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.
[calameo code=00039017193b8a8bbd612 lang=en page=126 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,215 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- »
Petec @ 00:14,
My thoughts too.
Its old school football management v the money school football.
Ole Michel would benefit from ensuring we continue to get a level playing field in the CL !
So ceiler what could be done to make your life easier?
Estorilbhoy :- I’m not so sure if it’s the fans who should be showing humility if cases go against the old club. Fans weren’t the responsible for whatever was decided in the boardroom. As far as wanting football to fail my impression is that a lot of fans would like to see the SPL fail rather than football itself. Not everybody feels like that though and I would hate to see any clubs going under at any level.
DocINL :- Firstly let me make clear I did not know that is what you meant by address but now I do I’ll alter my answer a bit, as I pointed out the demographics of the support change each year for those who never knew the policy it would be silly for them to apologise for things that happened before some of them were born no matter what they think of the policy. Among those over that age as I said some say it was wrong some say it was right I don’t foresee any apologies from the fans any time in the near or distant future.
As for Mr Greens leadership I think it’s far too early to tell and will take at least a couple of seasons before you will be able to judge.
TET, are you offering me a bribe? Or, is this a way we can conspire to beat young acgr at sclaffball.
I’d love to meet your neighbor but while I’m still working in my current role I’m subject to random drug tests. I know, thats a bitch but I cant do so much as a small dinky doo without the potential of losing my income stream. And I dont feck with my income stream. Not a spliff or a mushroom has passed my lips in almost twenty years.
Now, when I retire to the sun? I’m going to behave like Keith Moon.
HH & HAW
EU we prejudge. Reinforced by our desire to see a rerun of the last regime.
Oh dear
In TECHNICOLOR™.
Good Night IZZY
MWD @ 00:15
Well said sir. That post would have changed the whole evening if made earlier.
I thought we would all be talking about our team’s wonderful achievement / performance last night…..instead we have been telling Ed what a good guy he is, and how pleased we are to welcome a bhun onto CQN ……. off to bed now, hoping that Ed enjoys his visit to Kilmarnock on Saturday ……. Would he not be better employed going onto ff, and telling them that he condemns all the bile / intimidation / threats emanating from his club’s fans….he would be in a minority of one…….
Izzy,
One of the things I enjoy about CQN is that I can confidently talk to my fellow Celtic fans…..bhun lurkers are ignored, when identified……. I just ignore Ed, but respect that he, at least, has identified himself as a bhun …… But I’m afraid I have no interest at all in anything a bhun has to say about any aspect of football……. He’ll be telling us next that their fans knew nothing about their ‘favoured’ status, their financial doping (via MIH), etc etc etc..
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
And Help people as much as possible despite fighting demons.
That is why I love Mario Balotelli. Mario would Flourish at Celtic. He would become Super Mario.
Edward ursus.
You evade answering pertinent questions.
I would like a straight answer.
Do you think the use of ebts by murray was cheating?
No witchhunt just an honest answer will do.
Ntassoolla
00:38 on 7 December, 2012
So ceiler what could be done to make your life easier?
……………………………………………………..
You picking up the tab for princess Ceilers uni accomodation and rabid habit for expensive shoes would be a good start. Send me a cheque for six grand, that will help, but only in the short term.
A spanish translator with melon sized jugs would also be made most welcome and would ease my immediate trauma.
\o/ Mr. Whippy Coming at you!!
00:35 on 7 December, 2012
Was it you that upstaged philvis to a podium a few days ago?
I think philvis was raging and was calling the podium on a technicality, Ridiculous and most unlike mr returns, I’m guessing he was wanting that one badly drawn bhoy, cue a ludicrous song….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urmIrfnUyCw
My worst ever link for a track.
Please don’t listen to that bad bad link.
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
No bribes, the young fella will be taken care of, no worries, it’s all about mind games, tell him he is a star, tell him he is the best thing since sliced bread, but also tell him that he is standing the wrong way, tell him he needs to slow down, tell him he needs to whatever, trust me, 10 handicap you say, I have drifted a bit this season, would be about the same, but this old timer knows a trick or two, mind games, tis what it’s all about on the golf course.
I knew a bloke in Ireland, a 10 handicapper, the best golfer I have ever seen in my life, professional excluded, he was a master, we used to call him the horse, he snorted his way round the course, but he could hit a ball on the button, he won prizes to beat the band, he challenged Darren Clarke to a game, he was the green keeper at a club just outside Dublin, I followed them around, they played of scratch and ended up the bold Darren losing 3 and 2. and it should have been more but for the horse missing a few putts.
Estadio,
that last post read all wrong…. hope you know what I meant
Anyone know where oor Lenny is off to on his next scouting missin? He likes his wee trips to South America that one- claiming feckin expenses just cos he’s working through his holiday entitlement and making us 20 mill a year profit.
Honestly, feckin uppity Tims like that! Next he’ll be beating the Barcelonas of today! If we lose on Saturday…grr…ffs, just shut the club down!
Petec the only times I have been at Parkhead without Rangers playing there would be roughly 45 year ago. I lived in Glasgow and three of us were the same age in the close, two myself being one Rangers fans, one Celtic fan. Sometimes if our own team was playing away we would go with the other and vice versa. Whether this would have continued as we got older I don’t know as shortly afterwards N. Ireland erupted into a de facto civil war and I think we all seemed to think it wouldn’t be right after that. I know it was wrong but I feel at that time there was a growth in fear and distrust and none of us felt safe at the others ground. Ibrox would ring out with chants of UDA with Parkhead having the equivalent IRA chants. Looking back it was a sad direction for society to take.
Moonbeams, from talking with him on here he came across as a gentleman, when we met and went for a drink and shared some herbage it was confirmed. He was witty, knowledgeable about football, knowledgeable about music though a bit of a Beatles bore and an all round good guy. The world could do with a lot more like him.
Sipsini :- I’m not evading the answer, I don’t know, if they are found t be against the rules then yes it’s cheating, if not then no, until the decision is made I can’t say.
67Heaven
Quality post mi amigo, I feel the same.
HH
THE EXILED TIM
You may well have listened to this before as I know you have supported me by email by commentary about my audio clips.
Listen to this again in case you never listened to it the first time.
It will send those that are not interested to sleep quickly. A Win Win really.
http://vftb.net/?s=power+of+weakness
TET, we will hammer the young un. He’s not swung a club since his famous victory. He’s either supremely confident or he’s give the game up completely.
I still say we drug him. Best to be completely sure, its the only way. Bring your neighbors stash.
Serious question bruv, what time does the light fail at the end of Dec in the area? Where I am in deepest dakest Angus it’s getting dark at about 16.00.
Petec, hail bro, I thought you’d given up on me after last week’s exchange.
Edward Ursus
00:59 on 7 December, 2012
I hope to meet and listen to your excellent football stories.
You’ve got to visit Estadio’s blog, it’s a treasure house
http://enematic.wordpress.com/2012/07/
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
01:10 on 7 December, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3nScN89Klo
That was me saying sorry. I posted it when I came back online.
ooh aahh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O8e3SeJo_8
OOOOOH AAAAAAH up THE SAMARAS,SAMARAS!!!!!!
ED U
With all due respect to your post to sipsini @ 1.02, and I don’t want to be seen as attacking you, but you are evading the question.
You are as a smart man, of that there is no doubt, and you know as well as the next man your club cheated, they cheated cos they paid wages that others couldn’t afford through the ebt thing.
So to say that the outcome of a masonic cabal will determine the issue, not going to buy it mi amigo, never in a lifetime will I buy what the powers who be in scotland decide to be the truth.
Now, the dual contract thing is a different issue, forget that, it’s really not on the agenda.
You were asked an honest question, and have evaded the question by throwing it onto the cabal that has ran the game in scotland since it’s inception, and fair play to you for that.
Just out for a tab there.
The low lying moon is giving it that half look, lying on its back, and whistling at the stars and what lies above.
I gave it a wee howl anyhoos :)
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
The light here gets dark very quick, one minute it’s light, the next it’s dark, on the day in question, about 6-7 it will be pitch black.
\
FFM,
lovely words… I’m away oot for a cheroot and a look
…until a polis praetorian drove by and slowed down to eyeball me with intent. <:O
TET I’m not trying to evade it, until it’s been decided by whoever is hearing it we don’t know if it’s cheating. I’ve already said that if they are found to be cheating then they should get the full penalty and if that’s taking away titles then that’s what should happen. If however it’s decided that it wasn’t cheating then the titles should be kept. If you ask me again after the decision is made I’ll tell what one of my answers applies. I’m not going to prejudge a hearing.
JQB,
Enjoy. Tis actually very relaxing. :)
FFM
Howell away, just going oot for a wee howell in a minute, the devil dugs are needing to come in,
Fortunes Favour Mibbes
cONFOUND THE MOON.
Always be true to yourself on CQN and there is never a problem.
That is where the short termers take advantage, unfortunately.
Summa of Sammi appreciation society.csc
Petec, we’re cool bro. HH
I had a great vid of the barca fans at CP but argggghh I canny find it at the moment. Trust me, its a belter.
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
01:30 on 7 December, 2012
I took videos and pictures of last night, the pics are a lot easier to upload but the videos are a lot bulkier.
Samsung Galaxy 2 and every pic and video is upside down, any way to convert them for PC so that they play the right way up?
ED
A stock reply.
You know fine well rangers sought an advantage, they had players on their books that any other club couldn’t have afforded due to the tax dodge, that is a given, whether it’s right or wrong is really by the by and you know it.
My point is that your club have been afforded preferencial treatment by the powers, that imo is another given, the bold RC Ogilvie who is in situ presently is a prime example, he is as corrupt as the day is long, or short depending on your location,
I honestly admire your stance, I just don’t agree with it.
‘HH