You have to give our hacks credit at times; they are forever finding new avenues down which to attack our club. The latest one is a beauty; they are publishing their lists of prospective Champions League opponents and basically asking us to be scared.
And you know what? Looking at those lists is actually pretty nerve jangling. Because of the way this year’s competition works, we will play two teams from each seeded “pot”, one at home and one away. Even in Pot 4 where we would be there are, or there are likely to be, some massive sides. There will be nothing easy about it. This is, after all, the top competition.
The media cannot have this both ways, but of course they will try to. They cannot suggest that Celtic is outgunned and then run all the usual crap about our Champions League record and suggest that we will be epic failures if we don’t improve on it. We’re facing a brutal test of whatever team the manager is able to put together in the summer … that’s a fact, and we would do well to be facing up to that from the start. But it’s nothing to be afraid of.
In fact, I love Champions League games involving us. I always feel deep pangs of regret when the draw for the knockout stages is made and we’ve failed to make it again. Although I know better, and have written many times about how difficult our job is, I always have a perverse amount of faith in us being able to achieve something, as unlikely as that proves to be.
But it’s an adventure, and I can never quite shake that feeling of being on one when we’re in that tournament and looking forward to the matches in it.
Let the accountancy types focus on the money. Let the bean-counters focus on the counting of beans. Celtic’s coaches and players want to play against the best and we, as fans, want to watch our team up against the best. That’s what you strive for, that’s what this competition is all about, and if we are there, we will watch some guys through our fingers, for sure, but there will be no regrets at all about having made it in the first place.
The Record should save its spook stories for the kids. Or for the Ibrox fans who might have to watch as we secure the big money prize. Nothing scares them more, which, presumably, is why we’re now reading this kind of nonsense.
Should the unthinkable happen and therangers win this league, that narrative would immediately change to those games being “glamour ties”.
Ahm at the stage where ah don’t look forward tae Europe anyway under this board. And ah hope this 4 year deal for Scales, is just as a squad player and no a sign they’re no gonnae invest in bringin a better player alongside CCV. Might sound a bit premature, sorry, just don’t trust them.
I’ll bet there is a simple reason why the daily Record never ,ever sends Berry , Newport or McDermott to cover a Celtic game domestically or in Europe ? And who makes those decisions ? Gannon and Swan who cover primarily Celtic football everywhere , also cover the tribute act’s games too , but the other 3 mentioned …..not a chance ! Maybe it’s because they would have to say something nice and positive about Celtic FC and their swarms of readers would not like that one little bit ?
Aye but the WORST EVER Group Record in Champions League History belongs to…
Drumroll…………………………………………………………………….. !
S – E – V – C – O !!!
Read that and weep lurking Sevco Huns and lurking Scummy Scottish Football Media Sevco Huns…
That said – I shouldn’t be so cruel and cut them some slack – As after all as of today they (Sevco) are only 11 years and 279 days old so I guess being the youngest ever competitors in Champions League History defines why they are down in history as the worst ever whipping boys in it !
Now wouldn’t that be something to build on – the youngest club ever to qualify for CL football? And then build a history upon it? But no, they want to cling to the survivor lie and live a narrative that everyone (including themselves) know is false.
Hey ho…
I think you raised a point on champions league some time ago James re us:
A learning from the experience and players improving as a result
B A priority holding onto our senior experienced players whilst enhancing the squad for the following years campaign.
If we continue to move on our “key” players each summer then clearly the Euro challenge into the knock out stages is going to be a bridge to far. Its hoped the funds being talked allows us to bring in proper quality
@ FC. It’s no even about gettin tae the KO stages mate. It’s the prospect of gettin embarrassed in Europe again, which seems tae be turnin intae a yearly ritual, because of this boards sheer lack of ambition.
There will be plenty of seats going begging for the games in Europe this season coming if there isn’t proper investment in the team.
I’m not alone,where l sit at Paradise,in taking the decision to come out of the HCTS where you are required to take all/and any cup tickets the club are involved in but when it comes to the semi/final of domestic cups you aren’t able to pair with the person you want to attend these games with.
I’ve given away single tickets for games at Hampdump because l don’t relish the thought of going there in any case so fucked if l’m going on my own like Billy no mates.
Sort it out Celtic SLO !!!
Notwithstanding that fact,season zicket holders all around me are pissed off shelling out fortunes to see us get gubbed every season in whatever competition we qualify for,and all to keep The Old Firm Franchise relevant.
Fuck the board !!!