shut that window, there’s a draught in here

good start to the league but tougher challenges lie ahead for pruned down squad

After the heroics in Moscow it was always going to be a step up in class in the final qualification round for the Champions League, whoever we were drawn against. But, barely had the words “Please, Lord, not Arsenal” escaped the supplicating lips of the long-suffering Timmites than the slip of paper emerged from the UEFA fruit bowl with ‘Arsenal’ on it.

Yet, far from caving in meekly, Mogga’s Celtic gave a good account of themselves over the two legs. The players can hold their heads high knowing that they gave it their best and were devoid of luck, while Arsenal - the English team almost totally devoid of Englishmen - leave us with lingering memories of just how unpleasant the modern European player has become: Fabregas, throwing himself to the ground at the merest suggestion of a tackle, Eduardo, doing a fair impersonation of U-573 to con the referee into awarding a penalty then running over to kiss the TV camera in celebration (the last image my telly captured before my left boot went crashing through the screen) and Gallas, turning to receive the acclaim of nobody (he went to the wrong end) after inadvertantly deflecting a speculative shot he was doing his best to get out the road of into the net off his backside.

Sickening as it all undoubtedly was, the most galling thing was knowing that these fixtures wouldn’t have been required had the club gona about their business properly last season and won the league. And yes, I do like my grapes to be of the sour variety, thank you.

At least the Europa League will guarantee European football at least until Christmas in the Consolation Cup, and our group sees us in with Hapoel Tel Aviv, HSV and Rapid Vienna, for those of a certain age, a byeword for the kind of skullduggery that makes Eduardo look like Eddie Fairplay, the fairest player in FIFA’s Fair Play league. “It was a long time ago,” you can almost hear their apologists plead. “And we were only obeying orders,” I believe is the next line of that popular mantra trotted out often in Nuremberg back in the 50s.

While this season’s European caper is undoubtedly a chance to settle some old scores, more importantly it’s a chance to add some points the co-efficient, both our own and the country’s. Thanks to the SFA, recent contributions by the likes of Gretna, Motherwell, Aberdeen and Hearts haven’t exactly had the Continent quivering at the thought of taking on Scottish clubs. Queens of the Stone Age would have performed better than Queen of the South.

To strengthen the squad in preparation for this assault on Johnny Foreigner Tony Mowbray has added six players to the first team squad during the summer transfer window (Fortune, Fox, Zaluska, N’Guemo, Thompson and, most intrigungly, Chinese captain Zhen Zhi - not quite in time for Europe despite being available for months) with Korean international, Ki Sung-yong coming in January.

Passing them on the way out are a raft of players who have left to go on loan at an assortment of clubs, most notably Darren O’Dea, who signed a three year contract then left for 6 months to join Reading in the English Championship.

Undoubtedly the manager has addressed some troublesome areas of the team, but the debates will surely commence shortly as to whether all of this horse trading has left us stronger or weaker. The months ahead will be the judge, of course, but there are few among us who will be completely satisfied at the perceived level of financial support the board have given the manager as he attempts to rebuild the first team.

Mowbray himself has said that he reckons it will take him three or four transfer windows before the squad takes on the shape he wants. Tony and the board might well find that the Rome job might have to be hurried along.

A good start to the season, nonetheless with Rapid to visit Celtic Park at the start of October followed by a visit to Ibrox to play Rabid. Bring it on!

MANFRED LURKER