will CL stretch us and cost us in the SPL - TalkCeltic

venegoorstrokes · 29-08-2008, 10:26 PM

It clearly was a factor for Rangers last year and a Euro run cost us the league in the Seville year. Do we have the squad to rotate and overcome this problem? Your thoughts fellow tims and timmettes.

Spaghetti · 29-08-2008, 10:28 PM

We got to the last 16 last year and still won the league.

**Renegade T** · 29-08-2008, 10:28 PM

aye mate , are you worried ?

Reno. · 29-08-2008, 10:30 PM

Not at all, though I wouldn't complain if they done away with the CIS cup, it's pointless.

MagicCalculator · 29-08-2008, 10:36 PM

Can't see it being a problem...

Unless of course a dour 4-5-fat man formation is employed

1888Scott · 29-08-2008, 10:37 PM

we are Better than rangers!

venegoorstrokes · 29-08-2008, 10:49 PM

two issues IMO

1. A big Euro run always helps a close rival who dont need to play a lot of games. I am not so green tinted to not think it was a big factor in Rangers collapse last year. The same factor will work against us this year.

2. Do we have the squad to overcome it? I think we do have a lot of really decent players who are flexible as to position. We are far stronger in options than this time last year. However we are not so strong that we could ride a season of many injuries. Losing Skippy and JVOH for Sunday would leave Killen as our bench backup and if we had two CBs injured we will be relying on 21 year olds etc. But overall we are much stronger in squad terms than any time under WGS.

clagan24 · 29-08-2008, 10:52 PM

realistically keltoi we're going to be in europe till febrauary or march at the latest so it wont be as bad as the huns title run in last season when they had a game every three days

kennydal · 29-08-2008, 10:53 PM

i think celtic are better covered than they have been in years ,wont be a prob

Celticnut · 29-08-2008, 11:29 PM

I'm happy at the depth and quality of the squad apart from a glaring weakness at LB.Mizuno and Hutchinson are still like new signings.We also have John Kennedy coming back in January if we're short of cover at CB.

On the other hand I refuse to believe that there is not a better LB out there than Lee Naylor for 3-4m plus 15-20K on wages.Wilson is a good squad player but I think his injuries have robbed him of that real pace he had when he first signed.He has also admitted that he can't play more than one game a week due to his knee condition.A club of our size and stature forced to rotate Lee Naylor and Mark Wilson as our LBs.The mind boggles.

eire4 · 29-08-2008, 11:34 PM

It could be a factor if we have a long run in Europe late into the season no question. Especially when the huns have absolutely nothing in Europe. There is no doubt we may have a difficult time of it not dropping some points on the weekend after a champions league match. Fact is even if we cope with it the tough champions league games do make us winning the spl much more difficult.

**greendave** · 29-08-2008, 11:46 PM

Who knows?

Let's just hope we have fun finding out.

venegoorstrokes · 29-08-2008, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clagan24

realistically keltoi we're going to be in europe till febrauary or march at the latest so it wont be as bad as the huns title run in last season when they had a game every three days

There is at least an even chance we could end up in the Uefa cup and we could go on a long run to the final in that competition just like Rangers did last year. As I have said I think we have our strongest squad in years but I think its 50-50 whether it would cope with a tight SPL finish and say a Uefa final type scenario. I think it would be very tight but both times SPL teams have reached the Uefa final in recent years it has cost them the league. The thread is realy about how desperately do we need to get one or two more in before the window to have such a season. I suppose there are other windows if things heat up. Personally my preferred option is a 20 point lead by Xmas

Chu, the tim · 30-08-2008, 01:57 AM

to answer your question

naw, cos Rangers are too pish this year

McNaka · 30-08-2008, 02:14 AM

I think we're loaded at midfield and strikers for depth at SPL level.
Defense, and of course LB, is a bit of a different thing. RB has a lot of natural depth but so long as we've only got a single LB in the squad could run thin as well. I think Strachan is looking to O'Dea to step up as another CB we can rely more on.
I also think the squad we're looking at now isn't necessarily what we'll have after the halfway mark. Depending on how Europe is looking at that time we may buy some more players, or we may finally find a LB, or may even lose some players. But right now I think we're set up great to weather the 1st leg of the season that should at least serve as an excellent foundation into the 2nd leg.
The only positions that genuinely have me worried are LB, and GK.