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Massive game for Celtic tomorrow now! A win against them in a couple weeks could give a nice wee cushion for this early in the year. Still a bit worried by the quality in the squad. I can't really think of good players Celtic have brought in? What's big Julien at currently, why's he looking out? Seems to have put the feet up and stink the place out!

Jim i have to disagree with you pal...I think it's the best squad we've had in a while, there is 2 men for each position with still a few signings to come in and ship a few out. C Jullien is  the rotten apple in the barrel in the club and needs flushed out ASAP, spit the dummy out and Ange doesn't have players like that around him...Funny how all the French players gave trouble and downed tools at some point.

Big game tomorrow alright. I'm sitting here with 3 tickets and can't get over, just tried flights there for the morning and they're ridiculous price. Why would Airlines not sell unsold seats the night before for a reasonable price rather than have an empty seat...I don't get that.

Sevco had mixed results today, they're first penalty is the biggest joke. You really got to see what they got a penalty for and Hibs were denied one later for a worse foul. In saying that J Lundstrum's was never a red card but the Buffalo's was red and he knew exactly what he was doing, tried to smash the forearm into Hibs guy. Celtic win tomorrow and beat them in 2 weeks and that will be massive.

Jenz looks decent (although hasn't been tested yet)
Carter Vickers is good
Aaron Mooy looks decent, he'd be a £5m player we got for free
Jota is a class act

These guys were all signed this year.

Still need to ship out McCarthy, Ajeti, Jullien and put Mikey Johnston out on loan.

Maybe I'm under estimating the squad. I was just underwhelmed with the transfers that have been brought in. Celtic have secured a few fellas that they had already at the club but other than that I'm not sure who I'm excited about. Big Rogic leaving was a shock and I don't think he even has a club yet. Very strange he left considering he was playing great football again. Some dead wood knocking about the place though right enough.

Rogic was nothing but a personal decision. Jota and CCV were vital to re-sign. Are you forgetting that the team last year went undefeated for a very long stretch until the end of the season. That team only needed tweaks. This time last year we were relying on Academy players to fill in. Also, Celtic were missing key players for stretches. 4 players came in in January and now have the luxury of a pre season under Ange behind them now Still managed to maintain the momentum.
Jenz and Mooy look good additions. Bernabei is not up to speed yet. We are about to sign another winger, Haksabanovic who looks versatile. It's about the right player and person.
Siegrist is a step up from our previous second choice keepers.

Why's Rogic leaving. On his day he's Celtic's best player and the match winner. Massive loss

Possibly, moving back to Australia. Moved to Celtic as a teenager, been with club for 9 years. Life is more important than football.

I don't think Laois have improved massively in that time and I wouldn't be so sure on Westmeath either though maybe they have a bit. We were challenging for all Ireland final places in those days and are far from it now so I don't think it's a case of them overtaking us either.

Dublin is huge and money a big factor too. Kerry maybe have improved but have been given us a rattle for twenty odd years. It used to be Shane brick tortured us now it's Shane Conway.

In fairness only reason Antrim were challenging in semifinals  was that there were almost in the semi-final every year so it's a bit of a false narrative.

After the competition was changed, Antrim's real level was the Joe Mc Donagh.

Not entirely true. Obviously Antrim had a mostly easy route into the semis for a while. They had to work up to that right. It wasn't long before, that that "golden generation" were playing junior competition. It was a coalescing of a very good talent pool. Antrim probably should have made one more AI final if not 2 around that time. Lack of experience, not talent, was the main downfall.

Double focus my árse.
The big part is that Celtic completely outplayed Rangers twice, therefore are 6 points ahead, despite starting poorly  in the league.

The run in

Ross County A
Rangers H
Hearts H
Dundee U. A
Motherwell H

Do you think the Celtic team who lost the League on a goal difference of 1 in 2002/03 where better than that Rangers team of that season? Do you think their league position was hampered by their focus on the UEFA Cup?

That Rangers team were better than either of the teams today. Goal difference won't come into it this year.

Agreed! But they were not better than the Celtic team of that era!

Rangers started to falter before EL knockouts so that's not a reason.

Double focus my árse.
The big part is that Celtic completely outplayed Rangers twice, therefore are 6 points ahead, despite starting poorly  in the league.

The run in

Ross County A
Rangers H
Hearts H
Dundee U. A
Motherwell H

Do you think the Celtic team who lost the League on a goal difference of 1 in 2002/03 where better than that Rangers team of that season? Do you think their league position was hampered by their focus on the UEFA Cup?

That Rangers team were better than either of the teams today. Goal difference won't come into it this year.

Double focus my árse.
The big part is that Celtic completely outplayed Rangers twice, therefore are 6 points ahead, despite starting poorly  in the league.

The run in

Ross County A
Rangers H
Hearts H
Dundee U. A
Motherwell H

Do you think the Celtic team who lost the League on a goal difference of 1 in 2002/03 where better than that Rangers team of that season? Do you think their league position was hampered by their focus on the UEFA Cup?

20 years ago, I do remember Celtic returning from a semi or quarter  final victory away and beat Rangers on the Sunday, not too different from this game.
This season Celtic had recovered the ground on Rangers and had their measure before Rangers had to play their extra EL games.
Rangers dropped too many points during the season and got beat by Celtic twice, that's what has hurt them.

At Ibrox we played our game and defended admirably, today we didn't. A draw was a fair result and Madden was at it all game. How Lundstram wasn't booked is beyond me.

Was reading an article about Rangers there.

Scott Artfield, Steven Davis, Alan McGregor & Balogun out of contract at the end of the season?

Morelos, Kent, Aribo & Goldson 1 year left on their contracts. To sign them rangers will probably have to give them improved deals, or risk losing them at a cut price this summer or a free transfer next summer.

Have Rangers big problems ahead? How are they financially? The punt on Diallo & Ramsey loans have been a disaster also.

They'll have no choice but to sell. McGregor is 40 and Davis 37 - they'll retire. A lot of their squad is the wrong side of 30. Revenue from their merchandise for their 150th* and their run in Europe will help them but I think they'll have to cash in on the likes of Morelos before his last year is up. Let's just hope Braga smash them tomorrow to really make them squirm

Is Morelos gone for the season - injured?

Yes.

Celtic didn't even play that well (not as well as we know they can) but done enough. On chances it could have been 6-3 to Celtic. This could be the end for these Zombies, £27m of a loss so far and thinking they're getting the £40m CL money (I know the league is not won yet) to wipe out their debt. Again spending money they don't have and it's obvious they didn't learn their lesson from the last time.
I know some of the Celtic fans are no Angels but that behaviour today from the Zombies was atrocious TBH. They really are scum of the earth.

Dont think its as bad as the last time but no doubt its a set back. They'll have to sell players and the values are nowhere near what they think. They might get 10m for Morelos but that's about it.

Regarding the fans - they just cant take a beating. There's a lad in hospital in glasgow with a bleed on his brain. A load of rangers fans apparently jumped off a bus to batter him on the side of the road. FFS can you not just go home and lick your wounds. Bunch of cowards

Herad because of the Russian sanctions rangers could  get into championships league.

Afaiu as it stands now regardless of sanctions against Russian clubs, the SPL champs go into the group stages and the runners up go into the qual. rounds

I was only 1/2 right, I had a quick look at the criteria for the 2022/23 CL format and  they take the position of country ranking from the 2021 UEFA coefficients, when Scotland were in 11th place allowed 2 teams into the CL, one team direct to the play offs and the other into the League path qualifiers. Should Russia who are in 10th place be disqualified then the SPL champs would go straight into the group stages.

As long as Benfica or Villareal do not win CL, Scottish champions are straight to group stages. Following season champions are in group stages regardless.

The 2022/23 CL is based on the 2021 country rankings,  the criteria is "10 champions from associations 1–10 go straight into the group stages".  Russia are in 10th place and Scotland 11th.

How do Benfica or Villareal affect this situation?

Scotland are 9th in the rankings. This has been known for some time.
Sorry, If Benfica or Villareal win the CL this MAY take away Scotland's automatic place in groups, if they dont qualify through league finish.p

Scotland are at present 9th in the rankings  but that's only a consideration for the 2023/2024 Cl. as I discovered belatedly.
The draw for the 2022/2023 CL uses the ranking from 2021, as I have stated twice previous. Scotland are in 11th place behind Russia.
The fate of Benfica or Villarreal in this season's CL will have no effect on the 10th place team's assured spot in the Group stages of 2022/23 CL.
There is already a group stage place allotted for the CL champions.

Is group stage space for CL winners not only if they don't qualify through league placing?
I'm almost certain Scottish champions will be straight to groups this year.

Celtic didn't even play that well (not as well as we know they can) but done enough. On chances it could have been 6-3 to Celtic. This could be the end for these Zombies, £27m of a loss so far and thinking they're getting the £40m CL money (I know the league is not won yet) to wipe out their debt. Again spending money they don't have and it's obvious they didn't learn their lesson from the last time.
I know some of the Celtic fans are no Angels but that behaviour today from the Zombies was atrocious TBH. They really are scum of the earth.

Dont think its as bad as the last time but no doubt its a set back. They'll have to sell players and the values are nowhere near what they think. They might get 10m for Morelos but that's about it.

Regarding the fans - they just cant take a beating. There's a lad in hospital in glasgow with a bleed on his brain. A load of rangers fans apparently jumped off a bus to batter him on the side of the road. FFS can you not just go home and lick your wounds. Bunch of cowards

Herad because of the Russian sanctions rangers could  get into championships league.

Afaiu as it stands now regardless of sanctions against Russian clubs, the SPL champs go into the group stages and the runners up go into the qual. rounds

I was only 1/2 right, I had a quick look at the criteria for the 2022/23 CL format and  they take the position of country ranking from the 2021 UEFA coefficients, when Scotland were in 11th place allowed 2 teams into the CL, one team direct to the play offs and the other into the League path qualifiers. Should Russia who are in 10th place be disqualified then the SPL champs would go straight into the group stages.

As long as Benfica or Villareal do not win CL, Scottish champions are straight to group stages. Following season champions are in group stages regardless.

The 2022/23 CL is based on the 2021 country rankings,  the criteria is "10 champions from associations 1–10 go straight into the group stages".  Russia are in 10th place and Scotland 11th.

How do Benfica or Villareal affect this situation?

Scotland are 9th in the rankings. This has been known for some time.
Sorry, If Benfica or Villareal win the CL this MAY take away Scotland's automatic place in groups, if they dont qualify through league finish.p

Celtic didn't even play that well (not as well as we know they can) but done enough. On chances it could have been 6-3 to Celtic. This could be the end for these Zombies, £27m of a loss so far and thinking they're getting the £40m CL money (I know the league is not won yet) to wipe out their debt. Again spending money they don't have and it's obvious they didn't learn their lesson from the last time.
I know some of the Celtic fans are no Angels but that behaviour today from the Zombies was atrocious TBH. They really are scum of the earth.

Dont think its as bad as the last time but no doubt its a set back. They'll have to sell players and the values are nowhere near what they think. They might get 10m for Morelos but that's about it.

Regarding the fans - they just cant take a beating. There's a lad in hospital in glasgow with a bleed on his brain. A load of rangers fans apparently jumped off a bus to batter him on the side of the road. FFS can you not just go home and lick your wounds. Bunch of cowards

Herad because of the Russian sanctions rangers could  get into championships league.

Afaiu as it stands now regardless of sanctions against Russian clubs, the SPL champs go into the group stages and the runners up go into the qual. rounds

I was only 1/2 right, I had a quick look at the criteria for the 2022/23 CL format and  they take the position of country ranking from the 2021 UEFA coefficients, when Scotland were in 11th place allowed 2 teams into the CL, one team direct to the play offs and the other into the League path qualifiers. Should Russia who are in 10th place be disqualified then the SPL champs would go straight into the group stages.

As long as Benfica or Villareal do not win CL, Scottish champions are straight to group stages. Following season champions are in group stages regardless.

Can anyone actually put their finger on why Celtic are so bad in Europe and why the constantly year on year get beat by smaller clubs with smaller budgets. We can blame players or managers or both but it's happening with even good managers in charge...The great BR couldn't halt it and neither can Ange the saviour so what's the problem/issue?

Celtic in Europe need to sit back, soak up pressure and hit teams on the counter like what Rangers do in Europe and also what teams do to Celtic in the SPL every week. Who can forget Celtic under Rodgers going toe to toe against Barcelona and PSG and getting absolutely destroyed.

I can...I was in Paris the night we got thumped 7-1. Wasn't pleasant.
The last time Celtic won a knock out game post Christmas was v Barcelona in 2004. That's 18 years of pure failure under 9 different managers...(O'Neill, Strachan, Mobray, Lennon, Deila, Rodgers, Lennon, Kennedy & Ange)

This year has been good so far, especially considering last year. However, although we are improving we have a long way to go.
We are night and day away from CL standard and I'm not even talking knockout stages. I think we will struggle against most CL teams in the groups unless the incremental improvements continue. It may take a few years yet!

Realistically are Celtic going to win a European tournament.? No . Concentrate on winning the title. Its much more important than a conference league.

The late winner against Dundee in itself could prove more valuable than the Bodo tie.
However valuable club coefficient points  earned  by progressing to the next round matter in regards to seeding as well as Scotland's country ranking is now in the dizzy heights of automatic entry to the group stages along with GBP20m+.
But the grunt work in Europe can be left to Rangers.

We've been woeful in Europe for years. Last time we did anything significant was under Lennon first time round.
Doing well in Europe shouldn't be a secondary consideration. Surely if we are doing well in Europe means we have a better team and ultimately better chance of winning the league. Otherwise, why bother winning the league. That said I thing Ange has the right ideas to strive towards relative European success.

So is Scottish football great because the 2nd placed team can beat a German team away 4-2 or shit because the League leaders got hockeyed by Norwegians at home??!!

Strange night!!

Yes, that's how football works!

I was at the game and have to say it was one of the best atmosphere's i've been too at Celtic Park in many a year and a performance to back it up too. Yes, Celtic faded a bit in 2nd half but at least now we don't look like conceding at will. They all played well and are only going to get stronger as the season goes on when more players get back from injury and squad gets rotated more often to accommodate the big games ahead. No one seen this quick turn around happening so all in all we are all a lot happier than expected...been saying this for 2-3 years but is this the year we finally put their lights out financially when they have went all in this year for the Champions League money

Jealous of you being there. I'm not sure I've seen as comprehensive a doing, even during BRs time. I think that even surpasses the 6-2 as that could just as easily have been 7-5.

Celtic poor in 2nd half, just need someone to start passing the ball and hold possession. Lucky to have not conceded

FFS man. We slaughtered them. 2nd half was a training exercise. Their best chance came with two minutes to go!
O'Reily is a good all rounder, all his stats were apparently best of any midfield player outside of English premier.

No I dont agree, they have to learn to get compact and controlled when they ahead. Only Rangers were total muck they should've had a goal or 2 in 2nd half.

Yet they had no clear cut chances until 2 minutes from end with Goldson header. If we were more clinical it would have been 6 at HT. We defended well.
We walloped them, absolutely demoralised them. That was a statement.