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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WHAT IS THE STARS on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 10:10 PM
You`re right.
It happens. :-)
Every indication I have about wee Bonnie is that the lot of Catholics in Scotland has dramatically improved in recent decades.
If that is the case , then I would suggest it is due in large part to the achievements of individual Catholics and the contributions made by Catholics.
I watched the game last night in the company of persons from all over the UK Ireland and beyond.
Very proud of our performance, but all the time watching were slightly embarrassed and defensive regarding some of our song list. The jealous Huns just loved to tell all and sundry what we were singing.
To many neutrals we are contributing to keeping the image of the old firm alive.
Sad but true.
HH.
TTR
So as an all inclusive club does that include those who opt to sing songs in support of Irish Republicanism?
COWIEBHOY on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 9:31 PM
HT Wonder what if it’s Dallas or Campbell O, who has any influence in who monitors us in Europe ?
*pretty obvious now, ogilvie who at his (grand) masters bidding was the architect (there’s that title again) of the Champions League.
Former SFA chief executive and secretary and later UEFA General Secretary the late David Taylor allegedly stated what he despised most in the latter position was having tae defend the deid team for all the indiscretions that often occurred involving them.
HAMILTONTIM on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 10:05 PM
TET
I agree. Constantly we have Celtic supporters criticising the behaviour (singing) of the Celtic supporters who at the same time highlight those who criticise those in the media who criticise our support. I don’t get it.
===============================================================================
I happen to think that the singing of IRA songs is harmful to the image and reputation of Celtic.
That`s all really.
TET
You can never say never about anything
But I will
Northern Ireland/The Occupied Territories/The six counties/whatever you want to call it was an exceptional case.
And yes there were pogroms that involved sections of the catholic population being burnt out of their homes while the police either stood idly by ( at best) or led the baying mobs ..Hopefully those dark days are in the past for ever..
Its not going to happen in Scotland any time soon.
Scotland in 2016 cannot be compared in a serious rational manner to Northern Ireland in 1969/70 or Germany in the 1930s
There is bigotry ,no one can deny that
GREENPINATA
I hear ye on that point. To my English colleagues it seems bizarre that we woukd sing some of the songs we do. I defend our right to sign them but even I can’t wholly justify to myself songs like Go On Home British Soldiers.
BMCUWP posted earlier that some of our songbook doesn’t really carry any relevance nowadays and I agree with that. I would never tell anyone what they can’t sing, however there are certain songs I could do without hearing. I would never deny anyone’s freedom of speech, I just have my own opinions and preferences.
Macjay
I don’t, I personally think it identifies something in the ethos of our founders and those who support Celtic. The very fact that these songs are still sung epitomises that.
Anyways, shattered so sleep for me.
Brilliant last night Celtic, absolutely brilliant.
WHAT IS THE STARS on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 10:30 PM
The Catholic inhabitants of those homes welcomed the arrival of British troops who came to protect them.
Maybes someone should tell Queen Lizzie that the laying of a wreath in Ireland for those who died fighting for Irish freedom was wholly wrong……
But our supposed own tell us we can’t sing songs…..FFS
HAMILTONTIM on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 10:32 PM
Very quickly.
Eddie and I watched the Motherwell game the other day .
Happy memories of being there a year ago with the tickets provided by your goodself.
Have a good kip , mate.
Macjay
Yes thats true to a certain extent
The British Troops were initially welcomed as a relief from the local partisan paramilitary police
THE EXILED TIM on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 10:34 PM
Maybes someone should tell Queen Lizzie that the laying of a wreath in Ireland for those who died fighting for Irish freedom was wholly wrong……
But our supposed own tell us we can’t sing songs…..FFS
===============================================================
Mate.
It`s not a question of entitlement.
The issue is simple.
Is the singing of IRA songs in the interests of Celtic F.C.?
WHAT IS THE STARS on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 10:36 PM
No argument from me.
The B specials.
Should have been B and T Specials.
Stars
They said it wouldn’t happen in the north, it did, it could happen in scotland, scotland where scum like Jonny Adair is afforded 24 hour police protection, scotland where the huns are on it’s last legs again, where the proficies of civil unrest may well come true, where the objects of the civil unrest is us and the authorities will turn that same blind eye, we really don’t know what is around the corner.
Civil unrest is only a heartbeat away mi amigo, and well you know it, esp when money is in short supply.
I have always been a glass half empty kinda person so anything else is a bonus for me :-)
HH
Exiled
Calm down
Celtic are doing well,any bit of negativity will be seized upon by the anti celtic elements in the press.
Was there a major riot in Manchester last night
Its a storm in a teacup
TET
I dont think any one ever said it could never happen in the North
It was always going to come to a head at some stage
In my experience and opinion, the majority of younger Scots don’t care where or what you came from. An increasingly non religious people who treat everybody equal .
To imagine we are still suffering discrimination in 2016 is simply outdated and can contribute to an inferiority omplex.
The demographic make up of younger Celtic supporters is totally different to the older generation. Increasingly we are leaders not followers. We sit at the front of the bus these days.
HH.
Hamiltontim on 7th December 2016 10:05 pm
TET
I agree. Constantly we have Celtic supporters criticising the behaviour (singing) of the Celtic supporters who at the same time highlight those who criticise those in the media who criticise our support. I don’t get it.
Hi C , hope you and the Minx are well, i was at the game last night , and the songbook in the 1st half in particular was ridiculous, not only in my opinion, loads of other Tims around us.Without another songs debate, or history lesson, we can do much better in 2016,again in my opinion.When i say history lesson, i do not mention it lightly at all, the songs are a huge part of Irish history, as Celtic proudly are.These days, the songs are for the house/car/Ipod, and a few good pubs.We cannot critisize the huns/Hearts/Aberdeen songs, as long as we dont abbreviate our own Top 10…there is a time and a place for these songs IMO.Good luck with the Celtic Trust work , you are a great example of a true Celtic fan.HH
Does anyone know a song about a handsome hun ?
MacJay
In your opinion, not mine.
Lizzy thought otherwise as well else she wouldn’t have laid a wreath for those who died in the persuit of Irish freedom.
The ones who are offended are scum, they are offended by our very existence.
HH
GREENPINATA on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 10:43 PM
Music to my ears.
BRAW and MWD
Hippo birdies 2 ewes
;)
Stars
Perfectly calm, chillin in fact, partaking in a very nice Crianza :-)
Just no the may west at tolerating appeasers :-)
HH
HAMILTONTIM on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 10:26 PM
TTR
So as an all inclusive club does that include those who opt to sing songs in support of Irish Republicanism?
——–
It’s a personal choice for me. Not once did i say to the contrary of your post above. If other fans sing songs that are within the Law and Rules of the Game that’s up to them.
But,
The 3000 celtic supporters in the official celtic section are all high earning or high level celtic fans,.or supporters club.
Is it bevvy. Or DNA.
It wasn’t the port emerald.
I
THE EXILED TIM on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 10:46 PM
Again , no argument.
I get the distinct impression that the ” scum ” are in a declining minority .
My analogy is K.K.K. racism .
Now they`re known as trailer trash.
MOONBEAMSWD on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 10:20 PM
Timereaper
Does that include ‘Let The People Sing’?
MWD
——-
I’m not preaching right or wrong or illegal, merely a personal opinion on how we represent ourselves in 2016.
I am just reading back
MWD @ 7.42 – Now you tell me ;)
Macjay
KKK ?
They helped put your pal in the White House did they not
MacJay
Depends on what you determine as declining.
They, they being those who would not be of the Irish-Catholic persuasion would still hold sway in virtually everything in control, yes Catholics are getting a better deal today than they ever did, but as long as there is enough money to go around that will be the case, but as you know and can see all around, nationalism is coming to the fore big time and the first things to go are the minorities.
When Catholics in scotland are in control of the government, the police, the judicary I will accept things are on the up, till then…
HH
Exiled
You have obviously never read the Bears Den forum on Rangers Media,If you did you would discover that the irish catholics in scotland now control the media the sfa the legal profession etc
WHAT IS THE STARS on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 10:53 PM
:-)
And Ian Paisley defied Margaret Thatcher over the Anglo Irish accord.
See Winston Churchill , Hitler and the devil.
The enemy of my enemy ………………
Strange bed fellow all.
Forget the past ,you have no future .TAL
THE EXILED TIM on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 10:57 PM
MacJay
I`m no expert on the current Scottish political scene .
The media and controlling influences ( Masonic associated ) are still run by those who wish us gone or at the very least irrelevant . They retain power , but can see the writing on the wall.
The B.B.C. report today , a prime example , still has the ability to rankle.
I do think , however , that their time is running out.
Stars
How silly of me :-)
HH
Lord Kerr..
Lurgan catholic born.
Fascinating insight on bbc4
MacJay
I pray your are right, all I can go by is what I see happening on a global scale, there are too many people on the planet according to the powers that be, hence imo the rise of nationalism, the next step is war, it may well not be a bomb the feckers war, but a war like is happening in a place you talk of frequently, Venezuela, where people are starving to death, a very simple way to kill off billions if needs be, cut off or make the food too expensive and hey presto, they have their armagedon and it costs them virtually nothing.
HH