When teams, including Celtic, get it wrong in Europe

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Let’s be clear, Morton are not a good football team, nor are Hibernian, but the former’s 0-3 win at Easter Road last night demonstrates the uncertainty principle of any game. Turn up with less than 100% hunger and you will find yourself out of the cup.

Celtic cannot afford to field anything less than their top team a week on Sunday in the Scottish Cup quarter final. Morton are a better team now than they were three years ago when they last won at Celtic Park – and we’re everyone’s favourite soft spot.

I watched Manchester City win comfortably away to Dynamo Kiev last night. It finished 1-3 but 1-5 would have been a more accurate reflection on the chances made. The result and performances didn’t reflect the relative merits of each team.  Dynamo are not that bad, City not that good.

City are horrible away from home this season. They have scored 13 goals in 12 away league games, winning only five. More curious is that they also won 1-3 away to Sevilla and 2-4 away to Borussia Monchengladbach. That’s 10 goals in 4 (in total) Champions League away games, not far shy of their 13 goals in 12 Premier League games, most of which were against inferior opponents.

Here’s the thing, Dynamo, Borussia, Sevilla all fancied their chances against City. They pushed high up-field and were shredded as a consequence. Premier League teams don’t make that mistake.

Cup competitions are different from the league, success is all about getting to the next round, and to do that you need to pose a threat, but all three of City’s opponents failed to comprehend the consequences of pressing forward.

All I could think of was our efforts in Molde and Malmo. We took both games to our opponents and were skelped as a result. Away to Ajax we defended deeply and gained a credible draw, at home the open spaces of Celtic Park behind us were exploited by Ajax to our cost.

Dynamo, Borussia, Sevilla and Celtic didn’t know when it would have been wiser to prioritise defending their own 18 yard box.  It’s a big lesson, one which has been evident since Warsaw.

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438 Comments

  1. Celticrollercoaster supporting Shay,our bhoy wonder along the way on

    LMS7 update-starts tomorrow night

     

     

    101 teams have entered so far . Thank you so much. Our highest number ever!!! Woohoo!

     

     

    Still time to join us and help a fantastic cause. Cost is £10 per person per entry and the prize money currently stands around £1200.

     

     

    Register by sending us an email to cqnpredictor@gmail.com

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  2. Captain Beefheart on

    Morning Macjay,

     

     

    Tend to concur with your point the other day. Care workers do long hours (weekends are a given) for much less money than doctors.

  3. A healthy crowd at old Trafford, anyone have a clue on the price structure re their game?

     

     

    Or is it a freebie for season ticket holders?

  4. Europa League.

     

     

    Lazio 3 – Galatasaray 1 ( 4 – 2 ).

     

     

    Lots of organised violence before and after the game .Arrests / injuries / hospitalisations .Seemingly obligatory vandalism by an away support in the historic centre of Rome….

     

     

    Sad !

  5. Sipsini , not sure about Old Trafford

     

     

    However Spurs Fiorentina full house

     

     

    tickets were

     

    Adults £25,

     

    Over 65 £10

     

    Under 15 £5

     

     

    The Onlooker

  6. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    thomthethim for Oscar OK on 25th February 2016 7:33 pm

     

     

    The care brain drain works both ways.

     

    I personally know two nurses who have left Oz and chosen to work in the N.H.S.

     

    The Oz. health system receives lots of complaints . Believe me.

     

     

    It`s the principle. That`s all.

     

    Again. We`ll just have to agree to differ.

  7. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    CAPTAIN BEEFHEART on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 8:13 PM

     

    Morning Macjay,

     

     

    Tend to concur with your point the other day. Care workers do long hours (weekends are a given) for much less money than doctors.

     

     

    ===============================================================================

     

     

    You`re the only one,mate,which I find bewildering.

     

    Mind you,there were a fair few mentions of “the Tories ” which could in part explain the support for doctors leaving their patients for more money.

     

    As I say.

     

    Bewildering.

  8. Macjay et al

     

    I Have noted with interest the Doctors debate

     

    For what its worth….

     

     

    The brain drain on emerging countries is dramatic.

     

    Our local parish is supporting a mental hospital in Ghana.

     

    Coordinator gave an update last week, he mentioned how the money raised to date would be spent.

     

     

    One fact however struck home.

     

    Currently there are 18 Ghanaian psychiatrists working in the UK

     

    There are 20 psychiatrists working in Ghana!

     

     

    The Onlooker.

  9. sipsini-I think Man U threatened ST holders that they would offer future STs to those on waiting list,if they didn’t buy tickets for European matches, classy stuff

  10. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    Liverpool through via a bizarre penalty.

     

     

    ManU trailing on aggregate, with an OG and a missed penalty.

     

     

    No wonder the EPL is the super bested league in the world and why we all love it.

  11. MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 8:43 PM

     

     

     

    ‘the support for doctors leaving their patients for more money.’

     

     

     

    ###

     

     

    Are you referring to doctors in the UK who go on strike, or doctors from the UK who emigrate to the USA, Australia and New Zealand etc for higher pay?

  12. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    THE ONLOOKER on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 8:48 PM

     

     

    Massive population movements will only exacerbate that trend.

     

    I would have thought that registration for medics might have proved to be a stumbling block.

     

    Not a happy situation for Ghanaians,however.

  13. Thanks for the replies, a fair price and they are treated in a civilised manner, you can have a beer at your leisure, unlike us that can’t be trusted!

     

     

    Dinosaursareussfa.

  14. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    ERNIE LYNCH on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 8:57 PM

     

     

    Are you referring to doctors in the UK who go on strike, or doctors from the UK who emigrate to the USA, Australia and New Zealand etc for higher pay?

     

    =============================================================================

     

     

    I`m referring to the current strike in U.K.

     

    Of course.

     

     

    I don`t refer to things I have little or no knowledge of.

     

    I`m happy to leave you to do that.

     

    :-)

  15. eddieinkirkmichael on

    The Onlooker on 25th February 2016 8:30 pm – Not a full house mate and it only holds 36000 ppl. The greater London area has a population of about 15million and yet they can’t fill the stadia. Could you imagine us having under 36000 for any Euro game at this stage of season. The media would be in meltdown and the so would CQN.

  16. MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 9:03 PM

     

     

    What’s the difference?

     

     

    Why condemn one group and not the other?

     

     

    By any rational measure a doctor who emigrates after being educated here is doing far more damage to the NHS than a doctor who goes on strike.

  17. Celticrollercoaster supporting Shay,our bhoy wonder along the way on

    *****LMS7 update*****

     

     

    Congrats to Bognorbhoy and Jamabhoy who have both won free entries to LMS7 for a family member or indeed another go for themselves

     

     

    Get your team selected, Bhoys for your free goes

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  18. TBJ says Wee Oscar Knox is in heaven with the angels on

    Warbo saying we settle for 2nd best

     

     

    Classic comment from a guy who can’t afford to bring in Accrington Stanley players until their contract is up

  19. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    ERNIE LYNCH on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 9:08 PM

     

     

    I`ll say it again.

     

     

    ” I don`t refer to things I have little or no knowledge of. ”

     

    =======================================================================

     

     

    By any rational measure a doctor who emigrates after being educated here is doing far more damage to the NHS than a doctor who goes on strike.

     

     

    Tell that to the 4,000 patients whose operations have had to be postponed.

     

    That`ll make them feel better.

  20. garygillespieshamstring on

    Fundraising idea

     

     

    Participants guess how many times The Great Warbo will say respect, respectfully or that people are being disrespectful to him between now and the end of the season.

     

    Closest takes all the money. :)

     

     

    Should get together with George Galloway to get all the Huns to vote for Respect.

  21. MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 9:15 PM

     

     

    So you know about and can therefore comment on doctors going on strike in the UK but not about doctors who have been trained in the UK emigrating to Australia for higher pay?

     

     

    Do you mind me asking which country you live in?

  22. Hello again all you young rebels.

     

     

    Just catching up on Celtic tv there and lo and behold our Erik’s

     

    lovely wife has signed up to play for the Celtic ladies team, now

     

    that must be a first, a married man and woman playing for Celtic

     

    teams or do any of you know otherwise? all we need now is their

     

    baby due shortly to grace the young hoops if Erik stays that long

     

    before the first offer comes in :-))

     

    Oz Tims

     

    BBQ this Sun. down the beach park at Mornington rebel town.

     

    Free sausage sizzle, usual charity raffles etc, mini world cup and

     

    get the hoops on apparently the young pups are going to give

     

    the old dudes a lesson.

     

    Lovely day expected so bring the Guinness and the flags, oh and

     

    could somebody be there early to help Paddymacoz tie them to

     

    the trees he was still trying to fix them at dark o clock the last

     

    BBQ LOL.

     

    H.H Mick

  23. Eddieinkirkmichael,

     

    Noted re the capacity at the Lane and the few empty seats.

     

     

    I mentioned the prices as I thought that the pricing was reasonable.

     

    Considering the recent debate on value in an over heated market.

     

    London and surround is a huge catchment area. The city is 8.5m but there are 14 league clubs in London and another 27 in the conferences, Isthmian leagues etc…( wikied of course)

     

    So not a bad turn out all things considered.

     

     

    The Onlooker

  24. Sipsini

     

     

    That Warburton isnae the full shullin and his loaf looks as though it has been well baseball batted. Maybe that’s why he talks nonsense.

     

    McGhee’s dae a lovely plain loaf wi huge doorstep ootsiders. Why are the two ootsiders always first in my toaster? Lashings of Kerrygold. Mmmmmm :)

  25. Celticrollercoaster supporting Shay,our bhoy wonder along the way on

    THETIMREAPER on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 9:18 PM

     

     

    CRC

     

     

    Good game tonight, the guy that picked the teams got it spot on

     

     

    =============================

     

     

    Yes, tell your Dad thanks, ha ha! :-)

     

     

    Always better when it is a close game

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  26. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Ernie

     

     

    You make assumptions about the motivations of a group of people who choose to emigrate.

     

    I wouldn`t do that.

     

    Is Paul Mc Stay in Australia for higher pay?

     

     

     

    “Do you mind me asking which country you live in?”

     

     

    The predictable tactic. Make it personal.

     

     

    My answer. No.I don`t.

     

    ————————————————————————————————-

     

    Interesting that you have chosen to take the issue away from striking doctors in U.K.

     

    Presumably because you can find no justification for their action.

     

    Good.

     

    Neither can I.

     

     

    Now. Any more off topic issues and irrelevancies you would care to discuss?

  27. Eddie

     

     

    Looking forward to sitting inside a capacity crowd New Douglas Park tomorrow night.

     

    Hail Hail

  28. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    THE EXILED TIM on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 9:26 PM

     

    MacJay

     

     

    Are you being serious?

     

     

    “I don`t refer to things I have little or no knowledge of.”

     

     

    And not just in the context of the NHS.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    ==========================================================================

     

     

    No,mate.

     

    Not being serious at all.