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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petec
One of my friends told me back on the supporters bus last night that he and his son were nearly jailed when entering the JS lower. The cops involved were being a bit heavy handed when searching the Celtic fans on entry. He noticed a few noisy Spartak fans shouting f@@@ Celtic and generally going through the queues pushing young and old Celtic fans aside.
My friend shouted at the cop to do his job properly and get a grip of the Spartak fans, which they totally ignored and turned on my friend and his son. Only the intervention of surrounding fans stopped then from being Jailed.
Also heard of unconfirmed trouble around the Gallowgate before the match.
Moonbeams muses “It is just in this last hour that I have really been able to enjoy last nights experience!!!”
I share that knotted gut and heart.
I think we had so thoroughly prepared ourselves for the worst that when the best came we just couldn’t grasp it.
Mibbe that’s what’s wrong with izzy. Hopefully he’ll wake up with a start tonight and give us reason to roast a fattened calf. Or at least fry some square sliced. Has he had a hot dinner today?
Jude,
ah! I see a problem though as no one at Govan Loyal 1690 ludge can tell Swalex who he needs to negotiate with re MP daily rental agreements.:)
Plus there’s summit up with the plumbing there.
I wonder if one of the ever so compliant MSM churnalists could as Mr Green a rather simple question:
What would you be doing if you had been drawn at home against Dundee Utd?
Peyec,
I don’t think Ed would welcome, or feel the need of, any kind of ‘conversion’. :¬))
It is bad enough he has to deal with our inebriated isolationists.
PC 67, whoooooooooooooooo, you callin mad ya bam.
Let the people howl
HH Brother:)
Jude 2005.
Ye sorted it before i posted.
No prob.hh
Sorry, …PETEC.
Too many thumbs.
As far as the tax/EBT’s goes, I could well be wrong here and no doubt will be told if I am, but I thought both were still to be decided on viz a viz rule breaking. If found guilty of one or both then my own feeling (and it is only a feeling) would be that the support would tend to blame the old company for it, there isn’t much else they can do.
——
Not so sure. The one thing missing from all of this is the lack of humility and regret for the old clubs actions. Even folks I thought were decent rangers supporters seem to want Scottish football to fail as a result of their debacle, more than they are obliged to addition contrition to their transgressions. Remember the fans re the club.
Izzy
Give it a rest DH.
Ntassoolla, I’ll get my offer in now then, if you need a driver I’m your man. I could do with an easy life.
Addition = admit, apologies.
Re = are, daft iPad.
Evening,all.
Just popped in say hello. Off to work for a coupla hours once I’ve finished this fag.
I see MWD has finally chilled enough to recognise our team’s latest great achievement-when I say chilled,I mean came back down from Cloud Nine!
I’ll echo that,it’s been remarkable. Are we the only team in the 16-canny say “last” thanks to Broonie,haha!-.who had to negotiate two quallies as well?
Congratulations to the team,and envious congratulations to everyone who was there,and carried the team through the odd wee flat spot.
Fortunes Favour Mibbes
Ki dominated Rangers, that old team that was liquidised.
Ki went for 6 Mill and we let the contract go down a bit far but he was never a first choice because of the League we are in.
It is still some bit of business.
You know what makes me really happy?
I know Mr 67 has so much quality material to put on to this blog but he probably doesn’t have the time to do it.
Happy Happy days.
Indeed, the Rebels have Won.
I cannae wait until Celtic start claiming back the massive earnings they have been denied.
Prudential.CSC
MWD
And I hope you do, only one from the blog has had the pleasure of the pool, and I think he enjoyed it, going by his pose sunning himself by the side of it, it sure looked like he enjoyed it.
You are welcome any time, as are any other Tims who fancy a dip in a genuine Celtic pool.
Emptied it the other day, there was a wee stain on the crest, couldn’t get it clean, so a bucket of bleach and an hour or two of elbow grease had it as clean as a whistle, will be filling it back up soon, need to wait for the seriously cold nights to go away.
Izzie
There is no reason for you to leave the blog.
Ed can handle himself and always has done, respectfully to all he has engaged.
Personally I have never met him myself although we have in the past had the odd convo and I think but one joust. That apart and that said I will forever trust my late friends, Pablophanques, judgement of the man as a true gent and a pleasure of a man to be in the company of.
But you sir have every right to question and judge albeit, hopefully, you can take the word of the one or two who have met Ed to their word.
MWD
Pedro C – that horse has broken my heart over the last two seasons ( not in running, only ante-post). I saw that last run and it’s too good to be true – bounce factor.
Banker for Cheltenham is Don Cossack.
edward ursus
23:56 on6 December, 2012
By address I really mean apologise, but you knew that.
EBT’s 16 I believe were admitted as illegal by MIH, so guilty by degrees.
Some is under appeal, we will see about those.
Final question, any answer I will respond to tomorrow.
How you feel about Charles Greens leadership of the club that has claimed to replace Rangers.
Good night CQN.
Petec thanks for the kind thoughts but I’ll pass on the conversion if you don’t mind. I may be at your game at the weekend if my own game is cancelled (good chance of that) but I’ll be in the Kilmarnock support.
A CEILER GONOF RUST
Re their charity donation,as I said a 1900,I want it done in public,preferably in a big half-time ceremony.
Otherwise,I expect Green to practice the mantra of Charity begins at home.
He is fast learning their ways.
BobbyM, finishing fags is not a PC term. I’m guessing you’re smoking a cigarette but I could be wrong, I hope I’m not wrong.
Did you get in front of a TV last night? What a night in fun city.
The tickets for the DUFC game are in the balance after the non action of the sfa and the court jester “charity” comment.
Bobby Murdoch
I stood biting my nails watching the team celebrate, watching Neil Lennon celebrate but couldn’t quite manage to think about having qualified until I seem Barca 0-0 Benfica FT on the big screens. Players were almost off the park by that time.
TET.
I’ll be making that trip. I’ll be the big white whale who frightens the water oot your pool. ;-)
MWD
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
Scott Brown
That is a Player that strikes the fear into his opposite number no matter how good he is.
A Ceiler Gonof Rust rues”I could do with an easy life.”
What particular pain could be eased? Have you sprained your cigar hand or twisted whisky arm?
We’ve gone beyond our wildest dreams. With 11 weeks till European Football comes round again I can see us being worked up into the post qualifying frenzy of Ally’s Army in 1978.
Folks,
I’ve read the instructions, but they’re not makin any sense
I’ve built my Ikea Thermo-Nuclear device, but have part AC230-01 left over… can anybody tell me where this goes?
Need it for the weans party tomorrow
Ta in advance
Ntassoola,
Me thinks it will be the Sevconians singing we want our money back but a send off is a good idea … Live on SKY
HH
as = ask
Edward ursus.
I hear the same argument of the ebts daily.
I struggled to get me and my son and daughter season books during the said period and took it on the chin off your fellow fans when leagues were lost to your team.
Just one question…do you think your team cheated and if so they should be stripped of the honours won?
Summa
You in the huff? :))) Speak tomorrow.
NIght night all in Timland.
Weefra HH
BMCUWP, “fast learning their ways” easily translates into “cheating basturts”
But it looks like he’s riding the SFA like a cheap hooker. Campbel must be loving charlies antics.
11 weeks is enough time to have everyone injury free and match fit and thus fuel the flames of our frenzy.
By this time next week we’ll be challenging Bayern Munich to play us on Chritsmas day to mark the famous football match played in the middle of the tranches in the middle of WWI.
Edward Ursus
You ain’t seen nothing yet Big Chap. ;))
A wee question for you, did you ever go to a Celtic European game?
I hear of so many fans of other teams going to Celtic games in Europe.
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
My neighbour came up the other day with a few pumpkins, not one but five, he also offered me a bag of his home grown, as he does every day, the stuff is blow the head off, tried it once, too much for this fuddled brain to handle.
Anyways, it’s his yearly income, no work, very little welfare, so a few kilos of weed is what he feeds his family on, and he is not the only one, it’s the only cash crop that can give them an income, fair play to them., they are honest hard working people, or would be if they could get a job.
And they love their football, mostly Real fans, but tradition goes back a long way, amazing to see real and barca fans shaking hands after a game, catch on in Glasgow ?????
Ntassoola, I’ve not had a cigar for a while but you’ve put the idea in my head.
As for damaging my draming hand, thats just not even worth a response. You know me better than that:). My personal nurse looks after that side of my care.
Ed
A wee question for you.
What type of a man was Pablo?
MWD
Awe_Naw if we set a precedent with one send off I fear we’ll be roped into doing it as an annual tradition the way things are looking at Ibrox.
Good night all. Peace reigns and I’m sure that in about 3 days from we Celtic fans will have become unbearable. I’ve no intention of keeping myself in check.
Just watched Kris Commons on Auntie’s site, spoke as well as I’ve seen a celtic player speak for many years.
The dressing room must be delighted to have someone at that standard of public speaking putting their version of events across.
More power to you KC!