Qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League is an astonishing achievement for a team seeded in pot 4. You need only look around Europe to see how unforgiving this tournament is. The champions of England and Europe are both out, while England’s reigning champions last year went out at the group stage (to Benfica).
Amid numerous predictions of a comfortable victory I suggested yesterday that last night’s Spartak game would be difficult. What we now know is that Celtic eliminated two very good teams from this season’s Champions League. Benfica took four points off us, by all accounts, were the better team in the Camp Nou and dominated Barcelona in the early part of their game in Lisbon. They beat Spartak at home and pinned the Russian’s back into their own box for long periods of their game in Moscow.
This is the fourth time Benfica have faced Celtic and they have been eliminated on each occasion, always by the slenderest of margins.
Spartak finally got their act together last night under new boss Valery Karpin. Reaction in Russia suggested this was their best game of the season, and that Emenike, who has seldom shown the appetite for the game, was playing for the attention of scouts. They are a good team who enjoyed 60% possession away from home in Europe, although Celtic denied them genuine chances for most of the game.
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Spartak and Benfica will both believe they could have done better in the group but we got further evidence of a few football facts from this campaign:
It is more important to prevent defensive mistakes than to create chances.
The margin of difference between a well-organised team at this level and the very best in the world is slim, especially if the above point is observed.
Possession is overrated as an indicator of progress. Learn not to be stressed by it and to remain organised.
Discipline is an underrated indicator of progress.
I started Monday’s blog by saying, “Here is a prediction for you, Wednesday’s Champions League game at Celtic Park will not end with 22 players on the field”. Spartak are a good team but they had a man sent off against Celtic in Moscow when in a winning position, then kicked everything that moved last night, culminating in a red card for an assault on Kris Commons.
Indiscipline is an expensive commodity.
Neil Lennon will now have time to review the several elements of this campaign which worked well and the few which didn’t. Each tactical decision made was a risk but will have taught him things about his team. We will be well prepared for the next round.
As for Georgios, what a performance.
Epilepsy Scotland have a Celtic ball with certificate of authenticity, signed by 12 Celtic players on the day of the Barcelona game which is available for auction by email. The competition closes tomorrow (Thursday) at 20:00. To win this fantastic piece of Celtic memorabilia email your bid to trusts@epilepsyscotland.org.uk. The prize if for collection only, any postage required would need to be paid separately. All funds raised will go towards Epilepsy Scotland.
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Did someone mention Kent, I’m sure I had that conversation last night…
What a game, what a team, what a support…
Big shout to the excellent CQN’ers that I met yet yesterday in the build up to the game..
BSR, thank you so much for your total Celticness..
Quite fancying a trip to Paris St Germain personally! Not too far to go and the craic should be good!!!!! OOH LA LA!!!!!
Aiden had one shot on target last night. Well if you call the G B a target!!
Johann Murdoch
Please do.
Keep on Keeping on.
(:-)
Kayal33
That might be a dictionary definition but i don’t think it’s appropriate on this site – we are better than that – just use twit
De La Soul ‘s – Keepin The Faith -is a fine wee choon .
Johann Murdoch
“The way you’ve been acting lately”
(:-)
A67
My understanding of ‘keep the faith’ amongst Celtic fans is associated with ‘resistance’ (in respect of not allowing the football establishment ‘put us down’ )….. In Ireland, it was another version of ‘Cheerio’ …..?
Good evening friends.
HH
Will tune in to SSB to listen to them squirm as they have to praise and talk about the mighty HOOPS..
JCGE
Ari should have got a straight red card for that tackle on Charlie early on, absoluts disgrace
rothbhoy ..@ 17 44
A complicated business . No black and white definitive answer. Football in Italy is very political .. It is not possible to say that club is —- and that club is — . .. Big city clubs have lots of different ultras — extreme left / extreme right / anarchists [ varying factions ] and some casual style crews who like that fitba violence thing . Fiorentina are no better [ or worse ] than clubs from Torino / Napoli / Rome / Lecce / Bari / Bologna or Milano
corkcelt
Thanks for your reply. My Granny was from Drogheda. Many a rant she had about Oliver Cromwell and what he did to Drogheda.
Studied Iris history at St. Pat’s, Coatbridge. I remember the outrage felt by my peers when we learned about the Penal Laws and ” Beyond The Pale” etc.
KTF
Wonderful occasion last night. At the post match celebrations a chap I have known for years and is a friend of a football agent was telling me Aiden desperate to get away from Moscow in January and is heading to England, Stephen Fletcher may be going to Manchester City and his replacement at Sunderland could be our number 88 with a £10m fee! January rumour mill started?
South of Tunis
Our support is also split along political lines – there’s those on the left then there’s Philvisreturns
thumbsright
Starbucks are making a mocca the tax system.
Just watching the game again, my nerves have subsided into a condition of deep joy…Lenny’s Young Lions Keeping The Faith Alive…
JOBO.how many days and hours till next euro night.
One of my friens is forever saying ‘keep the faith’ …… Phoned him for his view, and he insists it is used by some Celtic fans to mean ….. Keep supporting the Bhoys…..with Celtic being their ‘religion’ ….!!!!!…….. Originated from Ireland, where one was reminded that wherever you go, always retain your Roman Catholicism …..!!!!!!
Maybe you are right Ernie, but the original Hill Billies were of Scottish extraction and were WAPS. One line of thought was that the term Billy was a Scottish slang word for a bloke and a second was that it originated from The King Billy thing.
keep it lit
South of Tunis, Evenin’ bud!
Thanks for the enlightenment on that one – i.e. ITALIA and its footie fans. Maybe best to avoid Juve then. That said, they are a ‘doable’ team IMHO. Oh yeah, and we OWE ‘EM ONE!!!!!
My specialist subject is SWEDEN/DENMARK having lived in both countries 4 and 6 years respectively.
As said on an earlier post, quite fancying Paris Saint Germain personally – would be a good craic and NOT too far to travel. Just avoid the Kronenbourg!!!!!
winning captains
Man City had declared an interest in Fletcher a while ago but never followed it up
Falcao is City’s main striker target
Sunderland are in talks with Michu of Swansea although his 2 goals against Arsenal could have bumped the price up further
winning captains
18:01
John McGeady told Russian media that his son will play in Moscow two more years, at least one more from now.
Russian creditable source told yesterday that if Spartak won’t get good offer Aiden will extend his contract until the end of 2013/14.
67 Heaven, Yep I reckon he is right, not too sure when it came into vogue amongst Northern Soul fraternity but I am 64 years of age and its a phrase I’m familiar with all of my life.
Had a great day yesterday and enjoyed the food, drink n craic……to all the cqners, Johan Murdoch, Starry, oldtim67, tootingtim, BT and the other folk who were there with us, a greater bunch you couldn’t meet and most who had never even met….
Favourite was ordering desert, and us all singing “ceme brûlée, creme brûlée, we’re the famous Glasow Celtic, and we’re eating creme brûlée”
Kikinthnakas
Sufferin succotash! Cursin copulatin canamalarisms!
Canamalar, I am astounded of foreheed to have seen you playing peacemaker last night during ole Bhould Bhoys posts that seem to have provoked a bit of over-reaction. :))
In all seriousness though, BB, I’ve always enjoyed your posts and know that there can be reasons why any of us might act a tad out of character.
Don’t give up on CQN, a lot of good fholks here who will miss your usual contributions. Drop me an email at mc009g2617@blueyonder.co.uk. Won’t be able to see it until Saturday though as am stuck in a flamin zombie ridden highland retreat til then >:((
Psg seem to have some nutters as fans as well
starry plough
18:04 on 6 December, 2012
I watched it again this morning, and was ‘nervous’ …… LLLOOOLLL
South Of Tunis
Although I wasn’t there, I remember when Celtic played Juventus in Turin (Liam Brady’s time there) in the 1980s. The Celtic fans were attacked by hundreds of Juventus thugs and hit with bicycle chains and other weapons. One chap had his back slashed with a sword and I think Celtic took some sort of action over it. The Celtic View, I think tried to compile evidence and I remember there was a letter from an Italian supporter of another team who had been at the game and was appalled at the treatment our fans received. I remember he talked about ‘seeing the anger in the eyes of the Celtic supporters’. He apologised and said that this happened often with Juventus at that time. I’ve never liked them since.
winning captains
can’t see Man City going for Fletcher
kikinthenakas
That was funny…
I got some great fotos I’ll send them on when I get back and photoshop out the laughlines!!!
In 1695, shortly after the Siege of Limerick, Lord Capel summoned a Parliament to enact and re enact certain Penal laws. The object of these laws was threefold:
(1) To deprive the Catholics of all civil life
(2) To reduce them to a condition of ignorance
(3) To dissociate them from the soil
The following is a list of this new Penal code given to Mac Manus ‘The Story of the Irish Race.’
The Irish Catholic was forbidden the exercise of his religion
He/She was forbidden to receive education
He/She was forbidden to enter a profession
He/She was forbidden to hold public office
He/She was forbidden to engage in trade and commerce
He/She was forbidden to live in a corporate town or within five miles thereof
He/She was forbidden to own a horse of greater value than five pounds
He/She was forbidden to purchase or lease land
He/She was forbidden to accept a mortgage on land, or security for a loan
He/She was forbidden to vote
He/She was forbidden to keep any arms for his protection
He/She was forbidden to hold a life annuity
He/She was forbidden to buy land from a Protestant
He/She was forbidden to inherit land from a Protestant
He/She was forbidden to receive a gift of land from a Protestant
He/She was forbidden to rent any land that was worth mre than thirty shillings a year
He/She was forbidden to reap from his land any profit exceeding a third of the rent
He/She could not be a guardian to a child
He/She could not, when dying, leave his infant children under Catholic guardianship
He/She could not attend Catholic worship
He/She was compelled by the law to attend Protestant worship
He/She could not, himself, educate his child
He/She could not employ a teacher to come to his child
He/She could not send his child abroad to receive education
Any Catholic gentleman’s child who became a Protestant, could at once take possession of his father’s property
Any Catholic priest who came to the country would be hanged
The priest was banned
The school master was banned
starry
glad you enjoyed it
nakas
apologies – never got near CP and nearly even missed the start, – next time.
Listening to Sportsound (yes I know) where’s Jabba
rothbhoy
Sorry to rain on your parade but PSG away would be no walk in the park either
PSG have 2 violent groups (Boulogne Boys + Supras Auteuil). Our trip there in ’95 was no picnic and the Huns had the same issues when they visited in 2001
The German clubs would be much safer imo
bournesouprecipe
I had a total panic when the machine wouldn’t read the ticket, I prayed at the third turnstile until it worked, the man who sits next to you is a lovely guy we had a great time and craic..
corkcelt
tragic times it’s a wonder the faith survived
hope you haven’t given Salmond any ideas