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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Do you support the Green Brigade action against harassment ?
http://www.easypolls.net/poll.html?p=50a90f10e4b061e6546ad870
Of 792 votes
95 % yes
5% no
Barca slip and We could actually go top tommorow if we win by more than one!
suttons volley
22:03 on 19 November, 2012
If you photograph plod the way you are suggesting you could end up being arrested, no doubt it would be claimed you resisted arrest and then wham, bam, thank you mam, you are now in receipt of a lovely, new, shiny banning order.
Now, what were you saying about people with banning orders?
The Club statement raises a few pertinent issues, although seems to continue the mild rebukes voiced in the AGM.
The statement also completely avoids the GB harassment issue.
Once again my continued financial contribution to the PLC purse is dependent on whether the GB are allowed to flourish……or not. What those kids have brought to Paradise is incalculable. That they are experiencing the violations to their rights as citizens that they are beggars belief.
Apologies for the hyperbole, but this ones got me seething (not hyperbole) AND on the eve of a CL game. Off for a beer and then a wee lie doon.
Mullet and Co
22:05 on 19 November, 2012
I’m suspicious, not certain.
If you look at the history of the relationship between the GB and the people who run CP there’s reason to be suspicious.
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire,
ok its under appeal but is currently serving.
Quote from the lead of this allegation from Govan Emerald.
‘A member of our club is currently serving a 2 year football banning order which is under appeal at the High Court in Edinburgh’.
Ernie
I think the filming could be done in a discreet manner. Sorry I should have said that.
Stand by what I said about the banning orders, some people think that buying a ticket allows them to act in anyway they see fit within our beloved home, I disagree.
HH
It depends on what you do with the images and also what they may contain.
Hail Hail.
Burnley 78 @ 21.25,
Your statement strikes me as very reasonable (but then, I’ve been drinking this evening). I don’t see it as an attack on fans who complain – but we do have 1 or 2 who complain all the time. Emdy remember that earlier this year, the board were going to sell out & support the huns being back in the SPL?
Why doesn’t one of gb members do a craigy whyte and have a recording device in the ol pocket?
Mullet..,
again,”innocent till proven guilty” whats so hard about that statement.
remind me, howmany have had similar banning orders only to be found innocent
in fact remind us all howmany have actually been found guilty of any offences, go on, howmany banning orders have stuck, I’ll give you a wee clue it comes before 1
you seem to have all the quotes find me a quote of a single successful prosecution
Ernie,
I don’t doubt the club want to lessen the risk of some supporters singing songs that would upset the majority of folk in the UK and beyond. (I know your definition of upset and mine and others is different. I do not wish to engage in that debate).
However, I think it is far fetched in the extreme that Celtic, the club, would plan to send supporters details to the Police and ask them to carry out a cleansing exercise.
Who pays for that activity?
I know the police have to justify the funding they get from the Edinburgh version of the govt.
suttons volley
22:13 on 19 November, 2012
You’ve advocated behaviour that could result in a banning order.
Mullet and Co
Alex Salmond. The fines will be used to rebuild the fabric of our society …something like that. Peter Lawwell and Martin Bain all shaking hands for the cameras…..did you forget ?
HH
Views on Benfica, anybody?
Scott Brown did a great job on Aimar in the first leg but I’m hearing Aimar is out for tomorrow’s return leg.
Do we still need Skoosh to do a marking job on Aimar’s replacement?
Do we need his energy anyway to cover gaps, regardless of any specific marking job?
Or do we go with a different type of midfielder?
vespacide
It actually doesn’t matter what you do with it mate. CP is a private space you have to be invited in, ie buy a ticket, doing so is an agreement to abide by the rules, which include not filming. Now so many people film they couldn’t enforce this, but they could selectively enforce it if the police felt they were being filmed.
This is from the T&C page on the official site.
7. With the exception of authorised media representatives holding accreditation issued by the Club/event organiser, the taking of photographs or filming by any means inside the Stadium is prohibited. In addition, no transmission or reproduction, in whole or part, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise is permitted save with a special authorisation in writing by the Club/event organiser and, where appropriate, the prior consent of The Scottish Football Association, the Scottish Premier League, the Scottish Football League or appropriate body.
I’m actually pretty pleased by the Board statement. It is a straight denial of being involved directly in the harrassment. I am also pleased they have published the statement. I also think they are right about unproven accusations against club employees – we should all take care about that.
I will still follow the GB’s lead if they want to boycoytt but I now think that:
1) GB should take the Board at their word and provide the information to the Club of the harrassment that they have been receiving and ask directly for a public response.
2) Its now time for us all to direct this where it truelly belongs – to the Police and to our elected representatives. I am setting up a meeting with my MSP (who sadly is SNP) and I will be demanding an explanation for the harrassment and victimisation.
There should be no let up now and I fully expect Celtic, armed with the details of the harrassment to come out fighting for their supporters.
Good first step from the Board – but its only a first step.
sftb,
disagree, I think we should go with as close as possible with the team that beat barca.
Scott cant be 100%, in this game we cannot have players anything less the 100%
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire,
I thought the statement was a clear as could be. Currently under a football banning order. Ie this person had been found guilty. It is now under appeal. I accept that any person convicted of a crime can then become innocent again if they are successful in appealing.
What are the reasons that no banning orders have been successful? Legal technicality? lack of proof? evidence?
SFTB
Aimar has not trained this week. He has been confined to the treatment room. But Benfica also had doubts about Maxi, Garay, Enzo Perez and Carlos Martins. It looks as though these last four will be fit.
ullet and Co
22:21 on 19 November, 2012
‘I know the police have to justify the funding they get from the Edinburgh version of the govt.’
Have you any idea the level of resources that plod devotes to filming the Green Brigade and other fans?
Ernie
In what way? All I meant was you don’t need to point a camera in someones face to record an image.
Think you should stop reading the rules & regs in such detail and realise most people are ejected/arrested at football grounds for anti-social behaviour not using a mobile phone.
HH
Ok.
Somebody is telling porkies.
They could all be telling porkies, but for why ?
Let’s take the board…….
They could be being economical with the truth, for reasons of ,oops, we have been caught with our pants down, and they way they have been shafted over the years by scottish football, they are well used to having their pants down.
Not saying this is the case, just a thought.
The polis…
Ah, the polis, supposed standard bearers of upholding the law, aye, when it suits.
I can well see them telling porkies, who would believe a terrorist loving Fenian over an upstanding law abiding polis man, who indeed.
They are obviously working to an agenda, they are not doing this off their own back, they need to justify the astranomical cost to someone, who would that be then, I wonder ????
Then we have the statements from the GB and GE CSC.
I fully understand they are in fact being harrased at the ground, to and from the ground, at their place of work, and in their homes, and quite rightly they are pissed off.
They are not criminals, well they are in the eyes of the club, due to being arrested, they are subject to banning orders by the club, even though they have been convicted of nothing.
And as yet, I haven’t seen a GB member who has been convicted of any crime in the courts, if I am wrong in this, I am happy to be corrected.
But, there is a but……
Why are they doing it now ?
I am well away from what is happening back in scotland, but I have access to the interweb, so I have a reasonable grasp of what is happening.
They obviously love the club, they obviously have serious issues with the current board, as many of us do, but to come away with this a couple of days prior to what could be one of the biggest games in our recent history baffles me.
I honestly don’t think they have thought this through, it could end in disaster, not just for them, but also for the club as well.
I know we really shouldn’t give a toss what the media say, but they will have a field day, anything to put the club down, it’s manna from heaven for them.
I honestly wish I knew what the answer was, dialogue seems to me to be what’s required, but as some have said, the club don’t want to talk.
Impasse.
I honestly think all are at fault.
The polis are the polis, they won’t talk, but if they do, it will be to their agenda, no compromise.
But the club and the GB really have to get some sort of talks on the go, cos if they don’t………………..
Anyone remember the story of the Celtic fan returning from Belfast and being questioned by special branch about the Green Brigade?
setting free the bears
22:25 on 19 November, 2012
Benfica were very cagey in the first leg, they need a win tomorrow, so may open up.
We counter well, Samaras and Miku did very well against Barca, they could do so tomorrow.
Skoosh could be a big player with his energy to cover space, and importantly to support the attack when we break.
I think we can win, even if we loose, we will go into the last game with a chance.
I strongly fancy Barca to win in Moscow. That means we go into the last game with a chance, at least.
To the detriment of your own civil liberties I think not, if required you can and should protect yourself with video.
setting free the bears
I would have broony and victor in the middle, sammi and joe either side and
watt and miku up front.
NegAnon2 at 22:27
A good post. Well said.
You will already know this, but for the meeting with your MSP you will have to be very well prepared with facts, including numbers and you will have to make it clear where the MSP can find verification and further details. He or she will be reluctant to get involved and will welcome any excuse to dismiss your claims as a rant.
As I say, I’m sure you know that already.
Sftb, whilst I agree that you have to do your homework on your opponent I think we have to play our own game and go out with as many of our best players as poss.
Team section similar to the two barca games will do me.
Mhan alive. Hopefully a game of football will break out soon to distract us.
SwanseaBhoy
Regarding the members of gb that were approached or arrested at home or especially at their place of work.
Mud sticks and these bhoys could face intimidation through no fault of their own.
Id ask some on here how they would feel if their own were put in the same position.
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vespacide
I don’t understand what you mean, if the club decides you can’t take images and they find you are doing so, they can ask you to leave. If you resisted, do you think the cop involved will be thinking civil liberties?
I take it you are referring to my post?
Logged on initially to talk about football, spent the night talking about everything but football. Logging off for the night, hope to-morrow is better.
slightlydisillusionedcsc
That leggo parasite is a real hoot!! But also could be dangerous too!!
Mullet & co
He was found guilty instead of not proven.
Is that the new offensive football bill talking ?
Does this equate with Salmonds fabric of society ?
Are these questions too tough ?
HH
ernie lynch at 22:28
This is an important point in my opinion. Celtic are a source of much-needed cash for the polis, either for billable services or as justification for keeping funding levels as high as possible.
If they make the situation out to be as challenging as possible, with helicopters, cameras, intelligence officers all part of the requirement, and they convince the bean-counters, they will be able to class this wee exercise as a success.
canamalar
Story is that one of the trio Hooper, Ledley and Brown are definitely out tomorrow night.
I fear it may be Hooper (no info, just a guess)
I cannot see Neil throwing Tony Watt into a starting role or giving Lassad his CL debut (he’s only been on the bench in the Benfica match) so it will either be Sammi up on his own or possibly, a Miku and Sammi combo in a 4:4:1:1