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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philvisreturns
Fair play to him ,he did want to buy the new ragers ,using someone else’s money of course.
A true royalist bassa,like the queen he carries no cash.
Celtic_First – Only one of them pretends that it is the old club. Only one of them pretends that it wasn’t the club that the liquidators got their hands on, just the company. Only one of them thinks their history is alive and continuing. Only one of them pretends that you get to pick which bits of the old entity you keep alive and which bits you let go. It doesn’t play in Cheshire, Northamptonshire or Yorkshire.
Can you narrow it down a bit? (thumbsup)
new article posted.
If I though Ed was at the wind up I would understand why he comes on this blog.
voguepunter – To be fair, it would be a bit vulgar to give people little pictures of yourself in payment. Too nouveau riche.
I have a neighbour who think he’s cool driving around in his bright orange Lamborghini Gallardo on the weekends. Little does he know that we lampoon him mercilessly at the kitchen suppers he isn’t invited to, as we feast on swans livers and the tears of benefits claimants. (thumbsup)
Morning CQNer’s
Minceyheidman
I’m not looking for a fight M8 but…do you know that Joe Ledley’s contribution to the Spartak game the other night was – he lifted the physios bag off the ground and handed it back to him at Kris Commons injury ? Am I the only one who see’s these things ?
I’ve been at games were Joe Ledley has touched the ball – 5 times in the entire game ?
Maybe there’s a generation-gap thingy going on here but…for me at least…Joe Ledley is a modern day – Peter Grant. imo
Now is not the time to question Neil but…is there a blind-spot here ?
Kris Commons played beyond himself the other night. Thank God !
But…imo…KC is another one who waltz’s into the team regardless of how he has played previously. THAT’S wrong imo.
But…heres the thing…we keep hearing about our hugely talented squad ?
Oh yeah ? So what happened v’s Arbroath ?
You see…there are numbers…lots of numbers but…not much QUALITY ! imo
No kings ransom would be needed to solve this. Just move the recruitment process up a notch from – free’s/bosmans/loans/trialists etc…indeed a couple of SPL players would put some meat on the bones. imo
Dundee Utd’s – Johnny Russell
Hearts – Ryan McGowan and Novikovas(because he puts a good ball into the box)
Aberdeen’s – Johnny Hayes(to cover injuries like KC)
I’m no expert but…I would like us to at least make an effort to live within our means without being silly. If ye know what I mean.
As I said at the start of this post – minceyheidman – not a rant at yer ghoodself
just a rant in general. A much needed rant IMO.
HH
KTF
gordon_j backing neil lennon
10:26 on
7 December, 2012
*THE KING VIC 67*,
Ah got you.
Usually what they do is draw the first team and then remove any from the second pot that they cannot face. So if we came out first they would take Barcelona out of the other pot, leaving only the seven teams that we could draw.
what if Celtic are last ball in non seeded bowl and barcelona are last ball in seeded bowl do the start the whole draw again?
Ernie
”To my way of thinking there is no difference between the Rangers Football Club of two years ago and the club as it is today. If you can see a distinction which separates the club from its history, you’re smarter than me. The club’s the same as it always was and the history remains intact.”
Walter Smith 6th December 2012
”We wish the new Rangers Football Club every good fortune”
Walter Smith 19th June 2012
Congratulations! You are now smarter than Walter Smith! FACT!
excellent point Ernie. I for one will not partake in the revisionist tosh that is coming out ibrokes and the media.
Celtic,great result and great outcome by qualifying for the last 16.I believe we have nothing to fear from anyone we can be drawn against.I know we will be working hard to improve and get better and with Neil Lennon and his background staff this will happen.I thought Commons had a blinder.
‘The world is shrinking. Football economics are changing.’
We’ve heard it al before but its still refreshing to read Mirror Sports writer Oliver Holt piece on Celtic’s achievement and how they would recharge the ‘austerity proof for the time being’ EPL.
I’ve been saying for ages that there are too many European sides with either a good/great European history or a huge fan base, or both, and these clubs are being unfairly prohibited from dining at the top table. Celtic are one of the clubs who fit the bill on both counts, as are Ajax, Feyenoord, Red Star, Dynamo Kiev and Benfica (you have to count Sevco in too, although their bad reputation cancels out much of their plusses).
When you look at German football you see average crowds of over 50k at about 8 clubs, and even Hertha Berlin attract 50k plus, Cologne 40k plus in the second division. The Italians are being left behind too, notably clubs like Roma and Lazio.
All these clubs have too much to offer to be dismissed as second rate. I think a lot of football fans worldwide had written us off and thats understandable. However anyone over the age of say 45 will remember our name from the glory days and will not be one bit surprised at our re-emergence. Its safe to say that we are one of the top ten best supported clubs in the world, and this fanbase doesnt just disappear. With our recent CL showings and the fantastic CP atmosphere (which the SKY commentator told us was the best in Europe) many people have been made aware of our true status in World football. This status was not built on winning 20 leagues before WW2, it was earned by being ‘the top European side between 67 and 70’ (Bobby Charlton), and by competing at the latter stages of the EC untill 74. The marvellous Seville spectacle was confirmation of how special we are for anyone too young to know 67-74, except for what they’d seen on film or heard from their dad.
Holt’s correct when he says we have far too much to offer to be stuck in a moribund league. Celtic FC, without actively pursuing change, are pushing on the door harder than anyone. Change has to come and I hope its sooner rather than later.
hh
NEW ARTICLE BHOYS
Fholks,
I think it only fair that we acknowledge and thank all those kind Rankers supporters who sported thick moustaches for Movember.
Hopefully next year your husbands and boyfriends will take part too :))
HairbearbunchCSC
Mumbles Head 2.10 Aintree
COYBIG
Art Professor – Sandown 1.25 for me today please.
Club house 1135 lingfield is my one to avoid….
Morning all my accursed hoarse for the day ,Problema Tic 2.10 Aintree.
hh
PROBLEMATIC 210 AINTREE
Ah,should have checked previous posts.
Sorry,VOGUEPUNTER.
Apologies to David Pipe too.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
Bugger off,is my luck no bad enough as it is?
Acchh leave it ,it’s your loss.
HH my friend.
Morning all.
Saints and Sinners
Aintree 1335
All the best!
A few picks for the 2.10 Aintree – me too, West End Rocker.
Good luck all.
Sam Winner 1:25 Sandown.
Good luck.
Starluck in the Sandown 2:30 for me please.
T4
Plain Sailing 3.30 Wetherby (supposed to be a cert)
7/4 at present but a winner is a winner
My nap anyway
Lads, naps here today pleaaaaaaaase…
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition – Week 18 Results & Standings
What is the Stars doubled up last week to make it back-to-back winners (At Fishers Cross @4/1).
Myself – fleagle1888 napped one of the McCain/Maguire combos at Newcastle (Red Rocco @5/2).
+£17.25 green T (7)
+£12.00 Rockon Neil Lennon (7)
+£ 4.50 Sixteen roads to Golgotha (3)
+£ 3.00 Valentine’s Day (3)
+£ 1.50 BULL67 (3)
+£ 1.50 fleagle1888 (3)
-£ 0.50 Che (2)
-£ 2.50 Bada Bing (2)
-£ 3.50 What is the Stars (3)
-£ 7.00 Magnificentseven (1)
-£ 8.80 TheBarcaMole (2)
-£ 9.00 Cathal (1)
-£ 9.97 hunza rugli (2)
-£10.00 voguepunter (1)
-£10.50 MHARK67 (2)
-£12.50 Som mes que un club (1)
-£13.00 gerry_bhoy (1)
-£13.50 tommytwisttommyturns (1)
-£14.00 leftclicktic (1)
-£15.00 Glen (1)
-£18.00 bobbymurdoch’s winklepickers
-£18.00 gourockbhoy
-£18.00 Raymac
*No selection – Glen, TheBarcaMole
Non-Runners – bobbymurdoch’s winklepickers, green T,Sixteen roads to Golgotha
Cheers, fleagle1888
Barthwick Brave 13:35 Aintree.
Have a great day no matter whay the results
whay = what :((
AINTREE 13:35
UP FOR AN OSCAR
cheers and good luck all
1.15 Wetherby American Legend, last leg of a McCoy Treble
Big Fella Thanks. 2.10 – Becher. Chase
Aintree 210 Join Together
Good luck everyone
ubique chep 3.30
good luck all..
Awaywiththegreys 2.45 at Aintree please. Be lucky bhoys & c’mon the hoops
My selection ‘Saints and Sinners’ Aintree 1335 was 5/1 in the local paper this morning, 3rd favourite.
Currently 28/1.
FFS!!!
My donkey for today – Problematic 2.10 Aintree.
Good luck all.
Sorry, napsters…
I lost my internet connection again today due to the weather in Beirut – so I’ve missed all of today’s UK & Ireland racing !
I’ll take a speculative punt on :
Ushanka (Woodbine 20.27)
Cheers, fleagle1888