Fantastic performance by the Cypriot Champions, not only qualified for
last 16, but in pole position to win their group.
Porto, Shahktar Donetsk and Zenit St. Petersburg neither Rangers or
Celtic would have taken much more than half a dozen points in that group.
Looking to finish third would have been the best we could have aimed.
Last season only Getafe (Spain) denied them a place in the Europa League. The season before they took three points in a Champions League
group with Athletico Madrid, Chelsea and Porto. While the stock of the
Old Firm and Scottish football is falling in Europe, they are on the rise.
At the end of this season with another win and a draw APOEL will be ranked higher than Celtic, if they lose both their Europa League matches.
They would also be less than four points below Rangers.
Cyprus is now ranked 16th pushing Scotland to 17th in the Country
rankings, Isreal are just a fraction behind us in 18th. We are in the mire
and sinking fast, I hope Neil Doncaster and Stewart Regan have in the words of Blackadder 'a cunning plan' .
APOEL
posted on 23/11/11
Summer football looking more and more our only realistic chance of getting into the group stages of both euro comps, otherwise we're gubbed for the foreseeable future.
posted on 23/11/11
I agree Atheist start the season mid March, five week break in EC and WC years, end season in early December. Over New Year Rangers and Celtic can arrange money spinning friendlies in Dubai, South Africa and Australia. Ne'erday double header Rangers
V Bayern Munich in Perth. Celtic V AC Milan in Durban.
Then a week to ten days later play against each other in Dubai. Big crowds, huge TV appeal.
We would also get a better TV deal as Sky are gagging
for big matches late July, early August.
posted on 23/11/11
Cant disagree, title. As I say, we're gubbed unless we do something radical, tho summer foorball shouldn't be too hard to do.