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.
Thanks for the great support for the CQN Annual. You can order online here!
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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Fair bit of muckslinging still gettin flung in my direction.
Should have known better than to question a hun, his reason for absence throughout their troubles.
Listen
If he said well done and left it at that maybe i would have had a bit of respect.
His priority in his first post minutes after full time was promoting the supporters of the club he no longer bothers with.
Then he congratulated us.
Just like charitable Challws. The people are kind hearted souls don’tchaknow?
I hope Dundee Utd ask The Rangers for the name of the charity they and then Utd send the money straight to that charity.
JJ
`wish the money to go to` should have followed the word `they`.
Izzy
The majority of the blog do not agree with you
You are entitled to your opinion , however is there any point in continuing to Piss into the wind
Chill out bro
Izzy
give yourself a break mate…
JUNGLE JIM
See my post at 1900
I expect the donation made-IN FULL-in public.
JJ
Very good suggestion
Andrew67..not sure if you are still on..”ain’t no soul left in these old shoes”” my favourite..I came to northern soul late ..but just love it all…hh
Izzy
Before you shine again I dare to copy and past what the host of this site said on first page.
Paul67
12:22 on 6 December, 2012
“Corkcelt, I missed the incident you referred to but can assure all readers Edward is a welcome and valued member of our community.
CQN is open to all, we have no axe to grind with anyone.”
Bould Bhoy,
Unreserved apologies. My memory is not what it used to be
Anyway I thought you flounced this morning ?
Anyone
Who was it that labelled Ghod a mercenary ?
HH
izzy
19:38 on
6 December, 2012
I’m certainly not slinging any muck in your direction ……. I feel supporters should ‘attend’ their own sites…… I certainly don’t want to communicate with any the rankers fans on CQN ….
So, which players are we all completely satified?
NB This does not mean those players cannot improve.
For me:
Forster;
Lustig;
Wilson;
Ambrose;
Brown;
Wanyama;
Forrest;
Commons;
Hooper (because he can score):
JJ
NO SAMMY
Yer rabble rousing ya rogue
Izzy, there really is something wrong with you, I came on and said well done, in the same post I said that the appeal was now on some Rangers pages. This was not done to promote Rangers supporters but to let the folk on here and his parents know that the appeal was spreading. It’s obvious that you have no real desire to converse with me and I have no real desire to try and have a conversation with someone who insults me almost every post but still expects me to answer him, Your post at 2.35 this morning was enough for me. I’ve met your type before, more hatred for others than a love for your wn team, You used to hear them in the Stadium Bar before a match, as far as I can see the only difference betwenn you and them is the colour of the top you wear.
From now on it would be better if we just ignore each other and as far as I’m concerned this is my last response to you
just a wee thought about last nights rumour that barca had scored.
heard or sorry seen it mentioned that it was started by sevco fan as a wind up.
hope it was and i would like to thank him if its true.
kris has come out today and admitted he thought barca were leading and felt no pressure on him as he took the spot kick.
i know i was crapping it at the time.
so god knows how he would have felt if he new the real score.
so if the story is true once again i thank you.
Jungle Jim
Whats Chas done wrong ?
HH
Awe naw
Wisnae me
When was that daft talk getting put about ?
Jobo…,
There should be a tab labelled ‘full match game’ it’s in there
Fortunes Favour Mibbes at 18:49
Who’s the establishment team in France? Take it it’s PSG?
I don’t think there’s ever been an “establishment team” here. Maybe it’s because it’s a Republic.
;o)
There tends to be a team that is “flavour of the month”. In my time here it has been St Etienne, Nantes, Marseilles, Monaco, Lyon, and at the moment it is – grudgingly, because of the Qatari money being pumped in – PSG.
One thing is sure, any team playing in Europe will get full backing of the press/media (until they mess up like St Etienne, Marseilles or especially the national team, then the guillotine comes out).
The FFF don’t mess about either, no fear/favour: a totally different planet from the parcel of rogues at Hampden.
Gardez la Foi
Jungle Jim
No mathews or mulgrew.
Ed
Hows it going in the amateur leagues. Do you have your young uns pumped up. Could be next year … Your jousting with Sally ;-)
HH
Hi ..Kikinthenkakas..”Creme brûlée ” ..magic absolutely magic..just wished I had been there a bit earlier..so good to meet some more cqners..it is always such a pleasure met yoursel and great others(again) starry plough( mr music)..Tooting Tim ( handy for the wembley tickets!!) and as always old muckers Oldtim ( hope you are home safely) and BT( what bottle of malt? )..
“Creme brûlée Creme brûlée!”…
Direct quote from the genius Mark Hateley on the official Sevco website regarding the DU boycott-
“I think it is the right thing to stay away until bridges have been built and a few olive leaves have been sprinkled about the place”
The whole article is a piece of rambling nonsense.
Awe Naw,
Sammy’s agent?
Cos agents are charitable souls and what not.
Pfayr
About six year ago
HH
izzy
For what it’s worth I agree with you.
Never understood why any decent human being could
support that hateful club or it’s equally vile phoenix.
Is Hately back in print ? Wao
HH
Evening all.
A wee repost of something from what seems a long long time ago and a different planet!
From Port Glasgow to Porto— Pass the Parcel.
http://wp.me/p1G95H-2b
johan murdoch
don’t let makas take the credit..
it was one of our lurkers who came up with the creme brulee
Hately being back in print is like a …….
Well, you know the rest!
what whisky?
Big cup winners
I feel the same way about The Conservatives, lib dems
Anyone who believes in after life etc
Does not stop me from conversing with them.
Its hard being perfect.
HH
gene’s a bhoys name
18:19 on
6 December, 2012
corkcelt
tragic times it’s a wonder the faith survived
hope you haven’t given Salmond any ideas
****
The Faith survived because of it.
A wee bit of persecution works wonders for the Soul.
Vmhan,
Don’t be afraid to tell your English pals the history of Celtic.
It’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Founded by Irish Catholics in Glasgow to help alleviate poverty and hunger amongst a discriminated section of the community, who were encouraged to renounce their Faith in exchange for food.
Keep the Faith.
Celts at top table in in Europe:
Gardez la Foi = Keep the Faith
Sevconians at bottom rung hamburger joints around remote locations in Aul Scotia:
Gardez le Foie = Watch your Liver
Goldstar
Of all the Huns who try a media turn …Hateley is about the thickest …no mean feat btw
izzy/bigcupwinners..
as we told them your grankids will be tims…
Ed achieved that before they died…
Former Celtic manager Liam Brady and Eamonn Dunphy on TV were effusive in their praise of Celtic’s great run in the Champions League especially with the fine squad of young players Neil and his scouting team have assembled on a shoestring budget in comparison to the bank account mercenaries of Man City and Chelsea. Brady opined Celtic supporters expect the best and it will be back to business as usual come Saturday in the SPL and Neil will be expected to win regardless of highs of Wednesday night’s performance.
Sixtaeseven,
in that case I’d like to push for a Sellic plus French ‘Gaullic Regional’ league.
I believe we could regularly spank them and retain our Euro place, AND our identity as unwelcome outsiders
:))