As news of the goal deluge from the Bernabeu arrived last night it must have caused some reflection at Celtic. Real Madrid thumped Malmo, our eliminators, 8-0. Malmo are not, after all, this season’s surprise packages.
European football is an unforgiving environment, not just for the minnows. Roma, who are currently second in their Champions League group, lost 6-1 in Barcelona two weeks ago. That result came on the back of Bayern Munich taking a 0-5 lead inside 36 minutes in front of 70,000 fans in Rome in last season’s tournament. Bayern went on to win 1-7 in what was supposed to be a game which changed Roma’s ways.
Roma are a good team, currently fourth in Serie A, but their expansive tendencies have earned them humiliating results against teams capable of exploiting them.
Rule No. 1 in Europe is to be defensively disciplined. If you don’t have that aspect of the game figures out, you are as well not competing.
While John Collins was no doubt sincere in saying he could see tonight’s game far enough, he should be relishing the opportunity to test his defence against a European team. This is our last chance before next season’s qualifiers. It is a precious occasion to test tactics.
Thanks to everyone who has bought Winds of Change, and for the fantastic feedback on what was an incredible era to be a Celtic supporter.
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Ciftci fur a hattrick!
He’s gonny wear a Fez durin’ the gemme.
davidopolous …. I was never very good at math!
I agree that certain institutional factors (in Scotland, and at Celtic ) are big limiting factors (I’m in the neganon camp, largely), but accept that many of those things will not change quickly (if ever), so we have to work with what we got…. I like the squad of players we have … and believe that they could be much better than they have shown of late. That, to me, is the responsibility of the manager.
but I will be quite happy if RD has them playing great football and we hump Fener today. I wont do a WITS and promise to run naked through the streets …. but, to show that I am not a complete curmdugeon, if we beat Fenerbache today, I will donate 20 pounds to the charity of your choice.
No Griff?
No point in Leigh picking up an injury in a non vital match.
Natknow
Agree but our system leave the defence exposed too often
Is Leigh injured?.
Is tonight a case of Turk meets Turk.
I could be mistaken, but I thought someone posted yesterday that LG had picked up a knock. Sorry, I cant remember who, or I would check back.
BT,
I’m in work till 5pm then heading to Bar 67 to watch the game if you fancy a pint.
FWIW, never seen us winning in there.
JinxCSC
Good morning from a dull and rainy central California,
In my humble opinion if nothing is going to change in the recruitment policy we may as well stick with Ronny. No big name manager would accept it so find someone who will and stick with them is probably the best option. In saying that I’m certainly no fan of the policy,,it would actually be in our best interests to bring in seasoned veterans in some positions to help along the youth and less senior players. If a seasoned pro costs as much as two projects but adds the stability that brings some success then he would have been well worth it.
However I get the feeling Ronny will walk away in the close season. No control but take all the flak,,who wouldn’t. His stock is high in Scandinavia,, and his girls are there. He will go home with 2 league winners medals on his CV. Not the end of his world. And get a club where he buys the players. And in years to come his team will rock up to paradise and out perform us and we will be on the blog saying why didn’t he do that with us.
He is getting hung out to dry,,and i fear we will never know his potential under this regime.
Pity,,would love to see him with his own players,,he certainly talks like he has it.
Hail Hail
mike in toronto
And likewise, I’ll donate £20 to a charity of your choice.
I’ve always been good at saving money :D
But seriously, I will…
Hail hail!
Natknow
It is free on BT ( Channel 59 where I am, ie Arbroath);
Surely Leigh is not the one Catman was talking about? Has he travelled?
JJ
Makes sense for CIftci to lay in this one. Other than that. much as expected.
It feels odd to be playing a European match that really means nothing. The press will spin it as bad news whatever happens – play badly and we’re crap, play well and we can only do it when the pressure is off.
I’d settle for a creditable draw. But a win would be great …
Court told SD £5m loan to Rangers was repaid yesterday
Corkcelt
That’s what is getting reported that was said in court. Surely they can’t lie in court.
PLAY … for Ciftci to play in this one.
Think I need a new P key from Santa
“but, to show that I am not a complete curmdugeon, if we beat Fenerbache today, I will donate 20 pounds to the charity of your choice.”
Mike,
20 quid!!??
On us winning our first game of the group!!?
Away to the Turkish champs?
I think you should run that one by your financial advisor before before making such a craaazeee wager.
;))
HH
Mahe the Madman on 10th December 2015 4:51 pm
Pretty much agree with all of that.
HH
BT
Ye ur forgiven :))))))))
Given what you have to deal with on a daily basis,
thank you for your efforts in helping others,
Lustig to score for me tonight :)))))
Wishful thinkingCSC
Cmon the Hooooooooooooooooooooooooops
MIT
A pint of Real Ale ( or Craft Beer as it is now called. Sounds masonic to me!).
Would have considered the eggnog but all the earlier `egg` puns have put me off.
Good to talk.
Off to get the dinner ready before sitting down to watch my team. PLEASE don`t let Sleekit be one of the commentators 0:-). Actually,he is well qualified to be a commentator. He can state the obvious, sound excited and can be quite funny.
Cheerio.
JJ
Still a 0-0 or 3-2 prediction!
Lennon’s Passion
Gash lied in court today, it comes kinda natural to him.
HH
So no Griff, hope he doesn’t tweet about going all the way to Istanbul to sit in the stand.
Maybe Nadir is being showcased for a possible trip home in January for 6 months.
Anyway wont see the game tonight as some twat booked me on the 7 o’clock flight from Stansted to Glasgow :-( cheers self. …..
fcbusiness Magazine @fcbusiness 16m16 minutes ago
Bolton Wanderers have confirmed club has received a winding up petition from HMRC in respect of unpaid PAYE & VAT for the month of November.
BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY on 10TH DECEMBER 2015 4:49 PM
Natknow
Agree but our system leave the defence exposed too often
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Eh??! Ah never said nuthin’!
One the other hand – you’re right!
Any one know about rumour that somebody painted buoys on the Clyde red?
JUNGLE JIM HOT SMOKED on 10TH DECEMBER 2015 4:53 PM
Natknow
It is free on BT ( Channel 59 where I am, ie Arbroath);
JJ
—————————————————-
Only in Arbroath, eh? Is this a Forth Road Bridge thing…? ;-)))
JJ.
The Griff defo went with the team yesterday morning, seen him with my own mince pies yesterday morning at the gap with the rest of them.
Oh, Corkcelt
I think there were two £5m loans; perhaps one has been paid?
I read that Lennon’s Passion, but there has been no statement from the Club that gets off on issuing statements, Neither is rhe “repayment of 5 million” getting any headlines in the Scottish Papers. The only reference I saw was an article in the Daily Rag which referred to various Loans from Ashley and said the FIRST ONE was repaid yesterday.
Jungle Jim Hot Smoked
Would have considered the eggnog but all the earlier `egg` puns have put me off.
————————————————————————————————————
I could put you off your beer with some beer puns though? You’ll be hopping mad, but I can barley contain myself.
Natknow
I know! I was making sure you knew it was available in Scotland!
Definite offsky now.
JJ
Here is the Sports News in Scotland;
” Even if Celtic win they are still out ”
Radio Snyde
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/13/can-pope-francis-clean-up-gods-bank
Older news but old pope francis giving it a shot
Looking forward to see the effectiveness of Scott Allan tonight
Was checking out Ronnys stats in Norway first 2 seasons his team was fighting of relegation. Then his team started getting good results will next season be the making of the team.
jungle Jim, He never gave them the second 5 million. The original 5 million was given piecemeal in a number of tranches. As I said I’m only reporting what I read on the Rag, I would have thought there should have been a big fanfare plus Club Statement if 5 million was paid but so far Hee Haw.
They stated at the AGM that it had taken them an hour to get the money that morning and it was there to be paid. Solicitors needed to resolve the legal issues related to it eg titles, securities, terms etc which would take time.
So I believe SD’s council that he had no knowledge of any loan repayment.
CT
Last time I was in your neck of woods for a European game you know what happened!
On train M
Next time maybe
Bolton fans don’t need to worry. It’s only the holding company right ?
Embramike
Must be more than that for Bolton – VAT normally paid Quareterly – so November would be part of Q3 – due in mid Jan