Fifa yesterday banned Benfica and Brazil central defender Luisão from all football activities until November for knocking a referee unconscious in a preseason game against Fortuna Dusseldorf in August.
Benfica didn’t expect Luisão to be available for tonight’s Champions League game against Celtic but the decision, coming a day before kick-off, will do nothing for morale. While they lost midfielders Javi Garcia and Axel Witsel to Manchester City and Zenit late in the transfer window, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Benfica spent well over £20m this summer. The new guys will no doubt eventually prove their worth, but right now they remain very much the new guys. Celtic have to make them feel a long way from home tonight.
During our last successful Champions League group stage in 2007 we concluded that it was more important not to make mistakes at this level than to try to score the perfect goal. If we get a solid performance from Scott Brown and Victor Wanyama in front of a defence which clears its lines and takes no chances, the stage will be set for James Forrest and Gary Hooper. I expect both to hurt Benfica.
It was interesting to hear our chief executive take questions on the subject of EBTs and the health of our club yesterday. More on this after the matter in hand has passed.
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Is it time yet :)))
Let the people sing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&feature=related&v=zhkdy0AOpaM
Paul67 –
Celtic win 3-0 tonight – which should set us up nicely for the rest of the campaign, including the 3-0 defeat in Lisbon.
BigYinMilan-Poignant post,hopefully destined for a LFC Blog mate.HH.
I hope the 96 banner is on display tonight.
BigYinMilan
Thanks for sharing that. All the more reason to support the campaign for justice >:((
BYM
Great post. Cheers.
We are Sevco, super Sevco
No one likes us, complain to OFCOM
We are Sevco, super Sevco
No one likes us, complain to OFCOM
FFM
I just think our CB pairing is too weak and will be exploited badly by Benfica .. who are by far the best team we have met this year.
I hope Efe starts. I hope he is a sensation and I hope we win 1.0 deflected goal wrongly given by the ref.
But this has awoken me a few times in the middle of the night since May.
Hail hail
Canmallar
Observation
Those arrogant sleekit 5***** on their panties.
Lots of hotels have 5*****…..doesn’t mean they don’t have cockroaches in the kitchen and rats in the wall.
Raynjursh….what are they like?
It has occurred to me that Celtic have deliberately been playing within themselves to lure Benfica into a false sense of security. The team have obviously been thinking about the CL games as they are only human. I mean, would you be pumped up for St Johnstone away or Benfica at home? Yeah me too.
Their scout will go back reporting “Aye they’re pure p!sh – nowt tae worry about” (coz he’s Scottish). We catch them off guard. 2-1 Hoops. Nice.
I knew John(Yogi) and Pat to speak to. Didnt know his father just knew he was Yogi’s dad.
Yogi’s other brother Willie I didnt know at all.
You sure it was me?
skyisa…,
believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see
Can anyone recommend a bar in playa de las America’s, tenerife, for the game tonight. Aware of the Irish Rover up in San Eugenios, but it’s a fair old walk from here. Ta.
Oh and Victor need a boot up the bum too, he was rubbish at the weekend, and got a very easy time of it on here.
bigyinmilan:
>>>>>
Powerful account.
HH.
Canmalar
I’ll bear that in mind
HH
Mikey..,
get a bus :o)
Awe Naw,
We’ve all been putting too much emphasis and attention on the CBs for some time – imo not as weak as we all make out.
There will be mistakes, but it’ll be the same at the other end.
However, in the interests of expectation management, I’ll settle for a draw due to the absence of Sammy (and Joe/ Kayal). This will be the minimum achieved due to the ever-reliable rule of outstanding surprise Celtic super-subs during Euro games at CP.
If Paddy indeed doesn’t play, my money will be on first goal from Brick67 knocking in a Forrest cross with his napper.
Lawwell Knocks out Traynor in first round!!!
http://harryhood67.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/lawwell-trashes-traynor/
Hours to go yet….and I feel like you do when you’re about to start a rollercoaster trip.
There’s no turning back….simultaneously terrifying and fun.
Come On You Bhoys In Green!
BigYinMilan
Excellent, and moving, post.
HH!!
Benfica websites suggesting that Benfica might choose to field Ola John —- 12 million euros worth of winger [ bought in the summer from Twente ]
Fan websites are not over confident . Big concerns re the absence of Pereira and Luisao .. Big concerns re the defensive ability of the 2 fullbacks. Big concerns at the Manager’s all out attack philosophy. Big concerns that Benfica don’t travel well . Big concerns about the effect of the Celtic Park atmosphere .
On the other hand —–many are salivating at the prospect of our back 4 having to deal with Rodrigo , Cardoso and Salvio .
We’ll see ——–Really looking forward to it.
JJP-ON
13:08 on
19 September, 2012
Regarding your tongue in cheek theory,perhaps the team should have been “pumped up” not for St Johnstone or the forthcoming Benfica game,but for the 5000 travelling supporters paying £26 per head.
If we only turn up when we feel like it the Accounts will soon show a different story.
NEW world record
First time oldco or newco have been knocked out the cup by a team from the league above.
Norris McWhirter must be spinning in his grave at the number of
edits being done for this years Guiness book of records.
jude2005
Nah, no really :))
PS JH, another man who lost his manager job at Hibs due to Mibbery – an ever-growing list until this season.
HH ..
Can’t wait for paradise tonight.. Heading over early..
Still laughing at the Ramsdens rout!!
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy – You have to admire his style of management. I hear Charlie Green is about to adopt it.
Charlie Green is… Ping the Penniless (thumbsup)
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire – IYO and your opinion is flawed as you continually demonstrate :o)
Says the man who thought the Laffer curve was a type of brewers droop. (thumbsup)
sinngel fish ally
PHILVISRETURNS
Surprised you mention the Laffer curve,as it is essentially an argument for tax rates considerably higher than we have at the moment.
“In economics, the term Laffer curve refers to a hypothetical representation of the relationship between government revenue raised by taxation and all possible rates of taxation. It illustrates the concept of taxable income elasticity – that taxable income will change in response to changes in the rate of taxation”
Ah, I know this. It usually sits about 80% when stretched, with 79% of it getting spent on warfare and weapons shows at the NICC with the threat of homelessness if I don’t pay my share towards it. Liberty at it’s best. But thankfully the blame for that 80% peak is directed at “benefit scroungers” courtesy of Kelvin “No Comment” McKenzie.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS – Surprised you mention the Laffer curve,as it is essentially an argument for tax rates considerably higher than we have at the moment.
No it isn’t. (thumbsup)
Excuse the abrupt last post there was a Ramsdens reference I did not link.
I don’t think our recent poor domestic form will count for that much tonight- hopefully the insanely hysterical atmosphere, the adrenalin rush of the big occasion, and the whole romantic ethos of the Big Cup will push us up onto another level and bring out the best in our bhoys.
Here’s hoping.
CL theme tune after Helsinborg game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXbMrbXACNk
FFM
Gotcha now. You learn summitt every day!! Yogi (the Coatbrig wan) was better lookin. Yogi ( Hibs wan) was funnier.
PHILVISRETURNS
Oh yes it is………..
philvis..,
again flawed :o)