And Here Celtic Is What You Could Have Won

IF you're Scottish, it is so often a case of - it never rains but it pours. And, it certainly poured on Celtic today, when the group stages of the 2015-16 Champions League were drawn.

 

Malmo, who dumped the Hoops into the Europa League on Tuesday night, were drawn in Group A, alongside Paris St Germain, Shaktar Donesk and Real Madrid. Cue shrieked renditions of: "It should have been Us" from the disappointed Celtic support, and probably Peter Lawwell - reflecting on what bringing Real Madrid - CR7, Gareth Bale and Co, to Celtic Park would have meant to the club.

 

Never mind, the Hoops can only hope they get a half-decent draw when the Europa League groups are drawn tomorrow.

 

But, before then, the Champions learned their next opponents, as they seek to defend the League Cup, which they annexed last season. There was a lot of the usual posturing on both sides, hoping for a tie which would have pitted the Hoops against the Rangers Tribute Act. I must admit, I could never see this happening, the old square and oval balls have not been entirely ditched at Hampden - if we are to get a clash of the Bigot Brothers, it will have to wait.

 

Instead, Celtic were paired with Raith Rovers, who, so-memorably beat them in the final all those years ago. Lightning could strike twice, but, I doubt if it will, particularly at Celtic Park. Mind you, with this Celtic defence, you never know.

 

The RTA meanwhile, will entertain St Johnstone, which will, I feel, be a stern examination of just how good this new-look RTA which Mark Warburton is assembling really is.

 

Tie of the round, however, might well be the meeting between Kilmarnock and Hearts. Gary Locke, the Killie boss, and Rugby Park goalkeeper Jamie Macdonald, certainly have every reason to put a spoke in the wheel of the Tynecastle machine which has started the season so well.

 

Also, for all that has happened since, not least the last game of the 1964-5 season, we older Killie fans still bear a League Cup grudge against Hearts. Mind you, to be fair, they were the innocent parties in an extremely-rare Tiny Wharton mistake in the 1962-3 final - the last time Hearts won the trophy - which saw that normally perfect whistler disallow a perfectly-good Frank Beattie goal. 

 

Killie still owe Hearts one for that - we bear long and deep grudges in God's County.

 

There are one or two ties which offer the possibility of shocks - Motherwell, for instance, will not fancy a midweek trip to Cappielow, while, having got rid of the 'Dee in the last round, Alan Johnston's Pars will surely fancy their chances of winning at the other end of Tannadice Street, when they take on the Arabs.

 

Also, Livingston, at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle will surely fancy their chances.

 

 

 

FINALLY, I long ago learned never to under-estimate a footballer's lack of intelligence, but, Shaun Maloney, swapping life in Chicago for HULL!!! Ffs, the guy's brains are clearly in his feet.

 

Nobody ever named Hull as his kind of town.