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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Ed Knew a few lads from Ayrshire when I was an apprentice,apart from calling seven seeven and two twa, they were no different from anywhere else.
One of them was an Orangeman who claimed he was a Celtic Fan, never could work that one out myself.
Awe_Naw
Exposed for the liar you are. Off with you’re tail between your legs.
Fare thee well
Izzy
Your such a trolling dimwit.
I apologised to you tonight already about it.
So call your lawyer … First thing in the morning mind or like us he will think you are mental case ?
HH
Hello Stephebhoy1
Since you are new (and tol , hopefully, break the tedium of the last hours posts, welcome to CQN.
where do you watch the games in TO? Do you go to McV’s? There are a few guys on here from the Scarborough club…. but we are well disguised…. (Mike IN TORONTO… TORONTOny… ) so, we are pretty hard to find .. there’s a nice group at the club there… always welcome.
PS… sorry, Tony, if I am stealing your job here.
Izzy
Last time. Then I will lurk.
What do you think now about Henriks testimonial match ?
Do you think it was deserved or do you still hate him ?
HH
izzy
22:01 on
6 December, 2012
Magnificentseven
21:58
his memory is playing tricks he got a 24 hour ban after his last rant.
Another one. Jeez.
Would you like to tell me how you know this… because its news to me
because Paul67 posted that he had deleted some of your more over the top posts and had given you a ban to cool off, you were to email him to justify being allowed to post again…..memory playing tricks with you??
MMPW :- I have heard folk arguing over whether Two is pronounced Tway (to rhyme with way) or Twaw (to rhyme with baw) quite a few older folk still count, yin, twaw, thrai, fower, five, six, seeven, aicht.
PFayr
Defamation requires that the actions of another have a detrimental effect on the public perception of your character , causing your standing to be considerably diminished
I’m not sure that that’s possible on CQN ,given your behaviour of late
>Glad I didn’t pay for that piece of legal advice.
And who Will be the judge of that?
Thankfully not you.
Wee Bertie on talksport soon for you night owls
100/30 on Talksport shortly.
viewfaethewindae
See Gerry Marley still given it big licks with the Black Watch, what a man should be Knighted,for the work he has put in,btw is the tap watter hoat ur hive yae stul tae heet it up oan the range.
Awerabest PJ
Magnificentseven
because Paul67 posted that he had deleted some of your more over the top posts and had given you a ban to cool off, you were to email him to justify being allowed to post again…..memory playing tricks with you??
>Must be. Post the link.
Who gave izzy their medicine early?
Night all
Izzy…fool…and you could hardly be defamed as you have made such a complete idiot of yourself over the last day or so that you are considered by the majority to nothing more than an obnoxious troll
I hope P67 bans you for good this time …..you’re either an attention seeking lunatic , a bevvy merchant or both
Paul
The site has degenerated into a playground farce, forget lazy journalism, this is lazy blogism. Whatever happened to red and yellow cards! One of our best weeks in recent memory is being overshadowed by inane drivel.
HH
Congratulations Izzy!
Until tonight there was only one poster who I regularly ‘scroll on bye’. (Actually, it’s multiple posters, but the same guy talking to himself… :-) ) Consider yourself now added to my elite list of 2. I am a very patient and tolerant guy but I have to say that your presence over the last 2 nights has defaced this wondrous family-friendly Celtic blog and lowered the tone in a way that many an ‘interloper’ would be proud of.
I would never deny you your right to post comments here; only Paul67 can do that. However I most certainly will now exercise my own right to just ignore you from now on. So, I wouldn’t bother replying to me, because I won’t be reading your posts anymore.
I sincerely and genuinely wish you all the best, but your comments are not for me.
Yours in Celtic,
TB&F.
izzy
22:11 on
6 December, 2012
Magnificentseven
because Paul67 posted that he had deleted some of your more over the top posts and had given you a ban to cool off, you were to email him to justify being allowed to post again…..memory playing tricks with you??
>Must be. Post the link.
more things to do with my time than save posts, I am sure if you can remember the date of your last rant you can find it yourself…..post your own link
War Child. It’s a worthwhile charity. My friend, who is recovering from a long term chronic fatigue illness, is doing a swim in aid of them, primarily motivated by the plight of Palestinian children. If any of you have any charity budget left, not matter how little her page is Here
Ed
Knew a bloke who moved to Glasgow from the ‘Shire. referred to any Spar or Corner Shop as “The Seevan Eleevan”.
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream
Wisnae me, ave hud ma Tablets.
Awerabest PJ
Papa John 22:11 on 6 December, 2012
You’ll be telling me there are nae steel toe cap boots in Campsie ! Did you know Gerry was asked to Join Celtic?
Oops meant to say sorry for troubling you all.
jmccormick
21:55 on
Enjoy this time, they do not come along too often. Another point I should make but it has probabaly been covered, but Souness and Wilkins were very supportive of our clubs achievments on Sky last night, fair play to them. Souness in particular, and not for the first time, was full of praise for Celic Park on this type of evening.
————————-
i disagree bud.
uncle festers comments that everyone thought celtic would be lucky to finish four, and Sourpusses coupon when Jamie rednapp tormented him
Its like a witchunt with the pitchforkers asking to see the broom in action before gleefully stabbing away.
Why are so many enjoying taking part in this?
You might have more fun throwing nuts at apes in the zoo.
Hoarde mentality.
In a wistful nostalgic peripatetic mood tonight.
One of my favourite memories of Australia….there’s a;ways a bird involved somewhere!! :-)
Hail Hail
Estadio
Magnificentseven
more things to do with my time than save posts, I am sure if you can remember the date of your last rant you can find it yourself…..post your own link
>You want me to post a link to a post that Im saying is not there?
Is that what you’re saying?
JohnnyClash :- They use that expression in this bit of Ayrshire as well, like most areas of Scotland we have our own distinctive dialect. (Except for D&G where I believe they all grunt the same way)
viewfaethewindae
I do indeed, knocked Tic back dedicated to the Watch, my brother played back in the late 80s then QP, still meet Gerry in Kirkie now and then.Always has time for a word Gentleman.
Awerabest PJ
Been very busy, just read back and I see Izzy is back on and getting a hard time, again.
Some may say it is merited, others may not.
Many months ago I was slaughtered for posting that the fawning over ED was OTT.
I never attacked him personally, I still have all the posts from the night.
I post last night in defence of Izzy, I wasn’t mentioned by name but I was also attacked by a few posters, as I was one of the very few who defended him, and a few mentioned posters in the plural.
Whatever Izzy is, he is a Tim, he may like me have an alcohol problem, who knows, I hope to god he doesn’t, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
He has been attacked for his views, attacked by posters who really should know better, are we not a caring and compassionate support, a support who are charitable, a support who look after our own, sometimes I wonder.
I have no problem with yer man posting, never have had, never will, and it’s not my place to do so, like you all I am a guest on here, and I follow the house rules, though I did get a yellow card once for being computer illiterate, I just don’t see what someone who supports them can get out of posting on a Celtic site, maybe it’s the education that is not available on the hun sites, who knows.
But for him to be attacked and ridiculed is a tad hunnish IMO, but each to their own.
Maybe’s Izzy has been on the receiving end of hunnery that cuts him to the quick, I know I have, and it obviously clouds my view, but to attack him is wrong, he who casts the first stone…….
I posted something last night, and as I was totally wasted, it came out not the way it was intended.
And it’s relevant, to the abuse I got and Izzy got, about the fawning.
Good Tims who have been away for long enough, and who come back on to post are possibly greeted by one or two posters, nothing like great to have you back on, great to have you posting again.
That was the gist of Izzy’s first post, he thought it was boak inducing, his right to feel that way, and he was attacked for it.
Ed, as I said last night, and as I said many months ago, I have no problem with you, just the club you support and what they stand for, I also said your post last night was admirable.
Presently there is a poster on here who is the real agitator, and it’s no Izzy.
And please give yourself a break Izzy, you won’t win, maybe it’s the drink,I have no idea, just give yourself a break.
HH
Izzy
Thats what you just asked me to do ? ;-)
What about my question ?
Thats what the blog is about.
Yes or No.
HH
Jinky,,,its not always so feckin freezin,, sometimes its just freezin,, other times you don’t know where your balls have gone. But it disnae rain. Which is magic and in the summer its hotter than hell sometimes. Whenever your over again gimme a shout
In a wistful nostalgic peripatetic mood tonight.
(THIS TIME WITH THE LINK) One of my favourite memories of Australia….there’s always a bird involved somewhere!! :-)
http://tinyurl.com/d42lm6p
Hail Hail
Estadio
TET,
Very well said and not a moment too soon.
Guys, just looked at the sky replay and , to be fair, I think Sounness and Wilkins were pretty fair.
Put ourselves in their shoes. Would you like it? I know I wouldn’t.
Also really liking Jamie Rednapp. Think he is buying into us big time.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
22:23
Izzy
Thats what you just asked me to do ? ;-)
>What ? Post a link to something I know doesn’t exist?
Ed
a couple of questions, re your team(s)
do you view the existence of the rangers in division 3 as a punishment?
do you support the rangers? and view them as the same entity?
do you think that if oldco rangers are found guilty on the dual contracts front, titles should be stripped from their history in the corresponding years that they cheated.
why are the gullible supporters buying into chuck green?……you dont really need to answer that one, i’ve actually answered in the question.
PC67
Just in case anyone forgot we are in the last 16 of the CL,
and im pleased as f*ck.
Chill out bhoys , life has few sanctuarys left , lets keep this one.
Night all. Cocoa time.
As regards last night’s analysis and comments on Sky, I didn’t see it. However, I have always found Ray Wilkins to be a decent and honest pundit, and generally generous in his comments about Celtic. Sourness, on the other hand, once a hun………….!