Why Celtic should field an entirely different starting XI for Falkirk

Andrew H on the league cup tie

Let’s get ahead of ourselves. Of course, the modest nature of the opposition and home staging must be factored into summations of Celtic’s 5-1 thrillfest of a Champions League opener on Wednesday. Yet these elements do not account for the sense that this season the club will not be condemned to their recent Champions League makeweight status.

Nay, let’s get wildly ahead of ourselves. As the widening access format offered by the 36-team, eight-game league format gives reason to do so. Allied to the fizzing fundamentals contained within the display of Brendan Rodgers’ side to slaughter Slovan Bratislava. The fusion of these gives rise to a delicious possibility. Which is that the last 16 play-off round - to be contested by teams finishing between ninth and 24th in the league format - may need not be the extent of Celtic’s ambition. Just say that they garner a healthy haul of points in their next seven league encounters…and then happen to land lucky with the opponent that would stand between them and the last 16.