I don’t subscribe to the ‘Would rather face them with Messi’ world view. I’ve seen Lionel Messi a couple of times, it’s a bit like standing atop the Eiffel Tower, a breath-taking experience, but I don’t need to visit Paris every month to reinforce the view. Tomorrow will be an almighty challenge against one of the sport’s all-time great teams. Having pushed Barcelona to their absolute limits twice last season, we have no right to expect a second consecutive New Firm victory, but this is a home game at Celtic Park, we hope for a win.
The omission of Joe Ledley is a worry. Celtic need mobility and positional awareness in all positions tomorrow, Joe brings both elements to the party, how Neil Lennon compensates for his enforced absence in central midfield will be a key decision.
I also don’t subscribe to the view that, unlike a year ago, Barca will know what to expect this time. Celtic’s 2-1 victory last season came after they took Barca to added time at the Camp Nou before Barca got their winner. Barcelona knew exactly what to expect, they just didn’t know what to do about it. I see no reason why they will be any better tutored this time. Unless they’ve figured out a way of making wee guys jump higher than big guys.
We are fast, we’re tall, we defend when necessary and we run all game. Unless Barca decide to play for a point and defend deep, which they won’t, they will play exactly as they did last season.
On seeing an X Factor item on the news I complained, “That’s not news”, but I was challenged, “If that’s not news, what makes football news?” Sporting and entertainment events are news if those who produce the news determine it to be so, which places considerable authority on news editors.
Charlotte Fakes revelations have shown us how news professionals, keen to distract attention from a disaster zone of a club, tried to create negative ‘news’ stories concerning Celtic.
Three years ago the Green Brigade displayed a banner at Celtic Park which went largely uncommented upon for several days. Four days after the event, the banner became a nationwide news story, TV news reported it and it made a Radio 5 Live morning discussion programme.
The delay in the item becoming ‘news’ was the most important part of the story. It wasn’t news until the news editors had been convinced otherwise. The damage to Celtic’s reputation was considerable.
Today news editors who ran that story three years ago have an interesting dilemma. Do they run a story about an alarming message being displayed at a football ground, or without being lobbied, is that not a story?
Celtic don’t spend money trying to get negative stories about other clubs in the newspapers, but this is surely not exclusively the way the ‘news’ industry works.
We shouldn’t have to wait on a whistle-blower to shine a light on what happened three years ago, journalists know when they have been lobbied, and that’s the real story, which is not dependent on unfathomable leaks.
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“Andrew Dickson, who presents the club’s official TV channel – Rangers TV – suggested detractors should “take a look at their passports and remind themselves of where they come from…”.
Andrew dickson should remind himself that not all people with british passorts want ulster to be kept british (or protestant for that matter)
bamboo
14:06 on 30 September, 2013,
Just catching and to be honest, i was disgusted by it all.
Whoever, allowed the bigotfest to go ahead after the embarrassment of the last time,should be hung out to dry.
My granda’s, who fought with the eight army and two grandfathers who died with gas in their lungs will be spinning in their graves.
All good celtic men…what right do thems have?
A lot of them jumped into reserved occupations when the call went out..as I have told huns I work beside…show me your forefathers medals!
Chairbhoy – I just hope that as we’re the ‘big game’ on cooncil telly we give a good account of ourselves.
A narrow defeat is all I’m looking for, anything better would be amazing
bamboo
14:06 on
30 September, 2013
sipsini
The video I watched had him,BFDJ, commenting through whole thing .
I was flabbergasted and disgusted with how he descibed the scene
Can you give a quick example to let us know what BFDJ was saying?.
Paul 67
“Celtic need mobility and positional awareness in all positions tomorrow”
Most definitely. From 30 yards out to inside our 18 yard box Barca will move the ball quickly with 4 or 5 moving off the ball at all times. We need to get a foot in, block runs, match the runners and don’t switch off for a second.
Neil needs to consider that in his team selection. That for me, rules Izzy out. He is caught out of position, and loses the runner more than any player I can remember at CP in recent years.
It’s gotta be route one football for us tomorrow when in possession. Get it forward quickly and get crosses in at every opportunity. The delivery will need to be a whole lot better than it was in Milan, where had a good % of the play for an away side, but where we simply didn’t make the best of the possession.
It’s likely we’ll see less than 30% possession tomorrow. It needs to be clinical.
Commons is for me, our most useful player on the ball. We need to get him on it as often as we can. This season, Broony has raised his game too in respect of accurate passing. Both will be absolutely key tomorrow.
Heart says 2-1 hoops….head saying 3-1 reverse.
Mon the hoops
Channel 4 have made it news but unfortunately have dragged Celtic into it to placate the peepul.
One Nation…
Sorry, bit of a rant. Great grandfathers.HH
BFDJ- “This bigotfest is brought to you by Flamingoland, the UK’s favourite theme park and zoo”. (UK passport holders only)
asonofdan- This is where Lawwell needs to earn his corn, a statement needed regarding C4 associating Celtic with the Ibrox shenanigans.
the red telephone
12:45 on30 September, 2013
Hola from a cloudless and slightly breezy Benalmadena.Flyingback tomorrow night at 8.30pm.
Moral: Don’t book holidays before Champions League draw.
Moral 2: grow a pair, stay a day later or leave a day earlier!
Hail Hail
Afternoon all
Still feeling rubbish. Hope I can still make tomorrow.
Regarding Messi playing or not- we shall see if he actually doesn’t. Tomorrow is going to be hard enough without him in opposition so every little might help. ( sorry). Seen Barca a couple of times this season – and wasn’t too impressed in one of the games where they needed the ref to get them out of jail. I just hope I am able to go
Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox
alasdair maclean
14:27 on 30 September, 2013.
It was a link posted earlier on here.
Hun tv.
I think Biton will come in and shine tomorrow. A Commons rocket to settle the nerves as well.
Amazing to think we all fancied us to get a result away to Milan and are not fazed by Barca coming to town.
Chairbhoy @ 14 29.
” My prediction if Neymar performs we could be in for a torrid time “.
Neymar is a fabulous player but unfortunately he is also very fond of cheating / diving . A strong Ref please !
I hope Jon Daly enjoyed Saturday
Barcelona Manager Gerardo Martino has named
his 21 man squad to face Celtic in the
Champions League on Tuesday.
Amongst the traveling party are three
Brazilians – Adriano, Daniel Alves and
Neymar.
The trio should all start the match at Celtic
Park . Adriano, who netted in Saturday’s 2-0
win at Almería, will continue to deputise for
Jordi Alba at left full-back, while Neymar is
expected to return after being rested at the
Mediterráneo.
The 21 year-old played a starring role in
Barcelona’s Group H opener against Ajax – a
4-0 victory – and will be hopeful of netting his
first Champions League goal in Glasgow.
Barcelona squad:
Goalkeepers : 1. Víctor Valdés, 13. José
Manuel Pinto, 25. Oier Olazábal
Defenders : 2. Martín Montoya, 3. Gerard
Piqué, 15. Mac Bartra, 21. Adriano, 22. Daniel
Alves , Sergi Gómez, Patric
Midfielders : 4. Francesc Fàbregas, 6. Xavi
Hernández, 8. Andrés Iniesta, 12. Jonathan
dos Santos, 16. Sergio Busquets, 17.
Alexandre Song, 24. Sergi Roberto
Forwards : 7. Pedro, 9. Alexis Sánchez, 11.
Neymar , 20. Cristian Tello
Not Fazed just Resigned to the obvious
SoT
I’d agree with the assessment that Barca aren’t a one man team.
However, last season over the 2 games they scored 3 times against us with Messi getting 2 of them.
I’m hoping, and praying to be honest, that without him we’ll have a better chance of a more positive result. How positive remains to be seen.
south of tunis
Frenchman Stephane Lannoy will referee the
Celtic v Barcelona match tomorrow night.
The 44-year-old has been a top flight referee
since 2002 and took charge of two group
matches at the 2010 World Cup in South
Africa.
Lannoy has never refereed a Celtic or Scotland
match but was in charge of Barcelona’s 2-0
home win over Copenhagen in 2010. Already
this season he has refereed Schalke’s 1-1
home draw against PAOK, during the summer
he refereed at the u-20 World Cup in Turkey.
Dontb @14:26,
“I just hope that as we’re the‘big game’ on cooncil telly we give a good account of ourselves A narrow defeat is all I’m looking for, anything better would be amazing”
Yeah! We certainly got plaudits for beating Barca at CP last year but it was treated as a freak/lucky result, another good performance could really raise our profile.
BTW Noticed STFBs stating what the blog reaction to the Seville match was.
Now i didn’t know the blog was that old. I remember you first posting (I was a lurking), now can you remember what year you started posting and when the blog kicked (amortized) off.
Just curious like…
Hail Hail
Just dropped in to say to all cqnrs attending tomorrow night. …. keep your eye on the big screens pre match and half time as a photo and message tribute to our own MIKI 67 will be shown …. so look out for Michael Kirks picture and give him a big cheer as he gets to look down on celtic park one more time to watch the hoops take on barca
Yogi,
Tried that one Mrs RT not wearing it. Already gave my ticket to a deserving cause. I’m sure our Ryanair pilot will provide match updates. Could be a tense flight home. HH.
The hype prior to the game in Milan was a wee bit OTT – ‘at least a draw’ seemed to be the general expectation before we were brought back down to earth fairly quickly. Neil has done a great job in getting us in to the group stages of the CL, not to be underestimated, a fantastic job. Now that we’re in there and the pressure is off, I’ve got my doubts about what may happen next. Still, either way we are going to make a load of dough out of the CL and we must use that to put as much space between us and the evil ones before they are back among us.
TBJ Praying for Oscar Knox
14:45 on
30 September, 2013
Just dropped in to say to all cqnrs attending tomorrow night. …. keep your eye on the big screens pre match and half time as a photo and message tribute to our own MIKI 67 will be shown …. so look out for Michael Kirks picture and give him a big cheer as he gets to look down on celtic park one more time to watch the hoops take on barca
——–
Thank you to those that arranged the tribute.
Neymar ?
” The problem here is that Neymar is a child of the contemporary criteria of Brazilian Referees , a fruit of the poisoned tree .
I have never seen a player who dives so often and so theatrically. The Boy Prince of the Brazilian game ,there is something of the spoilt brat about Neymar.”
Tim Vickery ——South American Football Correspondent , BBC World Service .
I haven’t seen him since this summer’s Confederations Cups. Both Italy and Uruguay complained about Neymar’s antics . Pots and kettles certainly , but Neymar is a diving cheat [ who is also a great football player ]
Chairbhoy – I think the bhlog started after Black Sunday [not during, that would have been the meltdown of meltdowns!]
I think I started on here in 2005-2006ish, after I read about CQNin NottheView.
TBJ
A really thoughtful thing to do mate I’m sure Miki will be there in spirit.
TBJ , News re message planned for Miki67 is just beautiful. The antics of the Armed Forces actively aligning themselves to one side of the Scottish Community is simply incredible. I watched a few YouTube videos and just couldn’t believe what I was looking at. Personally I think they deserve each other but that’s not the point, it is simply morally wrong and if I was Scottish I would be using every channel open to me to complain.
Dontbrattbakkinanger
15:00 on 30 September, 2013
Chairbhoy – I think the bhlog started after Black Sunday [not during, that would have been the meltdown of meltdowns!]
I think I started on here in 2005-2006ish, after I read about CQNin NottheView.
I was thinking fall of 2004
HH
gsu
tommy joad
Thanks for posting about tonight l will get along if l can get someone to drive me as l am unable to do so myself due to being on crutches after my op (this woulde be the first time l have been out in 6 weeks) so if l do get l will not be hard to spot so please say hello any CQNers.
DBBIA ,
I reckon the blog was up and running before BS.
I recall it being a place of comfort and solace…..similar to a Wake.
Of course, Paul67 will have the definitive date, as I’m sure he has kept the tax records for that time.
Neil Lennon: Forrest and Kayal both trained today so will be available. Boerrigter didn’t train so will be a doubt. Ledley is out.
NL: They have defensive problems through injuries but they’re keeping clean sheets. Regardless of personnel they are defending well.
The blog started in 2004
South Of Tunis @ 14:35,
“Neymar is a fabulous player but unfortunately he is also very fond of cheating / diving . A strong Ref please !”
Well, that’s a real pity, remember seeing him play a few times when he was about 19, he looked very skillful but was very slight, went down at the slightest touch and was very cynical.
Looked a thoroughly better player and had really bulked up and showing his potential at the confederations Cup.
Shame, he still has this aspect to his game, mind you i’ve been impressed with the ref in the UCL this season, the big teams not having it all their own way. Hope I haven’t fixed it.
Good luck with the monsoon.
Dontb @ 15;00,
Thanks for that, sounds about right, so it would have been sometime after Seville, STFBs is so thorough and exacting in his posts I don’t like to come on and give a short reply and be oft oot for any follow-up, not doing him justice.
After lurking for a while I believe I started around November thought it was 2005 but really can’t remember.
It’s been interesting that’s for sure.
Hail Hail
NL on comparing Neymar with Messi: It’s like comparing a dog with a cat. They are two different types. He’s wonderfully gifted. But the only player who can be compared to Messi is Cristiano Ronaldo.
Reckon the ole blog started around 2004. Emdy want to spend a few hours scrolling the archive could likely find the earliest article. You might find the bhoy who ate the boiled ham raw.
NL on tactics: It will be, at times, containment. Limit them to as few chances as we possibly can. They’re not like any other team.