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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0-0 not thru 1-1 we are thru. Is that correct?
mullet..,
ok, we’ll ignore all the points I asked you to resplnd to and dollow your tangential meanderings.
A banning order does not require a guilty verdict just a charge, therefore even a trumped up charge is enough to issue a banning order.
Even after charges are dealt with ie, dropped, found not proven and not guilty, people subject to banning orders still have to apply for the banning order to be lifted.
any clearer yet
now on to your next
“What are the reasons that no banning orders have been successful?
Legal technicality? lack of proof? evidence?”
Yes legal techincallies such as not guilty, not proven, lack of proof, charges dropped thats right they are all legal technicallities.
Just watching SSN, the SPL plan, jeez, confusing.
How many meaningless games will that be for the middle league after the double split.
As someone posted earlier, we have the closest league with more teams involved in table topping games, possibly ever. is the league going to improve by reshuffling the cards.
Sort out the refs and start to coach kids how to play football, not kick it wide and get big crosses into the box for the big guy to win.
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/
Any score draw will put us through on head to head
John O Neil
20:21 on 19 November, 2012
Kilbowie Kelt: your comment about “world’s New Nazis” is cruel hyperbole. Must people use this site as a forum for extreme political views? Please consider an alternative venue to make such comments. You invoked the name of God in your post – therefore one assumes you believe all life to be sacred. So why are you not expressing thoughts about the suffering of those who are having rockets directed to their homes? Please consider all the people in this tragedy…..
________________________
John, I will assume that what you are saying is an honest ( although obviously badly skewed) view of what you are witnessing in this act of genocide in Gaza.
I know that we are all conditioned by our experiences & our teaching.
When I see a situation where a powerful & vicious bully strikes at a weak & defenceless neighbour, I have absolutely no sympathy for the perpetrator if his victim strikes back with whatever pitiable tools are at his disposal.
That is what we are witnessing in the mismatch that is being played out before our eyes.
There are obviously thousands of decent Israeli people.
Though obviously not enough of them to influence their blood-thirsty leaders.
For those decent Jewish people I have every sympathy, but my first concern is for the brutalised Palestinians.
Driven from their homes… Surrounded by 8 metres high security walls… Denied normal contact with the rest of the world. Who would not sympathise with these cruelly treated human beings.
‘World’s New Nazis’ ?
I can think of no more accurate description.
May your God go with you.
Bo Aire (few days ago – hope I’ve got the name right),
Compliments on getting it just right (IMO) on Israel /Palestine: your excellent summing-up – that Israel is behaving badly, but not like the Nazis – was just what I wanted to say, but maybe you put it better.
Sftb, if it is your suggestion of a 4-4-1-1 with Sammy and miku who’s yer 4?
Vic, broony, Joe and kc??
Jude
It depends on Spartak-Barcelona, but that game kicks off at 5 pm Celtic Park time and we will know the situation as we kick off in Lisbon.
If Barcelona win, Spartak are out of it, but can still make the Europa League at Benfica’s expense. A 0-0 in Lisbon keeps us three points ahead of Benfica, but level on the head to head scores. Therefore, a victory for them in Barcelona and a defeat for us in the last game would give them a chance to pip us.
A score draw would mean we would be through because we would have the head-to-head advantage over Benfica and no matter what happens in the final fixtures they would not be able to catch us.
If Spartak and Barcelona draw, a 1-1 is still good enough to put us through. We’d be three ahead of Benfica with the head-to-head advantage, and an unassailable four points ahead of Spartak.
If Spartak should beat Barcelona, all bets are off as all four teams will still be in a position to qualify as we kick off in Lisbon.
Tremendously exciting.
Sammi, by himself.. is a No Go.
Ah .. wid plump fur
a
Tony, A. N. Other.. Duo.. wi’ Sammi.. oan the Left Wing..
A.N.Other.. ??
Could be.. eethur..
Hoops, Miku..or Lassad..
Ah hiv nae Preference..
But..
Tony.. Must.. Start.
This is Ma Opinion.. which Ah am entitled tae Vouchsafe…and if Ah no
allowed tae Dae That… then..
How aboot if Ah jist .Suggest it??
Kojo
still .. Laughin’
When we scored a late winner v hins at CP to win 3-2 (1982), I left the Celtic end to get a flyer back to the pub as the celebrations went on.
It was torrential rain and I ran down the stairs to the exit but in a split second two plod who were on duty and obviously raging huns, body checked me and I went flying. I was effn mad and as I lay there looking at them they grinned back as if to get a reaction so they could lift me.
I smiled and winked at the barstewards then limped into town for a good drink.
Hh
I am guessing Neil will go with
Forster
Lustig Ambrose Wilson Matthews
Kayal Wanyama
Brown Ledley (or Mulgrew) Sammi
Miku
Subs to be used :- Commons, Mulgrew (or Ledley) and either Lassad or Watt
TTR,
But only if barca take something in Moscow??
Benfica manager seems to think that we will go 4-3-3 , cant see that myself.
sftb,
on Hooper and Brown, I’m no too bothered, that comes down to my feelings that favs should not automatically be selected if the players who replce them have done what was asked, especially after the results they have been getting.
There will be opportunities, let them earn them.
Geordie Munro
I honestly cant see spartak taking anything from their two games.
SFTB
Agree with your selection almost….Charlie in for set piece delivery Brown if he is fit for Kayal.
1-1 for me….
The timrieper,
I hope yer right.
Hins =huns
My Dear,Dear,Dear Kojo….
Our Cannonball Kid Must Play From The Start Tomorrow…..
Very FIRST Name On The Team-Sheet…
With Samaras On The Left Flank….
And Matthews & Lustig Pushing On From Fullback Position…..
We Will Murder Them With Pace And Power….
So ….Does Oor Kid Play The Linwood Striker…?
Or Does He Have Either The Girnin’ Hooper/Miku/ Lassad Alongside Him…?
That Will Become Clearer When We See Our Injury List…..
Commons Did Not Look Fit From The Outset On Saturday…..
So He Will Be No Great Loss When We Have McGeoch And Brown Available….
I Would Rather See Oor Charlie Back In Central Defence….
Which Is His Best Position…..
And We Still Have Him Available For Free Kicks….
And,Of Course….Deadly Joe Restored To Midfield…..
This Is A Vital Match For The Continuing Development Of Our Club…..
We Will Certainly Concede Goals….
So We Must Ensure That We Score More..
Let’s See Some ‘British-Grit’ In Keeping With The Spirit Of Our Hardy Island Forebears….
If NL Doesn’t Play MegaWatt From The Start…
And We Lose…..
He Should Get His Jotters…!
There Is No Sense Keeping Him As A Second Half Sub…..
Injuries And Bookings Will Confound The Best-Laid Plans…..
Especially When You Have A Referee From Bankrupt Hungary…..
Right ?
My team would be:
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Forster :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lustig :::::::::::::::: Ambrose :::::::::::::::::::::: Wilson :::::::::::::::: Ledley
Brown :::::::::::::: Wanyama ::::::::::::::::::::: Mulgrew ::::::::::: Samaras
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Watt ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Miku :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Thought Miku showed in the last encounter he knows how to deal with Benfica’s pressing game – he played intelligently, drawing a lot of fouls. Vic and Charlie in midfield means we win more balls in the air, and Samaras is the ingredient we were missing last time. He also knows how to deal with opposition who press the ball.
Luisão will play his first game of the CL campaign against us. He got a two-month ban for hitting a German referee during a friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf. He has missed eleven league games as well as the four CL ones so far.
He will be rusty, but he is a good bit bigger than Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba.
Doc
Sort out the refs….never a truer word said.
But I have yet to hear it from anyone in the msm, it’s a taboo subject.
I watch a fair bit of football from St America, a few years ago, they were as dirty footballers as I have ever seen, not now, they have realised that if they clean up their act and play football they way it should be played, they have a chance of glory.
Spain were in the same boat as them, they have decided that footballers allowed to play football, will win trophys, they have been vindicated that they were indeed correct to change from the brutal, cynical footballers they were.
When you hear the pundits in scotland, all you hear is a right good blood and snotter game, it’s a mans game, hard but fair, aye, if it’s our players on the recieving end.
They honestly disgust me, they have no desire to help the game in scotland, the only desire is to help the huns, who have always been cloggers, never had a football team to think of, ever.
The ironic thing is, if they decided tomorrow that they wanted to play football, they game would change overnight.
Funny that, so it is.
KK @ 22.44,
You’ve made some good posts: your latest isn’t one of them.
I’m fully with you in criticising Israel’s behaviour, but if you can’t think of a more accurate description than “world’s new Nazis”, you need to learn some more history: the Nazis aimed to exterminate a whole people, whereas the Israelis – tho’ all-too-ready to kill – have no such intention.
Geordie Munro
Barca will go for it, and spartak are in a bad way, when they get to
celtic park they will be there for the taking. Then arsenal in the next
round, unfinished business there. :-)
Ttr,
I like your way of thinking.
I think the fact spartak lead barca in Spain with minutes to go, plastic pitch
Ffs. Posted too quick.
Plastic pitch, minus two, and barca dont need to win to qualify, are all playing on my mind
Awe Naw,
The answers to your questions
Is that the new offensive football bill talking ? Don’t know what you mean.
Does this equate with Salmonds fabric of society ? If I get into that even under a blog name I fear the sack.
Are these questions too tough ? No
Invercelt,
did you read the statement from sharon’s son, that is exactly what many powerful Isreali’s want, wipe Palistinaian ‘s out, Hiroshema was hid preferred example.
Can you answer me one question, are hamas a terrorist organisation
Ta for the info Bhoys. Ill go 4 nil Hoops!!
Invercelt
22:58 on 19 November, 2012.
I have no doubt that Israel would have the exact same ‘final solution’ if it did not realise that doing so would be committing suicide.
When the toilets got smashed up on the huns last visit there were a couple of plods looking on but doing nothing. But wasnt there also supposed to have been a couple of their off-duty mates actually taking part in the orgy of vandalisim?
Not 100% sure as I never heard anything about them being up in court.
Anyway just another example of the impartiality that we are up against.
Also scores of seats being smashed in full veiw of the police observation post.
TET, it something we’ve talked about a couple of times.
It’s not about bias(not always), it’s that attitude of agricultural football. The same reason Aberdeen grew the grass longer for our visit, bring the skill level down, even out the competition. Two or three tackles from Aberdeen players were red or yellow card offences, not even a foul, the Hearts v Motherwell? Game, the referee was allowing two footed tackles, tackles from behind. If they sort that out we will have a better product, or a better game of football to you and me.
I was right behind Tommy Gemmell’s shot in 1969 (I think), never seen a ball hit so hard, since then perfect symmetry with results, us at home = them away.
So tomorrow I think this will continue, 0 – 0 in Lisbon will do for me.
Obviously he never read it
Silverlight Plug-In has crashed.
Ive been getting that recently at the top of my screen. Emdae help?
Geordie Munro
Raised those points with zysbek but he said spartak are a team in
disarray, fans not happy, manager not happy, players not happy.
Aplace in the last 16 is looking good.
Up over the goal.
Mathews at left back for me.hh
My dear,dear,dear,friend.. The Singing Detective..
Hiya.. Palomine?
Great tae see ye oanboard.. wi
Ma Suggestion..
Yep.. Tony, is.. again.. Ah vouchsafe..or..suggest.. Take Yer Pick..
No only a First Team Player..
He is a First Namer oan the Team Sheet.. alang wi.. Darlin’ Charley..and Bro Forster..and Mr. Wilson.. and Master Mathews..and the fellow.. whit’s his Name.??
Oh Aye.. Victor…
and Master Forrest..
as fur the Rest.. It Is awe the same tae Me.. who.. Neil Picks.. except..
Ah widnae Dream o Playing.. Eether…
Commons or…. Joe Ledley, agin the Benfica..
But.. that’s Only Ma Opinion… suggested or otherwise..
Ah wid Play..
Tony, wi’ a PARTNER agin the Bennies…
This is No a Match ..fur the “Lonely Linwood Striker”
Fur…
Ah widnae Play a Defensive..Hit ’em oan the Break kinda Game.. agin the Portuguese..as Ah wid hiv done.. Agin the Magnificent .. Barca..
‘
Na..
Ah believe that we kin stand ..
Toe tae Toe.. agin the Portuguese…
and Play oor Usual.. Two Man Strike Team…
Looking forward tae the game..
and
If ye ur Interested…
Alyss… Predicts …
“It’s A Bhoy!
according, tae the Latest.. Interpretation o’ her… Predo… by the Boys at
Bletchley Park.
Nice chatting,pally..
Kojo
Yer pal…who likes ye mair AND mairer..
Still, Laughin’
‘