06-08-2015, 23:33
Its a sad state of affairs that before the season even officially starts there are none left!!!
Europa League 2015/16
07-08-2015, 00:17
Deja vu St Charles Owl! I'd imagine most Scottish football fans have become accustomed to this common state of Euro affairs as the years go by and the month of August sees more Scottish football clubs come a cropper. Even Celtic didn't look too convincing in their Champions League quali ties against a little known Euro football club called Quarabac.
07-08-2015, 03:54
Problem is its killing Scotland's coefficient rating which means the number of "qualifiying" games and teams allowed in will stay as it is now for both the CL and Europa Cup. Previously having Celtic and Rangers doing better in European football kept Scotland higher up the rankings, I had hoped that Aberdeen as the 2nd best team currently could have gone a few rounds!! The traditional big 6 teams in Scotland, Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen and Dundee Utd really need to improve their euro performances when they get the chance and again aside from Celtic, who like you say literally squeaked through, none have done anything for a while!!
07-08-2015, 09:05
We are where we are in the rankings because it's where we deserve to be, and something fundamental was have to shift before that changes. Scotland's 'best' were outplayed over 2 legs by a side from Azerbaijan, even if they scraped through in the end. That's pretty much how we rate at the moment.
Even so, on another day Aberdeen might have gone through. They were on top a lot of the time in their games this season, and if they can keep their squad and manager together one more year I think they could go a bit further next season. Consistency of progress is a big problem for us in Scotland though, with teams tending to feature in Europe for a year or two and then not qualifying for the next ten. It's back to square one every time.
Even so, on another day Aberdeen might have gone through. They were on top a lot of the time in their games this season, and if they can keep their squad and manager together one more year I think they could go a bit further next season. Consistency of progress is a big problem for us in Scotland though, with teams tending to feature in Europe for a year or two and then not qualifying for the next ten. It's back to square one every time.
07-08-2015, 15:13
Re the Dons' exit, I watched their last two Euro League matches and they were beaten by the better side that had 3 x quality players in a veteran Timoschuk, their captain, Islamkhan and Bujin (?). Aberdeen had no players of that noticeable quality and deserved to be eliminated. As for Celtic, they've been drawn against the Swedish champions, Malmo, who, if they have their strongest line up, will certainly give Celtic a hard time and probably eliminate the hoops. They are a good football side and have players who can score goals!
07-08-2015, 18:24
Celtic will struggle in that tie!! This is to a degree their season on the line, they are expected to win the league again but their fans want to see them reach the group stages of the CL and will measure their success against that to a large degree.
10-08-2015, 14:13
Yep. I think Boyata will be found out in Celtic's defence at this higher level of football. IMO Denayer has been a big loss to the hoops and his replacement, Boyata, is lucky to have Van Dijk covering alongside him.
(07-08-2015, 18:24)St Charles Owl Wrote: Celtic will struggle in that tie!! This is to a degree their season on the line, they are expected to win the league again but their fans want to see them reach the group stages of the CL and will measure their success against that to a large degree.
3-2 for Celtic in the 1st leg at Celtic Park and it looks like Malmo could be on course for a hat trick of Euro eliminations on Scottish football clubs. Ex Celtic player, Berget comes back to haunt them with a brace of goals!. The Swedes' Euro home record is very impressive and two of their best players, captain Rosenberg and Adu, will return for the second leg in Malmo.
19-08-2015, 23:21
Its going to be tough in the second leg and that late 2nd goal for Malmo could really hurt them!! So far in this qualifying they have had one good away performance but against a poor side and a stagnant 0-0 draw in the other one, so this will definitely be a sterner test than both of those!!
25-08-2015, 23:15
(19-08-2015, 22:58)0762 Wrote:(07-08-2015, 18:24)St Charles Owl Wrote: Celtic will struggle in that tie!! This is to a degree their season on the line, they are expected to win the league again but their fans want to see them reach the group stages of the CL and will measure their success against that to a large degree.
3-2 for Celtic in the 1st leg at Celtic Park and it looks like Malmo could be on course for a hat trick of Euro eliminations on Scottish football clubs. Ex Celtic player, Berget comes back to haunt them with a brace of goals!. The Swedes' Euro home record is very impressive and two of their best players, captain Rosenberg and Adu, will return for the second leg in Malmo.
And so Malmo's hat trick of victories v Scots football clubs comes to pass tonight as expected: 2-0 for Malmo FF (4-3 agg). Certain Scottish media people banging on about a disallowed good Celtic goal but the Hoops build up was too slow, Biton and Griffiths lucky to remain on the pitch and they can't defend corners v this calibre of opposition. Another streetwise Euro team has taken them out with Malmo's captain/leader, leading the charge towards Champions League qualification. It's Europa League action again for Celtic.
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