exciting times ahead for the champions
Jim Craig
NEXT week promises to be an exciting one for all of us. Not only do we have the first derby match of the season at the weekend but the draw for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League takes place on Thursday evening.
Every year when this draw comes round, the fans assess the opposition, look in particular at the big names and guess who we will get and how we will do against them.
It is always an exciting time when the names come out of the glass containers, with many immediate decisions being made about whether or not the fans fancy visiting a particular place.
However, if we review Celtic’s record in these group stages over the years, it is not the big boys from Pot One that should concern us – we have risen to the occasion against most of them – but the so-called minnows from Pot Four.
They are the ones we seem to have most trouble against, as the table below shows:
Year Pots 1/2 Pot 4
2001/02 Juventus Rosenborg 0-2 (A)
2003/04 Bayern Munich Anderlecht 0-1 (A)
2004/05 AC Milan/Barca Shakhtar Donetsk 0-3 (A)
2006/07 Man Utd FC Copenhagen 1-3 (A)
2007/08 AC Milan Shakhtar Donetsk 0-2 (A)
So, on Thursday evening, while going into raptures about the prospect of one of Europe’s really big names coming to Celtic Park, keep an eye on who comes out of Pot Four. They could be the potential party-poopers!
LIKE every newspaper, periodical and TV outlets - not forgetting the Celtic match programme - Channel 67 will be showing a tribute to Billy McNeill this Saturday, August 23 as the captain of the Lisbon Lions will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of his Celtic debut, which was against Clyde in the League Cup on August 23, 1958.
To subscribe to Channel 67, CLICK HERE
Like Billy, three other Celts that day - goalkeeper Frank Haffey, right-back Dunky MacKay and outside –left Bertie Auld - are better known for their exploits in the 1960s.
And Jim Conway, while full of promise at centre-forward, never quite managed to stamp his authority in the position in the first-team.
The other seven, however, are very much stars of the 1950s, most of them with the honours to show it.
Neilly Mochan: League/Cup ‘Double’ 1953/54; League Cup 1956, 1957
Willie Fernie Same as Neilly Mochan
Bertie Peacock: Scottish Cup 1951; League/Cup ‘Double 1953/54; League Cup
1956, 1957
Charlie Tully: Same as Bertie Peacock
Bobby Collins: Same as Bertie Peacock
Sammy Wilson: League Cup 1957
TOMORROW’S game against Falkirk is not only a home game but one with a 3pm kick-off.
You can be sure that John Hughes will have prepared his team well. The ex-Celtic and Hibs stopper seems to have the ability to coach his sides into playing attractive and effective football.
Whenever a player has the ball, there are always at least two others in position to receive a pass with another coming forward from the back to stretch the opposition.
However, for the past few years, they have been more comfortable in the defensive and midfield areas of the pitch, lacking both pace and a ‘dig’ near goal.
Anthony Stokes did make a difference when at the club but since his departure, the goals tally is nothing to write home about. Just look at last season’s league record.
P W D L F A
38 13 10 15 45 49
That left them in 7th place in the table but only 9th in terms of goals scored. After two matches this season, there is already a difference between the sides
P W D L F A Pts
Celtic 2 1 1 0 2 1 4 3rd
Falkirk 2 0 0 0 2 4 0 11th
No wonder Celtic are odds-on favourites.
HAIL! HAIL!