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.
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Good morning fellow Celts
So the start of yet another CL day – anticipation of good things -an elixir
Benfica are worthy opponents and we need to be at our best to cope with them. Right now our best performances indicate we can win this game 2-1 …however, with the Eagles Chasing the win I have gone 3-1 Celts @ 66-1
Lots of attention on Victor after Barca game so venture Big Efe at 12-1 to score anytime.
C’mon you bhoys in Green!
greenjedi
It was brought up at the AGM, the board said we should write down examples of harrassment and and they will investigate, same as the statement.
The trust wrote to them last season and earlier this season. I am not aware of any reply from Celtic so far. I also know of other people who have written independantly and who have not recieved a reply.
I also asked yesterday how do the police manage to namecheck individual fans entering section 111,and at away games, if not from allocated seat numbers held by the club matched to the constant filming of section 111?
monteblanco
cheers for the info about the agm, i was working and couldn’t be there.
The trust (imo)deliberatly didn’t say whether they had a reply or not, i think they should clarify that asap.
Regarding how the police get names from who’s sitting on seatsd etc im sure the club have little wiggle room in not giving them the names. but why do the gb not just all swap seats in different rows?
Good morning CQN
Good luck to the Bhoys tonight
Come on you Bhoys in green Glasgow’s Green and white
Keep the Faith
Hail Hail
greenjedi
09:38 on 20 November, 2012
‘Regarding how the police get names from who’s sitting on seatsd etc im sure the club have little wiggle room in not giving them the names. but why do the gb not just all swap seats in different rows?’
That would breach stadium regulations and would in itself leave them open to being ejected from the stadium.
Are you advocating that fans ignore stadium regulations?
Right off to do some work
3 points Celtic, obrigado
ernie
there are some regulations that deserve to be ignored and indeed the ticket office have suggested that people swap seats to let family groups and friends sit together in the past to myself and friends
There is a brilliant campaign on twitter for ITV to donate £10k to the Goodchild Foundation should Celtic qualify tonight, by way of apology to the “goodbye Celtic” tweet.
If they ever do bring back terrecings are they going to paint a print of your feet in a given spot from which you can not move?
greenjedi
09:52 on 20 November, 2012
‘ernie
there are some regulations that deserve to be ignored and indeed the ticket office have suggested that people swap seats to let family groups and friends sit together in the past to myself and friends’
Well between that and Tony Hamilton urging us all to stand for the 125 year TIFO I’m beginning to think that Celtic Park is ascending into anarchism with no respect for rules and regulations whatsoever.
Ritchie,
Thanks for the heads up on the great post from Estadio.
Dearly love reading them and this one was no exception!
HH
/Bishop B
Guys,
Keys and Gray live from Lisbon on Talksport 10am
Bertie was supposed to be on but apparently he’s not too well.
Nae work the day then!
The Guardian
Celtic reckon star finding Victor Wanyama is worth a fortune
The Kenyan international, bought by the Glasgow club for £900,000, is now valued at £25m by manager Neil Lennon
The Kenyan international Victor Wanyama is rated as ‘world class’ by Celtic’s manager, Neil Lennon. Photograph: David Moir/Reuters
Victor Wanyama was the wide-eyed, almost awestruck television interviewee in the immediate aftermath of Celtic’s win over Barcelona. Earlier he had scored a goal and outshone Alex Song, Barça’s player in a similar midfield role, in showing the wider world that maybe, just maybe, Neil Lennon was correct to place such a lofty value on Wanyama.
Eyebrows were raised when Lennon claimed Wanyama, a player bought by Celtic for £900,000 from Belgian football last year, is now worth £25m. The Scottish champions are under no pressure to sell any squad member, but Wanyama’s string of high-level displays against foreign opposition only endorse the sentiment that it’s just a matter of time before he exits Glasgow. On Tuesday evening in Lisbon’s Estádio da Luz, Wanyama will be afforded his latest round of intense, wider focus.
Already, the least Celtic can expect in such a scenario is 10 times their investment. Gone are the days when Celtic’s followers can take umbrage at the prospect of players using their team as a platform to England. By the board’s own admission, that is a modern-day, economic reality.
Wanyama, born in Kenya but who intriguingly played youth football in Sweden, is now a hot property, of that there is no doubt. Larger clubs from across Europe, including Barcelona, monitored his progress during relative obscurity at AC Beerschot without making the same formal move of Celtic after Lennon acted instantly when provided with match footage. Initially, Wanyama was regarded as a long-term project by Lennon; the combination of midfield injuries and the youngster’s instantly impressive first-team form altered that dynamic.
Now Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City are routinely quoted with more than a passing interest in the Kenyan, who ensured instant acclaim from the Celtic support by choosing the squad number 67, in recognition of the club’s celebrated, European Cup-winning Lisbon Lions of that year.
Victor Mugabe Wanyama’s family sporting credentials are beyond dispute. He is the brother of McDonald Mariga, the Internazionale midfielder currently on loan at Parma, and of Mercy, a female basketball player. The trio’s other two siblings play in the top league in their native Kenya, while their father, Noah Wanyama, was himself a footballer. Victor Wanyama made his Kenya international debut at 15; this year, he is on the shortlist for the country’s sports personality of the year award.
The 21-year-old has been deployed on occasion at centre-back by Celtic but is most comfortable in the centre of midfield. He combines a mobile but physically imposing approach with strong tackling, decent distribution and a fearsome, if under-used, shot. In emphasising his all-round game, Wanyama has a wonderful capability to glide past opponents. His attitude is also praised by everyone who has worked with him in Scotland.
Lennon has already described Wanyama as “world class”, the Celtic manager adding: “He’s a player who has progressed in physical presence and his technical ability on the ball is excellent. I think he is a wonderful talent and he can only get better.”
Yet with youth also comes inconsistency. Just four days after seeing off Barcelona, Wanyama toiled as Celtic were held at home by St Johnstone. Domestically, if forgivably, that wasn’t an isolated Wanyama display.
Celtic hold Wanyama under contract until 2015, but already there have been agent-led noises about the midfielder seeking a bigger platform and rejecting the offer of a wage improvement. Bargaining tactic No1 from the Wanyama camp, of course, will be that if Celtic value the Nairobi-born man so highly they should pay him accordingly. Given the clear mutual benefit of Wanyama’s arrival in Scotland, it would be sad if he exits on anything other than favourable terms.
All of which raises the question over what monetary value Celtic can legitimately look to collect when Wanyama is inevitable coaxed towards bigger things. It would rank as a major shock if Lennon’s figure is met, a matter which is more related to Wanyama’s present working environment than his level of talent.
Craig Gordon and Alan Hutton were coaxed to England from Hearts and Rangers respectively for close to £10m, with such fees for cross-border moves rare rather than the rule. Celtic sold Aiden McGeady to Spartak Moscow for a similar amount, even if the riches at the disposal of Russian clubs renders it difficult to use the Republic of Ireland player as a comparison.
Still, Wanyama’s fee will also depend on which clubs follow through with moves to sign him. A bidding war, clearly, would benefit the selling club, as would Wanyama continuing his European prominence against Benfica and in a Celtic team which has solid hopes of progressing to the Champions League’s knockout phase.
Such qualification is Wanyama’s most immediate aim. His future already looks well capable of taking care of itself.
Our friends on RM have reached a new low.
pod I,
thx for that:)
Pod I-Aye somebody at Talksport with a sense of humour,sending Andy Gray to Lisbon.Saying he got a hard time yesterday,but all good natured obviously.Murdo on after 12.
joe_joe_john_bobby_teddy-Can that be possible? Do share.HH
There’s a club statement on the official website regarding the Green Brigade situation.
Sorry if this has already been discussed to death but just wanted to get something off my chest regarding Celtic’s statement last night.
The club question the motive of whomever spread the unfounded allegation raised by Govan Emerald CSC. They do not dispute it was said to the person involved, they question the motives of the informant.
Think about it, only in the movies do the baddies give a full run down of their dastardly plan for world domination to the hero as he is being prepared to die in a convoluted and overly elaborate fashion.
Why would a cop blurt out the rationale behind the actions against the Green Brigade, unprompted by any form of pressure or legal compulsion?
Celtic have not denied that there may be harassment, bear with me as they cannot make unfounded allegations without bring legal ramifications, they have denied having any part in instigating or aiding the harassment.
Back to lurking and HAIL HAIL for tonight.
Top of the morning to you all from a grey day in Fife.
Excitement mounting as the game draws near. I have doubts that we can beat Benfica tonight but hope that we can.
However my worry is that Spartak can get a result in Moscow (I have a tenner on the draw) and it could be that our last game at home will see us take on a Spartak side with everything to play for.
Come on you bhoys in Green.
H.H.
joe_joe_john_bobby_teddy
10:06 on
20 November, 2012
In what way?
joe_joe_john_bobby_teddy
10:06 on 20 November, 2012
‘Our friends on RM have reached a new low.’
Indeed.
The sevco huns, anti Semitic Zionism in all its glory.
Apparently the Benfica ground known locally as the Cathedral of Light…
Owen
I wasn’t going to comment on GB today, but you have stated the bleedin obvious when you say that Celtic haven’t denied the harassment.
How could Celtic have denied this? The world and his dog know there is harassment of Celtic supporters. Twas ever thus and recent events make it more likely to happen.
Big Nan
Sorry to drag the subject up again. That was my point Celtic cannot come out and say that our supporters are being harassed without irrefutable proof, neither can they claim that no such harassment has taken place because, as you say its plain to everyone it is happening but unprovable (if that is even a real word).
My point was that some on here last night slagged Celtic for not coming out and backing the Green Brigade and denouncing Strathclyde Police and their tactics.
Definitely last word on the matter. Will miss the Green Brigade on Saturday, bringing my wee girl (7) to her first game on Saturday ;-(
Is the game on cooncil telly anywhere tonight ?
Henrik’s Sombrero,
Aye, in Portugal.
Henriks sombrero,
Nope. Sky only.
Looks like it’s the local boozer with a dodgy dish for you.
Shame;)
Absolutely outstanding – copied and pasted for those who haven’t scrolled back. This deserves as big an audience possible.
Estadio
01:13 on
20 November, 2012
While I’m trying to find my Hypnogogia thing , here’s a wee thought and cheerio to an old friend…….
Farewell to …….
Farewell to the club deck, the Govan stand too,
The Copeland road’s silent, the blue order blue
Farewell Mister Murray, just turn off the light
Yer epitaph written in Green Orange and White.
Farewell to your five stars, yer blue white and red
Yer queen has disowned ye, declared that yer dead
Farewell to yer bouncy, Farewell, to yer sash
Yer Derry’s walls’ crumbled, Farewell to yer cash
Farewell Tina Turner, you were never the best
You cried ‘no surrender’ but failed every test
Farewell marble staircase, Farewell Mr Struth
Your last breath and whisper …..‘Farewell to truth’.
Hail Hail
Estadio
Patrick Barclay talking up the Celtic fans on Talksport.
HS
It’s on TV3 here in Ireland with Big Bad John in studio, why would you think a Scottish channel would show a match of their Champions in the UCL when they could be showing some 4th tier tribute act!!
Good to see so many match day comments focusing on the match …
Twitchtwitchtwitchcsc
Some days ate better than others ..in Estadio nacional with oldtim ..wTching the players train ..special place special team hh
Does anyone else think that 67 might be more of a spectre haunting Celtic teams, a weight on their shoulders, rather than a source of inspiration?
Looks like old internet for me then. Got training on until about 7.45 then speeding back home to catch game.
saltires en sevilla-Ditto.HH.
Ernie
Good point – may have overshadowed some squads
Methinks current crop have enough confidence in their own ability to be suitably inspired
Ernie-I thought the same re visiting the Stadium,the enormity of what the players might think is on their shoulders ,might be a wee bit much mainly due to the youth we have in the team.I hope I am wrong obviously.