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That is a good idea, would it be one that would be welcomed by Celtic though? The TV/prize money in Scotland is really small, I have always though it should be split by all 12 rather than awarding more by league position anyway. It would barely make a dent in Celtics finances but would be boost for the rest of the teams.

I actually think it is a good idea but if you are the only one doing it then you are putting yourself at a disadvantage. If UEFA agreed to cutting it off earlier to align with the most leagues commencing I think it would be a good thing.

Out of interest how many leagues have more than 3 realistic winners? Italy has been great the last few years for winners, 4 different winners in 5yrs but it also is normally won by 1 of 3 teams. Even Napoli's win was the first since Roma in 2001 that wasn't one of the usual big 3.

Scotland are currently 23rd for this season with the points from 20-21 dropping off which was the most from the pervious 5yrs (8.5). Even a few wins might not be enough to stop Scotland dropping out of the top 20 for 2026.

Celtic v Slovan or Bayern v Madrid.... and you question which one belongs in Europe's premier competition. This format is designed to get more games like Milan v Liverpool, City v Inter and Bayern v Real Madrid, okay we are still getting the Bayern v Zagreb, Liverpool v Rangers and PSG v Celtic type of annual thrashings but at least these will be offset with more games with the elite playing each other. Whether we like that or not that is the aim of this format. This is another slow step to getting a European super league. I would rather they just went for it although we saw the uproar when they did so it is going to be a change every few years until it becomes a super league by default. My predictions are that soon we will see some fixture weeks where these games are on at the weekends. Then they will decide that 36 teams is too much and too many diddy teams and go to 2 x 18 leagues where the elite are almost cemented in to the top 18. Then is it a league that will be the priority for all those involved.

I understand that is why players are doing it but it is the bizarre scenario football is in now with the handball rule that players have to do this.

It is a naturel movement unless you move your arm to the ball. If you freeze frame an image of a cross in to the box then a lot of the players arms are in slightly different places. This is natural for them for whatever direction they are about to move too or jump from or fall over on. What is not natural is lunging in to block a cross with your hands gripped together behind your back.

I think because for a parent or player it is a single opportunity. They are not looking at an overall view point and seeing how many players come through. I am also sure the OF representatives sell it very well, best facilities, best coaches etc. in the country and a good chance these youngsters support one of them too. They also will point to Callum McGregor and Nathan Patterson as examples, they won't be forthcoming with the stats that show they are probably in a 1% club of players breaking through. Also unless you are clued up in the game like the parents of Lennon Miller or the foresight of Aaron Hickey to look single mindedly at the best path to 1st team football then it is unfair to expect parents or players with a lack of knowledge to turn down such a move.

I wasn't posting in response to any comments in particular from any particular poster but was just putting out a brief summary of qualification for the new Euro format and was showing how some smaller, equal and bigger nations have fared.

This is a good way to put it. Who knows if the players on the bench are good enough, what is frustrating is we know some of the players starting are not.

Qualification should be a realistic target but as a nation of our size it is still a 'slight' achievement. Since it was expanded, the last 3 tournaments: Sweden didn't make the last Euros. Serbia have only qualified once. Greece have never qualified. Ireland have been once. Denmark and Netherlands didn't make the 1st expanded tournament. On the flip side Austria, Hungary and Poland have been to the last 3 Albania, Romania and Wales have been twice Georgia and Finland have been once We should be aiming for every tournament but looking at this I would say getting to around 3/4 is probably what is likely to happen so we should not dismiss qualification too lightly as a given.

One of my concerns is that we never make subs until about 80 minutes when in this modern day of 5 subs every other side is making use of these. Portugal had made 4 subs before our enforced sub of McLean (we did make 2 at that time). It is difficult for a sub to get in to a game and giving 1 or 2 subs 10 minutes and the other 2-3 just a few minutes means they are probably not up to the speed of the game. Meanwhile our opponent has made 4 or 5 subs much earlier and there players are getting into the game and are fresh going in to the last period of the game. I am not saying this is the reason but conceding late goals consistently shows there is an issue. Fatigue or lack of concentration etc. can explain the mistakes being made.

I think like the team McGinn could be doing with a refresh. Either he gets dropped and is used as a sub or he moves position. My preference is he would have been dropped deeper with McGregor retiring and freeing his wide position up for someone like Doak/Gauld/Christie or Morgan. My midfield 3 would be Gilmour, McTominay and McGinn. I think Gilmour naturally sits deeper and McGinn and McTominay have the experience to take turns at driving forward and sitting while the other goes. This would free up the 2 wider spaces for more natural wide attacking players and gives us a newish look to the team.

Callum McGregor is not a top 6 EPL player because if he was that good then he would be one. He is good enough to have played in the EPL because lesser players have played in it. The prove is in the fact that he hasn't went there. Almost 99% of players want to play at the highest level they can and 99.9% of players will play at the highest level they can get paid at. McGregor is on around £37k a week at Celtic, the average EPL salary is around £75k. A top 6 midfielder will be on even more. No way McGregor is turning that down if he could get it. Also his current manager liked him so much he signed 3 centre midfielders at Leicester when he knew all about McGregor and what he was worth but still didn't try to take him. He is a very good player and I would have liked to have seen him tested at that level.

I think calling an under 21 player for their country a reject because they are not in the full side is a bit pathetic.