4 straight group stage appearances while qualifying against CL level teams galatasaray and midtylland , beating other quality teams like legia .
3 straight knock out stage appearances in the EL
We have definitely improved immensely on that stage and we should’ve beat slavia last season but didn’t do ourselves justice
Completely agree , we usually had one good season followed by a few disappointments .In 40 years of going to Ibrox, I've never known steady European performances and results like this. We're maybe not at the very top table just now and the CL is a massive step up but even when you consider the talent at our disposal during the Souness, Smith and Advocaat years, we could never compete in the Uefa cup to the level we do now on a regular basis either.
Completely agree , we usually had one good season followed by a few disappointments .
Last night , we were massively improved against a good side .
I’m hoping for a strong showing against Lyon allowing confidence to grow going forward
Good point, Tims have thrown away plenty of points from winning positions and rarely have it in them to fight backIt’s one of the biggest differences between us and the paedos this season. When Celtic go behind they have rarely shown that they have the mentality and resilience to fight back. I think Aberdeen away was the only game so far where they have managed to respond to conceding and win the game late on. I mean just look how they crumbled last night, 10 minutes to go before a hugely important away win and they totally fell apart under the pressure.
It gives me confidence that if the worst was to happen domestically and we somehow fall behind on points in the league, I have confidence in the players that they will be able to fight back and claw back the deficit.
Albeit not in the top competition, we have also faced and beaten better sides than AEK Athens, Gothenburg and Sofia.In 40 years of going to Ibrox, I've never known steady European performances and results like this. We're maybe not at the very top table just now and the CL is a massive step up but even when you consider the talent at our disposal during the Souness, Smith and Advocaat years, we could never compete in the Uefa cup to the level we do now on a regular basis either.
Am I right in saying we have a playoff before we get into the final round. If we were to lose do we then go into the conference or yet another playoff.
Albeit not in the top competition, we have also faced and beaten better sides than AEK Athens, Gothenburg and Sofia.
Yes, we have a long way to go to be a CL regular again, as the Malmö debacle proved but hopefully Gio can bridge the gap.Absolutely. 92-93 and 1999-00 aside, the entire decade seemed to be failure after failure and often twice a season when the Uefa parachute route started.
It's absolutely not something I'm taking for granted now even though it's becoming regular for us.
Your'e right, but the only difference is that instead of playing a Europa group winner, we play a CL 3rd place team.Am I right in saying we have a playoff before we get into the final round. If we were to lose do we then go into the conference or yet another playoff.
Where's that graphic, when you need it? The spaghetti junction one.Am I right in saying we have a playoff before we get into the final round. If we were to lose do we then go into the conference or yet another playoff.
I keep thinking similar every time we get to the knock-out stage. We had better players under Walter and Dick, but never handled European nights with any certainty.In 40 years of going to Ibrox, I've never known steady European performances and results like this. We're maybe not at the very top table just now and the CL is a massive step up but even when you consider the talent at our disposal during the Souness, Smith and Advocaat years, we could never compete in the Uefa cup to the level we do now on a regular basis either.
Just think of it as the usual last 32 knockout game, like Braga and Antwerp.Am I right in saying we have a playoff before we get into the final round. If we were to lose do we then go into the conference or yet another playoff.
We'll do well to get out of the next round with the teams we will face. Do agree with your point though getting to the quarters would be progress but at the same time when you get to the last 16 it does become harder. We've done well to get out of the group after the poor start but if we had produced what we did last season then we would be going to Lyon with a chance to win the group.It used to be a big thing getting Europe after Xmas but it's now become a regular thing for us. We need to get to the next level. Quarters or semi's.
I know what you're saying...but think of the hard luck stories we've had in the past ...lap it up because the negative press and the media won't be pleased......do we look happy. .Think we have been a bit lucky to qualify with 7 points but done what was required in a pressured game last night no complaints .
Does this mean if we get through the playoff we could potentially play Lyon in the last 16, or do they seperate teams that were in the same group?Where's that graphic, when you need it? The spaghetti junction one.
edit :
Yes, Sparta can match us on points but we have a better head to head with them.I know we have advanced to the next stage with a game to spare - is that because of the head to head we would have vs sparta, and overall goal difference goes oot the windae?
Qualifed with a game to spare as well! That's some achievement.
I'm sure it'll have been done before but surely not many times?
In 40 years of going to Ibrox, I've never known steady European performances and results like this. We're maybe not at the very top table just now and the CL is a massive step up but even when you consider the talent at our disposal during the Souness, Smith and Advocaat years, we could never compete in the Uefa cup to the level we do now on a regular basis either.
I know what you're saying...but think of the hard luck stories we've had in the past ...lap it up because the negative press and the media won't be pleased......do we look happy. .
I’m sure arsenal did that as well.Newcastle once lost their first three games in a CL group and qualified.
But on the flip side the years we did compete we really could have won the thing. The year Feyenoord knocked us out and Dortmund knocked us out were both years we could have went on and won the thing. That’s before we talk 2008 which was simply Smith getting guys running through walls for him.
As good and consistent as we are now I don’t think we are a serious contender. Maybe last year we were an outside shot because of our group stage form.
That's ridiculous to be honest.Yes we could play them in last 16
Group winners are seeded and play 2nd leg at home
So we could play Malmo again over 2 legs and then if we win that we could play Lyon again over 2 legs.Although extremely unlikely, it's also possible we could face Malmo again in the upcoming qualifying round. If Zenit lose to Chelsea and Malmo pull off a shock win against Juventus in their own backyard.
As I pointed out, unlikely but anything can happen. I think a Gio tuned team, firing on all cylinders would wipe the floor with Malmo. Revenge would be sweet on the way to the last 16
Qualifed with a game to spare as well! That's some achievement.
I'm sure it'll have been done before but surely not many times?
It’s similar to the fact that we have shown this season in games that even when we go one goal down the team has the ability to come back and win. Even against Aberdeen, two goals down we were still able to turn the game around to secure a draw. Obviously Hibs was the anomaly there but we’ve shown consistently this season that when we are behind the team has the resilience and mentality to bounce back. To lose the first two games yet still qualify is magnificent from a set of players some posters here have written off as mentally weak.
It’s one of the biggest differences between us and the paedos this season. When Celtic go behind they have rarely shown that they have the mentality and resilience to fight back. I think Aberdeen away was the only game so far where they have managed to respond to conceding and win the game late on. I mean just look how they crumbled last night, 10 minutes to go before a hugely important away win and they totally fell apart under the pressure.
It gives me confidence that if the worst was to happen domestically and we somehow fall behind on points in the league, I have confidence in the players that they will be able to fight back and claw back the deficit.
Was a tweet last night posted. Was about £7m not including tv money, tickets or sponsorships.How are we doing money wise. I would hate to go out on the playoff and then septic go on in the conference which is easier.
Need to give Gio as much as we can if he wants new players.
Great to see these Sparta racist thugs go out.