Champions League Qualifying 27-28th July

[MickeyPaul]

It wasn't long into his Celtic career, Kiko. I was constantly ripping apart his footballing ability and you were sticking by him to come good. He's good at running around and gettiing in the way but other than that.... this boy aint no footballer.

How do you see the 2nd leg going then? Braga looked pretty stuffy and relatively tight. I can see Celtic having a lot of possession but struggling to create... early goal is a must... maybe end up getting caught on the counter. Then it's all over.

[Kiko]

Braga weren't upto much at all.

McGeady should be back and he is the kind of player you need for nights like these. Hooper (Who I have heard great things about) will be in too so I can see a home victory but whether it is enough I do not know but I wouldn't rule it out thats for sure.

Celtic would be better suited to the Europa League this season anyways, too early for CL where they could potentially be humiliated like Rangers last season.

[Kiko]

PS - how out of his depth did Charlie Mulgrew look!!

[MickeyPaul]

Very. I'm sure I read a lot of people shouting for Mulgrew to be called up to the Scotland squad last season too.

When was the last time you saw someone booked for time wasting after 10 minutes by the way?

[Kiko]

10 mins? Try 3 mins!

The referee was one of the softest around, very influenced by the home crowd!

Nevermind, I never wanted a trip to Milan, Barcelona etc. I have had my eye on the likes of Tallin and Helsinki in the Europa League all summer!

[MickeyPaul]

Fuck! Was it 3 minutes? I remembered it being really early but I'm sure I read this morning it was 10 minutes. Bloody hell.

And yes. The referee was shocking. Peeep peep peepy peep bloody fucking peeep. Every 10 seconds. Football is becoming intolerable to watch.

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by slick

Liverpools also on LFC TV which is currently free, that'll do me

It's also being streamed live on Bet365, apparently, although I suspect that may well be only for those outside the UK and, erm, whatever country Rabotnicki is in

Edit - Macedonia. Of course. I knew that all along
Edit 2 - And it's also on Betfair

[ONEDUNME]

Originally Posted by Kiko

Celtic would be better suited to the Europa League this season anyways, too early for CL where they could potentially be humiliated like Rangers last season.

Potentially be humilated? I like it. What the fuck do you call last night's display. I'd say it was pretty humiliating.

As far as time-wasting goes, I didn't see the incident but, as a general principle, I've got no problem with the ref booking people for time wasting whether its the 1st minute or the 91st minute in a two legged affair, when an away side will often slow the game down as much as possible to keep the score down in the first leg.

Potentially humilated. Fuck me, I'm still giggling at that one Keeks

[ONEDUNME]

Judging by betfair, Celtic are going to be around the even money mark for the return leg which, if what Mickey is saying is right and Braga are that poor, has got to be worth a bet. I love backing against teams with a lead in the second leg so I'll be joining you.

[MickeyPaul]

Until the penalty ODM when they took the lead, they really were like a midtable SPL side (yes, that poor). They picked up the pace a bit after scoring and 2nd half but never looked any better than mediocre. I'm sure most people that saw it will agree. They've scored from a dodgy pen, a corner and then a mental keeper error from a 40 yard free kick. I don't recall them doing anything else in the game.

I would expect Celtic to beat them at home and evs would do me. I'd imagined them being around 1.7-1.8

I suppose I should reiterate how bad Celtic were though. Don't want to get carried away.

[ONEDUNME]

"I don't recall them doing anything else in the game"

They must have had three shots on target Mickey, which is three more than Celtic did according to Talkshite radio today.

Evens would do me as well. Everything points to a superhuman effort at home in the second leg. Getting through would be a bonus but anything less than heroic defeat (I.e, a 2 goal victory) and I really couldn't think of a worse way to start the season.

At 10/11 or more, I'm lumping on.

[slick]

I can't see Celtic being around evens, Like Mickey I'd expect them to be around 1.7's , I don't know why I'm butting in as I wouldn't even touch them at evens.

They were woefull last year and by all accounts even more woefull on Wednesday night, its been downhill for the last few years. it will take a superhuman effort but this current Celtic side don't do superhuman efforts, save your money lads for a rainy day