16 Aug 2016 22:58:00
I see UEFA had a meeting today to make it even harder for teams from Smaller nations And Smaller leagues to gain entry to the Champions League. Now they want the top 4 teams from England, Spain, Germany and Italy to go straight into the Group faze without the need of any Pre-Qualification. The Champions League was started for the CHAMPIONS from every European league to compete against each other. There trying to make it impossible for Teams such as Celtic, Basel, Anderlecht etc to make it. I hate UEFA anyways but these such actions there taking is just making it even easier for teams from Scotland, Holland, Switzerland etc to make our own league competition and just tell UEFA to F**k Off!
16 Aug 2016 23:20:24
Are you honestly surprised?
I think in the not to distant future the big teams will break away from uefa and form there own "super league" and tell uefa to ram it.
Uefa know this and I suspect are trying to prolong the inevitable and keep the super clubs happy.
As much as I dislike uefa if the super clubs said they wanted a CL primarily made up of champions they would honour it with a cherry on top as there is an honourable or trustworthy person amongst them.
Blame the super clubs mate there bleeding the game dry and want to maximise there revenues, similar to uefa this is business and to them it's not personal.
I take great pride in us qualifying because it's a massive get it up yas to them.
COYBIG.
16 Aug 2016 23:39:37
FU@K UEFA corrupt bastards.
16 Aug 2016 23:43:22
I was a cynic of the story that the new super league is in its final stages of planning. I was wrong and didn't buy it. I've read more into it since and I'll admit I was wrong, there is something in it. Look back in the archives there is a lot to be read on here and beond.
Anyway. From reading it is a real possibility that after 2020 it could go ahead.
This uefa meeting cries out as a desperate move to try to stop these top 20 or so clubs breaking away. It seems to be a counter offer of sorts to their proposed plans. Money would of been the big talking point. Sky must be creaming their pants.
17 Aug 2016 00:07:22
I've said it time and time again, football as we all know and love is F**KD and it will continue to get worse! The so called bigger clubs and in particular the ones from the EPL have ruined football! It's not about the football anymore it's about money plain and simple! Makes me sick to my stomach honestly! And UEFA are a total embarrassment! Corrupt cheating dirty bastards! Sporting integrity went out the window years ago with these scumbags! Like another poster said, these so called big clubs will break away and do there own things soon enough! Either that or it will be no team from outside these big 4 countries will be allowed in the CL! It will be the top 8 teams from each going into it! Total farce! There will never be enough money to satisfy the greed of these clubs!
17 Aug 2016 00:15:39
Lol creaming there pants! I honestly don't think it could have been described better ðŸ˜.
17 Aug 2016 00:34:43
Having read a bit about the breakaway we were apparently wanted for the second division of this for the same reason we got invited to weekends tournament.
17 Aug 2016 00:42:08
Europes true big clubs are Man U, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barca, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Celtic . All those clubs have had a huge worldwide fanbase for decades, unlike the new sky tv money funded/ sugar daddy funded so called big clubs like Chelski and Man C.
17 Aug 2016 01:04:29
Scottish football is on its ar$e. A national side that hasn't qualified for a tournament since France 98, a top flight league where there has been no scottish teams presence in CL group stages in 3 years and will be a 1 horse race for many seasons to come. No wonder this is the case.
17 Aug 2016 01:35:48
The CL shouldn't be a reflection on our domestic league.
If we win our league we should have the same right as any other club and so should Scandinavian teams etc.
Systematically they have been making it almost impossible not just to qualify but when you get there you have a rigged seading system that favours the big teams.
Remember back in 99 when man utd had Barcelona and bayern in there group and the Germans went out, that's exactly why it's been implemented to prevent this happening again.
17 Aug 2016 01:39:29
Hopefully us being former winners of The European Cup will give us some clout in the negotiations with Uefa, and also the fact that our stadium has the best atmosphere in the whole CL might swing an invite our way.
{Ed007's Note - That's not going to happen. Anyone who's followed the site knew this was coming and no matter what romantic stuff you come up with Celtic will not be involved. We haven't even been invited to any talks about it over the years let alone have any chance of an invite.
It's just the harsh reality of it mate, believe me I've threw every reason you can think of to people better informed than me, it ain't happening.}
17 Aug 2016 02:28:04
We can only dream ed, maybe our friends at Barcelona could put a word in for us lol, i knew we hadn't been invited to the top table but hoped that the fact that we are one of the biggest team's historically in Europe would count for something. Surely Lawwell would approach Uefa and say "Hey what about us? we are a massive club" Maybe he has already and been given a knock back? Who knows? Aye mate it's certainly harsh on us.
{Ed007's Note - It's one of the reasons I'm so indifferent, even negative at times, about the importance we put on the CL. They would and will cut us loose in a minute if they get the chance and it angers me to see a club like Celtic begging for their scraps.}
17 Aug 2016 03:43:06
Sorry folks this seems the perfect case to take to CAS or the European courts. Just another situation like FIFA and the Olympics. sport not as it was meant to be and i seriously hope someone sorts this mess out. Sport out of control. very sad and people need to take a MASSIVE REALITY CHECK!
17 Aug 2016 04:19:49
What people don't realise is that these so called elite need us mugs to keep funding them via sky, bt sport etc. I certainly won't be paying subs to watch something we are not in. If all fans over Europe in the same boat do likewise, we could choke the fockers into submission.
17 Aug 2016 09:41:40
I agree with ed. The place we think we occupy in the hearts of Uefa is all in our heads. The facts are as stated, nobody has sought to include us. Nobody even asked if we had a view.
Things are looking grim but I am still hopeful it won't be as bad.
Bottom line though is this.,
If they make it harder for us to be there we need to step up and make sure we are good enough to still qualify.
17 Aug 2016 10:18:29
I wonder if they've held secret discussions with the bread man. Sevco are a big team he says lol.
17 Aug 2016 13:47:35
In reality bhoys and it kills me to say this but why would the elite clubs or audience's want us in the CL?
Our feelings and opinion of our club is dwarfed by the greed of the business clubs, they want money and we want the prestige of mixing with the elite and unfortunately the greed will win this fight. The audience want the wow factor every week which we can't offer.
My wee boy asked me last week for a Barcelona top for his birthday with Messi on the back and I said why not a celtic top and he says "I just prefer Barcelona and messi is my favourite player". Don't worry bhoys he's getting a celtic top so that's sorted but it just highlights that the growing audiences want the bigger clubs week in week out.
My boy can be saved but the new audiences in Asia and USA can't be as they want the biggest and best which unfortunately we are not part off.
Hopefully we can qualify a couple more times before the changes and create a bit more history for our proud institution, something money cannot buy.
COYBIG.