I wouldn't mind us playing in the 1st qualifying round as long as it's against a proper diddy team.
We looked woefully unfit and underprepared when we went straight into the 2nd round last season.
My focus is on Aberdeen.
As it stands, our first competitive game will be as an unseeded side in QR2 of the Europa League.
Teams such as: -
Sevilla Esp 113.000
AZ Alkmaar Ned 25.000
Maccabi Tel-Aviv * Isr 22.500
Partizan Belgrade * Srb 17.000
Burnley FC Eng >15.921
EL3 Ita 15.249 - 54.000
EL3 Ger 14.285 - 17.000
Molde FK * Nor 12.500
EL3 Fra >11.283 - 24.500
FC Ufa Rus 10.676
Apollon Limassol (*) Cyp 10.000
I think we may be better prepared playing a 1st round qualifier with us seeded and the opposition unseeded.
The dates this year have moved, so QR1 is played roughly the same time as last years QR2, so not losing any time than we did last year.
We're not getting to the groups anyway so I'll take a glamour tie in the sun wherever it lands. Sevilla in QR2 would do me fine. Or Milan if they drop into the qualifiers. Better that than getting knocked out against relative dross like Kairat Almaty or Apollon Limassol.
Yeah, so we get the glamour tie in the second round, but have had two competitive games under our belt before hand.
If we draw against a medium seeded side, those two games could be beneficial if up against a team playing their first competitive games and may help us to get to QR3.
I think the extra games would be beneficial
Better than playing East Fife or Arbroath in a friendly
mon the 'well
Not fussed who wins the cup, bottom line is we should've been in that final but due to poor recruitment and a serious lack of balls we blew another crack at Tims in the showpiece finale ! I agree though that going in at q1 is beneficial and it's usually sharpened us up for q2 in previous years. Straight in at q2 against a seeded side is a fair chance your getting pumped oot at first hurdle.