Adrenaline pumping as play-offs return

542

We’ve been here several times before.  Our first venture into the Champions League play-off round was in 1998 against (then) Croatia Zagreb.  Zagreb were clearly the better team but while a 1-0 win in the home leg gave us hope we were outclassed in the return game.

The unforgettable tie against Ajax was next.  Celtic’s best away performance in this tournament saw us beat the Dutch champions 1-3 in Amsterdam.  Ajax were clearly caught cold and performed infinitely better at Celtic Park, winning 0-1, but Celtic shut up shop to deny them any real chance of progression.

Basel were unknown and un-fancied in 2002 but their movement in central midfield was too much for Celtic, although curiously they only managed to perform for 45 minutes in each game.  An away goal defeat blocked our route to the top competition.  MTK Budapest were professionally swept aside in 2003.

Who can forget Spartak Moscow?  Just as they had done against Ajax, Celtic did the hard work away in the first leg, returning with a 1-1 draw, but incredible dramas unfolded at Celtic Park.  Roman Pavluchenko levelled Scott McDonald’s opener but the Russian missed a first half penalty.  The game went to extra time and with minutes left a defender punched Scott Brown’s shot off the line.  Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink missed with the resulting spot kick setting up a memorable penalty competition.

Vennegoor of Hesselink and Pavluchenko both scored this time as brave efforts from Gary Caldwell, Derek Riordan and Maciej Zurawski, who almost certainly knew he would never kick another ball for Celtic, and a save by Artur Boruc, sent us through.  Naka proved that 12 yards is too close a dead ball distance for him.

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A favourite Celtic Park memory?  You bet.

The adrenaline is pumping already.  Bring it on.

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542 Comments

  1. 31003

     

    Ah give up……

     

     

    basically you need to use

     

     

    a href=”http://www.websitename.com”>Link name</a

     

     

    but start it with a less than symbol and end it with a greater than symbol

  2. Ghuys,

     

     

    Interesting dilemma on team selection for Neil this evening, with a few carrying injuries , it is ods on that if fielded someone will either pull up or come off knackered.

     

     

    I believe we need extra cover for the full backs , so I would field a defensive 5 midfield formation.

     

     

    I was surprised at Kelvin’s contribution over the last 2 games , it would be a surprise to see him play but you never know, also I felt Lustig was nowhere near as bad as that idiot Craigan was stating on Saturday….. Assuming that the Swedes are all tall and can head ball then tallest defence out….. selection then:

     

     

    ——————-Fraser ——————-

     

     

    Micheal —– Thomas —— Kelvin ——-Izzy

     

     

    Adam ——-Beram —— Joseph —— Chas

     

     

    ——————- Kris ——————–

     

     

    ——————– George ——————-

     

     

    Broony for Adam , if Neil feels he can last the 90 minutes, also I would keep Gary as a secret weapon , if he is not really 100% match sharp. We can take a look at ther defensive set-up and use Hoops later in the game.

     

     

    Expecting the Swedes to be a standard above Helsinki , so all that is needed is a solid defensive perfomance with the full backs instructed to stay put in a line of 4 and provide cover to the Centre Halves.

     

     

    Crystalballcfc

  3. TBB – That is a fair point indeed!

     

     

    It has been interesting to notice how the press report The Rangers stories. They hit with the ‘good part’ first to almost make the rest of the sentence irrelevant.

     

     

    At the weekend, you ‘WORLD RECORD’ as the headlines but the bad news that follows is the 4th tier.

     

     

    It was the same tactic when describing one of their young orcs. They told you that he was fantastic and ran the game. The sentence finished with ‘In Rangers 5-1 victory against East Stirling.’ Their young players should be a stick out at that level.

     

     

    In the mean time the negative stories continue about Celtic.

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  5. Cnt sleep so gonna be late one here In oz, thankfully the spartak game is on so chance to see mcgeady play.

     

     

    Forgot the European Ian dowie lookalike is with the Turks. Scary stuff

  6. Glendalystonsils likes a mr whippy with his lime green jelly on

    bournesouprecipe

     

     

     

    17:04 on 21 August, 2012

     

     

     

    SSN…………………………Lustig vows to ditch moustache if Celtic progress to Champions League proper

     

     

     

    share on F’book or Twitter

     

     

    Celtic to ditch Lustig if we progress to the CL more like!

  7. bournesouprecipe

     

     

    Sorry – Sky Italia.

     

     

    Still 0-0.

     

     

    Aiden’s playing well.

     

     

     

    HH!!

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  9. bournesouprecipe

     

     

     

    17:11 on 21 August, 2012

     

     

     

    Imagine theres no Rangers

     

     

    UEFA.COM CSC

     

     

    Definately not there mate. Even checked T for The Rangers and S for Sevco.

     

    Have you got a link for temporary memberships :-)

     

     

    Bennybhoy

  10. LLR

     

    Its not just the papers Sky sports news could not be any more negative about Celtic if they tried,I wonder who writes the scripts for the readers.

  11. Marrakesh Express on

    Sevco are becoming like the wee dug who nobody cares about, so they bark loudest. This cruelly treated infant football club is doing everything it can to be noticed, like claiming record crowds which turn out to be fake and proclaiming their new owner as a charismatic genius when he’s really a spiv. Their backing of the troublemaker McCoist as a loyal hero is also false. The more discerning hun will have wanted him punted by now. If and probably when they win the Ramsdens cup it’ll be treated like our big cup win. Desperately sad.

     

     

    hh

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  13. The Herald today : 4 page puff piece on a rank Divi3 mob playin’ Falkirk in a wee cup comp. sponsored by Shylock.

     

    Celtic F.C. spl Champions playing crucial qualifying game against top Swedish team?

     

    Not a jot. Word zero.

     

    The best wee bigot nation…..’Brave’ ? Nah. Craven.

  14. Have waited a day or two before posting some thoughts, as I was up to hi-do at the week-end, watching the mince that passed for football from Dingwall………..

     

     

    Struggling to stay awake here, maybe just get a wee bit shut eye on the put-me-up next to the PC and back up in time for ‘the start’………….

     

    Anyways, apart from all of the supercilious response(s) from the minging defective and his ‘pals’…………… CQN is a welcome distraction (for me) in the lead up/count down/sleeps/etc., ‘to the start’

     

     

    Ross County; now if they were a superimposed Latin opposition, the screams of disgust at the cynicism employed would have been heard and repeated throughout this land but hey; no, good old up and at them Scoddish gung ho physicality was how it was reported. All good and well, when you know the MIB is going to allow the ankle crunching, body-checking and (this has not been given much coverage, as far as I am aware) sorry attempt by the RC captain’s attempt to get KC sent off……… RC meaning Ross County -): Is that a smiley???

     

    Strikes me, that the whole set-up re was of team philosophy training, i.e. practiced and repeated stop them (from playing) however pre………..

     

     

    Going by that performance, Derek Adams could well be the next manager of Tangled Web F.C.

     

     

    Enough for now from me but really feel that Saturday’s example of non-football is worth a far more forensic examination and what it means for (Celtic) and the SPL in seasons to come………..

     

     

    Regards & Hail Hail

     

    TBM

  15. You are right dessybhoy, SSN also went into overdrive yesterday talking about their ‘world record’ which has already been shown not to be a world record.

     

     

    Someone told me that Gerry McCulloch last night said ‘That he understood that the trophies Rangers won have been transferred over because The Rangers have taken over their membership and the authorities were happy to recognise this’

     

     

    I might have this totally wrong but that sounds ridiculous. Does this mean that Airdrie claimed any trophies that Clydebank won over the years? If Real Madrid ever go bust, I might buy their history then,don’t think it quite works out that way!

  16. My brain is tellin’ me that Scotand needs shot of the orange menace. My heart tells me the same, too.

     

    I have this gut feelin’ it could happen. I also feel it in my water.

     

    They will do walkin’ away. I can hear the future echo of their retreating brogues. Dimwitted huns….too low on the evolutionary scale to even achieve ‘stupid’.

  17. Mate just landed in Bangkok, staying in rambuttri road, right beside koh San road.

     

     

    Any idea where he see game ?

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  19. BT

     

     

    Why am I no’ surprised that you know the email address for the Bangkok CSC? :-)

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  21. Steinreignedsupreme

     

    14:49 on

     

    21 August, 2012

     

    A brogue is a brogue for all that.

     

     

    LOL,

     

     

    taking that further it would seem accurate to describe SDM as a ‘Rogue in a brogue’

  22. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    Proudbhoy

     

     

    Change of venue upstairs from finnegans

     

     

    Chequers

     

     

    HH

  23. awe_naw_no_annoni_oan_anaw_noo

     

     

    18:03 on 21 August, 2012

     

    Proudbhoy,

     

     

    Chequers sukuhmvit soi 4 kick off 1.45 am

     

     

    Yeah just checked fbook and found them. Info passed on.

     

     

    Ceeeeeltic

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  25. SSN 1800 Headlines delivered by presenter Natalie Sawyer

     

     

    “and contrasting fortunes in Scotland as Celtic prepare for a CL qualifier against Helsingborg, while Rangers take on Falkirk in the Ramsdens Cup”

     

     

    Always liked Natalie

  26. Can we get to what really matters: Will we be wearing our home kit or black away top? Their shirt is red so I guess either could be possible.

     

     

    Need to know what top to wear to the bar in Spain tonight haha.

  27. Bhoys,

     

     

    I’m lucky enough to be in Glasgow today on business. Hoping to catch at least the second half after dinner. Can any recommend a city centre pub to watch it in?

  28. Guys

     

     

    Any cheap hotel websites? For Scotland – mainly central belt. For a technophobe mate. I’ve text him a couple – just wondering if anybody has anymore?

     

     

    U

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  30. Steinreignedsupreme on

    RobertTressell 16:14 on 21 August, 2012

     

     

    “Has anyone ever tried those electronic ciggy’s advertised at the bottom of the page?

     

     

    “I’m not a smoker myself, but if they are any good I am thinking of taking it up.

     

     

    “Also do they do a pipe version?”

     

     

    I’ve had the roll-ups – a pretty darn good drag.

  31. Steinreignedsupreme on

    Davidopoulos 16:32 on 21 August, 2012

     

     

    14:37 on 21 August, 2012

     

     

    “I saw Bummer in Costa on Sauchiehall St on Sunday morning. He just walked in, used the toilets then walked back out. Didn’t buy anything, the baristas must have been unable to put their hands on the title deeds.”

     

     

    Ra Bommur’s in a state of confusion as we speak. After grooving with the Buroo Order on Saturday, Charlie Green gave him a wee peak of the documents and Ra Bommur went Tonto.

     

     

    Started shouting-the-odds: “Whit’s this?” Ra Bommur asked, through the side of his face.

     

     

    “Aw the peepul named here ur livin’. These urnae the deedz. Ah want tae see the deedz.”