Celtic have pulled out of the race to sign Matteus Bogusz, as the selling club wanted more money than the hoops were prepared to pay, and have renewed interest in Alvyn Sanchez, who is cheaper.
Some will see this as another example of the biscuit tin mentality, others will see it as the club being held to ransom due to the swollen bank account, but in reality, what has happened is whoever went to negotiate the deal had been given a ceiling price to pay according to the manager’s valuation, and couldn’t go above it, because that’s what the manager had told him the player was worth.
With just a couple of days left of the window, one would imagine there’s a lot of frantic activity going on behind closed doors, which again may point to a freshening up of the team employed to secure these deals. Rodgers identifies the players, the board sanction the deal, but somewhere in between are the guys who do the deal, and when the window shuts, the three parties will sit down and discuss how to do it better.
You can tell the board are expecting flak, as the PR department are telling us a £10m offer for Reo Hatate has been turned down , they’re not telling us who made that offer, presumably so no one can deny it, although you won’t be surprised to learn that there may be similar statements from the PR guys if there are no more signings.
Today sees the Champions League draw, where four teams will be boosted by the prospect of ticking off “A night under the lights at Celtic Park ” on their bucket lists, whilst another four will see a boost to the licensing trade in their local area.
The new set up is quite complex, where teams are divided into four pots that make no difference to the standard of teams they play, as they will face two from each. After a lengthy process, some of them will be eliminated and some, the majority, won’t.
The draw itself has other little rules, such as Celtic can’t play another team from Scotland, because there isn’t one, nor can they face more than two from any other single country.
If We’ve played a team on a Tuesday in the last five years, we have to play them on a Wednesday this time round, and vice versa, and an opponent has the same strip, they have to toss a coin to decide who takes their tops off in a shirts v skins clash.
Or something like that.
Moravcik 67 on twitter, who clearly understands the process better than I do, explains….
The 32 team ‘group stage’ has been replaced by a new 36 team ‘league phase’. Gone are groups of 4 teams. Now everyone is thrown into one big 36 team table.
Every team will now play 8 CL league matches against 8 different opponents, 4 at home, 4 away. For the draw, the 36 teams are split into 4x pots of 9. – The CL title holder automatically goes into Pot 1 – the other 35 teams are ranked by their coefficient to create the pots
How it works: – Each club is drawn against 2 teams from each of the 4 pots. Everyone has their own set of 8 opponents. If we play Team A and Team B, it doesn’t mean that they’ll play each other. – You play 1 team from each pot at home and the other away
– You cannot be drawn against another team from the same country (*smirk*) – You shouldn’t play 2 consecutive home or away matches. – You can play a maximum of 2 teams from the same country All of this means that what pot you are in doesn’t matter.
UEFA explains how the draw works: – A team from pot 1 is manually picked at random. – The computer picks the 8 opponents for that team and displays them. – This is repeated for all pot 1 teams, then Pot 2, Pot 3 and Pot 4 in order, until everyone knows who they’ll play.
Celtic are in pot 3, so we’ll know at least 4 of our opponents (from pot 1 & 2) before it’s time to reveal who we’ll play. If other pot 3 teams have their turn before us then we might known 6 of our opponents by the time our turn comes, with only pot 4 opponents unknown.
At least we won’t be sitting waiting ages for the draw to be relevant to us. It could happen at any time. Once the draw is done we’ll know who we play, but we won’t know in what order. UEFA have said that fixtures will be released on Saturday.
Matches start on 17th September and finish 29th January. UEFA has given each of the 3 tournaments an ‘exclusive’ week where only games in that tournament are played. For the CL it’s matchday one. Games that week could be on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Dates attached.
Once the league phase is done, all 36 teams are bunged into one table and ranked by points, goal difference, etc. – the top 8 progress to the last 16. – the 12 teams from 25th to 36th are eliminated from Europe. There’s no dropdown to the Europa. Tiebreakers attached.
Teams ranked 9th to 16th will play the teams ranked 17th to 24th in a knockout playoff. – the winners progress to the last 16 – the losers are eliminated from Europe. Again, there’s no dropdown. The teams who finished 9th to 16th are seeded and play the 2nd leg at home.
UEFA have introduced a seeded bracket system to the knockouts, as shown. It’s similar to what you see in other sports where they’re trying to keep the highest seeds separate until the final. Here, seeding is dependent on your final position in the league phase table
For example. In the knockout round for teams who finished 9th-24th – Teams who finished 9th or 10th can only play a team who finished either 23rd or 24th – 11th/12th will play 21st/22nd, etc A draw determines whether 9th/10th player either 23rd or 24th.
This continues into the last 16, where the teams who finished top 8 in the league will play against winners of the knockout playoff round. For example, the teams who finished 7th or 8th in the league phase can only play the winners of our 9th/10th v 23rd/24th Knockout ties.
Because this type of seeding system has been introduced for the knockout phase, there’s no need to have a draw for the QF or SF. Once the draw for the L16 is made everyone will know what side of the draw they’re on and what teams they might face on their route to the final.
Celtic must register our squad for the league phase by 3rd September. If we make the knockout stage we could add 3 new players. However, despite the last games taking place in January, we couldn’t use any new January signings until after the league phase is done.
Overall, initial impressions are that the changes are positive, and freshen up what had become an incredibly stale tournament. But I reserve the right to change my mind on that once I see it in action. Let’s be honest. It’s the next step towards some kind of super league.
Finally, it’s a really important season for Celtic in Europe. With Scotland having lost it’s automatic CL place we’ll have to qualify next season. That means our 5 year coefficient will determine if we’re seeded or unseeded in qualifying rounds next year.
Currently, we’re all the way back in 64th place on 28pts. That includes the 6 bonus points we’re guaranteed from our CL participation. Every point could matter. We’d have been unseeded for the champions route playoff round this season.
And we’d have been unseeded for both the 3rd qualifier and playoff of the non-champions route. Our coefficient is also now more of a factor in determining the money we get from UEFA. We need to improve it. But more importantly. More points just means we’re doing well.
A more detailed summary than mine, but more or less the same.
It dies seem like we’re heading towards some sort of european super league, and it probably won’t be long before UCL teams play in a straight knockout Cup tournament running alongside their “league “…..
This weekend, Celtic face “rangers ” in the first derby game of the season.
Given the current perilous state of their finances, Sunday’s game could actually be two games…the first and last derby game of the season.
As you know, all sorts of drunks tell us all sorts of things about all sorts of things, and we recently heard that the Elite court case is far from being the only outstanding bill at Ibrox…that’s bill, not billy, although there are quite a few of them as well.
There’s one unhappy architect down about £300,000, amongst others, it seems, and that is probably one of a number of reasons they’re looking for investment, though I think we can dismiss the story about American investment, unless the reason that Ibrox is closed is that they’ve found oil underneath it, and even if that is the case, it would be warships on the Clyde as opposed to money in the bank.
As a result, it would compound things a tad should Celtic win convincingly and move five points ahead of the plucky newcomers, and if Aberdeen were to win as well, the Clement Clusterfuck would be five points adrift in third after just four games.
I do believe that their support would self combust, and let’s be honest, there’s enough toxic fumes in tha air before such a climate catastrophe taking place.
This time, when they die, they might take us all with them.
However, despite losing influential midfielder Todd Cantwell, who to be fair looked lost at the best of times, they’ve retained the services of Scotland’s most influential man in the middle, John Beaton.
Assisting him in the VAR control room , under armed guard at a secret location, will be Andrew Dallas, another who can alter the outcome of a match with just subtle interpretation of the rules.
When they fuck it up , we will moan about it afterwards, but the controversy will deflect from the fact that the Ibrox basket case will yet again be handed a lifeline that they desperately need, and Sky and the SFA won;t be fretting over their four old firm games contract, though technically it’s not the old firm and anyone who has paid for the channel on that pretext is surely entitled to a refund.
Sometimes it can all be a bit frustrating, it’s gone on for so long now there’s a sort of grudging acceptance that this is Scottish football and we have to put up with it.
That’s not to say we do, however, and there is something we can do.
Bookmakers offer all sorts of novelty bets on any particular game, such as the amount of corners, bookings and red cards.
Here’s what we should do.
Bet on three or four Celtic yellow cards in the first half. It is a tactic used by Beaton to slow the game down and inhibit Celtic’s style.
Bet on three or four yellow cards for “rangers ” after 70 minutes. It’s how he evens up the stats.
Bet on a high number of free kicks to “rangers” in the first half, it’s how he breaks up the tempo.
Bet on the inevitable “rangers ” penalty, as they haven’t had one in fourteen years at Celtic Park, and when they do get one on Sunday, they can point to this. The media are already running with this….
If you do this, bookies will suspend the betting, as it is an irregular pattern. share it far and wide.
We can’t stop them, but we can let them know we’re onto them.
They think they can get away with it as our support is seemingly more concerned with the lack of activity in the transfer window, but we need to focus on this, as it’s far more important.
Anywhere else , this is how it’s done….
Conflict of interest ?
Not entirely convinced by the third one, but the other two show clearly he should not be involved on Sunday
Last time out we had this…
Caption
Peter Lawwell ‘jets in’ to Etims Towers to rescue Ralph from hordes of angry villagers
Today….
“ It’s your turn today.
I will show the red card… like this “ !
“Beaton goes through warm up routine”
Right that’s two yellow cards, one for Carter and one for Vickers. Yer off
Last time I’m gonna ask! What the f*** have you done with my red card?
If I could write long words you’d be off.
Caption – Listen Cameron, I’m showing you the invisible card, which I my mind is orange. SFA rules state that you miss the amount of games the same as your shirt number. now, do you fancy a pint at the Crown – they are free.
Caption : “Look, if it was up to me, I’d book you before you go into the huddle. But I suppose I can wait ten minutes.”
Caption: For it is old and it is ……
Caption
VAR have noticed you’re wearing your slippers again today.
Beaton should be nowhere near Celtic or R2ngers games.
And Dallas should be nowhere near the VAR for Celtic or hun games.
Is it possible that the officials have been issued with the proverbial “enough rope to hang themselves”?
New face (Gollum) in charge of the refs, and Jon Moss dealing with VAR application…I can’t believe that Celtic would react to any shenanigans by the Honest Mistakes Brethren by meekly deciding to “take it on the chin and move on. ” Demands for a thorough audit would ensue, Shirley?
That had crossed my mind as well, but this is Scotland and they are just brazen enough keep the tradition going of enabling and assisting the huns.
BTW.After that Beaton photo and his declared love of “rangers”, there is no way he should be anywhere near them or us again.
Caption…
Right cam , rock paper scissors , for your first tackle , if you win it’s red if I win it’s still red
So tell me about your time with Catholic United whilst I write your name in my book. Straight red.
Caption two…
Ok John I’ll ask cal to let todd out of his back pocket cause your team needs the money , anyhow he needs room for connor
Look. You know I love the corpse of Rangers 1872 and now the pretend club that bought some of the assets, just deal with it and accept my erratic decisions
I’m bullet proof CCV – the grey old men on your plc see my appointment as part of their Old Firm* (sic) levelling up strategy !
* footnote – when Rangers 1872 was Liquidated the offensive OF tag (spit) died with them.
Tavpen to R2ngers !
Caption: sorry Carter he’s played his uno reverse card so you have to go off for his reckless challenge. It’s in the rules section 16 paragraph 90.
Caption
‘Listen Paddy. It’s a penalty fur the Gers if Ah say it’s a penalty fur the Gers’
Caption
“Ma pal Andy on VAR has confirmed it. You’re a dirty feenyin bastard”.
Is this right? Broonie’s contract as captain guaranteed he’d be the highest paid at the club. Calmac therefore same. So regardless of transfer fee weekly wage will always be lower than Calmac. Would you give Calmac a substantial rise in the autumn of his career? Therefore this could be the impediment to signing people on ‘decent’ money?ps footballer’s earnings are ridiculous.
Whilst that’s true, we also need to highlight the other side of the story, where Celtic consistently make initial lowball offers.
If these are considered derisory and insulting, the seller may dig their heels in and demand a highball fee.
We offer £5m (for £10m rated player), they demand £15m, we offer £6.5m, they demand £13.5m and repeat ad nauseum until deal struck, 1 side pulls out or time runs out. Take your pick.
I’m not convinced we are great negotiators and considering our our finances, we should be openning with an initial ‘take it or leave it’ £8-10m and, if no deal, then moving on.
Until we get serious professional people involved from our side then we shouldn’t be playing brinkmanship when we seem desperately poor at it.
Caption “No, you cheeky cur, my Modern Studies didn’t include new football clubs starting out in recent times”
At least we look to have got the Arne Engels deal over the line at last, finally biting the bullet to offer the amount that Augsberg had been sticking by, a record breaking €13 mill. Quite excited about this one and nice to receive news like this an hour or two before the CL draw. If we can just get a solid CB plus the Alvyn Fernandes guy from Lausanne, for once we could find ourselves in decent shape as we go into Europe.
Alvyn Sanches
I remember John Beaton when he was head altar boy at St Mary’s in the Raploch and as for Andrew Dallas 5 years at Blair’s but
the priesthood wasn’t for him I guess. All this bloody Board does is spend, spend spend. 11 million here , 9 million there, 6 million somewhere else, what is going to become of us? Must be thirty million this transfer window, it doesn’t grow on trees. I blame Lawwell!
Wow, what a briliant draw! I like this new format already, maybe we can actually do something here. Message for the board – spend big tomorrow and surprise us again you tight basturdz! 🙂
…on paper but we know we don’t play on that!
I saw Young Boys do a number at Galatasary and they looked big and powerful.
Leipzig probably 1 of the easiest Pot 1 teams and we surely fancy our chances against Slovan and Brugge.
Dortmund and Atlanta probably a step too far but we should certainly be competitive against Villa and Zagreb.
Agree on spending, as we’ve probably earned £40m this window and we can afford to be a net spender, which would increase our chances significantly.
Interesting points you make about our CL rivals. I’d just like to add that Club Brugge are battle-hardened European campaigners who not only got to the knockout stages of the CL in 22-23 but went on a tremendous run to reach the semis of the Conference last season. Absolutely vital we pick up full points in our first game against Slovan Brats to relieve the pressure as our following two games away to Borussia and Atlanta are no more than free hits.
Reply banned by the censor, what a pain in the ass. Maybe appear tomorrow.
Awaiting for approval 🙁
I’m sure it’ll be worth awaiting.
Yoker bhoy it’s looking good my friend.
Yeah, wonders will never cease. Hope you’re keeping well BJF and that you’re well up for Sunday’s game. We whip them and they won’t be coming back. 😉
Do you want to come down the Crown after the game?
Great Diary today, I especially liked “As a result, it would compound things a tad should Celtic win convincingly and move five points ahead of the plucky newcomers, and if Aberdeen were to win as well, the Clement Clusterfuck would be five points adrift in third after just four games.”
I’ve never really believed in ‘justice’ but we’ve seen tons of the poetic stuff ever since the 5-Way scandal was created to birth the lie that Rangers FC didn’t die and to get them into football at any cost.
Aye, it’s working out well, eh?
On the CL draw I concentrated on what we got, rather than what we may have missed, and think it’s about as good as I could’ve hoped for. We’ve certainly got a chance and I’m sure Brendan will be relishing it as we all should with a kind of ‘bring it on’ mentality. We’ve got a LB (Valle) to challenge Greg and, if his medical goes well we’ll have Engels in Mid. so hopefully a stronger squad. I’d have loved a left-sided CB but we’ve got a half-decent squad and can challenge in Europe and hopefully win easily in Scotia. This is the best day of the dreaded transfer window so far.
COME ON YOU BHOYS IN GREEN and hammer that scum at Paradise on Sunday.
If ONLY…
Matt O
Riley signed for Atalanta?
premeditated instruction to a now targeted player could have been lights out to a player of the Beautiful Game.Instead, a weak Managers
G`day Celts, que sera sera.
P.S: I had to knock Brendon back. Michael wanted the breeding of his Pomeranian with my Ridgeback put in the deal. Bloody sicko!
Anywho, fvck the huns.
sevco see subscription options FC.
Champions League fixtures out.
Easiest start at home to Slovan but next 3, away to Dortmund and Atlanta, home to Leipzig, are the hardest.
If we’re still in contention at the halfway stage then next 3, Zagreb away sandwiched between Brugge and Young Boys, represent a chance to rack up points.
We round off the league phase away to the Villains of Birmingham.
We have a good chance to reach the knockout stage but either way, we’ll be in Europe after Christmas, which is more than can be said for the Huns.
Another awaiting for approval.
“Why do you do it, have you not the guts to say”