The Offical Glasgow Celtic thread

[Main Street]

One thing's about 99% certain, If Celtic started off  the CL campaign at the play-off stage, they would be beaten handily just as they were beaten many times in the past. Even Celtic's uefa run to the final with their best ever team since the Jock Stein era, were beaten by Basle in the CL play-off that same season.  Going through the qualifiers, stepping up each round, greatly improves the chances of getting through.

[themac_23]

Sadly this is the same pattern as last year.Scraping through against inferior sides with much inferior resources, when we should be building momentum during what should be a routine qualifying process,and arrive  in the Group Stages with confidence and ready to be ultra competitive in all six games,and challenge for at least the runner up spot.

Getting an away win against a team half way through the season is a good win. Challenging for the runners spot is probably a bit much given we will be a pit four side and up against teams with much superior resources

Read last night that if 1 of 4/5 teams in the non champions draw fail to qualift then we can go in 3rd seeds, would be a great boost

[uimhr ocht]

Fair play to wee Forrest I'm his biggest critic but his strike brings champions league group closer,its ridiculous we have so many qualifier rounds to manage,also talk of 4qualifiers next season a joke really and the team in pre season.

[Hectic]

Na I am kind of in the camp as well that stepped up qualifiers suits us better rather than first competitive game being say in qualifying round against the best standard we are going to hit.  Just one of those things when you are at that stage of the season you have no momentum so it is a great leveller or if you are hitting a team mid season it is a disadvantage.

I would be happy enough to play Qarabag despite the trip - their season has not started and their nearest challengers from last season brought in Andy Halliday to try and improve them so if that is any sort of measure I would be less than fearful of their quality.

[illdecide]

Celtic v Astana

[Main Street]

Celtic v Astana

Is it home game first?

[illdecide]

Yes, big distance to travel for away leg but would still expect to qualify

[StGallsGAA]

I thought first team out played 2nd leg at home?  When did this change?

[Hectic]

Happy enough though they are mid season but we have a few competitive games before then so hopefully we will be getting closer to the thing by then. Glad we avoided the Israelis and the inevitable baggage of such a tie.

[stew]

Happy enough though they are mid season but we have a few competitive games before then so hopefully we will be getting closer to the thing by then. Glad we avoided the Israelis and the inevitable baggage of such a tie.

Israelis are people too and if Celtic fans could learn to leave their politics at home there would be no problem.

[ned]

I thought first team out played 2nd leg at home?  When did this change?

Has never been the case. Seeded team is drawn first, the two teams are put in a separate bag together then drawn to see who is home first.

[Hectic]

Happy enough though they are mid season but we have a few competitive games before then so hopefully we will be getting closer to the thing by then. Glad we avoided the Israelis and the inevitable baggage of such a tie.

Israelis are people too and if Celtic fans could learn to leave their politics at home there would be no problem.

Did I say they were not people? Did I say their supporters or their players would be the ones bringing the baggage to the game?

For me the display of another countries national flag is pretty mild but having pi$$ed up the back of UEFA rules on a fairly regular basis we did not need the inevitability of Palestinian flags on display had we drawn them. Situation best avoided in my opinion.

[T Fearon]

Tough tough draw.They eliminated Legia Warsaw in the last round.Celtic have traditionally tended to rely on late heroics in the second leg home tie in this round in the past,that option isn't available.A major step up in performance from the Rosenborg games will be required to have any chance

[Dougal Maguire]

Tough tough draw.They eliminated Legia Warsaw in the last round.Celtic have traditionally tended to rely on late heroics in the second leg home tie in this round in the past,that option isn't available.A major step up in performance from the Rosenborg games will be required to have any chance

Yup, that's a pretty fair analysis of the task ahead.

[thebar]

Celtic will be underdogs but with Brendan in charge anything is possible!