You and I have watched a lot of Celtic away from home in the Champions League; we know what to expect. Stick to your task, clear the ball long, tackle hard and exploit set-pieces as best we can. That’s been the plan for 27 away games. 25 of them ended in defeat.
Away game 28, in Barcelona, fell apart at the seams, but last night in Manchester built on the progress in Monchengladbach. From nowhere, Celtic have gone two unbeaten away from home in this tournament.
It wasn’t just the result (in either game) we had more attempts at goal, more attempts on target, we passed with speed and precision under pressure. City caught us on the break to score, and could have added another, on the break, but we had the better of the chances in both halves. Moussa Dembele, Gary Mackay-Steven and Leigh Griffiths will all feel they should have scored.
Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko again proved they can operate at Champions League level. The difference in central defence since last year, when one or other of them was unavailable, is beyond credible.
The night was another success for Stuart Armstrong, who built on a transformational visit to Motherwell on Saturday. James Forrest took on and beat three players to setup Dembele, but James fell to a familiar foe and retired injured.
Gary Mackay-Steven, playing his first senior game in over eight months, looked exhausted after his first sprint. There are no shortcuts to match fitness. That chance, when he was clean through with Caballero to beat, will no doubt haunt the player, but he delivered a performance reminiscent of the one he gave in the San Siro two years ago, before being sacrificed. As though alchemy is at work, Celtic have squad-fillers from earlier times looking the part at the highest level.
I had a notion that it wouldn’t be too bad if Patrick Roberts had an anonymous game. That lasted all of four minutes, when he waltzed into the Manchester City box to open the scoring. Did he do enough to convince Pep Guardiola that he’ll be needed in the City squad next season when his loan to Celtic ends? Probably not. That’s the way of it at Manchester City. They will spend >£100m between now and 1 September; Patrick will go the way of Jason Denayer.
Bring on Partick Thistle.
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VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 1:48 PM
STRINGER BELL on 7th December 2016 1:18 pm
Did you also get hit with a hamburger while on yer high horse?
It was providing context; if football was an event where emotions didn’t feature it would be sterile and uninteresting – much like the Etihad appears to be on most matchdays.
Man City fans waved flags and sang tongs to provoke the Celtic support; some of the Celtic support responded to that.
Incidentally, without condoning the choice of song, it was no different to the songbook aired at most away matches and a good few at home matches. So if we care to criticise elements of the support for airing them, we should do so for all games, not just last night. I would be interested to see what elements of the songbook people find inappropriate; a serious question, possibly for another day.
Would it have lost us some Celtic followers, I don’t think so.
So after a great performance on the night a few handwringers worry about the songsheet. Today should be about the team and the performance IMHO
——-
I’m not on a high horse mate, I’m genuinely angry. Also, to be clear, I’m not having a pop at you, your post did provide context.
I have posted a few times in CQN about singing at away games (I’m not on here that often) so my concern is not just related to last nights game. I don’t think we should accept this ‘songbook’ and there has to be room in our support to call this out and have a debate. Are our supporters beyond criticism? Like hell.
Incidentally, we did lose followers last night, City fans who had Celtic as their Scotthish team. I have spoken to three Manchester based guys I work with this morning who have a lesser opinion of Celtic now than they did 24 hours ago, as do many of their fellow fans.
Oh……One last thing…. (pinches bridge of nose and turns back, Columbo style, from walking through an open door…..) If you dismiss raising a point about crowd behaviour the day after a game as “handwringing”, you might want to come down off your high horse.
Good luck to you, little point in wasting each other’s time going round in circles with this, we are unlikely to agree me thinks.
Man City are a totally souless football club, fans with no heart or passion.
TIMALOY29
It genuinely saddens me that there is no moderation on those comments.
I’m a great believer-oh,and how I’ve got this wrong a few times over the years,to my shame!-that you can get away with an offensive comment if people laugh before going-wtf!-but there are surely still a few no-go areas.
Mibbe being a hun is a disclaimer from humanity.
STAIRHEEDRAMMY on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 2:05 PM
Timaloy- on you tube they have reeled their necks in since the story about their coach broke and JohnJames ran the Richard Gough piece.
~~~~~~~~~~<>~~~~~~~~~~
My first thought there was-what has their team-bus breaking down a few years ago on the way to Berwick got to do with that!
Honest,and apologies for making light-see my above post to TIMALOY29.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 2:00 PM
Totally agree with your sentiments.
I have never heard any of that stuff at any Irish sporting event and, as you rightly say, the organisation they sing about have moved on and it’s people are working hard to bring harmony to that troubled place.
Celtic charged by UEFA for setting off fireworks and crowd disturbances.
Talking of alchemy scott brown was up against an absolute top class player last night, but it was no surprise that broony matched gundogan.
long before lots of us had written him off as finished, common wisdom was that his best position was wide right, he just wasn’t going to make it in arguably the most important area of the park. He’s now approaching world class, his passing stats are exceptional, his positional sense outstanding, tackling superb and he even seems to have gained a bit of pace this season. All as captain while driving the team on.
UEFA have opened a disciplinary case on the behaviour at the game last night.
STAIRHEEDRAMMY on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 1:20 PM
One “benefit” if it could be called a benefit coming from the current outing of perverts, is the current cessation of sevconians using it as a wind up to Celtic supporters. I hope that the current focus on it drives it into more public discussion and makes people aware that it can, and does, happen in any setting.
You obviously have not read any of the stuff on Monkey media.The Vanguard Monkeys have even done piece on it and sent it out.The last I looked 3 of their items all relating to us and the Torbett era.They want it out there.They are contacting everyone,press,Radio ,TV.The sheer filth they put on is staggering.Their is no moderation on that cesspit.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 7th December 2016 2:00 pm
I don’t disagree with what you are saying; IMHO many are still sung but inappropriate in modern context.
What would be use is to have a debate about what is seen to be acceptable and what is unacceptable. Interestingly, BOTOB and ROH have recently been kicked out when charges have been brought under OBaF Act.
Personally I can see (historically) a place for BOTOB, Broad Black Brimmer, Irish Soldier Laddie and The Soldier Song. I fully understand and agree why songs such as ROH and Kieran McAnespie are contextually inappropriate now. For the same reason I have no problem with them singing Derry’s Walls or The Sash but The Billy Boys and The Famine Song are not appropriate.
Its an open debate and it will be one that no doubt rolls on!
KTF
First class performance from the bhoys on the field last night. I heard the city fans boo the CL anthem last night – maybe one day they will appreciate their participation – especially next season when they don’t qualify – hopefully
What I find really invigorating and full of promise is the style of play in Europe.
That style has improved on a game by game basis and as a result we can now realistically think of taking something more than a draw from away games.
If we take the Gladbach game at home in isolation, two individual errors were evident but we also failed to press and pass with the same incisiveness.
The emergence of Armstrong as a mobile box to box midfield pivot has been an absolute bonus. Armstrong is now worth at least twice the fee we paid for him and it’s only taken a few months and a change of position. Scott Brown will begin to play a lesser role as his years tick towards his mid 30s and Armstrong is emerging as his replacement.
The key issue now is to secure the league starting with Thistle on Friday night. Those havering over the need for another top class midfielder should note Browns impending suspension and the mounting injuries to other players.
We now have Sinclair and possibly Forrest out. These two add a defensive bunce to the dynamic abilities of Brown and Armstrong that Roberts and GMS lack. Rogic lasted 90 mins on Saturday and again last night but he was kept on to chase both games despite his lack of puff.
Touching on Roberts, I too feel that he may go the way Of Stoke or Sunderland but I’m not convinced that he is better than Forrest or Sinclair. We should be looking at incremental improvements in those holding starting positions not slightly different types of player who in the round are not as good.
Brendan will know the challenge and he has already stated he is pleased with the players given the ‘limited’ change.
In essence he has signed a goalkeeper that has upped Gordon’s game, a right back that may yet prove useful, a centre back that provided some much needed stability, a first class winger and a striker with massive potential.
Dembele looks good but he also frustrates at times with a lack of willing to follow up runs or some misplaced passes and touches. He also shoots too often when a pass could be played. The way these things tend to run is that young players like this crumble under the focus. He may be better removed for a game or two to let Leigh get his eye in. Brendan couldn’t possibly be more in favour at the moment with the fans but if he wasn’t and some results where to go against us you can bet this issue is flashing warning.
The fixtures for the rest of this month are
Patrick a, Hamilton h, Dundee h, Partick h, Hamilton a, Ross County h, Rangers a
I am sure the players will welcome the prospect of 7 games in a row within the greater Glasgow area so close to Christmas but the biggest challenge will be motivation and repetition. Hamilton won at Celtic Park on a dull Sunday before so the odds on a similar occurrence should be shorter on Christmas Eve with a 12.30 kick off.
The team should naturally rotate with the aforementioned suspensions and injuries. However, we need to treat these games as a mini league with the aim of maximum points before the winter break.
21 points and least 20 points ahead in the league with 3 weeks r and r to bring in a couple of players.
When we resume in January we would have the ability to wrap up the league by early March. There is a home game v Rangers on the 11th!
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 2:27 PM
‘Personally I can see (historically) a place for BOTOB, Broad Black Brimmer, Irish Soldier Laddie and The Soldier Song.’
THOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 2:19 PM
‘the organisation they sing about have moved on’
###
It’s all historical now, and the songs are sung in that context.
Personally, I would like to have heard God Save Ireland being sung, given the location of the game and the place it has in the history of Celtic..
A debate on what songs are and are not acceptable would be interesting but I don’t think you would find broad consensus apart from on one or two “no-go” songs.
My view is that we have an extensive song book and many of the songs that are still sung are irrelevant and should be surplus to requirements.
I’d also say that the Act has made this topic more of a minefield than it should be.
For all that it was, more or less, a second City team, they gave us a good lesson on quick, incisive breaking,plus passing and moving.
We have come a long way in a short time, but, fortunately, our manager knows we have a good bit to go, to reach where we want to be.
Another thing that last night showed was that the MSM and virtually every pundits’ opinion that Dembele will be leaving at the end of the season, is nonsense.
He needs at least another full season until he reaches the equivalent level as Forster, Virgil and Victor….and I think the boy knows that.
STRINGER BELL on 7th December 2016 2:06 pm
I don’t disagree with much of what you say (see my post to BMCUWP @ 2:27PM) but I would see this opening up as a separate topic, not last nights game because it’s not an issue only pertaining to last night.
We have to look at fan behaviour, but it should always be, IMHO, a proactive process rather than a reaction to specific incidents. That was my point (clumsily made) regarding handwringing after a good result last night.
As for the Manchester based fans (City fans?) who hold Celtic in lower esteem, they may want a wee bit of introspective analysis of how their fans behaved last night. In the main they were fine but there certainly were a few close to us on either side who displayed distinctly hunnish behaviour throughout the game. That’s not even considering a few Celtic fans who got a bit of a kicking when leaving the Man City end of the ground last night. I was given that first hand, but not a mention in the Press on it.
KTF
Think I mentioned this before.Dont know if its correct.If we win these next 6 matches,then the Monkey game on Hogmanay would see a win for us give us 55 points.
If true we need a “Going for 55″banner held aloft.Ooofftt !!!!!.
THOMTHETIM
BR was on talksport saying that Dembele has the examples of Victor and Vvd to show him when he might best plan a move. BR sounded pretty sure that Dembele would be around for a while yet
Thom the Tim,
Hopefully Moussa can reflect on his last two performances and know they are not good enough.
Against Motherwell he came out to the touch line to get involved in play and when the ball moved close to the box he was trotting towards it not sprinting.
His miss last night reminded me how much I miss Henrik. One or two other periods of play as well when the ball bounced off him or he misplaced a pass out of play. Needs a Henrik DVD for Christmas and work on the pitch on his sharpness.
We’ve decided to hold back the Questions we are scheduled to submit to John Paul Taylor on the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act until next next. Those who have already submitted questions on this subject for Celtic to respond to please be patient.
If you haven’t submitted a question on that subject then you have a little more time.
The reason we are postponing that Q&A is quite simple. We want to get feedback from Celtic about the manner in which the media is dealing with Celtic, specifically in relation to last night’s coverage of the Champions League game in Manchester. However any general questions on the MSM as it relates to Celtic is welcome.
The questions MUST be submitted to Celtic by 3pm tomorrow, so please submit your today. Ideally we have more questions on this topic than anything else and we can try to bring the matter to a head.
Email your questions to competition@celticquicknews.co.uk asap.
That was this morning btw
Jim White bless his red blue and white socks was his usual slimy self in the interview and then took great delight in focusing on the reasons why some people turned against him when he was at Liverpool after they had finished
DAVIDOPOULOS
Exactly,mate. Most of “that” songbook largely died out between,say,1997-2012.
Self-policing was the way forward,you were kindly reminded who you represent when you stepped out of line. Songs or behaviour,and a follow-up if necessary wasn’t far away either.
OBaF Act has been a disaster. It turned areas near football grounds into a Police State. Scared to open your mouth in case there was a snitch nearby-cos that’s all it takes,one person to imagine offence near a ground. Oh,and various other add-ons,like a pub that’s showing the game.
So,are the singers of those songs really just doing what we did in our teens,twenties,daft days.
Just doing what we did? Two fingers,eff you,daeing it.
In which case-difficult one!-do they need to move on,or do we need to remember our roots,where we came from?
Bmcuwp
Re remembering where we come from, yes, absolutely.
That’s why I think Grace has been a great addition to the repertoire. But not all rebel songs are created equally and some aren’t worthy of a place at our matches now. Maybe in the past but not right now. VFR’s idea of a debate would be a great idea, but the debate would end without much progress I fear.
ERNIE LYNCH on 7th December 2016 2:35 pm
I agree they are all historical now; however songs about the IRB and old IRA (1917-1922) are in a different historical context to the PIRA and even the OIRA and subsequent offshoots since the split in 1969.
Therefore the more “recent” songbook (e.g. ROH, Kieran McAnespie, Billy Reid etc.) are about incidents and people who still have living relatives and impact today. So although historical, maybe less appropriate?
KTF
WINNING CAPTAINS
Getting feedback on how the club is dealing with the media is a brilliant idea! We’ll done.
But forgive me if I prepare myself for disappointing feedback.
*Well
Obvs
Celtic40/Mullet,
At his age and position, it is to be expected that Dembele’s form would fade periodically.
However, I hope that Brendan and coaches have a plan to sharpen the finishing skills throughout the team.
Three glaring examples last night, involving Dembele, GMS and Griffiths were particularly hard to take.
I don’t know if you can teach composure or do you have to pay multi bucks to get it.
Jozo and Eric were another pair who have a bit to go yet, in terms of a partnership.
Ihaneacho manage to split them with ease on more than one occasion.
MULLETANDCO
I said that to my kid sis on Sunday,that I thought Moussa was hiding.
Now I say that because of what you say,his willingness to come deep,go wide,but not getting into the box in time.
I also said that BR will have been aware of the problem as early as we were,maybe 6 or 7 games ago.
The problem he has as a manager is how or whether to leave him out. Drop him,destroy his confidence. “Rest” him,lie to him,destroy his confidence in you.
Or you can play him through it. I think that since we promised Moussa that we would teach him the game,we have to teach him how to get through a bad spell.
We have to play him through this. He’s been rubbish lately-by his own high standards!-but he’s still banging in belters for France,so it’s still there,it’s not a fluke.
THOMTHETIM
With the exception of the 2 young lads (Maffeo and Adarabioyo) this was a very experienced set of players and internationalists with over 225 caps between them. Within that maxi, Fernando and Caballero had 0 caps.
So the perception this was a string of reserves and wannabees is just plain wrong!
KTF
Dunno where maxi came from!
KTF
VFR800A8
Oh,spellcheck bug again.
That second City player,the bug mangled it!
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 7th December 2016 3:08 pm
It didnae; it is spelled Adarabioyo!
KTF
“Therefore the more “recent” songbook (e.g. ROH, Kieran McAnespie, Billy Reid etc.) ”
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Kieran McAnespie??
Tawkin Aboooooooooot???
Are we the only club in Europe getting done with fireworks? BMG set them off at CP, have they been charged? Not condoning, these fuds should not have them at matches.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 3:45 AM
How long must we endure this level of” incompetence” ?
*I posted on this last night after watching the half time highlights over here, the panel in the studio, including the heids brother Steven, couldnae see where the red card came fae as even if it’s a penalty the defender still tried tae get the ball.
One of the other panel members said that the rules which came in place in the summer state that if the player tried to play the ball then it’s a yellow. A ref that disnae know the rules????, only in Scotland eh.
Steven C went on tae say that although he played for most of his career in england and so never came in contact with this ref it was typical of him anyway. The heid must have taught him well.
The following comments are indicative of the wee Ayrshire goatshaggers famous quote “O, wad some Power the giftie gie usto see oursels as others see us!”
Across Europe, onlookers were baffled with Thomson’s penalty call.
A Turkish website described Thomson as playing against “Besiktas as the 12th man of Dynamo Kiev”. The article included the headline ‘Besiktas 0 – 6 Craig Thomson’.
Former Italian referee Graziano Cesari gave a blunt assessment, saying: “Craig Thomson is always a disastrous referee.”
Someone even tweeted: “William Wallace would shame on you!!! Craig Thomson.”
Scotland which helped promote the game around the globe and sent many fine players down south tae enhance the great teams there is now a laughing stock of the game.
We can easily point fingers at the Ayrshire rag and bone man for in his own egocentric and mendacious way being the “great architect” (pun intended) of this but the bonkle bampot also has a sin tae answer for his promoting of lame duck officials.
Despite being given the sugar lump fae the SFA for racism and sectarianism as well as making light of child abuse he is still an officer on the UEFA refereeing committee that loves tae name drop Collina (Chief Refereeing Officer) and Frisk as his friends, the latter having tae take early retirement due to threats made against his family following a UEFA Champions League tie between Barca and Chelski.
In June 1997, dallas refereed an important WC match between Spain and the Czech Republic, when Perez of the home nation fell over in the Czech penalty area at least two metres away from the Czech goalie he awarded a penalty which cost the Czech Republic any chance of qualifying for the 1998 WC.
UEFA offered him police protection after he awarded Italy a late penalty in their 2–1 win over Turkey at the Euros 2000. His former colleague brian mcginlay (son of a fanatical Celtic supporter I hasten tae add) said that the penalty decision was wrong, but nevertheless claimed he was “the best referee in Britain, whit chance do we have with comments like that.
And tae show he didnae have a love affair with the Azzuiri he also presided over AC’s exit from the Champions League at the San Siro where the crowd pelted him with missiles including coins, fruit, bottles and cigarette lighters as he left the field under police protection.
During the 2002 WC Portugal objected to his selection for their group-stage game with Poland, referring to their experience with him during Euro 2000. Portugal went on to win the match 4–0.
He refereed the quarter–final between the USA and Germany. Early in the second half, he declined to award a penalty to the States after a shot was blocked on the goal line by the outstretched arm of defender Frings. He defended his decision on the grounds that Frings did not intend to handle the ball, commenting “If it’s not intentional it’s not a foul, no matter where it is.” In the same match Dallas cautioned Oliver Neuville for a foul committed by his teammate Jens Jeremies, having mistaken their identities. Although he had the backing of his refereeing inspector over the incident, FIFA remarked upon their “concern [at] one or two major mistakes.”
Was he a cheat, incompetent or just a breest which he obviously likes tae bare.
We are all aware of the “honest mistakes”, the like of which cost the much maligned Da Doo Ron Ron a coveted treble, and still persist while he continues to exert his influence on the current officials possibly with the promise of the bountiful European games but mark my words even though we can overcome some of these in our home and native land we will always struggle in Europe, and not just because the refs favour the big clubs, as long as his influence is there. BTW we are still a BIG name in Europe.
We really dodged a bullet when the Bunnet rejected his application for the GM position as IMHO he would truly have been the enemy within destroying the club we love.
Thought it was an excellent performance last night, obviously a lot of credit must go to BR and his staff for making this seasons Golden Bhoys from the players that partook in last season’s leaden displays.
But the application and response from the players has been immense. Certainly not looking out of place against quality PremierLeague and Bundesliga opposition.
The UCL this Season has been a triumph for us, next Season I think it will be a success.
CELTIC40ME @ 2:47 PM,
Interesting comments from BR…
In the light of his previous comments about Quality Celtic transfers not using intermediary Clubs on the way to the top, he meant, when Dembele is ready for First Team Football with the Bayern Munichs, Man Us & Real Madrids of this world… then and only then, will it be time for a move.
Hail Hail
Tontine Tim
We really dodged a bullet when the Bunnet rejected his application for the GM position as IMHO he would truly have been the enemy within destroying the club we love.
————————————————————–
Cannot believe I am just finding this out now!!!!
FOGHORN LEGHORN
Kieran McAnespie??
Tawkin Aboooooooooot???
Hahahaha i was just sitting back wondering who would notice first.