Despite success, current European levels are not stable for Celtic

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In 11 days we will know our potential opponents for the first and second Champions League qualification rounds.  While earning the money available for Champions League qualification is the overriding priority, we also need Uefa coefficient points.

Should they progress, Celtic will be seeded for each of the four qualifying rounds, but they are in position to be bottom of the seed: five points below second bottom PSV Eindhoven, and four above unseeded APOEL Nicosia.

Our place in fourth spot in future years depends on who else qualifies and how successfully we replenish our stock of coefficient points.  We earned eight points from our Champions League/Europa League endeavours last season, with a six point season due to drop off next year.

Eight points from one season is a baseline for teams who wish to be seeded in the champions route, but it is difficult to imagine even a modest improvement without a significant pick-up in performances.  Chances of us winning two or more games in the group stage feel no more likely than the chances of us winning none, or of finishing bottom of the group stage – equal to our seeding.

The dirty wee secret of European football progress should be acknowledged.  Teams from small nations find it nearly impossible to progress through the group stage every year, much like on the international stage when betting on the World Cup, but those who manage to get there more seasons than not, tend to have financially difficult season, where they fail to qualify for the Champions League, but earn a significant haul of points in the Europa League, making subsequent campaigns a little easier.

Despite the general invincibility of the team domestically, I suspect the current levels of achievement in Europe are not stable.  We will have to improve, or there will be a season of retrenchment.

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567 Comments

  1. Apologies for the part post earlier slipped on the Post Comment button prematurely…

     

     

    Mods can you please delete my 6:41 PM post.

     

     

    AULDHEID @ 5:17 PM,

     

     

    Yes, the follow up piece in E-Tims is excellent.

     

     

    After the April 2012 SFA JPDT and the SPL LNS Commision, both processes blamed the exclusion of evidence brought forward for the omission or failure to consider or uphold seemingly prima facie cases against Rangers and or it’s officials.

     

     

    My sincere hope was this time, after so much available evidence and the testimony from witnesses, under oath, at the Craig Whyte trial that this Tribunal was going to be different. That it was, after an eight month investigation, going to be properly and fully prosecuted.

     

     

    Of course I know you have a very good take on the HMRC rules, the SFA Articles of Association and the UEFA licencing and FFFP rules. So it’s disappointing that you feel that the timeline will once again preclude the presenting of certain evidence.

     

     

    The Tax on the WTC was due after the AAM case found against the firm and Rangers declined to carry on with their own tribunal.

     

     

    From my take on amounts due re the WTC

     

     

    Circa 2.3M in Nov 2010

     

     

    Circa 2.8M in May 2011

     

     

    Circa 3.2M in Feb 2012

     

     

    Circa June 2018 – still not paid…

     

     

    It’s in regards to PAYE and NIC. Despite what I’ve read elsewhere Pay as you Earn is immediately payable. Why the increase in penalties and interest payable if it was not?

     

     

    Without the detail of the current charges I can’t get my head around the specifics of the two notices of Complaint. Although as one is 2010-2011 my thought was it has to include the Rangers acceptance of the Tax due in the WTC during Nov? 2010.

     

     

    As I say, it’s disappointing to say the least that you feel we may be seeing a partial process yet again.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  2. Pog, Irish History? Do you not remember before The Free State the Police were usually on the side of the state? (The British).

  3. CALTONTONGUES on 10TH JUNE 2018 3:03 PM

     

     

    ——————————————————-

     

     

    CT – Just seen your post there now boss.

     

     

    At Rock Bar.

     

     

    Bik MacFarlane playing Rebs atm.

     

     

    HH. ?

  4. BAR @ 6:42 PM,

     

     

    Doggy walk posting……….. sorry

     

     

    Know the feeling and I don’t even have a dog:(

     

     

    Congratulations to your daughter – great stuff, you must be so proud.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  5. Great to see Estadio on again…

     

     

    The high water mark of CQN posts…

     

     

    Of course the sublime, jaunty, prescient posts of Philvisreturns were always excellent.

     

     

    Whit do they put in the wahter in Coatbrig???

     

     

    Hail Hail

  6. BSR, Had never heard of Marie McLaughlin. Thanks, a beautiful singer. I’ve just found her singing Rusalka’s Song to The Moon. Excellent. Not bad for a Holy Cross lassie eh?

  7. For all you opera lovers, next weekend – www. edinbach. com.First year in Edinburgh – a continuation of barcabach. Would appreciate if you can support, especially Sunday as my daughter is performing (and its free)

     

    St Giles Cathedral . 6pm

  8. Wait a minute! I think I know her. I’m sure she went to St. Aidan’s in Wishaw. When we went there it was just a new school and you could only go as far as O’ levels, thereafter you had to move to Our Lady’s in Motherwell or Holy Cross. McLaughlin must be her married name. She sang with Scottish Opera.

  9. CHAIRBHOY

     

     

    Tthank you neither do I, great SFA blogging BTW.

     

     

    philvis, – last I heard was doing just fine but just doesn’t post or lurk.

     

     

    JIMTIM53

     

     

    Indeed, sings in Rome and all the top opera houses all over the world only visits

     

    Scotland occasionally.

  10. Johnbay, would love to have went but can’t, sorry. Hope it goes well for your daughter. St. Giles would be a good setting too.

  11. BSR, A pal of mine years ago worked backstage in the Theatre Royal and new her a wee bit. He said she told him once Scottish Opera always gave her ‘The Tart with a Heart’ type roles! Maybe that’s why she moved abroad.

  12. BSR @ 7:34 PM

     

     

    Thx – good to hear philvis is doing ok!

     

     

    Good to hear the wonderful voice of Marie McLaughlin.

     

     

    Don’t think she’s related but she’s from a great Clan;)

     

     

    Hail Hail

  13. itscalledthemalvinas on

    Watching Soccer Aid on the telly . How come Mohammed Farah’s playing for englind ?

     

    Is that guy not from somewhere in Africa ?

     

     

    souptaker-denying your real religion-for moneyCSC

  14. JIMTHETIM53 on 10TH JUNE 2018 7:32 PM

     

     

    Dont think she went to St Aidens. I went there, albeit later but you may be correct.

     

     

    HH

  15. itscalledthemalvinas on

    TET

     

     

    True. Forgot about that.

     

    Best not to say anything in case the stupid get hurt.

  16. Adi, Sure you went there? It’s St. Aidan’s not Aiden’s. Ha ha only kidding pal, typo, no doubt.

  17. Gerryfaethebrig on

    Johnbay 7.28pm

     

     

    All the very best to your daughter for next weeks performance in Scotland’s capital :-)

  18. Big Georges Fan Club - Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar on

    Tommy Boyd- the man!!!

     

     

    THE EXILED TIM on 10TH JUNE 2018 8:18 PM

     

    ITSCALLED

     

     

    And he is a drugs cheat

     

     

     

    Is he ? I didnae know that :-((

     

     

    HH

     

    BGFC

  19. Chairbhoy

     

     

    My concern is based on the statement made by TRFC on 16th May after SFA made their charges.

     

     

    In it TRFC stated charges relating to end of March 2011 had been removed and added they were groundless.

     

     

    Unless we know on what basis the SFA accepted they were groundless then how will we know what TRFC put to the SFA that dropped charges relating to end of March?

     

     

    If the JPDT is directed only to events after end of March without explanation we face another cover up a la LNS.

     

     

    When a liability is described as potential when it wasnt and when the impression is given of a dispute by saying there are discussions about it resolving the assessment when discissions were about paying the liability, then that statement on which basis a licence was apparently granted MUST be scrutinised by the JPDT, not omitted as result of some deal based on if you tell so will we.

     

     

    Remember Ramsay Smith saying if SFA open this up it could rebound on them? Not his exact words but certainly his meaning.

     

     

    Are supporters not sick and fed up being treated as if they came up the Clyde on a water biscuit and when are we, across the club spectrum, going to say enough!

  20. Fascinating piece on Frankie Boyle on Russian Celtic supporters. quite amazing the pull our team has all over the world. be great if somebody with clout at our club saw that and invited the lad Denis to Celtic Park as he’s followed Celtic since he was 4 and never been there. H H Hebcelt

  21. Gerryfaethebrig on

    Auldheid

     

     

    There are many many Celtic fans who realise the cheating but actually don’t care about the Hun cheating and just enjoy beating whatever entity that emanates from Govan …. probably more Celtic fans young & old are more interested in Stevie Gee than Res12… like many on here I also appreciate your efforts for a “clean” game, although I do think it’s getting cleaner each century :-)

  22. GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 10TH JUNE 2018 9:43 PM

     

    Auldheid

     

     

     

    There are many many Celtic fans who realise the cheating but actually don’t care about the Hun cheating

     

     

    ———

     

    That would soon change should Sevco put a dent in our dominance. I think it’s more accurate to say our winning run is taking the focus off the cheating. KevJ states Brendan is a squirrel, to some extent that is true, either by accident or by design.

  23. BGFC

     

    He missed a couple of tests, so technically he is clean, but you don’t miss tests if you are clean, they are all at it, the Sirs and their asthma medication among others, but it’s jonny foreigner who are the real cheats, aye right.

     

    HH

  24. Gooood Evening CQN – ???????

     

     

    Now I was in Sports Direct in Stirling today

     

    Being greeted by only the Bold, Hoooops

     

    Nowhere did I see Red32, has there been a fallout there ?

  25. Gerryfaethebrig on

    David17 9.51pm

     

     

    You copied & pasted my post but left last part out … poor copy & paste thar suggests the opposite of what I actually wrote…. that could get you a job with the Record, Sun or SSB :-)

     

     

    Especially flinging in Brendan’s a squirrel

  26. GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 10TH JUNE 2018 10:04 PM

     

     

     

    ———-

     

    Don’t worry everyone can see your full post.

  27. Celticrollercoaster supporting @WalkWithShay on

    Well with England winning Socceraid on pens, the omen must be good for the world cup, ha, ha!

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  28. Gerryfaethebrig on

    D17

     

     

    Not worried in the slightest but misquoting somebody and putting their name beside it, is pretty poor, there are a lot of sensitive souls on the internet and your copy & paste of my post reads totally different from my original post … that’s all :-)

     

     

    Just saying I think it was a poor copy n paste

  29. Celticrollercoaster supporting @WalkWithShay on

    …..and then Scotland beat England at cricket

     

     

    Strange times indeed

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC