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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Tomorrow’s paper have Crystal Palace interested in Stuart Armstrong
If he’s not signing a new contract ?
We should sell
M7
O’Hanlon aka batman was a wrong wan. My mammy and granny sorted that bully. In true Maryhill fashion.
YNWA
Norrie
I will be sad if Stuart leaves. He gives us forward drive in our team that no other Celtic player does as effectively as SA.
If he disnae want to stay at the Double Treble Champions heyho.
YNWA
Sir King Kenny,good decision
Tho`every time he scored for us in a Cup Final,we lost,:0(
Armstrong is being a bit headstrong in these contract negotiations.
Cannae go awe this sir dame mbe nonsense.
Sir Kenny my arse.
YNWA
BSR….weel done to your lassie….awfy braw…
just for you
smiley bouillon thing
http://www.petitfoodie.com/potato-dijon-soup/
Braw
No Sir Jock Stein render’s the Empire blood titles worthless. Busby got it for winning a year after Jock in67. Lot of nonsense
For we don’t care what the Animals say, what the Hell do we care …
A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies, becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in anyone else, and he ends up losing respect for himself and for others. When he has no respect for anyone, he can no longer love, and in him, he yields to his impulses, indulges in the lowest form of pleasure, and behaves in the end like an animal in satisfying his vices. And it all comes from lying — to others and to yourself.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky
BSR, apologies
Should have said huge congrats to your Ghirl, both on exams and getting a job ??
yeah kenny dalglish knight of the realm suits the hun oh how i wish he never played for celtic
Morning, Kevj my ol friend hope all is good, bhud , BRTH, good luck on your travels m8
Danso 1888
Poor comment
Dalglish was a great footballer,for us ,Liverpool and Scotland,
the mark of the man was evident in his empathy with the families of the Hillsborough Disaster during all the years of the “96” Justice Campaign, and it was to Celtic he turned to ease that Liverpool team back into playing,.An occasion that will live long in the memory with one of the best renditions of YNWA I have experienced.
HH
Thoughts and prayers for those that need them
Was posting on the wrong thread…s’appenin….?
FTSFA
H.H.
James Forrest tonight has made a good case for backing Ian Maxwell and I hope, really, really hope that he is right. He states that Maxwell has faced his first problem and dealt with it well, and so he has (as he SHOULD have done so). I just recall that Regan of that parish started brightly and well, seemed to set out a reforming stall and said many things that made sense (at least to us). But we all know how that worked out!
I just cannot shake the feeling that the people who appointed Maxwell were already in place at Hampdump and are still in place there and I ask myself WHY would they appoint a person who would work against them? John James asserts (!?) that Maxwell is a freemason – IF that is correct, and he has taken THE oath, then how can he be the bastion of fairness that we all hope for?
Depressive drivel I’m sure and I hope, but this is of course Scottish football. Thank God we have Brendan!
SHUGGIEBHOY67, dont want an argument but i cannot stand the man sorry he ever wore the hoops.
L’Audace, encore de L’Audace et Toujours L’Audace
As Ms.BSR might say but there is a certain je ne sais qoui about that
Anthony Bourdain RIP
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.independent.ie/life/food-drink/heaven-looks-like-this-the-touching-words-anthony-bourdain-wrote-in-his-favourite-irish-pub-on-dublin-visit-36990217.html
Have an Amazing weekend Celts.
Jobo/EK dudes….
Any recommendations for driving instructors in the place up there?
I’ve said to Aidan if he gets out of his Street with hills either side so steep, he will Breeze it.
Bottom Line – Globalism is Bad.
The Hour is late. The Manipulation is Mega.
Champagne – Super – Celtic
Great Interview
Chris Sutton is a Legend. I reckon Martin knew that the big CS was Wonderful.
$000000.CSC
I missed 1.
Kenny Dalglish is one of the finest players ever to come out of Scotland. As a Celtic supporter I take pride in this.
Kenny, his wife and his whole family deserve the utmost respect for the way they conducted themselves after Hillsborough.
If we are to have an outdated honours system ( and that is a separate debate) then Kenny’s award is long overdue.
HH to all.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 18th December 2016 6:12 am
PETEC on 18TH DECEMBER 2016 4:23 AM
Ca` canny , my fellow Tim.
There are many roads to an understanding.
And many Tims , and others , who have discovered their own road.
Sometimes a different road.
But , that`s O.K.
Tolerance, mate.
That`s the Tim way.
See you later.
:-)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Missed by me.
GP, I agree. Kenny D wisnae witnessed by me. I know when he was on the Tele playing so well. They Pass Through Parkhead gates.
The Best ever never to have Graced Celtic Park?
rascar capac
Love is the Law
Hopefully as Transhumanism starts to take place…. XOR gates dinnae start to happen @ the Holy Ground.
CELTIC CELTIC
Greenpinsta,
I was at that game….the outpouring of support for a demoralised Liverpool side/support has stayed with me…..Grobelar Grobela (sp)….gies a goal as he nonchelantly bounced it off the post was uplifting ( for a this young celt )
H.H.
History
Njoi Belfast bhoys and ghirls.
Broonie and Olivier are awesome for the Champions League.
I’m disappointed that Stuart Armstrong disnae think he is good enough to stay and cement a position.
A Celtic Team Full of Scottish and Irish players is massive.
Brendan is calling it all. KE is being primed.
With the World Cup…. we will never have a better chance to get more than there.
Good Morning One and All.
BSR best of everything to your girl.
Emeraldbee — Ian Maxwell was appointed in the face of a barely hidden degree of animosity and resistance from Rod Petrie the man who was on the licensing committee for 2011.
Maxwell has been described to me as an SFA modernist and a pragmatist. I am told that Petrie wanted a “blazer” someone who would protect both the SFA’s and more importantly Petrie’s back.
I have no idea if JJ is correct in his assertion that Maxwell is a freemason or otherwise but what I would say is that there seems to be a belief at Celtic Park and elsewhere that Maxwell will look to have the SFA operate in a way that is good for football and not in a way that is good for those who operate within the SFA.
Further, as some on here already know, from within Celtic Park there has been criticism in the recent past that sometimes the SFA has operated purely for the benefit of just one club ……… and that Celtic and others are “sick of it”.
Like any organisation where a new CEO has been appointed, there will be a period of adjustment and a period of internal examination and review. The organisation will be shaped by the vision of the new CEO and the plans he puts in train in the early stages of his administration, and inevtitably that same CEO becomes shaped and influenced by the organisation he or she oversees.
That is why any business or corporate entity has to have a revolving board, so that there is constant review and challenge and so make sure that all the power and influence does not lie with one man or a clique or a cabal of charlatans.
Maxwell was not welcomed by the traditional blazers as he is seen as a reformer — but let’s see how he gets on. Having him appointed is one thing, giving him the room and scope to perform is another, and then driving any reform and maintaining that is yet another.
Quite separately, I recall watching the press conference given by Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish when he resigned as Liverppol manager after a harrowing couple of years following Hillsborough. I remember being very proud of Kenny Dalglish when he openly admitted that he was struggling internally and of himself, that he was worn out and that the events of Hillsborough had affected him perosnally and it was now time for him to step down for the sake of him and his family.
That was a brave admission and the mark of someone who is not driven by public celebrity or the need for any kind of “fame” or public recognition as a goal in life.
I am no fan at all of the Queen’s Birthday honours or all the bollocks that comes with OBE’s, MBE’s, Kighthoods or supposed “elevation” to the “lords”.
However, if Kenny Dalglish wants to accept a Kighthood bestowed upon him for services to football then there will be no truck from me as “served football” he most certainly has and at times he has done so at considerable cost to himself.
Yesterday, I was at the Celtic FC Foundation Golf Day and quite a few from this place were there too. It was a great day but personally I would want to stress just how nice some of the former players are as people.
Footballers are footballers. It is their job and they are idolised as footballers but to me it is far more important that they come across as nice folk and good people.
Well yesterday in John Fallon, Stevie McManus, Tom Boyd and Stan Petrov we were served with and by the best of the best in terms of character. Good fun, self depreciating, giving of their time, sociable and just plain Celtic fans.
Tom Boyd is always good fun and is just a good and nice man. Big Mick lived the dream and makes it plain he loved it, and the Holy Goalie is just green and white through and through.
Stylian is just a lovely lovely bloke, and gives the impression that he sees every day as a blessing and takes nothing for granted after his health issues. I read somewhere that when he was at Villa he became homesick for Glasgow and it is clear that no matter where football or whatever takes him, in many ways Celtic and their fans will always be both an anchor and a guide for Stan.
I love speaking to good folk. They are inspiring and put a wee spring in the step.
Anyway, busy day ahead I am off oot to ………… well wee Angelique will tell you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT4a8mBD63Y
I hope all our Bhoys and Ghirls in Belfast this weekend have a wonderful time. Certainly couldn’t ask for better company.
Congratulations to all the Sons and Daughters fulfilling their potential and making parents and families so proud.
And Good Luck to BRTH, who sets out on a great adventure today. A fine man, who continues to inspire and act with humility and generosity, and is deserving of all praise and good wishes.
Would KT have made it into the Lisbon lions team?
BRTH – The Time is late but it is Early.
Heroic.
Shout Shout …
Let it all out
Gooood Morning, Gooood Morning CQN – ???????
BRTH, Malawi ?? calling, now go spoil those kids in the name of the World Famous Celtic ??
Like many I am non-plussed on the archaic Empire honours system
Only person I called sir was the headmaster at school – and that was a while ago ??
Kenny D was a fantastic player for us, scoring one of my favourite witnessed goals at DUtd,
But
He’s still not getting into my favourite/best 11
Nowhere near Daniel Fergus MCGrain, or Paul McStay ??
Enjoy Belfast Brigade
Oh
And FtSFA ( is Dickson still there ?, and Petrie/McRae)
you know what makes Kenny Dalglish and WGS unpalatable to a large minority of Tims?
proddy dogs.
Catholic mosquitos with a protein of unknown periphery jumping from hosts to host its time for you lot to die off.