I rambled a bit here, so to save the time of those who can't be bothered, a summary is as follows. No Huns, we are doing grand and progressing nicely. I don't think the Huns will be competing in europe next year and what follows is based on that belief and not the arrogant assumption of hoisting the league flag. I believe we are going to do that, but that is irrelevant to the scenario I am talking about. I believe they'll either be dead, in administration, or denied a licence. The first option means no Huns in europe ever again The second option means no Huns in europe for a minimum of 3 years. The third option (I think) means no europe for one year (minimum). I have never been an advocate of the "wish them good luck for the good of the Scottish game" school of thought. I stand by that. I take whatever good comes our direction from any co-efficient points that aid us and get on with it. I recognise that they were the side most likely to get the points to augment any that we earn ourselves. I am now acutely aware that it is all on us from here on out. I suspect Lennon's press conference that amounted to a "**** them" had that in mind as well. Their coefficient standing is currently higher than ours. I'm not looking it up but I think it is by about 5 points. A lot of that comes from the automatic entry they got into the CL (4 Coefficient points) off the back of the standing of Scottish football (our 2 last 16's garnered 8 bonus points). They haven't particularly serviced the Scottish game as much as they like to think. Their uefa run didn't contain too many victories. Draws are worth 1 point and there are bonuses for getting to the various stages (I think 2 points for getting to the 1/4 final). Genuinely that isn't to denigrate that achievement. They did what they had to do to progress in the tournament, it just so happened that it didn't give that many ce points in the process. No other entrant from Scotland has done particularly much for the coefficient in recent times, including ourselves. I expected 8-9 ce points from this season. I didn't legislate for the Sion debacle, our poor start to the season and the subsequent hard group we got for not taking Sion out in the first place. I think most of us agreed that despite the shambolic circumstances, it proved a worthwhile venture. My own feelings are that the experience will stand to the players in coming seasons. Possibly more than a slightly easier group. Having already detailed my expectation that there ain't gonna be Huns in europe, the CL spot is ours for the taking, barring a disaster that sees us drop outside the top 2. The last qualifying round is worth a point and being in the CL is worth 4 more. Yes, there is the parachute of the europa league, but the CL is where the money is at, and also it takes 2 wins to get back those 4 points. Finishing 3rd in a CL group also gives that parachute. It means that you have those 4 points, you must have gained some more to finish 3rd and you have the chance to get more in the europa. Right now, I don't think that is an unreasonable target for this group of players. Tough, certainly, but doable. The risk is how much we risk to secure that spot. Bearing in mind that that match is going to have a knock on effect for a few years, possibly more so than ever before. Do we need to splash out to secure that CL spot, or splash out once we have got there My opinion is that we are doing grand and there isn't that much augmenting of the side required to get to that position. Yooropa league fitba can give us ce points, but it can't give the prestige and cash of the CL. For me, next season is about getting as many ce points as possible. Do you agree, and if so what is the best way to do that?
My initial thoughts are that we should be thinking of getting in on or two more experienced players to help along what appears to be a relatively decent squad with a pretty low average age ; I think a few older players who have " been there " could be helpful to these younger guys.....my worry would be that to get players of the requisite quality/experience would require upsetting the wage structure, which I think is never a good idea for a team/squad. I`d probably be more concerned about that than any financial risk in bolstering the squad and not progressing in europe.
Don't you think that without rangers..........sorry that still kills me....any our future is outside Scotland I think, although don't care, but I think letting the wee huns fight amoung themselves would be good for them We should apply for Portsmouths place in championship
I suppose there is that too. The board have to explore every available avenue. They'd be daft not to. I suppose Lennon can only plan for the most likely eventuality and that is less competitive sides accompanying us into europe.
