When the venue is finalised Iāll step up the search. Priority to those who are attending the Glasgow game obviously 
Celtic kept waiting after safety meeting
14/02/2007 - 07:18:22
Celtic and Scotland were kept waiting last night after a meeting between Italian Football League representatives and state police officials ended without any announcement on whether stadiums in the country would be reopened.
The meeting at government headquarters in Rome was expected to provide the answer to where Celtic will play their Champions League away leg against AC Milan.
The San Siro was opened to season-ticket holders for Sundays match against Livorno after stadium officials and contractors worked around the clock to install new turnstiles, as demanded in a crackdown on security by the government.
However the Rossoneri, who share the stadium with Inter Milan, had still to convince the authorities their home was fit to be filled to capacity by Italian and Scottish supporters for the last-16 match on March 7.
Only 21,000 home fans attended the Livorno Serie A match, while almost four times that would be expected to attend a match against Celtic, presenting security issues far outweighing those experienced at the weekend, when seven turnstiles proved temperamental.
Deputy director general of public security Antonio Manganelli, whose team drew up the initial list of which stadia met the requirements and which did not, attended yesterdays meeting.
New security criteria have been enforced following the events in Catania which led to the death of policeman Filippo Raciti on February 2.
UEFA have expressed optimism that Milans San Siro home will be given the green light to stage matches in the usual manner, however they are ready to accept whatever decision the Italian government come to.
Newcastles St James Park is a potential fall-back option for Milan, as is the Stade de France in Paris.
Only Romes Stadio Olimpico, Genoas Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Turins Stadio Olimpico, Palermos Stadio Renzo Barbera, Sienas Stadio Artemio Francho and Cagliaris Stadio SantElia have had the all-clear from the Italian authorities so far.
Bari due to stage Scotlands Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy on March 28 - was one of 25 stadia considered at present inadequate last week.
It is believed the modifications required at Baris San Nicola stadium should be completed well before Scotlands visit.
Roma have been given the all-clear to host Lyon in the Champions League on February 21 but Livorno will stage their UEFA Cup clash with Espanyol behind closed doors tonight after Italys Ministry of Home Affairs passed judgement.
Their Armando Picchi stadium has not received clearance, despite the citys hopes that emergency works would be completed in time to allow them to welcome fans for the game.
The decision has left the Tuscan outfit bitterly upset.
It is a defeat for the whole of football, said coach Daniele Arrigoni. Not only for Livorno, but for the whole city and the whole of Italy.
For us, this is an historic event and we are very disappointed not to be able to have the support of our fans.
This isnāt great news for folk like us travelling unofficially. Itāll be really hard to get tickets if the capacity is that low. Hopefully theyāll be able to raise it between now and then. From the official Celtic site:
Celts get San Siro go-ahead
Newsroom Staff
AC Milan have today confirmed that the forthcoming UEFA Champions League away tie will go ahead as planned on Wednesday, March 7, with a capacity of around 40,000.
Celtics initial allocation of 4,850 tickets will remain in place and AC Milan do hope to have this capacity increased, but await confirmation on this point.
Celticās Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell commented: We are pleased that our supporters will be able to attend this match as initially planned and look forward to an exciting game in the San Siro.
"Celtic officials, together with representatives of Strathclyde Police will be travelling to Italy to meet with AC Milan and the Italian authorities to ensure that we are satisfied with all arrangements put in place for this match.
Club representatives have also been invited to attend the forthcoming Inter Milan v Valencia Champions League match on Wednesday to observe matchday arrangements.
"Celtic supporters have an impeccable record of behaviour and we are sure that our fans will play their part in making this match another great European occasion for the club.
Mr Lawwell added: "Again, the club would like to stress very strongly that Celtic supporters should not travel to Italy unless they have purchased a ticket through official Celtic FC channels.
Those supporters who are travelling officially will be updated on all matters in relation to the match, security and otherwise, early next week.
Thatās not great news at all is it? Going to be difficult to get tickets now and even more difficult to get into the Milan area of the stadium.
A preview of Celtic-Milan is up on the front page.
I couldnāt really be arsed looking into Milan as we all know weāll beat them.
Wasnāt bothered previewing the other ties either. Maybe Pool or ManU supporters here would like to do an article on their chances.
Just got this reply on AnFearRua where my āCeltic Threadā is the cause of much bafflement.
'If I didnt know you were serious Bandage Iād call you a serious WUM! Dipose of Man Utd without much fuss? Thought they missed a penalty to draw it in the last minute. Expecting to beat Milan 3-0 because of the flair of the Celtic side? Fair play to your obviously dedicated supporting, but do you have any sense of football outside of Celtic?
As much as you think Milan are poor, they have a good side, probable starting eleven being Dida, Oddo, Maldini, Bonera, Jankulovski, Gattuso, Pirlo, Brocchi, Seedorf, Kaka, Gilardino, with maybe Olivera starting upfront instead of Brocchi, or the recently signed Ronaldo. They havent lost in Serie A since the beginning of November, and had qualified comfortably from the CL group but lost a few of the latter games to scare them a bit.ā
Good work Bandage - Iāve pencilled that in for half time reading.
Like weāve discussed plenty of times before I think a clean sheet in a home European game is paramnout. The defence is nowhere near as solid as Iād like it to be but weāve zero options there.
I think Iād go with the team youāve outlined but I reckon Strachan might include Jarosik somewhere.
AC Milan strikers Alberto Gilardino and Filippo Inzaghi look likely to miss Tuesdayās Champions League match with Celtic in Glasgow. With new signing Ronaldo cup-tied and Marco Borriello suspended that leaves Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti with only one out-and-out striker in Ricardo Oliveira for the last-16 first-leg at Celtic Park.
AC Milan are without both their first-choice keepers for the crucial Champions League clash with Celtic on Tuesday.
Brazilian number one Dida, 31, will miss the trip to Glasgow after picking up a shoulder injury in the Rossonieriās loss to Roma on January 31, but hopes to be fit for the return leg at the San Siro on March 7.
His usual replacement Zeljko Kalac is also suffering from a knock, so Milan will turn to Marco Storari who will make only his second appearance since signing from Messina in the January window.
San Siro āmay be full for Celtic tieā
18/02/2007 - 11:49:08
Celticās Champions League clash in the San Siro could be staged in front of a full house, according to Milanās sports and security chief.
UEFA this week confirmed the second leg of the Scottish championsā last-16 tie against AC Milan would take place at the San Siro but in front of a limited capacity.
Internazionaleās game with Valencia on Wednesday will take place in front of 36,000 fans as the stadium is brought up to scratch following the introduction of safety rules sparked by the death of a policeman amid the violence before a Catania v Palermo game.
Hoops fans allocated one of the 4,850 official tickets are guaranteed a seat but around double that number are expected to travel for the March 7 game.
Celtic have warned those without tickets to stay away but those fans will fancy their chances of buying a ticket in Italy if Milan are able to open all of the stadium.
Security boss Giovanni Terzi told the Sunday Mail newspaper: "We are in the process of installing more turnstiles at the San Siro.
āThere will be 40 for Interās game against Valencia this week but, by the time Celtic come, there should be 60, which would let in 80,000 fans.ā
Iām assuming Liverpool will play a 4-5-1 for our 1-0 smash ānā grab at the Nou Camp this coming Wednesday.
Something like this maybe.
-----------------Reina-------------------
Finnan-----Carra-----Hyypia/Agger-------Riise
Pennant---------Alonso-------Momo--------Gerrard-------Garcia(?)
--------------------Kuyt-------------------------
Canāt decide whether I want Hyypia or Agger to start. Hyypia is usually class in Europe but Iād be worried about him in this one with the players Barca have running from deep. Left side is the usual headache but I suppose Garcia should get the nod because our goal is probaby more likely to come from a midfielder as Iād imagine Kuyt will have his back to goal for most of the night.
Pretty sure that Garcia is out for the season after his knee injury against Arsenal. I think Liverpool will play that kind of side alright with the 3 lads in central midfield. Maybe Gonzalez might come into the reckoning having played in Spain before but I think Riise might play ahead of Aurelio or Agger. Barcelona were awful tonight and Etoāo didnāt travel with the side. The last few weeks theyāve been playing Edmilson centre back and Marquez in midfield and both players have struggled. Their only positive was that Messi was really lively after coming on after about 65 minutes and he could start but if Liverpool can get an away goal theyāll have a great chance at home. As an aside Sevilla were exceptional tonight against Atletico. Maybe they can get over their blip and challange for the title.
That Milan team news is fairly encouraging. Obviously theyāll still have a decent side out but Iām glad that Inzaghi is out in particular. I never thought he was a really top player but heās the sort of sly little fook who could poach an away goal. Itāll be interesting to see how their 3rd choice 'keeper reacts to Celtic Park on a European night. It should be a great night.
As a further aside Iām really surprised that RTE are showing Lille-ManU on Tuesday. That would strike me as the least attractive of the last 8 ties but there you go.
Thatās a ridiculous decision by RT but the type of thing Iāve come to expect from them. Celtic were never more than an afterthought for them from every perspective - pundits, resources, research so I was delighted when they lost the rights to the SPL. At least you know itās a priority for Setanta.
Sevilla were indeed superb last night. Daniel Alves is a cracking player but a whingeing, moaning bastard.
Re Barca: for years theyāve needed a strong, decent holding player in midfield. They had it in Davids for half a season but other than that they;ve been playing Edmilson, Marquez, Motta in that role and frankly none of them are quite good enough, though Marquez is a decent centre half.
hard to believe that decision from rte. will be sending a complaint to them. is it tuesday the day when itv show a live match as well. if so what match are they showing?
I thought The Beat going off was only a precaution on Saturday. If heās hamstrung yet again Iāll be well pissed off but hopefully heāll be alright. Presume OāDea will play instead of Caldwell as after 3 months out itād be crazy to throw him straight into this type of game. From the Celtic site:
Injury update
GARY Caldwell has resumed training ahead of tomorrow nights UEFA Champions League tie against AC Milan, with Craig Beattie due to undergo a fitness test on the day of the match (Tuesday, February 20).
Bobo Balde, meanwhile, remains sidelined with a long-term injury while Maciej Zurawski continues to receive treatment for a short-term injury.
The Beat took his goal superbly on Saturday and is definitely in poll position to start alongside big Jan so it would be very disappointing to lose him. Looking at the bigger picture as well itās extremely worrying that he still canāt shake his injury problems.
I canāt see Caldwell getting near the team but he may have to sit on the bench (I guess itās between him and Cuthbery). OāDea will start and deserves to - I think they were afraid of their lives to give him a run on Saturday in case he picked up a knock. We are horribly short at the back.
Iād resigned myself to Magic being out but itās a concern about Jan and The Beat.
Strachan: Show no fear
David Friel
CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan today surveyed the 16 teams left in the UEFA Champions League and told his players that they have earned the right to operate in this sort of esteemed company.
European giants Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and tomorrows opponents AC Milan, all have hopes of going all the way to the Athens final on May 23.
However, Celtic boss Strachan believes his side remain in the competition on merit and has urged them to show no fear as they go head-to-head with the Serie A giants.
We deserve to be here, said the Celtic manager as he looked to Tuesdays first-leg clash with AC Milan.
The players have worked extremely hard this season and they deserve this occasion. They deserve the right to play against a top, top side like AC Milan.
We will need a lot of resilience, but we also need other qualities. We need to pass the ball, we need to create chances and we need to work hard for each other.
We need enthusiasm, pace, common sense and we must not show any fear. All those qualities are needed tomorrow.
Celtic duo Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley are ineligible for the Milan match after playing in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round with Hearts earlier this season, while Strachan faces a sweat over the fitness of several other key players.
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Craig Beattie and Maciej Zurawski took no part in a light training session this morning, although Kenny Miller will be fit.
The Scotland striker received stitches to a cut head at Aberdeen on Saturday after bizarrely colliding with an assistant referee and also underwent surgery to cure a painful tooth problem.
Strachan said: Three of our strikers didnt train this morning and it would be a concern if not one of them was fit. Kenny also took a few knocks at the weekend, but hes fine.
When asked about the danger posed by the multi-talented Milan side, Strachan insisted reports of the Rossoneris demise had been greatly exaggerated.
After being handed a well-documented eight-point deduction at the start of the season, Carlo Ancelottis men currently lie off the pace in Serie A.
However, they are showing clear signs of a revival and Strachan rubbished claims that Celtic are facing Milan at a good time.
Someone mentioned that to me and I dont think theyve been studying the same games that I have, he said.
I think what happened with Milan is that they had the points deduction and that trauma affected their start to the season.
But if youve watched them recently, you will see that they are a good team. They were involved in a fantastic game at the weekend (beating Siena 4-3) and they look relaxed.
The stuff Ive seen is good. They are scoring goals, they look strong and they believe in their system. They use two variations and we need to be ready for both of them.
Ive spoken to the players and theyve got an idea of how Milan like to play. Hopefully, well be ready for it.
Not many specifics on Jan there - he is absolutely crucial to our chances.
I shit myself when he went off on Saturday but the way he trotted off and turned around to applaud the supporters while smiling gave me hope he was fine.
But then I got thinking that the same thing happened at Tannadice before the Benfica game and he didnāt make it.
And I think you and piedpiper mentioned before about injuries and how Strachan doesnāt risk players and generally when he says a player is doubtful then they actually are and often donāt end up playing.
Milan just arrived in Glasgow. Swarms of supporters all over them trying to get autographs. Kaka and Seedorf looked like they were shitting themsleves. Maldini gave an interview while walking along with about 20 young lads hanging out of him, āI know Celtic have only lost one game at home but thatās why weāre here. To change that.ā Canāt wait to get stuck into these fooks.