Celtic should to plan to score in Lisbon

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Benfica enjoyed a 0-2 away win on Friday evening to remain joint-top of the Portuguese league with Porto.  They will have enjoyed a day off while Celtic played on Saturday and will two days training before tomorrow’s game.  By contrast, Celtic player will have rested yesterday and will get no more than a run out inside Estadio da Luz tonight.  With games coming thick and fast at the moment, hopefully rest is the most important requirement for the players.

Benfica shredded Spartak for most of the second half in Moscow but contrived to miss what chances they created, allowing the Russians their only win of the group so far.  The return game in Lisbon was a comfortable win for the home team.

Neil Lennon has some major tactical decisions to make.  He will surely acknowledge the danger Benfica pose but has to find a way of scoring an away goal or two.  Match day one between Celtic and Benfica brought a 0-0 draw, ostensibly a good result for the visitors, but the group has matured since then.  Both teams played that game as though it was an away game; Benfica were happy to defend and Celtic, in their first Champions League game since 2008, were keen to feel their way back into the tournament.

This time Benfica will attack with speed and hope that Celtic open up a little more than they did against Barcelona.  It’s important also to acknowledge that while Benfica are no Barcelona, they will also be less predictable than the Catalans, we will not have it all our own way in the air.

It’s going to be a game tiring 90 minutes where the use of fresh legs could be crucial but an early Celtic goal would allow Neil Lennon to set his stall out clearly.

Orders are now open for the very first CQN Annual, get it here!

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  1. The whole of football is still talking about the fantastic backing our fans have given this season, to the extent that our young team had enough extra wind in their sails to beat Barcelona. How swiftly we forget.

     

     

    The magnificence of the support and how it should be an example for every club in the world has been lauded once again tonight by the Benfica manager at a press conference.

     

     

    Some people don’t like Celtic receiving praise of this kind.

  2. Silly statement from the club.

     

     

    Acting all offended when it is clear to anyone who attends the games that a group of fans have been singled out for special attention by Plod.

     

     

    The club is treading a thin line here IMHO.

  3. Now have 5 spare tickets for Lisbon courtesy of absent friends.

     

    Should I be unable to sell on the said tickets on the flight out tomorrow morning I should be in Hennessy’s Lisbon roundabout lunchtime tomorrow if anyone knows of anybody that needs a ticket you can let them know

  4. The Prince of Goalkeepers on

    That club statement seems to me to come straight from the “shoot the messenger” book of diplomacy…

  5. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    “Categorically, we will investigate any matter which is raised by any supporter and give these cases our full attention.”

     

     

    wummin told the board at the AGM she had a problem with banners being confiscated, she was told to write in and the case would be fully investigated.

     

    Her reply was, she had written in over a month ago and was still awaiting a reply.

     

     

    What exactly is the point of investigating if investigations come to nothing

     

    Their stock reply to every such question was write in and it will be fully investigagted, not once were we offerd what such investigations would achieve.

     

     

    Hopefully they will take action, but I notice all criticism is aimed at the support

     

    this is not a statement condemning the blatant and obvious harassment of supporters it is a statement designed to split the support.

  6. ‘Celtic has worked hard to foster a positive relationship with its many supporters´ groups. We are very pleased that we are united with our supporters’

     

     

     

     

    Who is this ‘we’ ?

  7. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    Also note worthy, is the only claim which cant be verified is the only case commented on

  8. Hi Minx1888,

     

     

    I insured my boy (17) for a corsa 1.2 last year with RBS online. It was £120 p/m and has now been renewed at £85 p/m. (cos’ he’s 18 now).

     

     

    The joys of parenthood, eh?

     

     

    Billy Bhoy

  9. CELTIC Football Club is very disappointed to learn of internet accusations suggesting that the Club in some way is involved in the targeting or victimisation of fans – Celtic has played absolutely no part in this and suggestions to the contrary are quite irresponsible.

     

     

    The statement doesn`t deny that targeting and victimisation is taking place, just

     

    that they are not involved.

  10. The club has made its position clear. If anyone has anything substantive then let them post and we can take it from there. If not, leave the club out of it and concentrate on the problem to hand.

     

    We have enough genuine enemies without being sidelined.

  11. Why would the club tell the police that a supporter was planning to travel when he wasn’t?

     

     

    I smell shyte.

  12. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    jobo baldie

     

     

    19:54 on

     

    19 November, 2012

     

     

    Thanks for that…….. as I thought, our Board are not complicit here, and I would urge the GB to continue to provide the Board with examples of any perceived harassment ……would also suggest that we concentrate on other issues until the GB highlight any unresolved issues…

     

     

    One issue I would raise is that our Board provides a statement confirming that, when current contracts expire, we will not enter into any joint sponsorship with zombies2……prior to their liquidation, that is…….

  13. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    geordie munro

     

     

    20:12 on 19 November, 2012

     

     

    There is the possibility that your nose is too close to your erse…….LOL

  14. To whom are the Club referring to in this part of the Statement?

     

     

    “The question should also be asked what the motives are of the people who choose to make such false accusations.”

  15. kikinthenakas

     

    fourgreenfields

     

    Mightytim

     

    Thanks for all your help with request,much appreciated.HH

  16. Good statement from the board.

     

     

    Firm rebuttal plus it seems that they are offering to take up cudgels on a case-by-case basis.

  17. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    thetimrieper

     

     

    20:10 on 19 November, 2012

     

     

     

    ???…..Que ….?

  18. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    tomtheleedstim,

     

    this whole thing has them twitching, else why the statement, they themselves know exactly who are being targeted, they control all information issued to the police. Asking for letters is simply trying to bury the issue, there is no need for letters they have all the information, why do they still refuse to condemn the harassment

  19. CultsBhoy loves being 1st forever & ever on

    Poor ( Lawwell Hallmarked) statement but encouraging that they are concerned enough to make a response…

     

    GB are at least shining the light on wrongdoing. Hawthorn effect to follow…

  20. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    jungle jim

     

     

    20:15 on 19 November, 2012

     

     

    Bhun lurkers and Board bashers

  21. AweNaw

     

    Thanks for the information regarding my daughters dilemma regarding spare parts.

     

    Ordered the parts tonight.HH

  22. As with all football stadia, the Police have an important job to do and it is vital that the Club and supporters work with them in this regard.

     

     

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

     

     

    ….but they – the police – seem ‘to do their job’ more thoroughly when the stadium in question is CP.

     

     

    HH!!

  23. 67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors

     

     

    20:13 on 19 November, 2012

     

     

    jobo baldie

     

     

    19:54 on

     

    19 November, 2012

     

     

    ‘Thanks for that…….. as I thought, our Board are not complicit here’

     

     

     

     

    If they were complicit then they would be capable of lying about it, wouldn’t they?

  24. Fans of Our Great Club have always been subject to partial treatment from the Boys in Blue…………..

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