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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Braw if yir about.
Честит рожден ден
TONTINE TIM
Excellent post about Brother Thomson’s “honest mistakes”/selective mis-application of the rules in European and International games.
Why does he still get gigs? Who is protecting his back?
If we consider his “honest mistakes” against Celtic, perhaps we should consider a training video for referee recruits entitled, “Spot all the “mistakes”. Would probably take hours to complete. HH
Kieran McAnespie, St Johnstone legend…
Referees use the excuse players make mistakes so do referees, but they do not/ wont accept responsibility, this is where governing bodies need to demote those who do not apply the laws of the game consistently and without favour, it is nonsense to suggest decisions even themselves out as two wrongs do not make a right. fat chance of this top refs who get the euro games are on a gravy train of riches paid for by spectators who have no choice in who is competent. Look at the huge fees paid to refs in our league for guys of the ilk of Thomson, in many cases they get paid more than the players, that should not be happening
MICKBHOY
TIMALOY
VFR.
Thanks Bhoys for your posts about last night.
My reading of your posts is ” over zealous cops and stewards” ?
It’s not ideal obviously having Celtic fans in amongst the opposition lot, but there’s not much anybody can do about that as there will always be fans who will pay good money to see the Celts , and take their chances.
I know, I’ve been there and done it !
HH
Can someone repost JJ post about Gough ?
I remember the rumours about him at the time, including possible ” cover ups” by the legal profession cos of who he was .
HH
oh dear
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/dec/07/celtic-charged-uefa-crowd-trouble-manchester-city
McNair Shaw and Dodds
https://www.flickr.com/photos/72163146@N08/8108496758/in/album-72157628529581127/
HH
THOM THE TIM
I agree that the Jozo and Erik partnership is not complete yet but the early signs are very promising.
I posted during the game last night that they had struggled early against Iheanacho’s pace but after the goal and subsequent chance 3 minutes later they tightened up their game.
Even on his back heel flick which Gordon saved well Jozo was very tight on him and denied a simple tap in at front post.The fact he still got a shot off is a testament to his talent.
I had said after the second chance that someone had to go tighter and Jozo took that responsibility.
Obviously they understood they had to change something and did and thats a good sign for the future of their partnership.
For to long we have had no defenders taking responsibility and that led to chaos and uncertainty.
Now both these guys are showing it.
BIG JIMMY on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 4:01 PM
Can someone repost JJ post about Gough ?
__
I think the last thing we should be doing is getting involved in a bit of whataboutery. At the end of the day, something horrific has happened and we have to acknowledge it. If they are going to sing songs and make up banners about child abuse then that’s up to them. It’s shameful but unfortunately they have no shame.
Ignoring them is the only way forward. The child abuse is all they have left.
___
Thanks Bhoys for your posts about last night.
My reading of your posts is ” over zealous cops and stewards” ?
It’s not ideal obviously having Celtic fans in amongst the opposition lot, but there’s not much anybody can do about that as there will always be fans who will pay good money to see the Celts , and take their chances.
I know, I’ve been there and done it !
____
I don’t think the police and the stewards were really the problem. If you sit amongst the home support and decide you want to jump around like an away supporter you have to expect to get a kicking.
I was in the City end and didn’t join in on the singing. I showed a bit of respect and got it back.
Thomson is the Ref on Friday night btw…
!!BADA BING!! on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 3:27 PM
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.
___
I’m with you.
But somebody let a flare off in a jam packed tram going to the game.
We do have some mouthbreathers in our support
AN TEARMAN
EUFA are a bunch of crooks.
When they apply the rules evenly then they can be taken seriously.
The day this obviously corrupt organization are sidelined can’t come soon enough.
Far to often they have ignored the transgressions of the Spanish and Italian teams while going after small nation teams like the Dutch and us.
Was their observer at the game Scottish perchance?
A joke of an organization whose time will soon be over.
Oh no ,Thomson is the ref on Friday ?
We never play well when he officiates , he might be a terrible ref but an absolute master at slowing and disrupting our rhythm.
Could be a tough night especially as there will almost certainly be a few changes.
TIMALOY29
I thought EUFA did not charge the old Rangers for Manchester because all the trouble was outside the stadium?
So i am not condoning the idiotic letting off of a flare on a tram but surely EUFA have no right to charge us for this incident?
Crawford Wilson UEFA rep last night!
Couldnae make it up although I may just have…:-)
He isnae Scottish but from norniron
FOGHORN LEGHORN, BURGAS HOOPS
Schoolboy error – that’s what i get fir trying to write posts and do a separate article when on a conference call!
Aidan McAnespie obviously!
hangshisheadinshame CSC
KTF
FAN-A-TIC on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 4:30 PM
TIMALOY29
I thought EUFA did not charge the old Rangers for Manchester because all the trouble was outside the stadium?
So i am not condoning the idiotic letting off of a flare on a tram but surely EUFA have no right to charge us for this incident?
___
We are being charged for letting them off within the stadium. Something I also believe is stupid.
I think that we just need to accept that we have a few idiots in our support and stop blaming UEFA for enforcing the rules. I was just citing that as an example of some outright stupidity from a few of our fans.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/tram-passengers-left-terrified-after-12283543
He added: “People were banging on the roof, chanting and stomping.
“The fans weren’t letting anyone off or anyone on.
“There were people there with kids who looked really scared.”
The passenger, like everyone else, was forced to stay on the tram until the fans all got off at the Etihad, where – he said – they all breathed a sigh of relief.
He said: “People started throwing fireworks, and the carriage was left full of smoke when we all got off.
“I felt really sorry for this man who was travelling with his grandson, the young boy looked absolutely terrified.”
“I’m a 34yr old man from Moss Side and I was worried for my safety. I can’t imagine how the families felt.”
Elsie Wraighte said: “Well done 2 Celtic fans who shook tram w banging (sic), shoved each other at me & screamed ‘look at the f*nny!’ in my face just now #everydaysexism.”
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 3:05 PM
I know that the value of the ManC team was high, but the fact remains, at their level, they were mainly a second string team….unless you consider Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva and Aguero has non first team players.
What brought us closer to them last night was that our team were used to playing together, whereas they had to settle into a rhythm.
I am not denigrating our performance, merely putting it in context of where we wish to be and how wide the gap is.
We need to work on our finishing. At that level to miss three stick on chances won’t do.
TIMALOY29 on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 4:16 PM
I don’t think the police and the stewards were really the problem. If you sit amongst the home support and decide you want to jump around like an away supporter you have to expect to get a kicking.
I don’t think you should expect a kicking to be honest. A bit of stick and banter, certainly; but physical violence?
Judging by that maxim there would have been outbreaks of violence all around the stadium and its perimeters last night.
I also know of a handful of BMG fans who went to Celtic Park recently when they beat us 2-0 (some as guests of CQN’ers). Are you seriously suggesting that they should have got a kicking from the Celtic fans around them for celebrating their goals?
KTF
Anyone know who the UEFA Match Observer was? He/she who decided, wihout any prelimnary enquiry, decided that only our supporters were to blame for any disturbance. RC Ogilvie perchance?
BTW Ot condoning any misbehaviour by any of our support. HH
Sorry missed Blantyretim’s post. But I rest my case, m’lud. HH
Fan-a-tic
That is the encouraging thing. the ability to learn and adjust.
great result and performance last night
huge significance to it
– eradicated ronnieitis
– might help in recruitment
– convince the squad the treble is prep for cl quals
– more evidence br has some real shi* goin on and convince the bored to give him moolah
– shoves one up the mega rich roasters
I’m at a loss as to how Celtic can be charged for crowd disturbances.
There is an element among the away support who don’t care about the reputation of Celtic.They are going to do whatever they want irregardless of how it affects the club and the rest of the decent supporters.Iam not interested what other clubs do,this is our problem,maybe a bit of self policing is needed here.
TIMALOY29
No one should expect to be assaulted.
If I’m assaulted, I’m going to defend myself.
I’ve no idea how UEFA think they can hold Celtic to account for this.
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 4:46 PM
TIMALOY29 on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 4:16 PM
I don’t think you should expect a kicking to be honest. A bit of stick and banter, certainly; but physical violence?
Judging by that maxim there would have been outbreaks of violence all around the stadium and its perimeters last night.
I also know of a handful of BMG fans who went to Celtic Park recently when they beat us 2-0 (some as guests of CQN’ers). Are you seriously suggesting that they should have got a kicking from the Celtic fans around them for celebrating their goals?
____
I don’t mean to excuse the City fans who attacked Celtic fans.
My point is, football grounds are segregated for a reason and if you choose to ignore that then you cannot blame the police or stewards for what happens.
The stewards did what they could to keep order.
No doubt that there was some cowardly thuggish behaviour on show from City fans. They don’t have a right to assault you because you are in the wrong part of the ground.
But if you ignore the safety parameters you can’t blame the police or stewards.
TIMALOY29
There is no denying that all clubs have idiots in their support.
But EUFA do not seem to apply the laws evenly.
The larger market teams get on and off field favoritism.
They use the small market teams as a piggy bank and blatantly ignore the same transgressions for the big market teams.
I have seen my team cheated on the field and constantly fined for off field transgressions while large market teams go unpunished for the same.
TIMALOY 4.29,
Sorry mate but I disagree on both counts .
Firstly, just because you find yourself in amongst the opposition fans ( as long as your behaving ?), you don’t deserve a kicking !
Secondly, as for Gough and the rumours and the reaction of thousands of Celtic fans when we played oldco thereafter towards Gough which I took part in, I really have to wait and read JJ s article and any possible truths coming to light before I can really comment, however as for the Hun scum indulging in songs and banners at this time in particular , I have read some Huns on their media warning their fellow scum to tread carefully, as this could come back and bite them on the erse ?
Now there MAYBE something in that on its own, but it could just be some Huns being wary of what is uncovered next that MAY include staff employed by one version and/of both versions if their club?
For decades I have watched and listened to the Huns denying EVERYTHING,including hardcore evidence of their fans causing serious unrest in cities and stadia across Europe, including Manchester 2008 , when the morning after that UEFA Cup Final, Martin Gain and oldcos head of security stood trackside at ibrox live on TV claiming, ” any fans arrested yesterday in Manchester did NOT have Scottish address’s” !
He claimed that when keeping a straight face !
Now I am fully aware that child abuse and rioting are two separate issues , but my point is that when it comes to that Hun support I refuse to allow them to take the moral high ground on ANY issue, wherever and whenever possible ?
I suspect that I’m not the only Celtic fan that feels that way about that hunscum ?
Let’s agree to disagree ?
HH
I would still like to read JJ article if someone can repost it
HH
BBC Shortbread News ‘front page’ this evening:
Editor’s choice of top story from:
(longest serving) MSP dies aged 55; Transport Minister caught driving without insurance; Lord Advocate intervenes in Brexit Case; or story about a ‘sex abuse probe’ involving someone who worked with Celtic (and Falkirk and Hibs) in the 1990s.
Hmmm … What to choose? … I know: let’s headline with the story that discredits Celtic.
The best wee parochial shit-stirring broadcaster in the world!
VIP
Does anyone else here feel that the placement for years of huns in positions at EUFA by the SFA is the reason we seem to be treated so harshly by them?
Not to mention the fervor of Scottish hacks to grass and exaggerate our every transgression.
I do but i’m just a paranoid Tim.
Big Jimmy
There is an index on the left hand side of his blog if you click on that you can read the article though you might need to search them all for what you are looking for, his recent blogs Mayday mentions similar material
TIMALOY29 on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 5:02 PM
That’s a more reasonable viewpoint, more what I would expect from a good Tim like you!
I understand the segregation issue but there were one or two Police and Stewards who, IMHO, exacerbated the situation rather than calm it.
There was one young woman (mid 20’s) who came to the “no-mans land” late on and she was very firm and fair with the Man City fans telling them to behave and directing other stewards to nip it in the bud. That was just how to do it!
KTF
Alchemy, Alchemy they’ve all got it Alchemy?
Kenneth Williams voice
Jungle VIP
The child abuse story in no way discredits Celtic. No one is guilty by association when it comes to child abuse. There is no suggestion Celtic have acted inappropriately.
Innocent people feeling shame is largely to blame for these perverts escaping justice as victims feel they are some how to blame or should feel ashamed.
BIG JIMMY: https://johnjamessite.com/2016/12/06/an-evening-with-mayday-murray/
It’s here.
KTF
BIG JIMMY
Don’t know whether anyone has responded. The article n question is still on JJ’s site: “An Evening with Mayday Murray” http://www.johnjamessite.com
All of this stuff a stain on Scottish football. HH