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.
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Watching the Barcelona game and I’m thinking something different, then it hits me.
They’re playing in the HOOPS
HH
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/commensurate-with-experience/
HT,
Lol. Get me signed up for that deal :))
HH
Ah yes messi , but could he do it on a Monday night at Stoke?
Is there anything mourinho won’t do for attention ?
non dee ploom
I’m working Saturday morning,if you’re going to ticket office early i.e 11.30 -11.50am
I will pick you on Dumbarton rd….give me a location.
Who’s the MIB in the Dundee Derby. Letting a lot of “crunching” tackles go. When will our officals ever learn?
Maybe just me
But
I have no interest in anyone else except Celtic
I have no idea where Scott Allen would be played in the Celtic team, and even less if an idea who he would replace
On our Bench – I do not see him as a 1st pick for our team – and would rather we brought our own youth through for apace on the bench
So it’s a definite NO from me
C E L T I C
Lennybhoy
Did you get shot of your spares?
Thanks to everyone who replied to my plea for help,I’ve tried to thank you all individually but you probably can tell by by my posts i’m not very good at this and my fingers are getting sore so goodnight to you all, you can see why i don’t post often :>) but i really enjoy logging on every day and getting the best Celtic news, Take care all Hail Hail.
3-1 dreadful defending
Paula do Canio signing for Celtic fair gasted my flabber at the time – totally out of left field.
Would love to know the story behind that one.
NON DE PLOOM
No charge btw.
3-1
Scott Allan?
As a GIRUY…fine
As a player investment……surely not!
Much better with one of the Ryans…..Christie or Gauld.
PS…when did Ryan become such a popular Scottish Christian name????
I really don’t know whether Scott Allen is worth signing (doubt it,tbh) but I would love it to see the reaction from the SMSM. I think it would be even better if we loaned him back to Hibs and sold him next season to the likes of Rotherham…………….
PCS
Beaton, ref for our match on Sunday also
Nice little earner for him
Barcelona are running Sevilla so ragged that the New Balance logo is falling off their shirts……
No, Sorry! That’s just a manufacturing error.
Those NB kits are awfully put together.
TheDailyRecordsaysthosecommentsdisrespectfultoScottishFootballCSC
Is that the new Orc full back playing for Barca?
voguepunter, That’s very kind of you but i was thinking of heading over tomorrow and soaking up the atmosphere.
Motor in garage for few hours 10am to 1sh, you gone oot after that?
No interest in old firmism. If Allan is better than Rogic, why not? If he isn’t, who cares about him?
VOGUEPUNTER on 11TH AUGUST 2015 8:27 PM
That is a fantastic gesture mate.
Next time you pass me on George Square don’t toot, give me a lift to Queen Street…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
voguepunter. Good to Know :o).
VP
Typical of you my friend.
Lennybhoy
Lazy bassas get the finger as well as a toot :O)
NON DEE PLOOM on 11TH AUGUST 2015 8:28 PM
Email me and I will get you in touch with voguepunter lennybhoycfc@gmail.com
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
The finger
I thought you meant you’d be back in a minute
HAMILTONTIM on 11TH AUGUST 2015 8:28 PM
Yeah mate thanks.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
voguepunter on 11th August 2015 8:40 pm
That’s about the only thing you ain’t gestured to me…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
I see that Tony Watt has scored for Charlton again tonight, after scoring on Saturday too. Hope the kid has screwed the nut.
COWIEBHOY on 11TH AUGUST 2015 8:28 PM
scott alan is a very ordinary, failed, player …..he would lucky to get a game with Dundee, or the like ….. Media hunhype
Captain Beefheart @ 8:39
Have to agree, if it isn’t going to be an improvement on what we have then don’t sign him, although I don’t think Ronny would sign him just to Giruy Sevco.
As many others have said on here recently I’d rather give Henderson game time, he looks to have the ability to impact games in the limited amount of times I have seen him.
Paul67 et al
Just realised that the Super Cup final is being played in Tiblisi, Georgia. Wonder how that came about? Fair trip from Spain I’d imagine.
Lennybhoy
Cheers mhate.
I would sign Charltons keeper
winky eye thing
DELANEYS DUNKY on 11TH AUGUST 2015 8:44 PM
I see that Tony Watt has scored for Charlton again tonight, after scoring on Saturday too. Hope the kid has screwed the nut.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/celtics-real-champions-league-competition/comment-page-5/#comments
Colum’s actually having a good game here….
DELANEYS DUNKY on 11TH AUGUST 2015 8:44 PM
I see that Tony Watt has scored for Charlton again tonight, after scoring on Saturday too. Hope the kid has screwed the nut.
Apparently he started off the bench at the weekend after (yet another) training ground bust up.
http://sport.bt.com/michael-owen-celtic-atmosphere-the-best-i-ever-experienced-91363997403980?