How far have we come since Sion last August?

As painful as it was, I've just sat through the highlights of the 3-1 defeat to Sion in the Europa League qualifiers last year. I don't even know why myself. I just stumbled across it, whilst looking through Celtic videos.

But it did get me thinking; how far do you really think we've come as a unit since then? Obviously, we all know what happened in the aftermath of that game, with Sion being disqualified for fielding ineligible players and ourselves getting a free run in the group stages as a result, where we made a good account of ourselves, in arguably the hardest group in the whole competition.

Udinese, Atletico Madrid and Rennes could easily have passed for a semi-decent CL group and overall, we only lost two games out of six, both to the future winners of the entire thing.

With another round of Champions League and potential Europa League qualifiers just around the corner in a couple of months time, it should be interesting to see just how much people think we have improved in the past eight months and whether or not we are ready to once again mingle with the best of them, something we haven't really been able to achieve since the days of Strachan.

 

Champions League group stages I reckon is our standard. There were a few calamities against Sion which cost us the tie, and I honestly think if you took them away we'd have won that 9 times out of 10. We then, as you say, performed admirably in the group stage against what were in reality pot 2 standard CL teams.

It's hard to make a distinction between being Europa League and Champions League standard, because I think we're good enough to make a serious impact in the former, but are also decent enough to make the group stages in the latter, and I'd be disappointed if we didn't reach them. If we do, I think we'll do just fine and get a few decent results.

 

Until we win a qualifier and prove we can handle the type of pressure that comes with it, then we haven't progressed at all, in my opinion (obviously not expecting everyone to agree)

 

Voted Champions League. I think we'll steal 3rd spot in the group stages & then drop into the EL knock out stages - possibly making the last 16.

 

We're about at EL level right now, but with the potential to grow to become a worthy CL side. Just need a couple signings in key areas.

 

Keep the majority of this team together for another couple of years, add a few new players, here and there, then, I'd say, we would merit as good challenger's in the Champions League, Group stages. I have genuinely watched Celtic for nearly 50 years now, and I am convinced we have the spine of a good football here. I have great feelings for Lenny, and his squad

 

I think we might qualify for the CL this year but EL would be more our level. If we qualify for the CL I would be very happy with 3rd place.

 

Europa League.

 

Put SPL. Reason being, although i think we have a great side, i need to see what we can do outside a poor league before i can express anymore.

 

2 or 3 good signings and I believe we are more than good enough to reach the later stages (Last 16, Quarter finals) of the Europa League if we get a bit of luck. No mean feat getting there, have a wee scan at the teams who went out at that stage this season.

 

Europa League.

 

We are capable of champions league but we don't always play to the best of our ability.

Killie when we won the league, Hearts away, Udinese away and Rangers at home were all games we played amazing football but we need to be at that level almost every week for Champions League.

I think we are good enough for the Europa though.

 

I think our level given the current squad is the Europa league. I was pleased with our performance in the Group Stage this season and think Lenny and the Team learnt alot whilst putting in some strong performances. I mean we were an OG from an away win against Rennes and we dominated them at home. I think if we can qualify for CL great and I would love it, but I wouldn't be disappointed to see us in the Europa League, although I would expect us to progress from the Group Stages.

 

Europa league, sion was a fluke though, we clearly werent prepared and didnt know what to expect.

 

I picked SPL side because I can't remember the last time Celtic won away in Europe. Need to be getting those away goals or even better; away points.

 

Dynamo Moscow under Mowbray, won 2nil i think with skippy and sammy scoring.

 

With a couple of signings i beleive we'll make the champions league group stage and the qualify for the last 16.

 

Europa League.

I feel we're more than capable of reaching the group stages of the Champions League this season, if we don't let ourselves down with complacency. Once we get there, I think tying up third place would represent real success given our recent bad history in the competition. Then, when we drop down into the Europa League, we need to be aiming for the last 16. I even think, with a couple of signings, we'd be good enough for the quarter-finals. Reaching either of those stages would be a real feather in the cap for our club, given recent European failures.

 

Currently i feel we are a good europa league team, most other groups i think we would have qualified from. Udinese and Athletico madrid are really good teams, they have some top drawer players.

A few additions, quality additions and we can become a CL level team, cb/st are key to how we can progress in european competitions. I wouldn't knock the EL though these days, top, top teams play in them, either in group stages or knockout rounds.