{"id":15968,"date":"2020-08-20T08:53:08","date_gmt":"2020-08-20T07:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=15968"},"modified":"2020-08-20T08:53:08","modified_gmt":"2020-08-20T07:53:08","slug":"celtic-diary-thursday-august-20-balancing-the-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=15968","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Thursday August 20: Balancing The Books"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tom Rogic is the latest Celt to seek pastures new, with a \u00a34m move to Qatar being mentioned in the papers.<\/p>\n

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He’ll be missed, but not that much. And if \u00a34m goes into the bank, it will be seen as good business by the club who are quietly doing their best to make sure that amount of money going out and money coming in are as close as they possibly can be during these difficult times.<\/p>\n

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The mark of a player is the memories he leaves, and Rogic certainly did enough to earn more than a passing mention in the clubs history, but the reality is he wasn’t at the fitness level required to be a consistent achiever, and so he could probably best be described as a luxury player.<\/p>\n

The other major first team player who left this summer, Jozo Simunovic also had a few injury and therefore consistency issues, which points to these decisions being made not on football ability, but on value for money, and when the money coming in is uncertain, then cuts have to be made.<\/p>\n

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Call it downsizing, or trimming the squad, but earlier this week Borussia Dortmund announced losses of 44m Euros, which they have blamed on Covid, and quite simply Celtic cannot afford to lose even half of that.<\/p>\n

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Though the figures cannot be compared to Celtic, as the German side have much higher income and expenditure, the signs are there that trouble is ahead, and it would be a foolish board who didn’t recognise it and act upon it.<\/p>\n

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There will be more leaving Celtic, which is probably not what Leigh Griffiths wants to hear on his 30th birthday, but as with Rogic, in the cold light of day, he’s not giving value for money.<\/p>\n

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Ferencvaros , a famous club in name and tradition, overcame Djurgarden 2-0 to book a visit to Glasgow next week for the second European qualifier.<\/p>\n

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They are also one of the few major clubs to play in green and white…<\/p>\n

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The fans have friendships with fans of\u00a0Rapid Wien<\/a>[19]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and\u00a0Panathinaikos<\/a>, and as all three play in Green the alliance is nicknamed the “Green Brothers”. They also have friendly relations in Hungary with fans of\u00a0Zalaegerszeg<\/a>\u00a0and in Poland with\u00a0\u015al\u0105sk Wroc\u0142aw<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Ba\u0142tyk Gdynia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The majority of Ferencv\u00e1rosi supporters have a strong connection with the fans of Scottish football club\u00a0Hibernian<\/a>, the supporters will gather on the last Saturday of March every year (as of 2015) to play a game of football together and go for drinks afterwards.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Green Brothers seem to have missed someone, but then again, with Rapid Vienna involved, I think the monthly meetings of this particular club would turn into quite lively affairs of Celtic and Rapid fans were to be in the same building.<\/p>\n

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It’s a pity that we finally got to play Ferencvaros during the current pandemic, as their fans look like they could be fun…<\/p>\n

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…and their ground is among the most modern in Europe…<\/p>\n

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Though that pigeon looks like something to avoid when you’re eating a pie.<\/p>\n

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The road to the group stages and what will happen should we get there has changed again, after Lyon lost to ayern munich in last years semi final, and again Moravcik 67<\/em> has offered an update….<\/p>\n

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Lyon’s loss tonight confirms that, should we get there, Celtic would be a Pot 3 team in the Champions League group stage draw. It also means that Ajax now don’t need to qualify, which means that QR3 and the Playoff round need to be adjusted to ensure 4 champions qualify.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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This will likely be done by giving both Olympiakos and Slavia Prague a free pass to the Playoff round. That would mean QR3 reduces from 12 to 10 teams as a result, with the 5 winners joining Olympiakos, Slavia and Salzburg in the Playoff round.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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QR1 saw 3 seeded teams lose – Astana the highest profile, but also Dundalk and Dinamo Tbilisi. The lineup for QR2 is attached, with the Ki v Slovan Bratislava QR1 tie still to be played on Friday.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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The draw for QR3 is on 31st August, so all 2nd round ties will be played before then. The Astana and Lyon losses mean that Young Boys and Red Star Belgrade are no longer potential opponents in QR3 – should we get there.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Projected opponents for QR3 – if all seeded teams win in QR2, are Qarabag Legia Warsaw Maccabi Tel-Aviv Molde Dynamo Brest But this might change, depending on what surprises QR2 throws up. And, of course, we have to win our own game.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Should we get by our jinx round of QR3 then the lineup of projected opponents for the playoff is as follows – again assuming that seeded teams always progress. Slavia Prague Ludogorets Young Boys Red Star Belgrade\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Keep in mind that the playoff draw (on 1st Sep) is made before QR3 is played. That means any team projected to be unseeded in the playoff after QR2 completes could not then become seeded, regardless of what happens in QR3.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Doesn’t look easy, does it ?<\/p>\n

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Djurgarden sporting director Bosse Anderson said earlier this week he thought the draw was rigged to make sure seeded sides got a home tie…<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf you were even a little bit observant during the draw, you knew which ball was coming out and who would get a home tie. Yes, I knew which ball was which, so I was not surprised.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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I hope he’s right.<\/p>\n

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Before that, however, Celtic travel to Dundee on Saturday to face the newly promoted Dundee United, and with the champions currently just about holding on to a top six place, a win is essential.<\/p>\n

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Shane Duffy , apparently now all sorted and happy to come to Celtic, won’t make his debut, but it will be intersting to see of Kris ajer and Jeremie Frimpong start the game.<\/p>\n

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Something else to watch out for will be the presence..or absence of Karamoke Dembele, who we hear has asked for a move.<\/p>\n

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And if you spot Leigh Griffiths talking to any of the Dundee United staff, we might even get a clue as to who will replace Lawrence Shankland in their line up.<\/p>\n

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Shankland, along with Lyndon Dykes of Livingston, touted for a move to ibrox. Dykes will earn his club \u00a32m with his move to QPR , after the ibrox club offered a mere \u00a3600,000, which would be paid weekly as long as Livingston sent a woman round after tea on Fridays to collect the cash.<\/p>\n

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You’ll note the media haven’t followed the Shankland to “rangers ” story, but they have mentioned the interest from Guincamp, who may well put in a bid.<\/p>\n

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The media have, however, mentioned a possible \u00a310m bid for Ryan Kent, the Ibrox winger who surprised everyone by not iving up to his \u00a37m price tag last year, which makes him second only to Oddsone Edoaurd in the most expensive player stakes in Scotland.<\/p>\n

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However, that price tag comes with the harsh reality that someday you will have to pay it, and as no one for Leeds was available for comment on the rumour, we can assume that Kent is now up for sale because the cash strapped ibrox board don’t have the money to pay the next instalment on him, and at least a sale of the player would hide that.<\/p>\n

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Imagine the embarrassment if “rangers ” were to have a player repossessed due to non payment…..<\/p>\n

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I’m sorry, thats my spelling again. Hilarity. Not embarrassment.<\/p>\n

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It might just be the tipping point for a fanbase already outraged at their descent into a bargain basement club, withe the new strips causing alarm over quality, service and the fact that when they wear it, people point and laugh at them in the street.<\/p>\n

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As usual, though, it’s all Celtic’s fault…. and their supporters, of course..<\/p>\n

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Year after year we say this, but they really are not going to learn, and every time one set of shysters bends them over a table there’s a queue of others waiting for their turn.<\/p>\n

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It’s not just the strips, the full range of merchandising appears to be , well, shite….<\/p>\n

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Purchased this on Friday:<\/em><\/p>\n

RFC COTTON LS TEE – NAVY\/WHITE; RFC COTTON SWEATER – NAVY\/WHITE; RFC COTTON HOODY – NAVY\/WHITE.<\/em><\/p>\n

I was \u00a3160 for that lot.<\/em>
\nHowever, I\u2019ve just received them, and I’m disgusted with the lack of quality.<\/em><\/p>\n

On the sweater, the Castore words are missing letters and the Castore logo isn’t straight.<\/em>
\nThe RFC crest is also miles off being straight.<\/em><\/p>\n

The t-shirt and hoodie are OK on this front, but the quality in general leaves a lot to be desired.<\/em><\/p>\n

Are normal Castore items made in India like this cheap shit?<\/em>
\nAnd when I say cheap shit, I mean the quality \u2013 not the prices, which are anything but cheap.<\/em><\/p>\n

I’m so disgusted with the poor quality of the sweater that I’m returning all three.<\/em><\/p>\n

I’ve got the home and away shirt, but these will be my last Castore purchases unless the item is embroidered.<\/em><\/p>\n

Gutted not to be able to support my club.<\/em><\/p>\n

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He could always just buy an ordinary hoodie and tell everyone its the same one.<\/p>\n

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I had a quick look on Twitter (which I’m not on, thankfully), and if you search for Castore, it’s full of Rangers fans highlighting the poor quality of items, if they actually receive them that is.<\/em><\/p>\n

This must be doing untold damage to the Castore brand.<\/em>
\nA company who prides itself on being premium and the manufacturer of the world’s highest quality sportswear are currently a laughing stock.<\/em><\/p>\n

If I was involved with Castore, I’d be sorting this as a matter of urgency before the entire brand is irreparably damaged.<\/em><\/p>\n

They are a lot of very unhappy vocal Rangers fans out there just now…\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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\"Bears<\/p>\n

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Wait till Kent gets repossessed….Morelos and Tavernier are sold and Gerrard fucks off.<\/p>\n

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\"Groucho<\/p>\n

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Then again, they would be free to make a move for the dream team of Neil McCann and Alex Rae….<\/p>\n

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\"Silent<\/p>\n

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2020 has been a terrible year, from wildfires to pandemics and world wide economic collapse.<\/p>\n

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If it wasn’t for the efforts of all those involved at Ibrox I don;t know how I’d face each day.<\/p>\n

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\"Thank<\/p>\n

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Yesterday, we had this….<\/p>\n

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\"Image\"<\/p>\n

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Uralius<\/em><\/div>\n