Not all Champions League ‘winners’ take the trophy home in May. In 2009 Michel Platini, in his wisdom, decided that there were not enough champions in the Champions League, as a result of well-resourced also-rans from the large leagues crowding out table-toppers from the small leagues. The competition format was changed, champions from smaller nations would compete against each other.
The result of the change is that five champions from smaller leagues are guaranteed entry into the tournament. Conversely, runners up from the smaller leagues need to fight it out against non-champions from the big leagues, like Arsenal and Manchester United. The concern expressed at the time was that the flood of money gained by champions from the small countries would impact their leagues. ‘Good’, said a few of us.
Champions League money can double the income some clubs earn in a year. Successful Champions League entrants’ ability to compete would be greatly enhanced, perhaps meaning they jump into a virtuous circle, strengthening and qualifying in subsequent years.
There have been 30 places up for grabs in the champions route since, but the qualification performance stats isn’t what was expected by many. 22 teams have qualified but only six have done so more than once. Two, BATE Borisov and APOEL Nicosia, are the only teams to go one step better and qualify three times. Curiously, only BATE and Celtic have qualified in back to back seasons, no one has managed three in a row.
For all the riches the Champions League brings to Celtic, and teams far more impoverished than them, successful teams seem to encounter the classic Nouveau Riche problem. All this money and they don’t know how best to invest it in order to make sure they get another payday.
Qualification itself is not costless in competitive terms. It’s likely each team who punches through the barrier to reach the Promised Land, has to suffer the cost of exertion and distraction, which the visits of Europe’s aristocracy inevitably brings.
Then there’s the question of what to do with the money. Your best players get a shop window, encouraging them to run down their contracts. Your manager is likely to be off too. You have to find candidates further down the food chain, either in a lesser-still league, or at a club in your own land who are prepared to sell to you. And remember, this New Money is in the hands of people largely unaccustomed to spending at that level. You can afford to sign a €3m player, but the most expensive player you’ve previously worked with cost €200k. Those who can spot a great €200k player are not necessarily experienced enough to spend €3m wisely.
APOEL Nicosia and BATE Borisov have managed what the other 20 teams have struggled to replicate. Both are in this season’s play-offs and are favourites to go one stage further again. If BATE achieve this, they will have been group stage entrants four seasons out of five, so sustainable success not impossible.
Last week produced signs that eventually the cream is rising to the top. Eight of the 10 clubs in this season’s play-offs have reached the group stage through the champions route before, with the other two, Astana (v APOEL) and Albania’s Skenderbeu (v Dinamo Zagreb) odds against making it. For the first time it’s likely all five champions’ qualifiers will former graduates. The current highest number to qualify in one season is two.
So although the 30 places have been filled by 22 clubs from a remarkably diverse 17 countries, the pool of genuine competitors is approaching a limit.
Here’s the challenge, for Celtic and the rest. Your Champions League is a distinct competition to the headline grabbing tournament graced by Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Yours is being won by BATE Borisov. They are the team who have figured out what’s needed to come through this summer test with most consistency.
There are five places up for grabs. BATE and APOEL are doing their best to make sure their names are against two of those places. Celtic can grab another slot, but Malmo, Basel and Salzburg, as well as the Czechs, Israelis, Danes, Poles and other Eastern European teams, want their piece of the action too. A win against Malmo would go a long way towards flipping resources in Celtic’s favour, but whatever the outcome, being better than the rest of this geographically diverse group of small-nation clubs should be our immediate target.
Happy Birthday 50th to the Celtic View, the world’s first football club newspaper. Congratulations to the many who have contributed to the View over the years.
Can’t believe the news coverage John Collins comment has received. When he heard Derek McInnes’ backlash (cough) he must have looked around for a dressing room full of Hibs players.
594 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- »
Andrew K
Alan Parry csc
And right back at ya……dick emre
Andrew Kerins, ooh you are awful but I like you.
DadIgotitwrongagain CSC
Oneneillebnon- showbox is pish, just install Genesis!
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
See if you were a big successful (bank) manager bloke in strange northern lands and some big dumb weirdo suggested poaching a megastar in the making from the mob whose coat-tails you’re desperately trying to hold onto cos that’s the brief and you stick him right in only to discover he’s Colin Nish then you start to think you’ve been suckered after all. That’s another fine mess…
BT seem to quite like Celtic.Im confused,not used to msm being that way inclined.
Gearoid oiche mhaith a chara
Thought the Dundee player who had the initial shot fouled to win the ball with a two-handed push. Maybe it was the ‘new,no had them that long eyes’ or something,but expected a free kick as he had pushed him rather than boot him which Beaton doesn’t seem to thin is a foul:) :)
Winningcaptains
Since I’m not Alan Turing what are you really trying to say :)
Enigma csc
Dallas hello honkytonkcsc
Andrew
Agus tu fein
My bhoy and his Belfast pals were at the Dundee Derby tonight, they have also been to the Motherwell game on Saturday and our game on Sunday, they have loved all 3 games and commenting on how much quicker and competitive it is to the overhyped EPL. Personally I thought the Derby game tonight was the best game I’ve seen over the weekend. Great to see a good crowd with exciting football and a great finish to a great game.
Looking forward to another great game tomorrow and hope we up our intensity and score a few.
Kikinthenakas
cowiebhoy
Wrong. I attended, as I told you, because you asked me to on here. Yourself and leftie were the only ones who welcomed me. The rest treated me as if I had horns.. The following game we met as there were only the three of us, including embramike, and now we sit close to each other. So, the righteous CQNrs can forget me invading their space ever again, and do you know what, I honestly feel released. Can’t explain why, but there you have it. We’ve had a great journey, but my time has obviously come to accomodate the blog’s newer contributers. It’s been a lot of fun, and heartbreak, but worth every minute. Byeeeeeee
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Winning captains
Are you trying to say sevco are after one of the Celtic management? Or am I totally wrong,the other bit sounded like Warburton has had enough and weary Dave still lives in England
WC
Are you alluding to a band fae Dundee? :)
Weefra
Sorry to read your post tonight. Hope I bump into you soon.
Take care. God bless pal.
Andrew Kerins, lol .
The Dick Emery show always gave us a laugh in our household in the early seventies in a less politically correct environment.
Right I’m away to my scratcher to see if I can work out Winning Captains conundrum :-) by the time I awaken
Nytol and Hail Hail
Weefra
How many flounces is that noo ?
Dallas
That was one of the many shows that my mammy would never allow on her telly. Rangers games were never allowed in her home either. :)
Art of War thanks for reply. Does that show under kodi app as didnt have film we were after. Will note for future if sound quality better. I blame John Collins :)
Think WC is suggesting that the baker has realised Wilson is rubbish
Who was the lad Rangers signed from Hearts?
CHANNELISLANDCELT on 11TH AUGUST 2015 11:00 PM
Weefra
How many flounces is that noo ?
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/celtics-real-champions-league-competition/comment-page-9/#comments
And who TF are you to question me??? Grow up and learn what you’re talking about. Attend CP with the CQN clique, and then you can comment. Until then, SHUT TF UP. No offence meant or intended. You are an obvious kiddy oan supporter. Listen, not taking this any further, seriously. I’m offski now.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Dallas Dallas
“A less politically correct time”
Too right. Ohh honky tonk springs to mind. Lol
HH
Borgo
I thought Mary’s Prayer too.
Is he really gone now…
I give 5 / 4 he will be back in less than ten minutes to announce his flounce
In the days of three telly channels, what my mum or dad wanted to watch, we watched.
For someone who wasn’t the most tolerant of people, my mum liked the Dick Emery show. She preferred the late Val Doonican show , mind you.
Neither my mum nor my dad liked watching sportsreel/scene or scotsport if the deidsters game was on it.
Are you working the back shift tomorrow or are you going to our game?
Any time we play at Rugby Park it reminds of playing them in December or January 1983 or 84. It was a freezing midweek game and the bold Jeff Harris travelled on our bus with the full Celtic strip on.
I wonder what doom monger Doncaster has to say about the terrific game at packed Tannadice tonight. The geezer should have been hunted out of Hampden.
Hunderbirds are go, great name.
Porridge is one of the best sit coms but there are few nonPc jokes in it particularly in relation to McLaren and Lukewarm, that would be nowhere near any sitcom now.
Dallas
My mam was the Mary Whitehouse of Knightswood. :)
Working till 8 tomorrow, will be in Horse & Barge for 7.45. ;))
Time = environment.
On this occasion predictive text is totally blameless.
Rubbish recall may have played a part though :-)
Margaret McGill on 11th August 2015 10:00 pm
Benjamin Netanyahu can never be arrested in the UK.
He has receipts.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/celtics-real-champions-league-competition/comment-page-8/#comments
…………………………………………………….
True he shops here for his weapons and stuff, but it would be nice to see 100,000 people showing that they want him tried and not feted like a valued client.
Delaneys Dunky
And also that it’s been Weir who pushed for the signing.
He is a player who has never made an impression on me .
Wits
You have a much better opinion of me than most on here. They must be so proud of you for your tolerance.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
So the sevco dream team haven’t relocated to Scotland and they think they’ve made a mistake in signing wilson and taking the sevco job,is that what WC is hinting at!!!!!!
WEEFRATHETIM on 11TH AUGUST 2015 10:43 PM
I have thoroughly enjoyed your contributions to this home from home.
We Jocks are a fractious mob.Add some grog to the mix and ,well you know the rest.
Hope you regale us in future with some further tales of fermin` and fermers.
Hail Hail