{"id":8842,"date":"2016-03-23T09:37:49","date_gmt":"2016-03-23T09:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=8842"},"modified":"2016-03-23T09:37:49","modified_gmt":"2016-03-23T09:37:49","slug":"celtic-diary-wednesday-march-23-deila-leads-celts-to-new-ucl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=8842","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Wednesday March 23: Deila Leads Celts To New UCL"},"content":{"rendered":"

Celtic will play Leicester in Glasgow, Barcelona in Dublin, and Inter Milan at a venue to be decided in Europe in the International champions cup, a US financed get together for all the big clubs who can take their supporters with them without trashing the joint and stretching local emergency services.<\/p>\n

There was talk that Celts would play in the New World, but one or two visa issues with one or two players who are not strangers to magistrates probably put paid to that. The Inter game is touted for Lisbon, but may yet end up in England, possibly even at Wembley stadium, which gives the board a chance to pop in at Oxford United to see how the merger is coming on… you believe that stuff about Calum O’Dowda ? Really ?<\/p>\n

The tournament is a little, er, unique in its set up. Each club plays three games, and the one with the most points-three for a win, two for a shoot out win \u00a0and one for a shoot out defeat-wins after the three games are played.<\/p>\n

Theres no doubt it’s quite flattering for Celtic to be involved in such a high profile competition, which is invitation only, though its worth remembering the American based sports company running it are believed to have been pointed towards the inclusion of Celtic after another Glasgow side drew enormous crowds over there a year or two ago.<\/p>\n

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Prestigious is the word , looking at the full line up of teams involved..<\/p>\n

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Ronny Deila becomes the first Celtic manager to qualify for the ICC, and you lot want to sack him…<\/p>\n

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But seriously, how did we end up in with this lot?<\/p>\n

On the other side of the coin, t means that come the summer we’ll be excluded from glamourous events such as the Second Rangers Linfield clash, billed as the clash of the titans, two of the worlds three most succesful club.<\/p>\n

Laugh if you want, but we could do with that sort of PR at Celtic, well, maybe not to the extreme of making us look silly, but at least it puts a positive spin on a negative story.<\/p>\n

Peter Lawwell has every reason to be pleased with himself, having negotiated a home tie, a close to home tie and a game against Inter, possibly in Lisbon.<\/p>\n

And then there’s the money, and the exposure.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are delighted to be invited to such a prestigious international tournament and to join the other great names in world football.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cCeltic is proud to enjoy its own global profile and our involvement with the biggest names in the game will only increase interest in the club on a global stage.<\/em><\/p>\n

He even outlined plans to increase the capacity of the ground to cope, but probably should have thought it through a little more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Maybe, just maybe someone should point out that there’s another competition, with the same big names , every bloody year, and with a little investment he might see the clubs name up there with the other giants on a more regular basis…<\/p>\n

For Leicester City, who might well do an Atletico and win the league while the big boys players have their attention on their new cars and houses, its a fair leap into the limelight. Last season, their friendlies were against Lincoln, Mansfield and Burton, and their support will relish the games this year, against Barcelona, Celtic and Paris St. Germain.<\/p>\n

There is concern that the tournament might interfere with the champions League qualifiers, but to my mind it will focis the players a lot quicker and get a little more enthusiasm going, and competing with top sides will help get the fitness up to speed as well.<\/p>\n

as for the travelling, theres none involved really, and if the third game could take place in England, then whoever negotiated this for Celtic should be asked if he’s any good at scouting.<\/p>\n

Though there is one thing, Ronny Deila hasn’t said anything about it yet-or if he has, I missed it.<\/p>\n

Maybe he won’t be there, and the new manager will be introduced at Celtic Park on July 23.<\/p>\n

When do the Euros finish ? For Ireland ?<\/p>\n

In other news, Carlton Cole has turned up, looking sheepish and no doubt smelliing of the drink. we don’t know where he was, what he was doing , but his arrival, chucked out of a speeding seven seater, which failed to stop, certainly raised a few eyebrows..<\/p>\n

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He will be let go at the end of the season, but the guy who suggested \u00a0the deal will no doubt stay.<\/p>\n

Actually, we hear he’s got his eye on another sensational signing, with top level experience, to help out the youngsters on the field…<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Just because the photo is in colour, it doesn’t mean it’s recent.<\/p>\n

Congratulations go to Erik Sviatchenko, who has been named as the Danish Superliga Player of the Year. He won that for the season just gone, as obviously he doesn’t play for them anymore. He’s at Celtic now, and has settled quite well.<\/p>\n

Another Celtic centre half is away on international duty, and may be feeling a little more wanted \u00a0there than he does in Glasgow.<\/p>\n

Tuesday Mar 22, 2016. 21:03<\/em><\/p>\n

Hundreds of fans mobbed Eagles stars Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and Efe Ambrose after Tuesday evening training at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.<\/em><\/p>\n

Chelsea star Mikel was also mobbed by fans when the team trained in Abuja earlier in the day.<\/em><\/p>\n

Celtic defender Ambrose is returning to the city when he was born and where he went on to captain the city\u2019s biggest club, Kaduna United.<\/em><\/p>\n

The fans wanted to touch the players they often watch in action with their European clubs on television and also take pictures and selfies with them. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Maybe if we treated him \u00a0like that he \u00a0would play with a little more confidence.<\/p>\n

Another of the Lions celebrates a birthday today,<\/p>\n

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He’s seventy eight. But for some of us, he, like his team mates, \u00a0never gets older.<\/p>\n

I met Bertie at Lisbon airport in 2007, \u00a0and asked him what time the Lions would be at the National Stadium to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the win there, he didn’t know, but dragged me along to all the other lions to see if they did…<\/p>\n

A player who knows what its like to be a fan.<\/p>\n

Speaking of fans, yesterdays caption was won by bgbhoy, although I have altered the wording slightly..<\/p>\n

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today, we have a colour picture , for a change..<\/p>\n

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On a serious note, away from the football for a moment, there were further atrocities in Belguim yesterday. My thoughts and prayers go to those affected, but I’d like to add that this is the work of a terrorist group for its own means and ends. , Not a religion, not a refugee and not a nationality.<\/p>\n

Remember, its not so long ago this was an editorial, and you only have to substitute a word or two to see the blame game being played all over again.<\/p>\n

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