Midway through the second half, I chastised myself for being so downbeat about our prospects last night. For 81 minutes, the game was there to be won. Neither team was at full strength, but if Celtic had a little of Maeda’s industry, or Hatate’s control, the outcome could have been different.
As it was, the game turned when Lazio benefited from a late deflection. It officially brought to an end hopes of Europa League games after Christmas, but those surely did not exist after Lazio scored a last-minute winner at Celtic Park earlier in the campaign.
Being competitive, as we were twice against Lazio, once against Atletico and while we had 11 men away to Feyenoord, is our Champions League stake in the ground so far this season. The results, however, tell a story of defensive fragility, and an inability to create a sufficient volume of chances to make sure we are the team who benefits from a late deflection.
Paulo Bernardo was a surprise starter and should feel pleased with his contribution. I suspect there is a player in him, but he will need a run of games in the team if we are to properly develop his talent.
He can look to Liam Scales, who is the left-sided central defender practically every team is looking for. Against St Johnstone earlier this season, Liam looked miles short of a player who could deliver a shift away from home in the Champions League. Game time and the correct coaching changed that. This is our place in the world: find talent and realise its potential. There is no other sustainable model for Celtic.
A lot more rides on the Feyenoord game than the table suggests. For so many reasons, nothing less than a win against the Dutch champions will do.
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I think you’re misunderstanding what’s being posted.
Some fans think our level is Europa league, so are okay with finishing 3rd in the CL then dropping into the Europa to face teams we have a chance against.
No one has said they want to win the league then give up CL to start in Europa.
GREENPINATA, I sit corrected. You are of course correct – I had an aunt who was the fiercest defender of Celtic and a regular at Celtic Park.
Should know better in this day and age.
Ave Ave
THE_HUDDLE @ 10:20 AM,
It wasn’t a misunderstanding, just a bad explanation possibly:))
My point was in the summer we had little aim to play Europa Football in the foreseeable future.
Outside the “Europa after Christmas” scenario, which is one season (possibly one leg?), unless of course you agree with the conspiracy OF theory that it’s Rangers turn to win the League;)
So it’s UCL all the way for us.
Yet this calendar year we have not bought anyone to improve us in the UCL.
And outside Nat Phillips and Bernardo, who are loans and Luis Palma who we bought, none of the players strengthened our Europa chances.
Hail Hail
CHAIRBHOY on 30TH NOVEMBER 2023 10:34 AM
“My point was in the summer we had little aim to play Europa Football in the foreseeable future.
Outside the “Europa after Christmas” scenario, which is one season (possibly one leg?), unless of course you agree with the conspiracy OF theory that it’s Rangers turn to win the League;)
So it’s UCL all the way for us.”
SPFL winners this season are straight into the groups next year – but after that? Are we back to qualifying? If so, does this come with a Europa safety net?
I think Europa is more our level and I do prefer to watch more evenly matched football games rather than jump from one extreme to the other between SPL and UCL.
With more SPFL teams in european competitions and co-efficient points earned being divided by the number of teams I don’t think our UCL will be “all the way” – more likely to be very temporary.
QB
QUADBHOY @ 10:42 AM,
You hit the nail on the head there.
We seem to have based our summer transfer window on the concept of failing to qualify for the UCL in 2025/26 and playing in the Europa or Conference.
And it seems the majority of Celtic supporters were quite happy to sit on their hands and get embarrassed in Europe until then.
While the Board sit on a Kings ransom and wollow in the status their position brings.
Two things…
My feeling is the support is now seeing through this strategy and expectation management.
S. Rangers have no desire to play second fiddle to Celtic, they have domestic ambition, they have European ambition.
Europe after Christmas (again) for S. Rangers means they could strengthen in January with a manager who will have black book of European talent equivalent to Ange’s Asian tome.
Hail Hail
Good morning from the Star Bar. Luncheon later with Mrs BRRB who has finally captured me. Girls nowadays. 🙄
BIGRAILROADBLUES @ 11:00 AM,
Ah!!
So that was the agenda in the nomadic hostelry jinking!?
Staying on step ahead, sharp;)
You had a good innings…
Enjoy lunch…
Hail Hail
Chairbhoy
I’ll be making a break for it this afternoon. Shipwrecks meeting tomorrow and I may have to pass a late fitness test.
I think I’ll send my social media to the Celtic board. It’s amazing how many people remember you are a Celtic supporter when things go wrong. Usually a bit anonymous when we are winning. Lots of media outlets delighting in their hatred of our club. As Fergus said. – we are not among friends.
BIGRAILROADBLUES @ 11:15 AM,
Yes, an early substitution to ensure full fitness for the main event.
Seen a Grand bunch of lhads,
Meantime I’m enjoying the frost…
Chillin’ in the Chilterns…
Hail Hail
👍
CHAIRBHOY on 30TH NOVEMBER 2023 10:56 AM
“And it seems the majority of Celtic supporters were quite happy to sit on their hands and get embarrassed in Europe until then.”
Other than AM away I have not felt embarrassed.
“S. Rangers have no desire to play second fiddle to Celtic, they have domestic ambition, they have European ambition.”
I’d argue they are driven by desperation rather than ambition and I still think if the MIBs (or a divided Celtic) don’t hand them the league this year then we will see how “ambitious” they are next year when the financial fair play restrictions kick in.
“Europe after Christmas (again) for S. Rangers means they could strengthen in January with a manager who will have black book of European talent equivalent to Ange’s Asian tome.”
I’m not sure an extra round of fixtures will make much difference to their spend based on last years accounts / lack of UCL and transfer income this season.
QB
Happy St Andrews day to everyone.
QUADBHOY @ 11:23 AM,
To be fair to the players available, they have made a good fist of it.
Good experience and in seems team building.
However, the “football world” doesn’t see it that way, seeing the “Glasgow Giants” embarrassed seems schadenfreude to our detractors inside and outside Scotland.
Still, you didn’t seem to tackle my main point.
Celtic’s official agenda was to…
Get straight into the UCL this season ✔️
Win the league and get straight into the new format UCL next season
Win the league and qualify for the eight+ UCL games the 2024/25 season
Win the league and qualify for the eight+ UCL games the 2025/26 season
Win the league and qualify for the eight+ UCL games the 2026/27 season
Win the league and qualify for the reformed UCL games the 2027/28 season
So no Europa!!
Hail Hail
What happened to the Museum money?
For those on here who want to set their sights a bit lower just a reminder that we also play in the Lowland Football League. Not doing that great in it either, which might also force you to lower your sights still further.
Let us know when you shoot yourselves in the foot…
CHAIRBHOY on 30TH NOVEMBER 2023 11:37 AM
“However, the “football world” doesn’t see it that way, seeing the “Glasgow Giants” embarrassed seems schadenfreude to our detractors inside and outside Scotland.”
I couldn’t give a Castlemaine XXXX what our detractors think or how they see things. I saw a young team, coping with a lot of injuries try their best and other than AM I saw them try their best without fear. I also don’t see us as “Giants” any more than I see previous UCL winners Benfica, Hamburg, Red Star or Steaua Bucharest as such.
“Still, you didn’t seem to tackle my main point.”
I wasn’t really intending to challenge your point, I just raised the question as to whether we will even be a UCL team after next year anyway as I think we only qualify for UCL automatically next season.
I would hope that our official agenda is to be the best we can be regardless of which competition we are going into.
QB
ckythkyio;bjhjh
Shane McGowan RIP
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