating for a move, which the wee man called out as BS?
lennon speaks BS is a real ‘man bites dog’ story.
D’oh, I mean ‘dog bites man’ type story.
“the jakey” Cha? About Neil Francis Lennon? A suffering person.
Id’ve hoped for better from a (self-entitled) smart-arsed cunt like you.
You live in ‘the smoke’ as I once did too.
Just be carerful down there, when the ‘smog’ clears you may have nowhere to hide.
I still have family in London……………
Take care. Moindow you go!
I replied Cha, but it was snatched. It’ll turn up in time.
The smoke’s a big place but not big enough for your big gub to go unnoticed.
Your insult to NFL is more, much more, than I’ll tolerate.
Watch this space.
Not got much expectation about tonight, now Sunday is vital. Another away defeat and this season becomes a massive uphill climb. Ange is hopeful of getting a few back and that is the best news in a while. Obviously, he must be given a reasonable period including a time without widespread injuries. Those who talk of him leaving are only trying to undermine the club in that way they kowtow to the new club.
No, I said CIROC vodka!
Caption……..
Highlights from the ‘I’m Not a Celebrity Knock it Into Me’ include the never to be forgotten, spew inducing Fungal Toe, Drink All You Can challenge.
Certainly more palatable than the creatures that currently inhabit the Celtic boardroom.
Caption: Getting drunk with a Croc. The Jimmy Five Bellies biography.
Everton/Tierney……aye ok then.
Hehehe, he just won’t let it lie, no matter how absurd it is.
Caption:
“The Smirnoff Kemar Roofe Cocktail proves popular”
Don’t give me that vodka martini pish Mrs Bond, get this Aldi home brand doon ye.
Wit a Slapper!!!!
Mind ye, ah’d love tae slipper wan
Regarding comments from opposition managers, I remember many years ago Celtic hosting Bobby Robson’s Barcelona side in a friendly at Celtic Park. After our defeat, Robson said “fantastic stadium, fantastic fans, shame about the team”………….nothing has really changed.
Never heard that and unusually cutting for him, as he was usually positive about all aspects of the club.
Did we kick them off the park that night that may have soured it for him?
oz version of ice vodka
Caption – After the sudden death of Prince Charming, Cinderella, and her Fairy Godmother, took to the bevvy, in a big way.
Caption.
Foot in mouth. A terrible disease – – but a happy one.
It speaks volumes about our continual decline in Europe that in 8 years or so the most exciting and talked about thing for Celtic in Europe has changed from a Tony Watt winner against Barcelona to a 400 Watt colour changing bulb in the infamous “disco” light pre match show.
I can see an absolute doing coming our way tonight.
Caption:
Two Sevco hags audition for the role of Cinderella.
“Right, Senga, let’s see if the slipper fits”.
Passer-by tries lubricant after maid forgets to put replace the soap in Keemar Roofe’s hotel room.
Caption
Two Sevco wags enjoy themselves in Prague.
Things can only get better, a fluke goal by Ajeti could be the difference.
I’ll pine for that.
Caption: Tonight on STV’s Dont Watch Alone: Al Bundy’s Nightmare, Part 3
We have a wee chance !
Kyogo and Calmac in
Caption:
“I’m getting leather, subtle tones of insole and just a hint of sport sock.”
The Board will just click continue with this mindless Football.
Tell me Turnbull wasn’t trying to dummy a player in his own penalty area. Row Z son. Think that screwed us but this team is second in the Broondoeslager but still 0-4 FFS.
Fvcked by the pharmaceuticals again.
Ralph and the vax crew must just love it.
Does Ange know that when he gets his system up and running, the board will sell the spine of his side he built ?
Football seasons nor time tarrieth no man.
My deepest condolences to the family of Garry Duncan AKA Garry Postecoglou AKA Delaney’s Dunkey from Sentinel Celts & CQN.
I’m stunned to learn that such a huge character, and worthy adversary, such as Garry is gone from us in an instant.
My heart breaks for both Garry and his family since the moment I learned.
The Celtic support have lost a proper fighting Bhoy and I’m still struggling to come to terms with it.
Rest In Peace, Garry Duncan.
You’ve deeply affected more people in this life than youcould ever have known and the world is an emptier place without you.
All the best in the next one, lots of love, brother, The Lions Roar.
Second that, RIP GARRY
If we lose on Sunday, can we all agree the board will be removed on the Monday?
Celtic losing 0-4 at home to any side in world football is a joke guys.
Yes a very painful watch. BL are a very handy team and spent over fifty million quid on players coming in this season balanced by selling about 50m of players going out. The game could have ended up about 6-4 given the chances. All said you are right 4-0 is a bit much and we had better be a lot more polished and organized when we go to Germany for the return game. Now is the time to spend bigger at Celtic park and get the players that can play to Ange’s desired style.
BB,
There’s players out there throughout Europe who could make us an formidable outfit….but our scouting seems to result in a call to Man City.
How much money do we waste on peripheral figures?
I think so too – the players are there many of them warming benches in big leagues. The scouting and partnerships folks must do a better job
Maybe we can ask Everton to loan us back Tierney……cough.
Can Ralph’s source confirm whether he’s available?
Cha,
Probably
Caption: tastes of genuine vintage verruca with a note of toe mushrooms
Caption,kylie gets her own back on Ginger Spice and puts her foot in her mouth
Shove your vax passes up your arse you fascists
Note to Pfizer – vaccine suppositories for needle- phobes ©^
Note FROM Pfizer: ‘We’re not telling you what’s in the thing we’re going to inject into all of humanity so you’re going to have to just trust us.‘
Read this, Woofie, and let me know how it makes you feel …
‘Recently, the ICAN organization (Informed Consent Action Network) announced a disturbing fact about the Pfizer CO VID vac cine:
“The FDA assured the public that it will provide transparency for any CO VID -19 vac cine it approves.
That promise would surely include letting the public know what is in the vial being injected into the arms of millions of people. Nonetheless, the FDA has chosen to hide from the public an ingredient that constitutes more than 20% of the undiluted vial of each Pfizer vac cine!”
“Upon licensure of the Pfizer vac cine, the FDA authorized a fact sheet to be given to the public, which includes a list of ingredients in the vac cine.
Amazingly, this list doesn’t mention a secret ingredient. What is the secret ingredient? Nobody knows other than Pfizer and the FDA. In the technical documentation that is not intended for general public distribution, the FDA disclosed that this secret ingredient constitutes about 22% of the undiluted vial (0.45 mL of 2 mL) but completely redacted the name of the secret ingredient.”
“ICAN’s attorneys immediately contacted the FDA and asked for the redaction to be lifted. However, the FDA refused to do so without a formal demand. Therefore, ICAN, through its attorneys, submitted a formal demand to the FDA to disclose the identity of the secret ingredient.”
Conclusion: Without the disclosure of every ingredient in the vac cine, INFORMED CONSENT IS IMPOSSIBLE. A person told to take the shot could refuse on the grounds that he can’t obtain sufficient information in order to provide his consent.
And on what grounds could the vac cine be legal in the first place? If informed consent is the law, then withholding the possibility of it by concealing a vac cine ingredient would automatically render the vac cine illegitimate.’
Note to Pfizer – vax suppositories for needle- phobes ©^
Here’s what you’ve let them inject into you, muppet, aluminium, bismuth, cadmium, copper, lead, stainless steel & UNIDENTIFIED BLACK PARTICLES …
https://nobulart.com/co vid-19-vac cine -ingredients/
Have a nice day, fool.
Remember not to go to hospital when you get ill then.
I won’t.
I never did trust them and this shit has proven my instincts to be fully correct.
Thyere the front line in the war gains humanity after the media.
My grandfaither was the same as he knew after doing 6 years in the army where they attempted to inject all sorts of shite into the men rather than have them fighting Rommel’s troops for the fact was that every war is rigged by those who run the world and has nothing to do with the alleged ‘adversaries’ on the field and all to do with eradicating as much of humanity as possible,
The military is a testing ground for all new pharmaceutical products and the troops are the guinea pigs.
Thanks TGM. I have a few beers every Friday and I’m not very articulate at the best of times but I’m glad you get it.
Hopefully the truth comes out eventually and if it does thanks to technology and social media there will be no way for people to deny what side of the fence they were in.
I also won’t be going to the hospital. I’ll die in my own bed a free man. Hopefully when the time comes I’ll have the courage of my convictons. I know I will.
It does shock me a little bit that soo many celtic fans see nothing wrong with treating people like second class citizens because they won’t take an injection that has no long term safety data, and will have no control group.
Although woof Charlie had a good idea with the suppositories. I mean Pfizer has only made 26billion profits this year. It might help boost the coffers. They have had some large fines to pay over the years for bribing doctors and hiding adverse reactions. But I’m sure they wouldn’t do that again.
By ‘large fines’ we’re talking trillions of dollars each decade.
Cuckoo cuckoo
Incredible that these so called ‘rebels’ can’t see what these passes really are, Eugene, just mind boggling, though even a rudimentary knowledge of the bigger picture should suffice.
Keep fighting the good fight, brother, TGM.
Please don’t sing songs of freedom anymore.
Please avoid conflating a centuries old struggle for national emancipation with a selfish dumb attitude to refusing a safe and effective vaccine during a pandemic. You have freedom and free loading mixed up.
‘Safe and effective‘, Cuckoo boy ..?
Go & read the VAERS (Vac cine Adverse Reporting System) website pages the tell us how ‘safe & effective’ this murderous toxin really is.
I bet you don’t and do you know how I know ..?
Cos you might be a fvckin muppet but at least you’ve the sense to know the truth will most likely give you a heart attack.
VAERS website.
Cant miss it,
The vax is killing and paralysing people by the million.
You’re right, Eugene, they no longer have the right to call themselves rebels, not when they lay down and let Big Pharma & the British fvckin government inject unknown substances into them.
And they asked for it!
The last season & into this new season, the emotions I feel most are disappointment & raw frustration, why does our club get it wrong on so many levels.
The root problem is in that boardroom, from the moment I heard Dom Mckay was standing down, I’ve had a sinking feeling that hasn’t gone away….you know.
I sense if the huns go down, the clear infiltration will be exposed. We are influenced to malfunction.
I fully understand, Monti.
It’s about creating a Celtic we’ll ALL be proud of.
A Celtic FC (NOT PLC).
From one of your earlier/other day comments I’m with you.
I’m a ‘sure-shot’, catapult to M16.
They (the board) and its ‘king’ from Macroom,
Will NEED to move over, make room.
‘They’ only survive via some’s grovelling pee,
That day is now over, we’ll win for Celtic FC,
As wide as the oceans, as wide as our seas,
There’ll be no fukkin’ scum owning Celtic FC.
Vinnie.
Just like that, we were shafted, I’m a patient man, but a football match lasts longer than 20 minutes. Teams know if they can soak up the first 20 minutes they can take us apart eventually. I don’t blame Ange, I blame keeping around the same last backup players that are happy on the bench and the boardroom’s spies.
*lazy backup players
RUMOUR MILL:
Mr. Nicholson has unbolted the suggestion box outside the Boardroom door, just in case.
Here is hoping that 50000 Celtic supporters do not go potty mouth on his backside.
Celts 7-0.
Couldn’t have got the sheep at a better time as their confidence is low with manager Stephen Glass struggling to put things right. Once reliable goalkeeper Joe Lewis is suffering a horrendous loss of form while the defence on the whole is well shaky. The midfield battle could prove to be pivotal today, which is why we need a bit more steel in there. We don’t want to see the repeated error of Turnbull and Rogic thrown in together yet again. Hedges could turn out to be quite a handful if allowed a free role to roam behind and around Ramirez but our front free should be too much for their leaky defence to handle. Respect to Broonie and Hayes but there will be nothing friendly about this clash and with Baldy Madhun officiating, anything is possible.
Hart
Ralston
Carter-Vickers
Weslh
Scales
McCarthy
McGregor
Turnbull
Abada
Kyogo
Jota
Prediction: Sheep 1 Hoops 3
COYBIG
At least there’s a sign of some fighting spirit at last to grind out that win but we’ll have to improve a lot if we’re to make any kind of positive impact this season and put in a serious challenge for the league title. Badly hope Forrest will be good to go after the international break as we’ve not been getting much joy out of Abada lately. This game was painful to watch for the most part but at least the bhoys showed some grit and determination towards the end. The biased official doing what he does best so no surprise there. Baldy Madhun you basturd.
Anyone notice the linesman smiling near the dugout when the sheep equalised?
It was a painful watch at times (a lot of times) but it was a very important and welcome away win. If we had dropped points again today the usual media sources would have been putting the boot into Ange and the team.
Thank God for wee Kyogo..the wee man’s energy and enthusiasm is an example to the rest of the players. He harasses and chases the opposition and gives us his all….if only the rest of the team would follow his lead.
There’s still too many passes being made when we make our way out of defense and we’re giving opponents too much time to fall back and regroup. And WTF is Hart and the defenders playing at? My heart’s in my mouth every time they pass the ball back and forward and across the penalty box.
For seasoned professionals they seem to lack an understanding of the basics of the game and you’ve got to wonder what they practice at every training session.
At least we broke our away bogey and the churnalists will have to tear up their pre-written attacks on Ange for this week.
8 minutes…*rangers 0 Hibs 1
30 minutes and there’s the predictable red card for a Hibs player!!
I wonder when the ref will give the penalty.
34 minutes gone and there’s the first dive looking for the penalty. Not given, but if the game stays at 0-1 you can be sure they’ll get their customary award.
Just watched the video on YouTube. It appears there’s a new law in Scottish football:- “you are not allowed to win the ball cleanly from a *rangers player”.
Go and watch it: Porteous slides in and gets the whole ball cleanly, but since *rangers were in trouble this was the ref’s chance to win favour with his masters and give *rangers an advantage. It’s a fekking disgrace the help they always get when another Scottish team has them on the ropes.
Our players have been kicked in the groin, stamped on, punched in the face and scissor kicked in the penalty box and we’ve received sweet f all from the “un-sighted” refs.
As for the crap that Gerrard is now spouting about the “incident”, he’s just trying to justify the unjustifiable cheating that his club benefits from.
Well played Bhoys.
That wee slither of hope.
To be remembered: Peter Thomas Lawwell is concentric to Celtic FC’s ‘Downfall’, as is the ‘Dubliner’ from Macroom. PMGB nailed a lot of this stuff years ago, but curiously never named PTL nor DFD.
4 Peel Road may be ONE address to go to, and ask questions of.
The ‘Dubliner’s’ mansion area is gated and patrolled, and protected by all-sorts, including PIRA.
The next time he goes ‘into the trees’ abroad may well be his last. Who knows?
Who cares?
PS It’s clear to me that those two scum mentioned above have raped and pillaged Celtic FC.
As Roy Orbison said…..It’s Over……….
I fear NOT the bastards above’s henchmen.
My fellow haters of that scum know both of them; where they live, whom they are, what they do, where they go and when to ‘fire’.
Ha, god bliss!
PS The mortar bomb is hard to define and harder to determine.
Let’s just say with enough of them,
Angled right, left and center,
You’ll find and kill the lot of them,
That vermin you were after.
PS Ma wee diamond saved a life last night and probably (me) long-time gaol.
She’s only aroon aboot 5 feet tall, but the heartae a fukkin whale!
Was that Tintin`s Maw on RTV yesterday ?
I WOULD/WILL act for the integrity and future of Celtic FC.
Will/Would you?
I hate to say, but believe it needs saying, that many of you on here are capitalist-oriented,
spineless, grovelling, PTL’s arse-licking rodents.
I truly hope I’m wrong.
Just to correct something I commented on earlier.
PMGB DID and has done, call out Lawwell for the piece of shit he is.
I don’t think PMGB EVER took Desmond to task. I did, and will, until such time as I or he is dead.
PIRA’s fairly good ‘back-up’ for Desmond. So too(for us) is knowledge, mortars and combatant friends.
I fear not. Let’s just say, like a nuclear battle: no winners. That’s NOT to say you don’t wake up with your favourite horse’s head beside you. Ha!
For FUKKS sake, “awaiting for approval” or whatever shit it is you say?
The POINT will be lost in time…….fukkin clowns.
Here we go…..Cha’s a self-important, hugely indulgent, corrector of everything….. lives in ‘the smoke’? As they say down there, “ave a day orf mite, don’t be a UNCT OAL yer laff!” ‘ave a day oarf!