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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878 Comments

  1. Good to see you reverting to type, Mynah.

     

     

    Tell us that good one about ‘bigger & better bombs’.

     

     

    That was one of your best.

  2. canamalar

     

     

    Not quite, the Egyptians on their own don’t control the border, the tunnels originate in Egypt, hence the supplies getting in, without that blind eye, I would fear for the Palestinians.

  3. macanbheatha

     

     

     

    23:48 on

     

     

    19 November, 2012

     

     

    It was in reference to the diversity of posts that I was attempting to catch up with in one sitting.

     

     

    No offence was intended and if you were to look closely at the pictures of the statement held up by the Celtic supporters at Pittodrie on Saturday you’ll see me right in the middle.

     

     

    I’m very aware of the terror being inflicted on the innocents of Palestine just now.

  4. Ellboy:

     

    Not too sure but I wouldn’t recommend the application of murderous terror on your neighbours and the forcible annexation of their land as a starting point…

  5. Ellboy - I am Neil Lennon, YNWA. on

    neil canamalar lennon hunskelper extrordinaire

     

     

    I could answer you but this is a football forum and not the place for such a long drawn out discussion. However I will say that I honestly don’t see the point in going back 40-50 years, as looking back is not going to solve the here and now.

     

     

    Until attitudes change on both sides then history will just continue to repeat itself. Of course that is until the radicals calling for the destruction of a state get there hands on more destructive weaponry.

  6. Maith thú a chara ,It was the fact I had just watched AT’s news report a few mins ago so was still a bit raw .

     

    Tetchycsc

  7. Ellboy - I am Neil Lennon, YNWA. on

    neil canamalar lennon hunskelper extrordinaire

     

     

    Why is having freedom of movement between Gaza and Egypt, deemed ethnic cleansing?

  8. My dear,dear,dear,friend.. Ellbhoy

     

     

    Stick tae yer Point…

     

     

    Sure, ye wulll get a few.. bad .. Reviews…

     

     

    that’s Natural…

     

     

    Howevahh…

     

     

    If ye believe that You are Correct in yer Thinking..

     

     

     

    Then.. That is awe that Coonts…in YOUR HOOSE.

     

     

    Right?

     

     

    Damn Right.

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Yer pal.. who thinks Ye ur some kinda .. Mensch.

     

     

    Still..Laughin’

  9. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    Ellbhoy,

     

    pretty much what I expected, refuse to answer my points bacuse I’m not following your agenda, however we dont need to go back 40, 50 or 60 years to understand you support the ethnic cleansing of Palistinaians from their own land by force, the statement you made makes that crystal clear, and the whataboutery stinks to high heaven.

     

    Only justice will solve it,

     

    Everyone who who suggests change in attitude support Isreal, why is that

  10. Ellboy – I suggest you google ‘Irgun King Davi Hotel’ – as far as I’m aware still the worst single terrorist attack against a specifically British target. Under the direction a future Israeli PM.

     

     

    Why is the Israeli Govt so heavy on terrorist action? They know from direct experience that it’s a path to power.

     

     

    At the same time, we should remember that Israeli’s are not the Israeli Govt and many don’t even support it. While it’s a tiny fraction of the horrendous death toll among the Palestinians, innocent Israelis have been killed.

  11. Ellboy - I am Neil Lennon, YNWA. on

    I’ll leave it there as after all this is a football blog and we have an important game to negotiate tomorrow night. Not sure what result in Moscow suits us best but would be fantastic too see us end Benfica’s involvement in Lisbon.

     

     

    Hail Hail!

  12. Ellboy,

     

     

    ……………. However I will say that I honestly don’t see the point in going back 40-50 years, as looking back is not going to solve the here and now.

     

    _______________________

     

     

    I think I see your point.

     

     

    So, how do you justify the Israelis going back TWO THOUSAND YEARS to establish a claim on Palestine ?

  13. Gotta Go

     

     

    Good Night Scotland

     

    Good Night Ireland

     

    Good Night Wales

     

    Good Night England

     

    Good Night Canada

     

    Good Night New Zealand

     

    Good Night Australia

     

     

    and

     

     

    Good Night.. John O’Neill.. wherever You are..

     

     

    Kojo

     

     

    Still Laughin’..

     

     

    and

     

     

    Celtic wull dae A Number oan the Bennies… the Morra..

     

     

    No Doot. Aboot.. that.

  14. Ellboy - I am Neil Lennon, YNWA. on

    neil canamalar lennon hunskelper extrordinaire

     

     

    Sorry mate but I’m not going to play your game as it’s not comparable.

     

     

    You may think it is but in reality it just isn’t as If you think this threat will stop at Israel then you’re very much mistaken.

     

     

    Again not wanting to hijack CQN so will leave it there.

  15. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    Ellbhoy,

     

    So if they dont want shot or bombed in their bed they should just move on, sleekit and disingenous.

     

     

    Freedom od movement should also include freedom to stay, how about this, freedom to live on the land they own the title deeds to.

     

    Get bummer broon over to Isreal to demand to see the title deeds of the Isreali settlers.

  16. Al-qaeda is Arabic for ‘The Foundation’. It was a term coined by The CIA to describe a loose affiliation of like minded Islamic Fundamentalist and militant Jihadist groups opposed to the excesses of The West, exemplified by Israel, The Great Satan ( The USA ) and The Little Satan ( The UKplc ). No one calls themselves Al-qaeda. It’s just a catchall term : easyspeak for the msm and its presstitutes.

     

    Hamas? Voted for overwhelmingly by The Palestinians ; it also happens to model itself on a political group not a million miles from here. (Not my business to write lengthily about that on here.)

     

    There is so much disinfo, biased msm reporting, dirty tricks and downright lies going the rounds that the actual terrible suffering of the citizens of Gaza continues apace, while their greedy pampered Zionist neighbours continue pretending that they are civilised. They’re not: they are wealthy barbarians with sophisticated war tech and nuclear weapons.

     

    Self regarding, preening, strutting savage animals.

     

    And Palestinians are a Semitic people too, lest we forget.

  17. Ellboy

     

     

    Not a dig, but I bet you believe that the 9-11 tragedy was perpetrated by Muslims.

     

     

    I bet you haven’t even contemplated that they done it to their own people.

  18. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    Ellboy..,

     

    I know your not going to play my game, in fact you cant even play your own game, every point you’ve made has been destroyed, totally and utterly destroyed and that must irk.

     

    Now I’m sure there are plenty of kiddies sites were your gibberish might be taken as wisdom but certainly not here where the growed ups play, run along to yer bed now its getting late.

  19. So this is how it’s going to pan out

     

    Benfica will take an early lead through a dodgy (if JC is to be believed ) penalty

     

    Celtic will make there keeper work like he’s never done before then we will have 20 yard thunderbolt from Mikael followed by tap in from Tony.

     

    2-1 to the good ghuys.

     

    Easy peasy

     

    Lisbonlions2csc

  20. The board’s statment is carefully worded and crafted, but broadly to be welcomed.

     

    But I, and I’m sure many others too, would welcome clarification on how and why the police were allowed into the ground to record and observe perfectly honest and legitimate fans organising a tifo way before kick-off? How does that in any way relate to H&S, crowd safety or public order?

  21. Benfica H-T Celtic F-T 50/1

     

    What’s not tolike

     

    Oíche mhaith gach duine (apart from Dr Stangelove)

  22. macanbheatha

     

     

    Going a goal behind won’t phase the bhoys.

     

     

    I admit, I would rather we went a goal ahead mind you, but I don’t have any feeling either way about the game.

     

     

    All the other games I felt either on the + or -, this one, really can’t say as yet, the morra will be different tho.

     

     

    What will be will be.

     

     

    HH

  23. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    No the tragedy is, a well armed country is slaughtering innocent civilians in their beds

  24. Ellboy

     

     

    You think it’s nonsence then.

     

     

    I am glad I have an open mind that I don’t believe all the garbage they feed me.

     

     

    Spend an hour of your life on youtube and see for yourself, go on treat your mind, you never know, you might just be surprised, naw, I doubt it, too entrenched.

     

     

    It’s all about the money, and the power, and the money and the power.

  25. From Celtic FC ‘s own official website :

     

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

     

    Okay. I’ve raised a matter in my last post. They scan the internet. So I sincerely hope they give it their ‘full attention’.

  26. Wow!

     

     

    Tonight we are playing a game that may well be fulcrum to achieving magic!

     

     

    I lost 25% of my brain almost a year ago. The history, memories, laughter, tears and something that was in that quarter of a brain (that I obviously now forget) are some of the things that keep me holding on to a reality that maybe is only a figment of a shadow of the past.

     

     

    Palestine and Israel, will eventually sit down and weep over the callous disregard for humanity that is the entry card into ‘civilised society’.

     

     

    So many other conflicts are the same. I wish I had a magic wand to make two factions that both believe they are right, see that there are flaws that make them equally wrong.

     

     

    Later today? Now there’s a magic story of Jason and the quest for a place in the last sixteen!

     

     

    And if you aren’t yet convinced of just how daft I am …here we go….

     

     

    Far from the hustle, the bustle, the tribulations of life,

     

    Far from the rages and doubts, the confusion and strife

     

    Wrapped in a blanket of dreams, jumping over the moon

     

    While the little dog laughs

     

    Then barks at the cow…..

     

    “Are you some sort of loon?”

     

     

    My brain is frazzled. Time to convalesce in a day of decadent day dreams, reading, writing, and letting my mind do what it does best, wander through the labyrinth of possibilities that lie on the edge of reality and try and make sense of a my world as it searches for lost bits of my imagination.

     

     

    I’ll listen to music, sing, dance, catch up on some TV that I’ve missed. I’ll write a poem or two, scribble a tale of the occult, of mystery, of even murder and perhaps love. I will pluck a few strings, chords and arpeggios on my guitar and marvel at the magic of music!

     

     

    I’ll laugh and cry, whisper and curse!

     

     

    Then perhaps as the Glasgow day drifts into a silent twilight, I’ll uncork a bottle of red and toast all the good things in life and pray that all the bad evaporates like rain on hot summer’s day.

     

     

    Finally I’ll go to sleep to unravel another enigma of my mind while the spectre of my dreams snarls at my soul.

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    Estadio

  27. THE EXILED TIM – 00:28 on 20 November, 2012

     

     

    I don’t think they did to themselves. I think they were arrogant and stupid enough to believe it couldn’t happen to them, and then evil enough to capitalise on it when it did.

  28. Just before I retire.

     

     

    Three things.

     

     

    Do I believe man landed on the moon……..NO

     

     

    Do I believe that America blew up the twin towers…….YES

     

     

    Do I believe that scottish referees are bias against Celtic…..YES

     

     

    Aye, I may well me unhinged, but I can sleep at night.

     

     

    Take care and god bless Timland.

     

     

    HH

  29. miki67 – 00:29 on 20 November, 2012

     

     

    If you’re serious ask them properly in writing.

     

     

    I wouldn’t take them seriously on any level if they start responding to posts on internet message boards.