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.
567 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- »
The Onlooker
Yeah … but, as a footballer, he only gets adoration, money and beautiful women throwing themselves at him …
whereas, as a lawyer, I get …cheek from that Bateen character!.
hhmm… starting to think I may have made the wrong career choice!
:)
What happened to the club 1872 money?
Not tooooo worried about the Armstrong situation. Would be happy if he stayed but McGregor is my preferred choice. He’s the one I want to stay long-term…I’ll be surprised if McGinn comes…
Next season, if Brendan plays mainly his 4-2-3-1 style, it’s the combinations of the ‘3’ that will chop and change most. Rogic-Forrest-Sinclair-Armstrong-McGregor-Christie-Morgan-Kouassi- all vying for one of those 3 positions…next season or never for Kouassi, methinks. So, possibly it’ll be cheerio to a couple of those guys…Christie? Armstrong? We’ll see!…
The Glasgow Evening Times is considering a move for Crystal Palace to move for Stuart Armstrong
I forgot big Nir and Johnny Hayes as well…
Mike,
I just had to rely on charm ,wit, personality , good looks and modesty…
Football stereotype was that players weren’t very bright …. the gifted player often described as having..
” all his brains in his feet”
I always loved Bill Shankly’s quote about one of his players who was studying for a degree but was not playing very well….
” The problem with you, son, is that all your brains are in your head.”
The Onlooker
Although big Nir could vie for one of the ‘2’ positions…
are you listening Brendan? Naw?
Eboue Kouassi cost Celtic £3.2M
Stuart Armstrong is 1.83 metres and 1.93 metres when fresh out of the barbers.
St.DBBIA CSC
I would drive any player to any airport for £3.2m
Sorry…missed out the ‘please’ and the ? And ?
Joe Gomez is 1.88 metres
GoodOmens CSC
BSR…’hair-stylist’…’barber’ is so ‘auld-man’ these coiffured days…
WEEBOBBY
Oh right, well how come you always hear folk saying they went to the Turkish Barbers? and never
ever hear anybody saying Turkish hair stylists?
Celtic Daa’s CSC -:)
That’s a question for the Turks innit? Something to do with a red ‘n’ white pole…
from where the dentist hung his blooded towels
BSR… nothing wrong with bouffant hair…DD BOBO and DOC, would love it.?
A Tale of two Celts
Funnily enough both may have the same outcome.
Kenny Dalglish played against the grain of his childhood & became a hero to me and many other Celtic fans.
However, he was paid peanuts by comparison with other top players in Scotland at that time, particualrly at his boyhood heroes team.
Love this wee vid of some of his goals for Celtic, but apologies about the music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWDvVasFJBc
At contract renewal time, he was offered more peanuts from the biscuit tin and then got the call for more than double the money to play at Liverpool. He left with a heavy heart but with an assured future.
On his first return to the oul Parkheid with Liverpool for Jock’s testimonial, Dalglish was booed by large numbers of Celtic fans.
(Another “Fergus McCann” moment that still embarrasses me.
In those days, we had no blogs, social media or reliable information. Instead, we read the guff in the rags and believed what they told us.)
Stuart Armstrong is no Dalglish, and he would admit that himself, but he’s been a great payer for Celtic and is ambitious. If he leaves us, he will go with my good wishes. He’s been a model pro, kept himself fit, kept himself off the front pages and has scored some fine goals from midfield. He’s 26 and reminds me of Stefan Johansen in his size, physique & style of play. If he goes, he’s going for much more money and exposure to the folk in the EPL who still think there are no good modern Scottish footballers anymore. He will do well wherever he goes, but not so sure Crystal Palace is the club to go to. They’ve just had papers served on them for financial meltdown stuff. 2 months late with annual accounts etc (Sounds familiar)
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/05/crystal-palace-threatened-with-being-dissolved-over-late-accounts
Like Dalglsih, Armstrong was not a natural born Celt, and like many others, he came to us, got what it was about and has never let us down. Not always a starter & his injuries have hampered him somewhat, but he scored 17 goals for us in our Invincible season, plus his song will always raise a smile. How many football players have a fans’ song about their hairdo? It’s been a pleasure to see him in the hoops and to hear him speak so articulately in front of the cameras. Seems pretty clear to me that he has already been marked down as someone for management or high office in the FA (not the SFA).
We will be proud of his time with us & he wil be proud of our time with him – whenever he goes.
I’d be very happy if he signed a new contract. We offer very competitive wages nowadays, but by comparison, we still come up way short of what he could get in the EPL, even their Championship.
HH
You can get your ears burned included with the price of a haircut, this is an ancient Ruglonian/Lower East Kilbride tradition.
Singeing In the Rain CSC
SIPS
When Armers is in full flow on one of his long runs from his own half into the oppositions six yard box his hair is up there with, well ………..its just up there.
JOHN51
Kenny Dalglish had great feet, perfect balance and a quick mind and Bhoy could he hit a baw!
This Two arms stuck up at the sky and that big cheesy grin remain to this day one of the highlights of my Celtic supporting life.
I was devastated the he left for Liverpool…
HH
Great Celtic Hair Cuts
DarnTheHairDoWeCare CSC
Great Celtic Hair Cuts parting 2
Great Celtic Hair Cuts parting 3
BSR…have to laugh at that. Some time ago I went into a Turkish guy in Ru’glen and he did just that…lit a taper, and before ye know it, whooosh! it’s in and out of my ear. Didn’t know how to say “ffs! What’re you doin’?” in Turkish, so, just said, “ouch!”…
WEEBOBBY
I know, you’d think getting your ears melted would be optional.
Johnny Thomson great haircut. He was only 5’9″, maybe that style gave the wee soul a bit more height. RIP.
What ever happened to measuring folk in foot and inches?
Starry Plough
@Li’lZe8 put the video on twitter this morning & I was surprised….
…at how I could have forgotten how great Kenny was for us, what wonderful goals he scored – and yes how two footed he was.
By my count in the vid he scored 8 with his right and 4 with his left.
Our place in the football food chain was clear back then, but we didn’t understand it as well.
Celtic team of players let go by the club..
Shay Given, Pat Crerand, Bobby Evans, Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Mark McGhee, Vicot Wanyama, Brian McClair, Henrik Larsson, Kenny Dalglish, Charlie Nicholas,
HH
In ither news…….
King Kenny Bhoy, has gone from Liverpool Legend to Scottish Legend……
but they seem a tad reticent to refer to our bold bhoy as Celtic Legend………..
Hmmmmmmmm. CSC
Rangers Victims per Game
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dhAk4K4f1aaWIZScFH9QpCXx1W8a-802o60kS3BEOwI/htmlview#gid=0
Is Nir Bitton related to Isaac Bitton – bare knuckle fighter in London’s East End from 1799 to 1810.
Famous for the longest bare knuckle bout ever recorded – 74 rounds – which he won.
He died penniless in 1839 aged 60.
Farewell my darling Johnny,
Prince of players we must part,
No more we’ll stand and cheer you,
On the slopes of Celtic Park,
No more we’ll stand and cheer you,
On the slopes of Celtic Park.
Great Celtic lyrics CSC
?? vs ?? link
Big Rogic starts
http://www.hesgoal.com/news/30934/Hungary_vs_Australia.html
HH
Hope all you guys and girls have a great time in Belfast. I would imagine the economy will get a great boast in that part of Ireland.Safe home after the hoot to all.
Here in sunny Ct.USA. But longing for the season to start.
B RTH. Have a great adventure. Will keep you in mind. Try not to get too much paint on your hoops shirt.
BSR,
When I saw that photo of him, I went on to Wiki to read back up on him. Couldn’t get that song out of my head. Tears began running down.
Visited his grave years ago at Bowhill.
30,000 attended his funeral, many walked the 55 miles from Glasgow.
Kind of kills that post earlier that some Celtic fans don’t like protestants.
BT Sport now is good viewing ????????