06 Dec 2017 11:20:51
For all those who say they don't want us in the champions league I would like to ask this.
Where would we be without it?
Would we have a manager of the calibre we have at the moment?
Would we be miles ahead of the rest of the league?
Would we be able to attracted the sponsorship we do?
06 Dec 2017 12:19:58
I dread to think where we would be without CL cash. Look at our budget with it. Imagine our budget without it. No one likes being thumped in the CL, we need to make 2 or 3 quality additions so that we are able to atleast compete against clubs of similar stature, and by that i mean the likes of Anderlecht, Benfica, Ajax etc. We will never compete against the likes of PSG unless and Arab comes along and throws endless amounts of cash at the club.
06 Dec 2017 12:38:57
What I find a bit strange (admittedly from ignorance) is that no matter how much money we generate our transfer budget does not seem to change and our profits don't change by as much as our increased revenue.
This makes me wonder what happens to the extra cash generated from CL qualification?
06 Dec 2017 12:37:23
Valid points bud, im just getting sick of watching us getting tonked, i've always said europa was our level and hope the fans still pack it out on these matches. I think we would be miles ahead even without champs league dosh tbh.
06 Dec 2017 13:22:42
Stan petrov good post as usual. See some of the bhoys think europa is our level. I don't think we sre good enough even at that level. Better teams than Anderlech await. For as much as i love Brendan, he is being found out tactically at European level just as much as the players. Even if we added 4 quality players who are capeable of going straight into the first team, if we set up to play these European teams toe to toe we are going to get beaten. Tactics need to change but BR only wants to play one way however its keeping us unbeaten in SPL so what do i know. For the first time i saw a bit of "i don't know what else i can do " in the BR interview after the game. Maybe Brendan is thinking about a move himself if not end of this season then certainly at the end of the next. He looked hurt last night.
06 Dec 2017 13:27:56
Rodgers the reason the things don't change is because we spend more when we have it.
Bhoy wonder how would we be miles ahead exactly?
Sponsor money would drop so it wouldn't just be champions league money we loose.
With all that money gone we would be making cuts at every level of the club.
Playing staff coaches the lot would all be down graded to the point that the other Scottish clubs would be right behind us again.
Never mind even Europa league because we'd never compete in that either.
06 Dec 2017 14:54:27
It's down to the players as soon as they cross 'the white line' as they say because no matter how much motivation or instruction is given pre-match it's the same players that freeze and panic every time in these CL games and most of them were here before BR.
There is no doubt he has added quality and improved the attitude, form and work-rate of certain players since his arrival; however, we are still making the same mistakes (unable to make a simple pass and giving the ball away) as well as showing nerves and fear from KO. I do think, however that BR might have made changes sooner when he saw how poor we were playing and who were rank?
The frustration of the support, manager and players is obvious, but the attitude and confidence needs adjustment, alternating between domestic and European matches or we will never find consistency or any success. The good news, is we are able to build on this after the New Year in the Europa and we shall see?
One thing that crossed my mind is that, maybe the defeats in the CL are helping the unbeaten run domestically - law of averages and all that - although the standard is night and day.
06 Dec 2017 17:22:28
the ideal scenario is to keep improving the team, keep winning the league, keep qualifying for CL and then occasionally - with a very kind draw - making it out of the group or el at least.
at present, with the squad we have, a tough draw in qualifying my be beyond us. Remember this year we had giff and md both out for qualifying, some may say we were lucky to get thru,
Last night the ex celtic pundits were saying "have we improved". Yes we are still in Europe after Christmas which is a result - but have we improved from last seasons outings.
2 draws against Man City versus 7-1, 5-1, 0-1 last night.
I was basing it on football after Christmas so I guess so - but it is debateable and I can see and agree with points in the argument that we haven't improved.
Next 2 transfer windows will seriously answer that question. If we invest in a team that's more competitive in Europe or if we make like for like changes and don't show ambition there.
In the market we are in its not easy I know - but we need to become more competitive with teams at "our level" and perhaps one level up. never going to compete with the top teams unless Sheik MaHandi comes in.
06 Dec 2017 20:31:38
Just read some stats regarding BR in Europe. Brendan has managed 18 games in Europe, between Liverpool and Celtic. Has only won twice, one being Anderlec and one with Liverpool and has had 3 draws and 13 defeats. So his record with Liverpool is only slightly better than with us and he had Suarez then. A few posters have been commenting that we need to play differently in Europe and I agree we are too open and can't stay in the game long enough to try and get anything from it. Now we are in europa, we are not playing against the PSG but there are still some very good teams in there. If we go out and play as we do in SPL, we will be out in next round. Surly we need to just agree it's not working. Definition of insanity is doing the same thing every time and expecting a different result.
07 Dec 2017 13:10:14
Suarez had been sold by the time Liverpool got to Europe.