From: eftv20@castle.ed.ac.uk (G C Stewart)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Scotland in Europe
Date: 10 Sep 92 20:56:45 GMT
Organization: Edinburgh University


    If you're sharp sighted enough at around September every year,
you'll notice various Scottish club sides going forth to do battle in
various parts of Europe - however by the time November comes in they've
all settled back down to merely kicking hell out their fellow countrymen
as well as the odd English, Dutch and Irishman that roams the Scottish
Premier league. 
   To help you all along I've decided to run my thumb over the 5 who
carry our best and worst wishes, for a few weeks at least.

 
Ec1 - Rangers v Lyngby
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 A case of big against small but given the consistent rise in standard
of Danish football in recent years, this is no easy fixture for Rangers.
However it may be advantageous to have the first leg in Glasgow and so
it's the Huns to prove too powerful in what may be a dour struggle at
Ibrox followed by a draw in Copenhagen(?).
  2-0, 1-1

Ec2 - Airdrie v Sparta Prague
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 The German contributors may be a little miffed at being represented by
Hannover in this tournament but that's fairly respectable compared to
whom we've got. Airdrie are the dirtiest side in Scotland and I hope the
Sparta players have their shin guards packed. Sparta looked a reasonable
side last season and can afford to take it easy at Broomfield - they
ought to then stroll the tie in Prague.
  0-1, 0-4

Ec3 - Slavia Prague v Heart of Midlothian
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Hearts were second in the league last season but despite early season
consistency, have failed to impress much this year. I don't know
anything about Slavia, but I  reckon this will be a close tie and it's a
case of whether Hearts' grit can cancel out Slavia's probable technical
superiority. I'll play the patriotic card and tip the Jambos to get 
overturn a narrow defeat in the first leg.
 2-1, 1-3

      Hibernian v Anderlecht
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hibernian won the Skol League Cup last season, but managed only fifth in
the league. They are a powerful side but lack a little in flair and
imagination. They look really up against here and will need be well 
disciplined. I think the Belgians will overrun the Hibees in the return
leg.
 0-0, 0-3

      last but not least....

       Cologne v Celtic
       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Celtic were third in the league last season and required the benevolence
of UEFA to gain entry. At first this looked a fierce tie for Celtic, who
have never eliminated German opposition. However the early season form
of both sides could not be more contrasting. Celtic have turned the tide
after a run a disastrous seasons and are playing at a level of
consistency and technical not seen at Parkhead for several seasons. They
are the best side in Scotland and have probably the three best Scots
players going, at the moment in McStay, Collins and Boyd. Cologne have
had an apalling start and even lost to Wattenscheid, which means they
must be bad. Nonetheless Celtic still have the horrible memory of 
Neuchatel last year to exorcise and I fancy Cologne to take the game to
Celtic early on and pressurise what will probably be a nervous team.
However if Celtic are patient and disciplined I think they'll avoid
defeat in the first leg and win in front of a huge crowd in Glasgow.
Anyway, they'd better not lose, as I'll be in Cologne along with around
10,000 other Celtic fans next week!
 1-1, 1-3

           
         Gerry Stewart
         
          (Heriot Watt & Edinburgh Universities Celtic Supporters' Club)