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
- ...
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- »
Summa of Sammi….
I am gutted I never set the record for the game prior to going to work.
Really annoyed now as you comment about such majestic play.
5 minutes in the right back slot, that is pure quality. The work mate who is seated just behind the dugout said Charlie and Sammi were brilliant in killing the time. I was twice the distance and enjoyed most of it but couldnae get the intricasies.
Oh aye and I wore trainers in them days, cow pat n all that.
V
Anyone know any way to get the recording of the game. On Virginmedia.
SUMMA OF SAMMI
Collect the promised taxi fares?
How much of a bribe are you proposing to give the fella to pass yer beloved roadworthy?
A king’s ransom?
FFS,in the Rennes match,where Sammi was totally unplayable-I swear,after a decision went against him about 15mins in,he just went “That’s it! Now,I’m effin’ angry!!”,and just pulled us through by the bootstraps-the two old codgers next to me spent the whole game moaning about him.
That,I will never get over. Just not interested in what was in front of them,only in their own opinions.
Good luck wi the motor,btw.
It shoooooooooooooooooor sounds like a labour of love.
PETEC
CANAMALAR provided a link around 7pm last night,matchsummatorother.
I’ll scroll back.
Race you!
.
To the Blog..
Why has Celtic Luck changed so Much..
We are Getting Penalties we Normaly would Not get..
Penalties are Going in Off the Crossbar Not Over the Crossbar..
Opposition are Getting Sent off for Tackles Not Let Off..
Sometimes.. Sometimes we can Run the Clock down for a Victory..
When You think of the Bad Luck we have Had Away from Home in Europe the last 10 yrs.
Not taking Anything away from Lenny or the Team.. Just a Thought..
Summa
PETEC
Matchhighlights.com
001:
Scott Brown has said that he is not going to have the operation any time soo; he is going to continue playing as long as he can until he has no choice. (Unless the problem heals itself). The guy has played through the pain barrier for almost three seasons and he ain’t for quittin’ now.
Good morning CQNers,
This is my first opportunity to record my appreciation of Wednesday’s triumph, and what an absolutely wonderful triumph it was.
Everyone was tremendous but I just have to highlight a few that caught my attention – Gary Hooper who, again, showed what he can do with such a meagre supply, Georgios Samaras who was pure class, Mikael Lustig proved he’s a player of substance and finally, Kris Commons.
He stands tall amongst those who’ve joined the Celtic family from outside and not only understands what we’re about but he and his partner have added to it.
The celebrations lasted a little longer than planned and the Black Bush went down particularly well. The wife is just beginning to forgive my drunken state but, hey, it’s great being a Tim.
I have been out and about since half 4,
Lots of black ice on the pavements and roads,
so be careful bhoys and ghirls,
Happy Celticing
.
VHman..
Ryan..has he Mentioned he is thinking of Changing his Name to 003.. Ha Ha..
You know Me I could Talk the Hind Legs off a Dolphin..;0)
Think we Will have to Get Jinks some Greek Worry beads for when he is Sammi Stressing..Ha..
Summa
Kitalba
Thats what I understood re SB
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a transformation in a player ……I had managed to convince myself that Brown was a mercenary Hun who had no real interest in CFC… now he would be the first name on my team sheet …he is now IMO a good CFC captain and the team play better with him in it
kitalba
07:29 on 7 December, 2012
001:
Scott Brown has said that he is not going to have the operation any time soo; he is going to continue playing as long as he can until he has no choice. (Unless the problem heals itself). The guy has played through the pain barrier for almost three seasons and he ain’t for quittin’ now.
_________________________________________________________________________
Some people think he has just become a Great player. You have said all along he is a special player. I think he has been incredible for the last 2 seasons, a MOTM contender just about every game.
BROOOOONIIEEEE
We are very lucky to have a player/Captain like this.
.
Murdoch..
I take it MK is the Other Milton..
Do You know Killer..?
Summa
I think our second half performance on Wednesday was our best half of the season thus far .
Spartak , who are a decent side barely had any meaningful possession and created little chances
We could have scored three or four
Summa of Sammi….
07:37 on
7 December, 2012
MK is Milton Keynes, the city of trees ……the tress hide some of the ugliness.
As for killer, I haven’t come across him.
Regards
.
PF Ayr..
Re; Mercenary Hun..
I believe if You read something that much You subconsciously Buy into it Eventually..
That one about Skoosh sitting under the Kingston Bridge waiting on SDM.. Jeezo..
His Price tag have People High expectations Also..
Even Last Season His best.. His Mammy told a Total Stanger he could Not wait to Leave.. Ha Ha..
For a Young man to come to Such a big Club for a Big price all when His Sister was Terminally ill..
The Bhoy Did Good..
Kit seen it in the Stars..
Summa of SkooshCSC
Morning CQNers, anyone got a link to Sammi’s take and turn on the touchline? Took my breath away at the time. Usually bigjie posts these things but haven’t spotted it. TIA
I gotta go now as I’ve to take the granddaughter to the doctors, I’m the stooge to distract her while she has some blood samples taken.
God bless all.
.
Bobby..
Aye me Olde Van.. It has Became a Wee Bitte a Labour of Love.. 3 Months ago l did Not know how to Put Water in the Radiator.. Ha ..
Can’t believe the Work l have Done on it.. Can’t wait to do the Good Stuff.. Colour Scheme.. I’m thinking Green and White.. Two Tone..;0)
Metal Dash board is Kööl as..
Summa of McPimpMyVanCSC
Morning all from gay Paree, first snow, looks nice (5C max alledgedly)
Who is it gonna be?
Knowing that two clubs from the same country or from the same group can’t get drawn together, here are our chances:
PSG 12.36%
SCH 12.52%
MGA 20.14%
DOR 13.20%
JUV 14.48%
BAY 13.20%
MAN 14.11%
So it looks like I could be taking ma lager to Malaga.
PSG will have to wait till the quarters…
Sliderule CSC
SUMMA OF SAMMI
I hope it comes off for you,and I’m sure it will-seems you have learnt perseverance over the years………….
Funny you should mention the colour scheme.
My sister’s MINI is a rather fetching British Racing Green,with a white roof.
It fetches many an envious glance in our hometown.
At least,I think they’re envious……
sixtaeseven: Armageddon ain’t a bad place to be!
08:03 on 7 December, 2012
38.9% of going to Germany, best chance for tickets as well given the stadium capacities.
SIXTAESEVEN;ARMAGEDDON…..
Aye,that looks fairly conclusive,tbh.
It also puts Juve in second place. I want them bassas again,still sore from their cheating a decade ago.
First leg in Italy,and then let them feel the fear in the second in what must now be a venue which the whole of Europe fears.
A second-leg at Celtic Park,on a cold February Tues/Wed,the noise battering through the still air.
Aye,they’ll have memories to chill them more than the cold.
edward ursus
00:39 on
7 December, 2012
Sorry for the late reply, as I said, bed called work soon.
Thanks for the reply, I don’t agree with you, it would not be silly for an apology, just because something happened in the past doesn’t mean there should be not regret it happened.
As I said, I couldn’t support a club with such a policy, whether past or present, which they have never addressed.
Anyhoos, we move on.
BMCUW
First leg will be a Celtic Park irrespective of who we draw.
Like you, I’d quite like Juve, but Germany or Spain are the most likely destinations.
We’ll see.
From yesterday’s Daily Mail:
(mostly and English paper)
This is worth reading again and again, it sort of puts things in an order.
Money can’t always buy success: Celtic’s Euro stars cost just £11m while City and Chelsea’s flops were put together for over £290m
By Sam Cunningham
Manchester City’s squad: £300m. Chelsea’ squad: £290m. The look on your rich neighbours’ faces when they crash out and you go through to the last 16 of the Champions League on a squad assembled for £11m: Priceless.
While City and Chelsea’s billionaire owners have been reaching for the Mastercard, across the border Celtic have been producing a masterclass in how to qualify in the Champions League group stages on a shoestring budget.
City were already out with two games to play and couldn’t even make it into the Europa League even with a squad worth £312.05m. Chelsea have Europe’s second tier competition to fall back on but still went out last night with a squad worth £287.35m. But Celtic went through in dramatic style with a squad assembled for a mere £10.8m – that’s half a Juan Mata, a third of Sergio Aguero or essentially the cost of Fernando Torres’s leg.
The £9.8m starting XI put out by Celtic that dragged them through to the last 16 of the competition against Spartak Moscow is worth EIGHT per cent of the City side that started and lost to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday making qualification for the Europa League impossible. And it’s worth only FIVE per cent of Chelsea’s starting team that beat Nordsjaelland but failed to make it through to the next round.
THE BATTERED BUNNET
Thanks for the info-had a feeling the group-winners got the plum…….
But would that still be the case if we drew a GERMAN team?
Pretty sure tha UEFA would not be happy with all three teams in one of their largest markets playing at home in the first leg.
Or away in the second,of course.
I live in hope,I just wish we could be at home for the second-leg.
All set up for the benefit of the seeded teams,as per usual,eh?
KITALBA
I read that from a link posted yesterday. There are some really bad mistakes in the valuations of the Celtic players-I didn’t bother with the other teams.
I’ll check back to clarify,but IIRC,it had,for example,Izzy,Beram and Sami listed as free transfers….
Having said that,the figures may be a bit skew-whiff,but the basis of the article is not.
Some teams spent a fortune and failed to achieve what we have.
Approximate capacities of stadiums of teams we could draw in CL (tickets we’ll get based on 5% allocation)
Man Utd. 75,000 (3,750)
Bayern Munich 67,800 (3,390)
Dortmund 65,700 (3,285)
Schalke 61,000 (3,050)
PSG 48,000 (2,400)
Juventus 41,000 (2,050)
Malaga 29,500 (1,475)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2243903/How-Celtics-squad-stacks-Manchester-City-Chelseas.html
KITALBA
Some poor research by the author,apart from the ones I mentioned,he even has Stokes down as a free,for example. Of course,he didn’t play,but should still be included in the squad cost.
KAYAL33
In that case,we better not draw Juventus.
Between SOUTH OF TUNIS and TALLYBHOY,and their respective friends and family,there won’t be room for any Juventus fans,much less the rest of us!
.
Kitalba..
You can Buy a League over a Long Season..
But l don’t think You can Buy a Cup as Easy..
Give me a Good Man Manager from a Working Class housing Scheme..Over a Master Tactation of Total Foetbal..
Did You see Lenny Whisper into EVERY Players ear after the Game on Wednseday..
Probably said something Different to Every Player..Class..
Cant see Mancini Doing that..Too busy Courting the Media..
Summa of WorkingMansManCSC
Morning,
I never thought the tax dodgers could sink any lower than they have done over the years but the bile and hatred they have for everyone now is astounding.
The likes of the Cardigan let rangers die and now it is everyone else who is to blame.
Their long term plan appears to be to destroy Scottish football.
I pray that we NEVER play the scum again.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS:
I don’t really pay that much attention to quoted transfer fees; when you go from one site to another the fee invariably fluctuates.
(look at soccerbase)
The point that I was trying to highlight more than anything was that money can’t buy you heart, it can’t buy you faith and it can’t buy you team spirit. Neither can it buy you a support like the Celtic Support.
Those four things together are, for me, what took us into the last 16.
I thought I’d have a look on hunmedia to see if I could find a single post about Celtic’s efforts on Wednesday, I couldn’t, but I did find this under the header of “gersboat fisherman”.
“my mate is raging as he is not allowed to use his boat quite small but still n to take round loch lomand with some pals on the nessy monster trail. the police said that because he has the rangers top on they would not sell him lake today license for the normal fee they charged 150 extra. he is not happy and feels that there is being biased against him because of what he was wearing. Said if it was a big boat and a cardigan like Walter he would sail by without notice. Sfa fine us probs eh”.
There a six pages of replies to this OP. And we think we can howl at the moon.We are rank amateurs by comparison to this crazy hun.
Edward Ursus
Thank you for your response.
Nsatsoolla
What are you on about? Are you the blog police? Are you so self important that you decide what can and cannot be asked?
Give me peace,man.
EC67
KITALBA
I highlighted the errors in the valuations,but I also highlighted that those errors should not detract from the general tone of the article,which was that many teams spent fortunes failing to get where we are now.
Money,if anything,detracts from those four things which you,in turn,highlighted.
I doubt it will teach other,big-spending,clubs the error of their ways,they’ll still have managers demanding new and expensive blood.
That’s them. Not us. Our success will always be greater in that respect.