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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Ok before we start praising Lennys young lions what was todays outcome of the SFA meeting regarding the huns AND is Chucky keeping Traynor bizzy ?
HH
Brilliant result from Celtic last night.
With a wee bit of luck, and a couple of signings ,we could possibly get another round.
It would be great if we could get a couple of really top players , probably on loan, as we wouldn’t want to break our wages structure. But , if we could get a winger, and a lead the line striker, we would have a ‘right good team’.
I don’t know who they are, but there must be a couple of guys who have fallen out of favour / suffered because of a new manager etc, where we could let them resurrect their careers.
PS Paul 67 , if your Russian contacts want to copy my words of wisdom above , could they at least have the courtesy of translating them back for me, and paying a royalty.
When I re-read some of the rubbish I post it’s hard enough to make sense of it, without having to translate from Russian :-)
Pedrocaravanachio67 I do, just as Celtic are, any large grouping is part of the fabric that makes society.
As far as the second question goes, that’s one I’ve answered often on here, for the 117 years you mention I think some of their achievements were great though I can only remember from around 1965 onwards. If you alluding to the sectarian policy I have said on here often it was wrong. I would point out though that there was no sectarian signing policy for roughly the first fortyfive year.
Jinky
tell him I said hello so.
he was one of the good guys
Doc is Neil Lennon
23:02 on
6 December, 2012
Dead leg, sore one tho
Re Souness -I watched the Benfica game on al jazeera a couple of weeks back,Lineker hosting ,Souness and Shearer the pundits.A montage of Lisbon was on in the background,Souness interupted and said “for you English,that was the first British team to win the European Cup,managed by the great Jock Stein” .I nearly fainted,not sure if he would repeat it on Sky …..
Broonie should be well rested now.
HH
Headtheball
23:00 on
6 December, 2012
WeefratheTim
I just think it’s sad really.
Fortunes Favour Mibbes
You’ve lost me there…anagram?
try Ntassoolla
TET,
Yep. Very surprising and disappointing imo. That agitator wouldnt last a minute amongst the Thursday nite moon howlers, and knows it :). Done it’s homework.
Anyhoos, does oor Lenny care about that? :)))
I woke up 530am yesterday morn from a weird dream where Mourihno was wearing a spartak and porto reverse top, on his jambies wailing “Beware the Ginger Man”.
I kid you not. We’ll beat Porto next :)))
Jimmy Quinn’s Bits
Thanks.
Obviously I am more paralytic than peripatetic….try this one for one of my fav memories of Oz
http://enematic.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/wonderland/
Hail hail
Estadio
What is the Stars
Eh no.
i’ve asked Ed a few questions and he’s already answered some of them, let the man speak for himself. I never knew Pablo, but from what i’ve heard he was a great human being. That aside, i still like to make my own mind up about people.
He’s a rangers supporter, coming on to a Celtic blog, surely he’s going to come under some scrutiny.
Anyway, i know you like your horses……get on Arvika Legionniere for the Arkle, got it at 16/1 last week has now dropped to 7/1 after winning in Ireland at the weekend.
PC67
the exiled tim
22:55 on 6 December, 2012
I take it people are still upset Ed is posting, deary me bhoys, scroll on by if you don’t want to read his post, others do.
There are some posters on here I scroll by, Paul67 rightly includes all posters who stick to his rules.
Scroll on by… to the tune of the Stranger’s Walk on By.
BTW did it snow on the mountain?
Any nice drives or places to visit close to Letterkenny? Thanks in advance will check back in the morning ,night bhoys.
Bould Bhoys
I think it’s time for you to give the blog another break. You’ve ruined the last 24 hours.
Headtheball,
ntassoolla is the troll. In my humble opinion.
Clashcitybhoy,
I agree with the striker but, apart from the option of spending millions on proven players, I don’t think out current squad is too bad. We’re not going to win it, but there’s a few surprises with them yet I feel.
And I still believe, with the players we’ve got, we could be passing the ball far better… it’s an old moan of mine. I’ve seen teams with players of far lower calibre pass and control back to front better than we do.
FFM
If only your dream had been right, we canny play Porto next, possibly in the last 8 we can :>)
Whats the stars
Sorely missed … By many
Headtheball
No one could ever ruin the last 24 hours, although the lass with the posterior like a marshmallow kiss who wafted her eccles cakes at me and slammed her door in my face as I tried to tell her that she was the only reason I was looking forward to heaven, came pretty close.
Wives? Eh!
Hail hail
Estadio
Ed
hmmmm
cheers.
PC67
Ten Men Won The League
Chukles doesn’t get it!!! Pandering to a mob is far more dangerous than confronting the real problem, he has a share issue, they don’t care!!
Does anyone no for a fact traynor has signed for sevco.
It seems common knowledge.
Billynowell has done a number on it.
Just like getting my facts right before i rip a few of thems a new one.hh
jimmyquinnsbits
The photo looked more than that, Kris played well last night. Hopehe is back soon, a player that needs games for confidence and fitness.
Word is coming in from the moscow herald that Chris Commons left testicle has turned up in lost property right beside lionel messi’s promise to beat benfica.
It was a bit battered and bruised but still worthy of one of TET’s curries.
Doc
The blog has decended into a slight warp, seems all are blaming yer man izzy.
I’m a tad more open minded on the reality of things, I know what I want to post, but will get slaughtered by all the PC brigade, so really not worth the aggro.
………………………………………………………………………..
FFM
No need to be humble about it, he is a troll of the highest order, probably getting paid for his bother.
Fortunes Favour Mibbes “Headtheball,
ntassoolla is the troll. In my humble opinion.”
Nobody asked you. So drop the humble.
Ed
Have they banned ash football pitches yet?
Please tell me they have !
Estadio
I like it! :-)
Estadio,
you tell a story like a child… and I mean that with the utmost respect. Its great to feel that jaw-dropping wonder at the world again.
Helen Rafferty… No you annaw!
TET,
ah, dreams can be obscure. In that case, I can’t honestly confirm who it is we are about to beat in February, but I can say that it will be on the day of my 40th birthday, the 19th, away, and Juve will be asking the officials for a refund :)
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
It was a bit battered and bruised but still worthy of one of TET’s beautifull wifes curries.
Changed that for you mi amigo :>)
Headtheball
23:08
Bould Bhoys
I think it’s time for you to give the blog another break. You’ve ruined the last 24 hours.
>Well zip it then. Unless you want to be seen as a troll…?
Clashcitybhoy
23:03 on 6 December, 2012
From Neil’s interview after the game last night I wouldn’t expect him to be doing much business in January, unless people leave. Neil wants to tie down both Gary and Victor with any extra revenue gained.
Neil also said, like most of us feel, it will be very difficult for anyone to want to leave in January.
I definitely feel we can get beyond the next tie, even if we are paired with Bayern Munich, who I would much rather avoid. I also think that having the first game at home, especially if we can keep it at 0-0 or even better that we are being systematically setup to our maximum strengths given the League we are currently playing in and that to me is down to a very studious Manager of the game of football. Our counter attacking with Samaras and Forrest will give us every chance to win the European Cup again.
The element of surprise is important but it will only get us through one more round as we will be recognised as being serious contenders to win it if we progress. ;))
Who are The Rangers playing this weekend? LOL
Ill take Man U they are all over the place just now!!
Anyway….what a flipping fantastic result last night!!!!
Can’t wait for the next big one.
Meanwhile, let’s step on the gas in the ole SPL.
Doc is Neil Lennon
23:08
I take it people are still upset Ed is posting, deary me bhoys, scroll on by if you don’t want to read his post, others do.
>I hope you’re not referring to me. If you are, then post a link to where I said that he shouldn’t post.
I’ll save you the hassle. I didn’t.
Estadio,
“posterior like a marshmallow kiss”?
Soft and sweet of course!
FFM
Given the form we are in in the euro arena, anybody is there for the taking, seriously.
We can defend against the best, we can score against the best, we have a support that is the best home and away,so whoever they throw at us, bring it on.
Nobody thought the 1967 team had an earthly :>)