10 Jul 2022 20:04:39
I'm trying to get away from the mindset that European football is only a bonus.
In the modern game, being successful in Europe should bring domestic success, especially in Scotland.
( last season was the exception because Celtic have went straight into the CL groups )
I read an article by Hail Hail 67 and they mentioned that since Celtic last participated in the CL groups in 2017/ 18,
There's been 32 Pot 4 clubs and only 3 have qualified into the CL last 16.
And those clubs came from big nations with 2 from Germany and an Italian club.
The article also mentions that only 6 other Pot 4 clubs finished 3rd in the groups and went into the Europa League.
The statistics tells us, it will be hard being the underdogs in Pot 4 but I think Celtic will surprise a few clubs and I expect us to be playing European football after Christmas.
10 Jul 2022 21:08:18
It will be tough, we will need to drastically improve defensively in Europe this season if we want to avoid finishing bottom.
Some of the goals we lost in the europa last season were laughable.
I don't think europe should be treated as a bonus that's is the mentality off a small club. We should be aiming to compete and I believe we can.
10 Jul 2022 22:00:55
See if you come 4 in the group do you go into the conference? Or is it straight out I take it?
10 Jul 2022 22:30:04
Let's be honest here wee don't stand a chance .3rd would be an incredible achievement .
{Ed007's Note - The Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt are in Pot 1 and we all know how pi$h they were! You can't honestly judge where we will come until the draw is made.}
11 Jul 2022 00:38:02
Gar,
If we finish 4th in the group, we go out of Europe altogether.
11 Jul 2022 03:01:00
Not at I hope that happens but aNother Jack pot at the end of season would mean we could push harder next if we could keep our main players. When we win the league again. Just think of the team we could of had over the years if we where to hold on to our best players. It's sad to know at our team is a step on stone for bigger leagues with less ambitions! This is an area we need to work on as a club. When u look at the players we had and sold over the years for profit, we wouldhave been a real challenge for any team In Europe.
11 Jul 2022 08:10:46
I agree BuzzBomb, it will be no doubt be difficult but we need to re-establish some credibility on the European stage, this is vital to Celtic.
With the vast majority of our team now having played together for the past season and not having to play CL qualifiers, this is a great opportunity for Ange and the team.
Having said, I hope tactically, he has a Plan B, C and possibly D up his sleeve as to have any chance of progressing on this stage we need to be far better defensively.
I'm looking forward to it.
☘️ ? ☘️.
11 Jul 2022 08:26:25
Unfortunately our league and wage structure will mean we are always going to be a stepping stone. But if we aim to do better in Europe, the domestic stuff will take care of itself. Clubs with less income than ours regularly do well, just seems we lacked the ambition, hopefully that’s in the past.
11 Jul 2022 08:47:49
It’s clear for us all to see that we need to improve defensively to compete in the CL. To start with we need a dominant DM to protect the defence which will allow Calmac to operate in the box to box role. We should also be better as a whole team defensively with Ange getting a full preseason with the team. If we get a dominant DM who plays like we have an extra player in midfield we can be dominant but they are a dime a dozen.
11 Jul 2022 08:51:43
Defensively we are still Woeful. Rapid scored 3 from gifts. We don’t improve vastly then the CL will be the same old story of humiliating defeats. And we are supposed to be letting Josep go? You couldn’t make that up,
11 Jul 2022 09:19:39
Sevco done well in the europa because they played defensively, and didn't give much away, we will definitely need to stop the silly goals.
11 Jul 2022 10:07:14
Something I have never read or heard anybody say about us ever. Celtic are very strong defensively. That needs to change and it will take investment. It’s no use having a big beautiful boat if it has a hole in the hull. Fix it before we sail into CL waters. Everybody can see it. Our defence is like giving the opposition a two goal lead. We saw it bring us down last year in Europe. It needs to be changed. Rapid game was a wake up call, if one were needed. It needs a top CB, probably two because Sterfelt or Welsh just aren’t good enough for Europe. Julienne will be off probably too so why no CB? We are also playing for strategy for entry to the CL next year too if we win the league. It needs addressed now.
11 Jul 2022 12:24:21
Hart dodgy stuff does not help. Or instill confidence in our new defenders.
Good goalie but the simple stuff he struggles with. It gets annoying.
Let's se what ange does. We know he wil do his best in Europe as its on him this time its his team it's his system. A full preseason behind all the lads let us see.
11 Jul 2022 16:18:19
Hart was my player of the season, the confidence he gave the back line and organising he done was fantastic, the silly stuff will be the passing about at the back, that’s the way Ange wants us to play no matter what keeper we have in they will be old to play football rather than just hoof it, yes it gave me palpitations at times last season but that’s what he’s being told to do.
11 Jul 2022 16:18:57
We won't win the CL but we want to be qualifying for the group stages regularly in order to attract the calibre of player that will allow us to progress in the competition. The League and Champions League is all that matters to big clubs?.
11 Jul 2022 16:28:26
Fair point @campsiebhoyy.
11 Jul 2022 16:49:15
If we don’t improve the defence we are 4th spot in CL. Feckin sick that we never fix our defence. It’s always utter p ish.
{Ed007's Note - What position in the defence needs improved on? Hart, JJ, CCV, Starfelt and Bernabei will be out first choice defence, it's the CDM position we need to improve on because if we going into the CL with McGregor in there we will get slaughtered.}
12 Jul 2022 10:09:24
Ed your spot on. Our defence is good we are just vulnerable against better teams especially on the counter attack with the way we play. We all want swashbuckling attacking play but it comes at the cost of defensive vulnerabilities. Hopefully with the right DM we can make inroads in the CL. It’s essential against better opposition.