Outrageous results, and a 4-5 win is an outrageous result, could be seen as reason for encouragement by future opponents, but Barcelona played the majority of the game against Deportivo with 10 men, scored an own goal, conceded from a penalty and their keeper made a mistake for another, yet they still scored five goals and won the game.
That is formidable form.
On Tuesday evening Celtic face one of the greatest teams in history but there is reason for confidence. We have been to the Camp Nou three times in the last decade, a 0-0 draw in 2004 was enough to eliminate the Catalans from Europe. Later in 2004 we recorded our only away point in the Champions League, prior to beating Spartak Moscow in the last game, and we lost there to a single goal four years later.
Each Barcelona side was vastly more talented but they found each Celtic team a handful.
Any team which takes a point or more from Barca this season will have to man the barricades for long stretches of each game, will have to show enormous concentration and discipline, and take whatever luck is going. If Celtic do this, they will have one inherent advantage over the home team on Tuesday.
There will be changes in the starting 11 for both teams but a cursory look at yesterday’s starting line ups is educational. Eight out of Barca’s 10 outfield players were under six foot, six of them (Jordi Alba, Iniesta, Mascherano, Messi, Montoya and Villa) three or four inches below. Celtic’s smallest player, Gary Hooper, is only two inches below.
Seven Celts were six foot or higher. Ambrose, Wilson and Mulgrew are all 6’3”, taller than anyone in the Barca team, while non-starters, Lustig and Samaras, are 6’3” and 6’4” respectively. Celtic’s outfield players were, on average, more than three inches taller than their Barcelona counterparts.
Even the Barcelona keeper, Valdes, at 6’0”, is a bit on the short side, seven inches below Fraser Forster.
Height doesn’t make you a better player, or collectively, a better team, but it does instil an enormous advantage at set pieces. Celtic must defend when necessary but any free kick inside the Barcelona half is an opportunity to drop a ball onto an elevated Celtic head inside the box.
Play to your strengths, Celtic. Keep strategy simple, and your probability of taking something on Tuesday will increase significantly. You have everything to play for.
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Awe_Naw, if you’re about, I have a question for you, it is more of a public health concern rather than a mere moral or ethical issue… Do zombies really have rabies?
Reading and loving all the analysis on how to beat, or at least stop Barca.
I think I’ve come up with a hybrid of all these theories that may just work.
Man mark everybody. If you see your teammate lose his man then assist by bringing down the Barca man who has lost him. That will result in a free kick. On average you should get two chances at that before a booking. Rotate the men you are marking to lessen the likelihood of a further booking to an already booked player.
This should use up an hour.
During that hour have the subs surreptitiously remove all the balls in the multi-ball system. This is a key element of the plan.
On 60 minutes with the score at 0-0, 10 (possibly 11) men on yellow cards, punt it high into the stand and away fans. The fans become the 12th man by retaining the only remaining ball. Player who punted it then feigns injury in the act of the punt, but refuses treatment and hobbles back to feet. No injury time.
Once in stoppage time launch a high ball and have one of the subs let off a massive klaxon behind the Barca goal. Chaos. Sneak it over the line. Feign ear injury from klaxon and point at away fans.
Before dismissing it has anything so anti-football ever been tried?
Well, actually……..
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2007/oct/25/newsstory.championsleague
Dontbrattbakkinanger
I saw “A Flux of Pink Indians” at the Ole Doune Castle and what an enriching life experience it was too!!
bournesouprecipe:
I’m eating…
First post here, but I’m a long-term skimmer.
My thanks to admin for the seven password resets I received today. I only wish I could remember what occasional pearls of wisdom I’ve been minded to share since the RTC blog drew its curtain down.
For this week, all week, my expectations are low but my hopes are high.
Make us proud, one more time, Celtic
C’mon the Celts
Thought I would share a laugh I had this morning with you…….received a call from the hospital offering me a cancelled appointment for tomorrow. (Opthalmologist ….eye floaters, whatever they are ?….LOL)……..anyway, she said I couldn’t drive afterwards since my vision will be blurred…….straight away, without thinking (or blinking) ….”will I be able to watch the Celtic game..??” ……silent pause…then, “yes”…..
I cannot be accused of getting my priorities wrong…..!!!!!!!!!!
Dylan and Lassad both injured and miss the trip.
79caps
Bad news for both bhoys.
Starry
I will send on my best Glockenspiel dance beats later on
Thanks
Shame. Thought Lassad brought a lot to the team on Saturday
GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL FAMINE MEMORIAL
The Rangers Supporters Assembly expressed their support for the decision by Glasgow City Council to form a working group to consider a proposal to erect a Famine Memorial in recognition of the great contribution made by the city in welcoming the victims of famine.
President Andy Kerr said “We wholeheartedly express our support for the proposed Famine Memori
al in Glasgow and the recent Glasgow City Council decision to give their backing to the project should be applauded. We would like to take this opportunity not just to express our support in words – we also undertake to make a donation towards the cost of the memorial.
The Irish Famine was a terrible tragedy for the whole of that island and also had an effect in the north of Scotland. It did not discriminate on the grounds of gender, age or religion and we think it is absolutely fitting that a memorial remembers those who suffered as a result.
Rangers have a large and loyal following from Northern Ireland and many of their ancestors were affected by the famine. Irish migration to the city has helped to shape it and we hope that the memorial will serve not only as a reminder of the migration caused by the famine –
and the welcome shown to those who settled in Scotland as a result – but also as recognition of wider Irish migration to the city.
This memorial will have particular relevance to our fans in Ulster and “Rangers ‘Til I Die Northern Ireland (RTIDNI)” have given their full backing to the project.
This memorial has the chance to represent the entire Irish community in Glasgow and we hope that is what it will do. Details of a donation from the Rangers fans will be made available once Glasgow City Council forms their working group and details of the proposed memorial are released.”
A Flux of Pink Indians ?
I found one of their LPs in a C of S Charity shop . Woman behind the counter was a posh version of Mavis from Corrie —
The title ————- The – – – – – – – – – – – – Treat Us Like – – – – – -.
And indeed they do .
Grey and grotty in Barcelona . —– Off to trawl through 6 vinyl stores.
On Betfair there are some seriously ridiculous prices available
Kelvin Wilson first goal scorer 350/1, at that price I’m in- still £2 available.
Izzy 260/1- £5 available.
My team to beat barca
Foster
Matthews. Wilson. Rogne Izzy
Vic. Charlie. Efe.
Kayal. Brown. Ledley. Forrest
Sammi
Hooper. Stokes. Watt.
Goldstar
I notice that kw very rarely goes up for corners and fks
Kit
You’ve Awe Naw’d that surely!!
yorkbhoy
16 players?
Best wishes to all in Barca..
It may be worth getting the Spanish translation for
” I was doin’ the Ambrose, that’s why my arm is in a funny position and 3 pieces!!”
HH
Starry
loving your work
Arthur Lee… Hmmm maybe stick Paddy on just to make sure….
yorkbhoy
With that formation we may just achieve 50% possession!!
yorkbhoy
Zaluska for Stokes?
RTC and Britney tweeting at each other!!
Graham Spiers @GrahamSpiers
For those in doubt: the SFA have legal contingencies in place if any substantial Charles Green/Craig Whyte link emerges at Rangers.
Expand
4m Rangers Tax-Case @rangerstaxcase
@GrahamSpiers Now you have my interest. I don’t suppose you can share details & grounds for suspicion?
Yorkbhoy
I like that team but figure that even though barca play as if they have an extra man ( or two ) one of the 6 officials might notice we have 16 hoops on the park
But
Has anyone ever thought of sticking an extra one or two celts onto the park … Wearing barcelona strips ;)
Gerard Piqué. Definitely not playing tomorrow, reports in El Mundo Deportivo say.
Dick Byrne is renowned as an innovative progressive rock Flautist, but few people realise that his early career was greatly influenced by the silent flute techniques popular in Georgian period Edinburgh.
The Spirit of Arthur Lee
I await with anticipation in my newly scrubbed lederhosen!
paulsatim
Isn’t Craig Whyte saying he introduced Green to Duff and Phelps substantial enough proof?
Hamiltontim:
Cross myself and hope to die but I was told they had rabies and flees too. I think Glasgow needs to know whether there is any truth in that or whether it is just another insidious Timmy myth.
Uh-oh!… you’re not talking about that post, you’re referring to the one about the Famine Memorial… well no I didn’t Awe_Naw it, watch them hijack the occasion, the sentiments, the emotions and the moral high-ground.
I keep telling folk – Derailing for dummies.com – the huns bible, and Devil do they know their scriptures.
The Battered Bunnet
Wonder if DB had his silent flute with him on visit to ipox?
Getting suspicious here.
Snake, one would think so! (roll-eyes)
Tooting Tim … Zaluska for Stokes? No I think we need to have an attacking option or 3
TootingTim
Cheers Tooting…
Some more on the way..
the boy jinky- that’s true but at that price worth a couple of quid
Kit
Deary me they truly have no shame if they proceed with an attempt to hijack an event which they have continued to mock since I can remember.
Craig Whyte / Charles Green / Duff and Phelps..
Floating Charges can be troublesome when you want to float some shares .
Another fine mess !
Why stop at two goalkeepers? We must have a couple of good young uns who could do with the experience.
Goldstar
I hope your bet comes up