Champions League farce continues

There was a time when Celtic played Real Madrid, Juventus or even Notts Forest back in the old European Cup. I know I was at all the home games. Two games home and away and winners go through. Tense, exciting stuff.

Now like others we play Manchester United, Barcelona and co every year, in a Group stage, devised so the top teams can get through every year and get more money to buy more players to do it all again the next year. I know it's boring but wake up.

Two years ago, we, Celtic were narrowly defeated 3-2 by Euro Champs Manchester United at Old Trafford.

We then beat them 1-0 at home in the same group a few weeks later at Parkhead. In the old days we could have lived on that home and away result for 20 years or maybe more. We'd have knocked the English, Manchester United out. How good would that be?

Every Aussie can appreciate the sentiment, surely:)

Now UEFA can't have United knocked out, so, guided by the rich clubs, they make sure all the top sides go through to the last 16 every year, and hopefully from their point of view to the last 8.

So we have this drudgery about to start where all the top sides like Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal, AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid have bought the best and will dodge their way through the groups against the second tier like Celtic, Villareal, Anderlecht, Brondby and the like.

Any upset win achieved by a Belgium, Norwegian or even a Portugese club, the value is lessened as they still have five or so games to remain consistent.

And like the English Premier Leaugue, and Spanish League, eventually the teams with bigger squads and generally better players will move comfortably through their groups.

And we'll do it all again next year and the year after that.

Unless you follow Man United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan or one of a small number of big clubs, just like most leagues in Europe, you can forget about winning the league.

For Celtic getting into the Group stage is our Euro Cup final, getting out of the Group is our World Cup final.

Oh for the day in 1967 when Celtic beat Inter Milan 2-1 to win the European Cup. All 11 players were born within 30 miles of Glasgow.

Will we ever see the likes of Celtic reach a final again.....by final I mean a Quarter Final.

Oh well here we go again..and yes let's hope we flog the Manchester United fatcats. Home and away.