Celtic’s advantage over Barcelona

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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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  1. celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar, our Celtic Warrior on

    garygillespieshamstring

     

    22:32 on

     

    21 October, 2012

     

     

    Ha ha, understand he didn’t like being behind in games. Sorry!!!

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  2. Burghbhoy

     

    An absolute disgrace,why do we participate in these charades,I know someone that was going to that,I wondered why he didn’t phone me,I will contact him now.

  3. http://sulia.com/channel/la-liga/f/c4a1503b-5bcd-4bb5-ae7d-84731e06edab/?source=twitter

     

    La Liga

     

    Guillem Balague

     

    + Follow 7 Likes

     

    Has Celtic got a chance against Barcelona? Oh, yes!

     

    Barcelona has become more like the Dream Team of Johan Cruyff than a better version of Guardiola’s team. That means, you will see more than one crazy game/result like this weekend against Depor, a 4-5 game that showed the best of the team (Messi, amazingly enough, hasn’t reached his peak yet; they are capable of playing more direct under the leadership of Cesc or more controlled with Xavi, what a powerful cocktail) and their worst -and Celtic can exploit some of this: poor defending set pieces, exposed at the back with Song and Mascherano, their directness opens up defenses but also stretches their own team, makes it long, so they can´t pressure in packs as they used to. If Celtic decides to play a box to box game with high tempo, it will be like throwing a coin to the air. If they end up defending deep and offering all the possession to Barcelona, they will be beaten about 3 hours ago

  4. Got a notion for going to Barca,looked at jumping in the car to Gatwick from EK ,about half an hour ago,but checked map and seen Gatwick is south of London.6-7 hour drive,flight was £123 pretty good.Any bhoys cancelling get in touch.

     

    horsehasboltedcsc

  5. garygillespieshamstring on

    crc

     

     

    keep them coming. i am sure that is what tommy would want.

     

    heard he was uncomfortable in the box

  6. Watching Sporstscene for the first time live. Inusuallybtape it and flick through.

     

     

     

    This is dreadful television.

     

     

    As usual Celtic win and are on last.

     

     

    No change over 30 years.

  7. Scratch that last comment, it was 52/1 (I had staked higher on that bet) and 41/1.

     

     

    TET I have emailed the screenies with a Brucie Bonus from Friday night. ;))

  8. ttt

     

     

    I ment they wouldn’t have been near the training ground if they had arrived back in Glasgow at 4 ish in the morning.

     

     

    I hope things are changing, it’s about time, far too many in the bookies or the clubs, they should be trying to better themselfs, a footballers life is short enough, too many just take it for granted.

     

     

    At the start of the season, we struggled as we had, had a long lay off, we should have had the players back early, so we could have hit the ground much easier than we did.

     

     

    Next season it will be the same, we might not be so lucky with the draw next season.

     

     

    As long as the huns are out of the league, we have a chance to groom some of the younger players, rest some of the first team during the season, hence we can afford to go back up to a month early, we need to make sure we qualify for the CL for the next couple of seasons, the gulf we can put between ourswelfs and the rest in scotland will ensure that we get regular CL football, and can attract better players.

  9. praecepta

     

     

    22:46 on 21 October, 2012

     

     

    TET

     

     

    I know you like your singles!!!

     

     

    Efe – 1st scorer and Celtic 3-1 @ 4000/1.

     

    ____________________________________________

     

     

    I’m having some of that. ;))

     

     

    The luck is in after all.

  10. Whitedogchurch.@1422

     

     

    You having a laugh?

     

     

    Ask the victims’ families of the Ballymurphy massacre if they’d like a table

     

     

    Sick to my stomach

  11. olditim

     

    sitting in a hotel in barca with bt

     

    enjoying the craic, looking forward to meeting tet and auldheid, aidan plus others who wish to meet up…

     

     

    Bt has a click with a blone dutch ghirl…

     

     

    He beat a algerian bigot to the woman..

     

     

    Im cutting his grass tomorrow..o))

  12. LEDLEY AMBROSE BROWN WANYAMA WILSON LUSTIG IZZY SAMARAS HOOPER FORSTER FORREST

     

     

    it sounds better when i say these names too mulgrew kayal

     

    miku matthews watt mccourt

  13. Talkin’ aboot things.. that Ah Notice..

     

     

    Howevahhhhhhh..

     

     

    Ah also.. well.. Notice..

     

     

    that Naebuddy elsel..on here..

     

     

    Notices.. whit Ah . well. Notice!

     

     

     

    Fr’instance..

     

     

     

    Tony Watt ,is a Natural.. Lonely Linwood Striker~

     

     

    Whit is that?

     

     

    Well..

     

     

    A Lonely Linwood Striker , is a Striker who kin ..

     

     

     

    Rummle ’em Up!

     

     

    Yep… A Lonely Linwood Striker, kin no only “Rummle ’em Up”..

     

     

    Nine times oot ten.. He wull WIN the Ba’…

     

    Much tae the Chagrin and Consternation o’ his Opponent.. and

     

     

    Mak a Break fur it.. wi’ the ba’

     

     

    Suddenly,the Lonely Linwood Striker .. is ..

     

     

    Off n Runnin’.. like they say….at Hollywood Park..

     

     

    Heading..like an Avengin’ Arrow… straight fur His Opponent’s goal.

     

     

    and, need Ah say…

     

     

    Also…

     

     

    Running like an Uncatchable Linty…leaving his breathless opponent in his wake.

     

     

     

    Like Ah hiv said…Ah Noticed that Tony, fullfills awe these Requirements, which Ah hiv Jist Mentioned..

     

     

    Sure,he is Raw. .but he kin still dae an awfy loata damage.

     

     

    Well..hivin said awe that..

     

     

    It follows , as natural… as yer Jeely Piece, wull ayewiz fae oan the Jeely Side, if ye

     

    drap it…

     

     

    that

     

     

    Tony, should be oor

     

     

    Lonely Linwood Striker Agin the Spaniards oan Tuesday.

     

     

    Our Middy should Be a Five Haunder..

     

     

    Forrest, Broonie, Wanyama, Mulgrew and SAMMARIS.

     

     

    Forster.. Lustig, Izzy.

     

     

    Efe, Wilson.

     

     

    Wid mak up the rest o’ the Starting eleven.

     

     

    Yeah.. like ye noticed…or, mebbe .. ye didnae..

     

     

    Ah widnae start…. Hooper.

     

     

    Look guys..

     

     

    Agin the Barca, we should play DEFENSE…wi’ a Capital. “D”.

     

     

    and hope fur a Breakaway Goal..oan oor part.

     

     

    and..

     

     

    Like Ah hiv said..

     

     

    Tony,is the very guy. who jist needs tae win .. Wan Midfield tussle…..

     

    and Ah am confident he wull dae jist that.

     

     

    And. Then it’s

     

     

    “Katie Bar the Door “Time . fur .. The Barca..

     

     

    as… Tony , races , like a linty.. towards Thur Goal Area..WI THE newly won . Ba’.

     

     

    Yes,folks . Tony, is a Wan Man Band..

     

     

    He is a Brammer.

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still Laughin’… and Luvvin’ it.

  14. Great post from poster goosygoosy on SFM, http://scottishfootballmonitor.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/three-shakes-and-a-twist/comment-page-10/#comment-18898

     

     

    goosygoosy says:

     

    Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 22:32

     

     

    On a slow day

     

    Some musings about the rascal who gave such fun

     

    Question

     

    Has Whyte really fallen out with D&P?

     

    If so

     

    What about? When? And Why?

     

    Here’s my take on it

     

    The story goes back to late 2010 when MCR was an Insolvency Business owned by Paul Clark. They were awarded a contract by RFC to assist CW during the preparatory phase of his acquisition of RFC for £1

     

    Verbatim Clark quote at press conference on 18 Feb 2012

     

    “D&P is a long established global financial advisory and investment banking business. It’s the world’s largest independent valuation firm. In the UK alone we employ in excess of 200 people. Late last year D&P acquired MCR a UK based restructuring and turnaround firm Both David and I were formerly partners of MCR.”

     

    “ MCR itself which was previously known as Menzies Corporate Restructuring was asked to provide consultancy advice to Rangers on the merger of the club late last year.”

     

    This is saying that RFC paid MCR for advising CW on the merger of RFC with Wavetower

     

    The reality, which is not disputed is that MCR were advising CW not RFC prior to the takeover. There was no merger of RFCV with Wavetower although that aim may well have been in the contract someone awarded to MCR on behalf of RFC

     

    It beggars belief that Advisors to the buyer of a company being sold for £1 were paid by the company being sold for £1

     

    But this apparently is what happened. Knowing the rates charged by D&P this assistance to CW from late 2010 to May 2011 must have cost RFC around £500k

     

    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

     

    The next event was an approach from New York based Duff & Phelps to Paul Clark with the view to buying MCR and thereby expanding into Europe. It is normal in these circumstances for the US buyer to send a team over to examine the business they are thinking of acquiring. It is inconceivable that MCR would not disclose details of some of their current projects as evidence of how they carried out their business. It is also inconceivable that the US team would not question the propriety of MCR getting involved with the former disqualified Director Craig Whyte in buying a major brand name like RFC with the express purpose of profiting from its liquidation. So this must surely have been one of the issues which needed resolved prior to the acquisition being finalised. The most likely conclusion an honourable co like Duff & Phelps would do would be to secure a guarantee from MCR that the RFC prepack administration would be handled by the book and no side deals agreed with Whyte

     

    The first test of MCR`s “new and upright”stance came around Aug/Sept 2011. Inept Manager McCoist managed to exit both the CH and the Europa League. This caused a cash crisis which prompted Our Hero to withhold PAYE and NI from HMRC.

     

    MCR responded with “integrity or perhaps “deniability” and withdrew from helping Whyte liaise with HMRC. However D&P had clearly decided to continue working with Whyte as long as they were able to keep their hands clean

     

    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

     

    So in the lead up to Administration Whyte was withholding tax and dealing with HMRC on his own. He still believed D&P would become his chosen Prepack Receiver and ensure the liquidated assets were distributed according to his instructions.

     

    The prepack process commenced with RFC announcing they may have to go into administration. Presumably the plan was to wait another couple of weeks and then announce a prepack liquidation instead of announcing Administration

     

    Unfortunately HMRC has other ideas perhaps prompted by D&P at the instigation of their New York bosses. Hector moved for an immediate Administration by an Administrator of their choice. The Court agreed that Whyte could appoint his own Administrator if he could do so quickly.

     

    At this point Paul Clark made a fatal mistake. He knew an “Administrator” had different responsibilities from a “Prepack Receiver” and would not have the freedom to act in accordance with the original plan.

     

    But he also knew the Administrator role inside out and could clearly see opportunities to make a lot of fees by “playing it by the book”. He also knew MCR were compromised if details of the takeover arrangements became public Nevertheless he agreed that D&P would become Administrators of RFC

     

    This was a bad bad decision for D&P. Thereafter, they had no option but to clear all major decisions with New York. Meaning decisions like using a local media savvy co, avoiding press conferences, and distancing themselves from Whyte and the original plan at every opportunity

     

    The legal action by D&P to break the Ticketus contract was the first effort at double crossing Whyte

     

    However

     

    D&P could not progress any steps to sell RFC which require the consent of the owner. So all their actions with various buyers were doomed to fall apart if CW played hard ball. This may be the reason the Administration took so long.

     

    i.e. D&P were unable to sell RFC without the help of CW

     

    It looks like CW decided to sit it out until D&P(New York) became desperate. This desperation was driven by the knowledge that trying to sell RFC without the cooperation of CW was turning into a PR disaster.

     

    The fact that D&P UK were racking up fees, was now becoming a rod for their own back. These fees would eventually consume the entire Creditor pot. D&P desperately need to sell the business as a CVA or “going concern” to justify the fees they had accumulated. This would avoid the accusation that RFC could have shed staff and got more for Creditors by selling assets months previously

     

    But there were no buyers for a “going concern”…… i.e. a CVA

     

    The last straw was the Mark Daly programme which exposed the MCR conflict of interest

     

    D&P (New York) then faced the real possibility that their global reputation would be damaged if Clark, Whitehouse and Greir were found guilty of conflict of interest by the Insolvency Practitioners Association. The issue almost certainly gravitated to the Main Board of D&P New York It would have been a strategic concern of Corporate PR. I say this because the events which unfolded had all the hallmark of desperation. (A bit like the “Agreement” which solved the Miners’ Strike in 1971)

     

    In my view

     

    D&P New York took the decision to abort the RFC operation. D&P UK were instructed to do whatever deal they could with CW that got them out of the Administration role. The priority was escaping the media spotlight and minimising damage to the global reputation of D&P

     

    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

     

    This explains how Whyte and Green were able to squeeze ridiculous terms out of D&P

     

    Terms that achieved the following

     

    Green got all the incoming transfer fees for past deals

     

    Green got a rebate of up to £2.75m if any valuable players walked away

     

    The Ticketus deal would be allowed to roll over into Newco

     

    The CW and Close Leasing floating charges would transfer with the assets

     

    The SSC fixed charge over MP would transfer with the assets

     

    Green would become MD of RFC with immediate effect

     

    Green could renege on the deal at any time up to 31 July

     

    Fixed and floating charges would transfer to any Co nominated by Green

     

    The asset purchase agreement would take effect immediately the CVA was rejected

     

    The terms of the deal would be confidential

     

    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

     

    Then a bombshell struck

     

    Lord Hodge requested a report on the conduct of D&P during the takeover and afterwards D&P New York must have wet themselves at the implications of a UK Judge condemning the actions of their newly bought UK subsidiary. This challenged their global expansion into Europe via the UK

     

    What could they do?

     

    As a global business of integrity they had only one option which I fully expect to happen in the next couple of months

     

    i.e.

     

    Tell the truth and blame it on MCR.

     

    Fire the MCR naughty boys (Clark, Whitehouse and Greir)

     

    Offer full support to Lord Hodge for any enquiry

     

    State clearly that D&P New York would never have bought MCR if they had known about the 2011 actions of MCR

     

    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

     

    Whyte has figured out the above and has concluded that he now needs D&P to be so discredited in

     

    their handling of the situation that Lord Hodge should seriously consider unwinding the Green Purchase Agreement

     

    If this happens we return to the status quo ante

     

    i.e.

     

    Whyte has a valid fc over the RFC assets and can claim Ibrox and MP in lieu of cash

     

    Ticketus are at the mercy of Whyte being forced to either sue a BVI Co or negotiate the rollover of the ST contract to any buyer of Ibrox

     

    Green is also at the mercy of Whyte if the purchase agreement is unwound. He may escape with the money raised from the IPO if he can rent Ibrox and MP from whoever owns the assets if and when the deal is unwound

  15. Magnificentseven on

    BIGbones8867

     

    22:51 on

     

    21 October, 2012

     

    Whitedogchurch.@1422

     

     

     

    ignore him we all have!

  16. BT

     

     

    Glad you got there safe and sound.

     

     

    See you soon.

     

     

    I spoke to Auldheid btw.

     

     

    Watch oot for thay dutch lassies mind, very liberated so thay are :>)

  17. bt is drunk whats knew..

     

    Wearesitting in a bar 100 yards from our hotel which doesnt sekk drink (i bame ot)

     

    i blame me for being a stupid old baskit case choosing a dry hotel.

     

    Just thibk.

     

    Bt. .oltim in a hotel that doesnt have a bar.., but we have found a bar in a hotel acriss the road and we have a bar man who is a good bhoy…

     

     

    And we know the score in barca is come to our area in the chinese quarter… Dirt cheap….tapas good also

  18. Not good news from Moscow. Their first goalkeeper got injured before the game against Celtic, not their second goalkeeper is out of play for next couple of weeks. They are decomposed after defeat to Anzi Makhachkala. I don’t wish them well but win over Benfica and another defeat to Celtic would be good plan.

  19. petec

     

     

    22:50 on 21 October, 2012

     

    praecepta

     

     

    22:46 on 21 October, 2012

     

     

    TET

     

     

    I know you like your singles!!!

     

     

    Efe – 1st scorer and Celtic 3-1 @ 4000/1.

     

    ____________________________________________

     

     

    That is worth a quid.

  20. Fanandpatriot.

     

     

    Yeah mate, ever zombie goal was greeted by that lovely penny arcade tune……if only I could have got my hands on that PA announcer.

     

     

    Sad to see all those zombie kids forced into wearing zombie tops by their shell suited zombie parents.

     

     

    Don’t want to be in such close proximity to them again.

     

     

    Not nice

  21. celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar, our Celtic Warrior on

    THE EXILED TIM

     

    23:09 on

     

    21 October, 2012

     

    A dry hotel, ffs, that is a clasic :>))))

     

    =================================

     

     

    No, BT in a dry hotel is the classic :-)

     

     

    BT/OT-enjoy your visit and bring us back a victory

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  22. Magnificentseven

     

    23:01 on

     

    21 October, 2012

     

    BIGbones8867

     

    22:51 on

     

    21 October, 2012

     

    Whitedogchurch.@1422

     

     

    ignore him we all have!

     

    fanadpatriot

     

    22:54 on

     

    21 October, 2012

     

    Bigbones8867

     

    Seen that earlier,don’t give him attention

     

     

    Thank you,

     

     

    mise le meas

     

     

    BB