After 14 games Udinese sit joint top of Serie A with Juventus. For a club who challenged, unsuccessfully, for the league only once before, and that was over half a century ago, this is unquestionably the best team in their history. Their home record in the league reads: played 7, won 7, scored 14, conceded 2; they also won Europa League home games against Atletico and Rennes.
They have taken 4 out of 6 points from the San Siro this season and have failed to win only one of their last eight league games. You would be hard pushed to justify nominating anyone else as the ‘form team’ in Europe right now.
This is the test Celtic need. Few positive lessons can be learned from home games against St Mirren, even if they deliver a deluge of goals, but a field in Udine tonight presents our aspiring winners with a stage to demonstrate their potential. Before this month is out we will have different challenges; St Johnstone, Kilmarnock and Rangers present different dangers, but any team that can win in Udine can beat anyone in Europe.
We’ll witness 90 minutes of difficult personal challenges for Celtic players all over the field tonight. It will take more than just concentration to deny goal scoring chances and any opportunities we get in front of goal will be hard earned.
There are reasons to be hopeful. A decade ago a team of equally illustrious Italians were rocked by Celtic, so much so they reverted to diving in the box. Gordon Strachan’s un-fancied Celtic team subsequently took AC Milan to extra time at the San Siro in Champions League, denied by a legitimate penalty claim of their own. There is also the nagging feeling that Celtic’s resources are actually more suited to the counter-attacking game they are seldom able to play. We’ll see.
Birthday wishes to Kano today (or yesterday as it now is in Perth, WA), a child of ‘67. Two years home and still itching for get hold of the keyboard for the songs debate.
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brimmer ‘kano 1000’ says:
15 December, 2011 at 12:41
Aye, that Barca team were special. Thon striker must easily be worth a cheeky £29m bid from somewhere. Easily.
Ohits
Nice one, Thought I could ditch the woman but she wants to go to the game so will catch up for a couple of pints before the game if you fancy it.
I’ll get you on email because after Sunday I wont be on CQN. HH
I gotta a feeling we’re going to sneak it tonight
ASonOfDan says:
15 December, 2011 at 12:43
Paul67
I feel a ‘Dynamo Moscow’ will be happening tonight. Samaras and Forrest, 2-1 to the Tic!
=======================================
Beat me to it.
Fancy 2-0 us, them not interested, focussed on Serie A. Samaras and Hooper. Qualification, sickened Huns, Christmas Magic.
Ohits
Going for Samaras 1-1 or 2-1, What a time to win in Italy. Would be a dream. I need to get this negative Board head off my shoulders before i go home haha. HH
Ohits
That should be Samaras 1-2 to The Hoops!
Hi Paul,
“Their home record in the league reads: played 7, won 7, scored 14, conceded 2; they also won Europa League home games against Atletico and Rennes.”
Sounds as optimistic as the guy on Radio Scotland after the Atletico match…….
“Celtic can still qualify but it’s academic”
Well I think your right, we have nuffin to lose it is set up nicely for this team to show their undoubted potential and a couple heros to come to the fore.
Same again please Wanyama & Foster
EuropeafterXmasCSC
Anyone know if they are playing their full eleven tonight?
dirtymac says:
15 December, 2011 at 12:43
Yep I think PL will read that and think about it mate :)))))
ooooooooooooooh a unicorn.
brimmer
Hoopy Birthday Martin
dirtymac says:
15 December, 2011 at 12:28
Definitely an HMRC walkover. Much bigger long term benefits for us. Also bragging rights on a level with the 7-1 final, but not quite at the level of Lisbon.
HH
Many Happy Returns Kano.
Marrakesh Express says:
15 December, 2011 at 12:51
My thoughts too.
Trebles would just become so passé anyway.
tomtheleedstim says:
15 December, 2011 at 12:48
Anyone know if they are playing their full eleven tonight?
I think they require a draw to go through therfore i think they will field as strong a team as possible. We could be up against it but as ever hope springs eternal. I actually think it will be 1-1 but worry if NL is going to go for it. Our defense is somewhat suspect when pressure is put on them and if we chase the game we could end up being gubbed. Agree a counter attacking game plan is required.
Paul67 – I’m quietly optimistic about tonight.
The team seems to have rediscovered its grit and winmanship after that terrifying early season slump in form.
I think they have the Right Stuff.
Also: Wanyama. (thumbsup)
tomtheleedstim
Yes I believe they are putting out a full team!
dirtymac – Philvis no longer needs to win podiums
Philvis IS the podium. (thumbsup)
googybhoy ♥ Kano 1000 – I feel some of the gloating chants of the podium seekers in here offensive and abusive. As a football forum I am sure you will face dawn raids in the New Year. I do not have to name names. You all know who you are. It is a disease that affects all classes even Philvis’s.
What are you talking about? The lower classes love me. (thumbsup)
Their coach is being as cagey as ever – talking about it being a cup final for them but the notion is he will rest di Natale. Flores and the youngster apparently up front for them in a 1 up 1 off style.
I’m sure Italiabhoy and South of Tunis can give us the lowdown on what the Italian papers are saying about it.
I would dearly love a win tonight and progress in Europe. That’s my heart talking.
My head says that it’s more likely to be 2-0 / 3-0 to Udinese with some self inflicted wounds. That just seems to be the way it is for us in Europe especially against top teams.
One thing I’m sure of is that our priority is the league and in particular 3 pointson Sunday.
That should be at the front of Neil’s head when he makes decisions about tonight’s game.
For example, I would play Bangura from the start. I don’t he’s up to much but lets give him a go. We have nothing to lose.
We’re talking about football again? Hooray!
My prediction for tonight (reposted from earlier):
Wanyama
Wanyama, Wanyama, Wanyama, Wanyama
Brown (c), Wanyama, Wanyama, Wanyama, Wanyama
Wanyama
Subs: Forster, Cha, Mulgrew, Wanyama, Bangura
I predict 2-1, with Wanyama scoring the winner.
Regarding the ‘Bill’ that has been or is about to be passed – this is payback for us raising our voice about the racism and bigotry of others. They couldn’t get us on the same terms so they shifted the goal posts
It is akin to a Head teacher sorting out a bullying problem by equalising the punishment of bullies and those who fight back against the bullies.
To paraphrase that odious woman from the SNP – they wanted to make sure they increased the conviction rate of Celtic supporters.
By the way where can I get that exact quote? For me it may well be exhibit A in the case for the defence against the imposition of that stupid legislation.
It is funny how, in a country which the IRA ordered it’s members never to fire a shot or plant a bomb you can now be criminalised for singing a song about them (not in praise of them, just about them) but in the north of Ireland and in England where many a town and person were the victims of the IRA campaign there is very little danger of such criminalisation taking place. Perhaps that is exhibit B.
The most important thing now is for Celtic supporters to avoid the trap that has been set, box clever and give them nothing. Don’t sing IRA, ‘RA or anything like that and then when they try to do us for the National Anthem, the flags, other songs which are not overtly supportive of the IRA then we fight each case tooth and nail and involve the Irish government through nationalist minded politicians. Those of us who live in Ireland may wel have to seek the support of our elected representatives if they start to persecute people for expressions of Irishness or a fondness for Ireland.
Udinese have Celtic, Lazio and Juventus in six days, I would imagine they might hold back a few players tonight.
Forza Celtic Glasgow.
If we convert our chances tonight we’ll win. We’ll get some clear cut chances. Let’s not waste anything.
(Note to SNP: No offensive content in this post)
Pantaloon Duck – my apologies!
Looking forward to the game tonight. Not getting much chance to comment lately so adding y tuppence worth to what is probably old hat by now!
I enjoy Euro nights because the pressure of ‘having’ to win is off. If we win I will love it. If we play well and come up short I can enjoy the game. If we get horsed it annoys me but nowhere near as much as chucking points in the SPL against the also rans!
We could pull off a wee shock tonight.
I might even have £5 on a 2-1 win for the hoops.
The Honest Mistake – wrong. It is offensive to some to suggest Celtic could win. Expect a dawn raid from a swat team you terrorist loving left wing taliban sympathising plastic paddy………
Paul67 et al
This is a team which could have and should have put out Arsenal. Arsenal rode the storm in the second leg, dug deep and in effect caught them out. And that is what we need to do. We started well against Rennes away, only to gift them a goal after half an hour. Four five one, Victor in the middle. Get on your boots!
Any recommendations for pubs in central london to watch the game?
email sent to my snp msp today. I met with her in November to protest against this bill, she officially responded a couple of hours before the bill was passed.
Good afternoon Aileen
As you will understand from our conversation I am extremely disappointed with the response below and also the bill being passed through parliament by the SNP yesterday.
I will never vote for the SNP again. Your party and government has abjectly failed in your duty by ignoring the evidence provided to you through witness statements and justice committee evidence gathering.
As I mentioned to you previously this legislation is very dangerous, it gives police powers way beyond what they require. It is subjective, it is contradictory and could potentially clog up the justice system with needless cases.
The SNP have rode rough shot over the opinion of and statements from all major religions, clubs, opposition parties and ignored the advise of experts in this area. The SNP are a government which has chose to have one of their departments destroy an analysis of data which would help provide a more accurate picture of the sectarianism problem in Scotland. This data could quite quickly be gathered and analysed if there was a will – the SNP DON’T LIKE WHAT IT SHOWS! That is negligence of the highest order!
In my opinion you have abjectly failed as a government to look at the problem objectively and you have passed this ridiculous piece of legislation.
This ridiculous legislation is also offensive in itself, it is offensive as it restricts freedom of speech. It is potentially racist, as it will likely restrict freedom of certain nationalist associations and is entirely at odds with internationally recognised and accepted definitions for personal liberty.
A very disappointed and disillusioned constituent.
bjmac
RobertT… Try here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL6lMjdRuxA
RobertTressell 15 December, 2011 at 13:09:
Ooops, Looks like I might be the first to be sentenced to a life of hard labour because I had the audacity to offend a member of the ruling junta.
(Note to SNP: Nothing remotely offensive in this post)
I would like to share an experience with you all, about drinking and
driving.
As you well know, some of us have been known to “tipple” during this time of
the year. Well, it recently happened to me.
A couple of nights ago, I was out for a few drinks with some friends and had
a few too many Gin & tonic’s and some rather nice red wine.
Knowing full well I may have been slightly over the limit, I did something
I’ve never done before – I took a bus home.
I arrived home safely and without incident, which was a real surprise, as I
have never driven a bus before and am not sure where I got this one.
Rocket Man @ 13.:03
Will Udinese play 3-5-1-1, as they did at Celtic Park? If so, might this be enough to tempt Lennon into going 4-4-2?
Ciao—–
Greetings from the outskirts of Venice — en route to Udine ——— cold and grey .
Italian media claim the likely Udinese line up is —–
Handanovic
Benatia Danilo Ekstrand
Basta Isla Pinzi Badu Armero
Fabbrini
Floro Flores.
They will play 3 –5 -1 – 1 -they always do..
Strong line up but not their strongest..
14 degrees colder here than it was In Catania
im sure we will get a good result to-night i-o for me, make no mistake they are a good side ,i felt when we played them at celtic park that they were content in going for a draw,anyway lets hope we can get a win to-night. i see we are going to make a bid for sandanza the spanish striker playing for st johnstone .i would get him on board i liked him when he played for dundde utd
The first 45mins of the Udinese vs. Arsenal game was some of the best football I have ever seen, and it was mostly Udinese.
If we get anything from tonight, the team should be roundly applauded, because they will have earned it!
Regarding ‘the Bill’, Jeanette Findlay says some of the activists against it will stand for political office. That’s exactly how to deal with it. It’s high-time new political groupings formed in this country, the SNP are riding roughshod due to the lack of opposition.
RobertTressell
Regarding what Christine Grahame said about evening things up, you will get it if you watch the broadcast of the evidence session her committee had with Prof Devine, John Deighan and two others.
From memory, I think it was all a bit unspecific but the prof certainly interprets what she says in the same way you have done.
The whole thing is remarkably ill thought through. Your bully analogy is a good one.
It’s also important to remember that most observers, inside and outside Scotland, follow the party line that both sides are as bad as each other. When the stats prove that this isn’t true, the stats are destroyed. New legislation is brought in to make sure any future stats will show that, as our elected representatives have always maintained, both sides are as bad as each other.
It’s also a problem that’s exclusive to the west of Scotland, doncha know. Michty me, douce Scotia is far too busy being the best small country in the world to indulge in bigotry. John Wilson running on to attack Neil Lennon in Edinburgh? A jury of his peers failing to find him guilty under Section 74? It never happened.
TTT,
Heading round to the Vaults for the game if you fancy a pint or two?
\o/ Coming at you!! 15 December, 2011 at 13:13:
The regular venues will be showing it.
The Cock Tavern in Euston.
The Marquis of Granby in Cambridge Circus etc.
There will be a few CQNers at the Tooting Tim CSC meeting at the Surprise bar at Stockwell to watch the game.
The adddress is Surprise – 16 Southville, Lambeth, London. SW8 2PP.