[Parma Man]

As a Rennes fan I would fucking love to go see them play the Hoops.

Stade Rennais has one of the best youth academys in the world and would probably pump the living shit out of this poor Celtic side.

It'd still be a great day out though!

[HibeeJibee]

Supras, on 27 August 2011 - 12:23, said:

Fair enough but then the decision should have made after blatant flaunting of the rules following the first leg. It's poor stuff from UEFA really.

That's my take. The incident from the 1st leg should've been resolved sometime in the following 7 days - which (as it turns out) would likely have meant Celtic winning 4-3 on aggregate. The draw, with Celtic in Pot 2, could then have taken place unhampered. Any issue from the 2nd leg clearly couldn't be taken into account in time, but in this instance it'd only be relevant in co-efficient calculations, so it wouldn't be of a timely nature anyway.

Supras, on 27 August 2011 - 12:42, said:

It's no surprise you have totally avoided the debates on this issue.

Two poor defeats, instigated by two fuckwitted managers does not mean Scottish football has sunk to any 'depths'.

When driving to the game this afternoon I caught the first 2/3 of the "Big Debate" on Sportsound. By 2:02pm it has been decided, courtesy of a quote from a fan and an agreement off one of the pundits, that "Ally and Neil weren't responsible for what happened". Remarkable. There then followed some good discussion... about indoor facilities, opening schools up in the evening, etc. And some terrible discussion... about "computer games and Barcelona shirts", making kids play football 2-3 times a week in school (or for Derek Ferguson 1-2hrs a day ) and the cliches about "Ireland has summer football" and league size.

So, there were good points, and bad points - but little recognition of [1] the OF having better resources or squads, or [2] the suggestion that Thursday is down to broad issues in the game, as opposed to the managers/players and their tactical underperformance on the night.

There was also a slightly bizarre bit from Chick Young, who having done the "shameful decline of a once proud nation to continental humiliation" gig: proceeded to identify Carlos Bocanegra as one of the examples of foreigners being recruited, when really, Rangers should've been starting Ross Perry. "Laudrups and Larssons, yes, but not past-it foreign duds". Isn't Bocanegra the USA captain, with 90+ caps and top-level EPL/Ligue 1 experience? Maybe I misunderstood him.

Anyway, my overall impression was the usual balance. There are issues we can improve: facilities, youth coaching/style, etc. But there are also big issues being ignored (OF failings), and non-issues clouding the discussion (e.g. league size/calendar).

[pansjambo]

Swampy, on 27 August 2011 - 12:16, said:

Celtic would have been pot 2 - very nearly pot 1, in fact - but I think they wouldn't want to reward a side that's reached the group stage by default. That plus the organisational difficulties of postponing a draw at which representatives from almost every club were present means no delay.

Does that not show you how bad the seedings are as they got pumped by a pot 4 side irrespective of whether these players should have been signed

[HibeeJibee]

pansjambo, on 27 August 2011 - 16:23, said:

Does that not show you how bad the seedings are as they got pumped by a pot 4 side irrespective of whether these players should have been signed

They're generated by performances in previous seasons.

= It shows how poor Celtic were v Sion, compared to what they were 2/3/4 seasons ago.

[pansjambo]

HibeeJibee, on 27 August 2011 - 16:31, said:

They're generated by performances in previous seasons.

= It shows how poor Celtic were v Sion, compared to what they were 2/3/4 seasons ago.

exactly.............hang on,didn't Lennon say Celtic were excellent?

[HibeeJibee]

pansjambo, on 27 August 2011 - 16:39, said:

hang on,didn't Lennon say Celtic were excellent?

Well, quite.

[Supras]

HibeeJibee, on 27 August 2011 - 16:19, said:

That's my take. The incident from the 1st leg should've been resolved sometime in the following 7 days - which (as it turns out) would likely have meant Celtic winning 4-3 on aggregate. The draw, with Celtic in Pot 2, could then have taken place unhampered. Any issue from the 2nd leg clearly couldn't be taken into account in time, but in this instance it'd only be relevant in co-efficient calculations, so it wouldn't be of a timely nature anyway.


When driving to the game this afternoon I caught the first 2/3 of the "Big Debate" on Sportsound. By 2:02pm it has been decided, courtesy of a quote from a fan and an agreement off one of the pundits, that "Ally and Neil weren't responsible for what happened". Remarkable. There then followed some good discussion... about indoor facilities, opening schools up in the evening, etc. And some terrible discussion... about "computer games and Barcelona shirts", making kids play football 2-3 times a week in school (or for Derek Ferguson 1-2hrs a day ) and the cliches about "Ireland has summer football" and league size.

So, there were good points, and bad points - but little recognition of [1] the OF having better resources or squads, or [2] the suggestion that Thursday is down to broad issues in the game, as opposed to the managers/players and their tactical underperformance on the night.

There was also a slightly bizarre bit from Chick Young, who having done the "shameful decline of a once proud nation to continental humiliation" gig: proceeded to identify Carlos Bocanegra as one of the examples of foreigners being recruited, when really, Rangers should've been starting Ross Perry. "Laudrups and Larssons, yes, but not past-it foreign duds". Isn't Bocanegra the USA captain, with 90+ caps and top-level EPL/Ligue 1 experience? Maybe I misunderstood him.

Anyway, my overall impression was the usual balance. There are issues we can improve: facilities, youth coaching/style, etc. But there are also big issues being ignored (OF failings), and non-issues clouding the discussion (e.g. league size/calendar).

Well, shouldn't they have been thrown out of the competition and therefore unable to participate in the second leg? If you break the rules that is what happens to you. They've just delayed it to the chagrin of both teams involved.

Derek Ferguson

Not everyone can get through life being as stupid as you, some actual education needs to happen in schools.

[shiltrum]

We were shite clear and simple against the team Sion put on the park the only reservation I have is that they broke a UEFA transfer embargo it was six players they signed that is half their team and five of them featured in their 3-1 defeat of Celtic and one scored 2 goals and that makes it different in my opinion. It does not matter which team they played it could have been Rangers or any other team and it would be reasonable to ask UEFA justify their decsion to allow them to progress in the competition would it not.
It may well be seen as complicity and after the year UEFA have had with the accusation of coruption ref World Cup bribes etc
Michel Platini will also want to be seen as a new broom and his own man and able to the make important decisions . I dont think Celtic will progress from that group though it would be a learning curve for the squad and allow them to reap some small reward.

[53_and_counting]

while it will probably paper over the glaring cracks in celtics game, they should be put back in

wouldnt like to guess the correct scores for any of their group games though

[EdTheDuck]

53_and_counting, on 27 August 2011 - 18:45, said:

while it will probably paper over the glaring cracks in celtics game, they should be put back in

wouldnt like to guess the correct scores for any of their group games though

They will probably do OK to be honest; they'll raise their game playing against big teams, wee teams always do

[53_and_counting]

EdTheDuck, on 27 August 2011 - 19:39, said:

They will probably do OK to be honest; they'll raise their game playing against big teams, wee teams always do

compared to celtic and ourselves, atletico madrid, udinese and rennes certainly arent big clubs

[Alba gu Brath]

I'd like to know what the SFA are doing regarding this issue. They're supposed to be our representatives in Europe are they not? Yet not a peep has come from them.

I guess helping us get back in and holding up the co-efficient doesn't mean much to them.

Although after the European performances by all of us and the talk of how Scottish Football is DEAD they'd be a little busy. Still, would like to see at least a statement and perhaps a letter sent to UEFA about us being re-instated. Their Swiss counterparts aren't long in giving their say for Sion.

This post has been edited by Alba gu Brath: 27 August 2011 - 21:13

[Skyline Drifter]

Have to say that. like others, I cannot for the life of me understand why UEFA didn't arrange to make a decision about the players playing in the first leg before the second leg took place. Then you either chuck Sion out, tell them they are fine and there's no sanction or award the first leg to Celtic by whatever margin you like and get on with it.

Celtic shouldn't be having to play in the 4th pot seeding slot really.

[craigkillie]

Alba gu Brath, on 27 August 2011 - 21:12, said:

I'd like to know what the SFA are doing regarding this issue. They're supposed to be our representatives in Europe are they not? Yet not a peep has come from them.

I guess helping us get back in and holding up the co-efficient doesn't mean much to them.

Although after the European performances by all of us and the talk of how Scottish Football is DEAD they'd be a little busy. Still, would like to see at least a statement and perhaps a letter sent to UEFA about us being re-instated. Their Swiss counterparts aren't long in giving their say for Sion.

[The Master]

Alba gu Brath, on 27 August 2011 - 21:12, said:

I'd like to know what the SFA are doing regarding this issue. They're supposed to be our representatives in Europe are they not? Yet not a peep has come from them.

I guess helping us get back in and holding up the co-efficient doesn't mean much to them.

Although after the European performances by all of us and the talk of how Scottish Football is DEAD they'd be a little busy. Still, would like to see at least a statement and perhaps a letter sent to UEFA about us being re-instated. Their Swiss counterparts aren't long in giving their say for Sion.

It's because they're Catholic-hating *** proddy scum.

Obviously.

[HibeeJibee]

If only Celtic had someone on the SFA Board, to unmask such shameful hidden-hand-of-the-Establishment conspiracies.

[greenockraver]

Hope to god this comes through

[HibeeJibee]

Here's the fixtures Celtic will have if they're reinstated:

Thu 15 Sep... Atletico Madrid (A) 8:05pm
Thu 29 Sep... Udinese (H) 6pm
Thu 20 Oct... Rennes (A) 6pm
Thu 03 Nov... Rennes (H) 8:05pm
Wed 30 Nov... Atletico Madrid (H) 6pm
Thu 15 Dec... Udinese (A) 8:05pm

Note the KOs... British (and Iberian, IIRC) teams aren't usually given the 19:00 CET home kick-offs as it's 6pm local time, but of course this didn't apply to Sion - as it's 7pm their time. They'd have to be changed, or be an inconvenience.

[craigkillie]

Liverpool had a couple of 6pm kick-offs at Anfield last season I'm sure.

[HibeeJibee]

craigkillie, on 27 August 2011 - 23:37, said:

Liverpool had a couple of 6pm kick-offs at Anfield last season I'm sure.

They were all 8:05pm's in the group. They had a 6pm in the Last 32 (v Sparta) and played at 8:05pm v Braga in the next round. A quick check of Wikipedia, and I can't find any group-stage matches with 6pm kick-offs for English/Scottish clubs. I've seen the policy described on BertKassies.net.

Odder situation occurred in 2009-10... city clash meant Everton hosted Sporting Lisbon in the Last 32 at 5:45pm on Tuesday, Liverpool hosting Unirea on the Thursday at 8:05pm.

[The Master]

Why is a 6pm KO inconvenient?

[HibeeJibee]

The Master, on 28 August 2011 - 00:10, said:

Why is a 6pm KO inconvenient?

For working/journeying-in supporters = crowds, surely?

[The Master]

I shall rephrase my question.

HibeeJibee, on 28 August 2011 - 00:13, said:

For working...supporters = crowds, surely?

Why is a 6pm KO time inconvenient for Celtic supporters?

[THE KING]

The Master, on 28 August 2011 - 00:15, said:

I shall rephrase my question.


Why is a 6pm KO time inconvenient for Celtic supporters?

They'll all be at evening mass?

[THE KING]

The whole thing is a fucking joke this mob should be kicked out and fined then banned from europe for their discraceful behavior and as for sion.....