Celtic FC: Here We Go Ten In A Row

ScottT Yeah I feel it is going to help out

OMGItsToddzy Same here I should win every match except for the Man City and Bayern ones

Opening Day of Training Camp

16 June 2016

It was a very busy day as the guys return from their summer break. For the vast majority of the players they had no summer break due to competitions like Euro 2016 and other friendlies. It is good to finally be able to coach these men and hopefully win a treble.

Since I was introduced as the manager a few weeks ago I have been in contact with several players and currently we are on the right foot. I am looking forward to seeing them once again especially captain Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong who I believe will become a great player in my system.

I decide that for today I will invite the senior team and several groups of our academy as well as the ladies team to the first meeting. Even though I have no say or control of the ladies team I want them to feel as if they are included in some functions. My goal is to have every team here play and adapt to my style of football.

After the main meeting with everyone and the coaches from each team got a chance to speak it was time for me to have another meeting with the senior and U20 squads.

We discuss everything including my goals for this team. Everyone seems to agree that we should win the treble this season. As we continue talking about the season we get a surprise guest. Bertie Auld came in to talk with the players about what it means to be apart of Celtic and the 67 team. You see this season is the 50th anniversary of the clubs European Cup victory over Inter.

Bertie got everyone excited and out of nowhere Gary Mackay-Steven blurts out, "I feel that we should aim for a Champions League victory this season!" Everyone including me look at him in a puzzled way but Broony (Scott Brown) nods in agreement and said,"I doubt it will happen but you never know so lets all work our asses off and win one for the Lisbon Lions." Everyone is happy and I even say lets go for it.

A few hours after the initial physicals I felt we should have a little scrimmage just to get in shape and I want to see what these guys do. It was a very competitive match as Team A won by a score of 5-2. I was very pleased and so were my soldiers.

With that the first training session was over. It was time for me to get in the office to make a few moves for the club. At this point I can't name names but on my radar there is this French striker who I feel could be a star for us and this guy from Aston Villa who could flourish in my system.

CELTIC will face Crusaders of Northern Ireland in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round following the draw at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

The first leg of the tie will take place in Scotland Wednsday, July 13 (KO: 7pm Celtic Park time), with the second leg in Belfast on Wednesday, July 20 (KO: 7.45pm).

The game at Celtic Park will also see the league flag unfurled before the game in celebration of last season's five-in-a-row triumph.

The home leg of the tie is included as part of the 2016/17 Celtic season ticket package. Tickets for the game are also on sale now HERE.

Celtic: Moussa Dembele signs as Stefan Scepovic joins Getafe

28 June 2016| Football

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France Under-20 striker Moussa Dembele has signed a four-year contract with Scottish champions Celtic, who have allowed forward Stefan Scepovic to sign for Getafe on a permanent basis.

Dembele was out of contract at Fulham, who will be due a development fee.

Scepovic, 26, who was contracted until 2018, has been sold to Getafe after spending last season on loan there.

Dembele, 19, scored 17 goals for Fulham in 46 games last season and is Brendan Rodgers' first signing at Celtic.

He joined Fulham from Paris St-Germain as a 16-year-old and made his debut for the London club in a Premier League game against West Ham United in November 2013.

His goals helped Fulham avoid relegation last season as the London club finished 20th in the English Championship, two places above the drop zone.

Dembele told Celtic's website: "To be the first signing of Brendan Rodgers is unreal for me.

"He told me that Celtic is a good team for me. I will have game time. I obviously have to show I can stay in the team.

"I think it's a good way for me to progress. It's unbelievable for me to play for a massive club like this."


Serb Scepovic played only one game for the Glasgow club last season before moving to Spain.

He scored six goals in 25 games in an underwhelming first season at Celtic Park after arriving from Sporting Gijon for £2.3m on transfer deadline day in August 2014.

Scepovic, who has also played for Beograd, Sampdoria, Club Brugge, Hapoel Acre, Partizan Belgrade and Ashdod, scored six times in 34 appearances while on loan in Spain.

Getafe, who were relegated from La Liga to the Segunda Division, say Scepovic has signed a four-year contract.

He becomes the fourth striker to exit Celtic Park since Rodgers succeeded Ronny Deila as manager at the end of May.

Anthony Stokes joined Blackburn Rovers after the Irishman was not offered a new contract, while former Turkey forward Colin Kazim-Richards was transferred to Brazilian club Curitiba and former England player Carlton Cole's contract was terminated.

Nice work mate. Getting rid of the rubbish. Hope some fresh players come soon

Legend, Dembele will smash it for you.

redvee35 Lets hope Dembele develops into the next Larsson

ScottT He is no GMS though lol

BRENDAN Rodgers has declared himself delighted with Celtic’s 13-day pre-season trip to Slovenia after the Hoops jetted out of Maribor bound for their first competitive contest of the campaign back home.

Along with undergoing some intense training sessions in the summer heat, where the new manager had the opportunity to spend valuable time working with his players, the Scottish champions played four friendlies, winning three and drawingone, and honing their match sharpness.

While the Hoops boss admits he’s still in the early stages of implementing his plans for the team, he will lead his team into their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie against Crusaders feeling positive about how his players have responded to his demands.

"It was good playing these four teams especially Olimpija and Maribor as they are the quality of teams that we will see in Champions League," said Rodgers speaking with Celtic TV.

Here is how the four matches played out for the Bhoys.

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The trip kicked off with an impressive 5-2 victory over Celje who finished 5th in last years Slovenian PrvaLiga. Goals came from three players including new signing Moussa Dembele who scored 44 minutes in. James Forrest was the man of the match as the young winner scored two goals to give us the big win.

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A quick trip over the Austrian border saw the club wear the away kit for the first time this season. Patrick Roberts got the match off to a flying start with a goal twelve minutes in. Mattersburg was no match for us as three more goals would go pat their goalkeeper. For the second match in a row Tom Rogic and James Forrest had their names called after scoring. It was time to return to Slovenia to face the countries two best teams.

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The Bhoys on tour continued their great run of the preseason and bonding as they faced last seasons champion Olimpija. In what was seen as the first test of preseason Celtic had no problems brushing them aside in a 4-0 victory. Scoring came late as the Olimpija goalkeeper scored an own goal in the dying seconds of the first half. Two minutes into the second Tom Rogic got the club to a 2-0 lead. Moussa Dembele and Patrick Roberts finished off the beat down with goals in the 59th and 74th minutes.

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In the final match of the tour in Slovenia manager Brendan Rodgers was looking for the players to respond to a new formation that was first announced after the Olimpija match. With this in place and a mixed squad giving players rest before the Crusaders match, Celtic would struggle a bit as the final score ended in a one all draw. Captain Scott Brown had our only goal.

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With the trip to Slovenia now complete Tom Rogic and company look forward to the opening match of the Champions League season against Crusaders at Parkhead. "I felt this was a great bonding trip and that this team is ready for the season, I am excited to see how new players like Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele play in games that matter. I feel this could be the best team since I joined a few years back."- Tom Rogic.

The preseason is not over yet as we have three more matches to go. Between the Crusaders matches Dukla Praha will be visiting the hoops. This is the first of two matches this preseason against clubs featured in the 1967 run for the European Cup. After that Celtic will participate in the International Champions Cup. Of the two ICC matches the big one will come against Inter Milan on the 30th. This match features our opponents from the 1967 Final, Inter Milan.

In three days Celtic will officially kickoff the season against Crusaders for a 7:45 PM kickoff. Tickets are still available for the match.

Come on the hoops. You can beat the irish. Especially with Forest and Dembele

redvee35 Sing this with me, Olé Olé Olé Moussa Dembelé

14 July 2016| Football

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Moussa Dembele's three goal game gives Celtic a massive advantage over Crusaders going into the second leg.

It was a special evening at Celtic Park as many new faces made an instant impact in a game that will be remembered for sometime. With the likes of Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair making instant impacts the fans will be happy.

For manager Brendan Rodgers his debut game in charge shows how good of an asset for Celtic he will become. Using a basic 4-2-3-1 the Northern Irish Manager showcased his tactical mindset.

After the unveiling of Celtics 2015/16 SPL Championship flag Celtic were ready to go and dominate.

In the seventh minute Patrick Roberts got things going as he scored a beauty into the bottom corner. Crusaders goalkeeper Sean O'Neill could not get to the ball on time as Robert's shot was too strong for him. Two minutes later Dembele would score his first of three goals.

Scott Sinclair was another player who made his name known to the Celtic supporters as he scored in the forty-second minute of the match with his only goal. Later on he would miss a penalty shot. Dembele would score his second of the night two minutes later.

The match had its share of controversy in the sixty-third minute as Billy Joe Burns committed a hard tackle against Kieran Tierney just outside the box. Referee Martin Atkinson blew the whistle for a penalty kick. Moussa Dembele stepped up and scored what would be his hat-trick.


With this victory Celtic are now in control and on the path to the next round baring any complications in the next leg.

Manager Brenadan Rodgers said this after the match,"I am very pleased with this performance as the players reacted well to the preparations for the match." On Dembele's debut,"I am very pleased with the way Moussa played today, he has been working hard since joining a few weeks ago and it shows. Hopefully he can continue this all season long."

Celtic will now have a match against Dukla Praha in a friendly before traveling to Belfast for the second leg on the 20th.

Both teams now await their fate for the third round draw coming up before the second leg. It is set for a 2 pm draw at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Didn't expect any less to be honest.

ScottT: Dude I was expecting a 10-0 win haha.

Friday 15 July 2016



The two draws for the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round have been made.

The first was for the league route, made up of Monaco, the third-placed team in France last season, plus the league runners-up from the European associations ranked seventh to 15th in UEFA's coefficients.

The second draw was the champions route, involving the 17 winners of the second qualifying round ties (the second legs are next week) plus the champions of Greece, the Czech Republic and Romania.

The victors in both routes advance to the play-offs. Defeated sides transfer to the UEFA Europa League play-off round.

The draws were preceded by a minute of silence in honour of the victims of Thursday's terrorist attack in Nice.

All ties are played 26/27 July & 2/3 August.

What a draw. Lets hope you can get a good run going. I have faith in Rodgers