Celtic have a strategic problem. The great Neil Lennon European campaign of 2019 is slipping from our coefficient status, and we have done little of note since. Neil’s team are the only Celtic side to win a European group, finishing above Lazio, Rennes and Cluj. Four wins, a draw and defeat in a dead rubber in Romania required some breathtaking performances.
If we are to continue at the Continent’s top table, we need to get back to winning games in Europe. This is remarkably difficult in the Champions League, although Neil and Gordon Strachan had a formula. Thier teams defended, played to their strengths and gave us some of the most memorable Celtic games in the last 50 years.
Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou changed all that. Pragmatism was sacrificed for purity as record heavy defeats arrived in droves. It remains to be seen what learning has been achieved.
The threats and opportunities within this afternoon’s pots are not evenly distributed. We could get Manchester City or Feyenoord from Pot 1, Inter or Porto from Pot 2, Milan or Red Star from Pot 3. There are five current or previous European Champions in Pots 1 and 2, three in Pot 3 and we are the only one in Pot 4. Liverpool, Juventus and Ajax didn’t make the cut.
If it’s Feyenoord and Porto, fair enough, let’s see what we can do, but for me, the draw is all about Pot 3. That is where we are most likely to find a team with comparable resources and challenges, and therefore collect some points.
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We got E!
That`s as good as we could have hoped for, no?
Settle for that
Group e
Dutch, Spanish and Italians…
Happy enough with the draw
Easy Peasy csc
Feyenoord
Atlético de Madrid
Lazio
Celtic
Feyenoord
Atletico
Lazio
Celtic of Glasgo
Bring it on CSC
Who did the huns get?…….
As the draw progressed I though A would be ok , but when it was down to the last 2 then E was the better option
Not the worst draw that’s for sure.
BRRB
That’s more like it.
If it’s all about pot 3 thats not the best draw
Huns to get 10% of all gate receipts.
Happy with that,thought we would have got group f
Lol Denia
KLV
3rd team focus
Lazio – 2 games, 2 defeats this season
Go buy Forster & Julien now !!
HH
Couldn’t have asked for a much better draw than that.
Good draw for us. Good places to visit also.
Did PL have anything to do with the draw ?.
Feyenord – 3 games, 1 win, 2 draws, 6th place
Not even looking at Athletico……
HH
https://totalfootballanalysis.com/tfa-scouted/luis-palma-aris-thessaloniki-celtic-scout-report
A few good away days , Rotterdam, Madrid and Rome (the famous Glasgow Celtic when to Rome see the Pope)
Second last season Lazio have started poorly this. Two defeats to middle table teams. They sold their best player and have signed a few to replace him who aren’t as good (yes I know)
They are struggling to integrate new players and Immobile is showing his age.
I’ve told Mrs BRRB I’m going to all 3 away games. Now homeless and requiring hospital treatment. She’s no sense of humour.
lazio have lost their opening 2 games in Serie A………..2-1 away at Lecce and 0-1 at home to Genoa.
Early form – we’ve lost away to Killie and drawn at home to bottom side St J
Wouldn’t take much notice yet
Athletico will regard that draw as an early Christmas present.
Thumbs up – tough savvy euro opponents but go for it Celtic!
Pub teams raloterum. Gerrintaethum Celtic!!!!
Could have been much worse but Atletico are BAD news. Double shin pads required!
Lazio are very inconsistent. Catch them on a couple of bad nights and we could get decent results, but they’re also capable of beating most teams
at least we have 5 games where we should be competitive
I can see us finishing bottom of the group but I think we’ll compete. I don’t see any tankings for us facing these sides which wasn’t the case with some of the other groups. 4 points is my hope.
P67 probably correct in terms of football after Christmas in getting a nice third pot team but that said, I was eager to avoid any 5 or 6 goal beatings which I don’t see coming in this group.
It’s a good draw.
Clyde is hilarious.
5-1 it could have been 10
Signing a top keeper before tomorrow night would be my number one priority. Won’t happen but it should have been at the top of the list in my opinion.
Could have been better, could have been worse.
Feyenoord and Lazio we can compete with.
I would love us to give Athletico a defeat. Horrible club and horrible history with us.
THREE great nights at home await (hopefully). At least Feyenoord’s fans are not Ajax fans.
Good evening all from the Quaich. You can never have enough good times. 👍