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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bourbesouprecipt, They didnt ? H.H.
This auld memory is letting me down again. H.H.
Joe Fillipi
We are better just coz we are Celtic and we should be…
Don’t be sensible and try to factor in anything actually relevant mate :-)
We tolerate scraping past SPL guff and wonder why teams from more competitive leagues., Where every point is fought for in every game, take us down!
Aye, but check our crowds n dosh n that…
Jfh
Over the two games against Barca that season we would have gone through I believe.
Bada
I know you are making a serious point.
Who would we bring in now that would make enough of a difference?
Serious question
JOE FILIPPIS HAIRCUT
You’re right this time – they didn’t.
Ah well im away to sit in the corner with a pointie hat on. H.H.
Oh well
Goodnight CQNErs
Night SALTIRES. H.H.
SeS
Football is such a simple game really, pass and move into space, it’s no rocket science, yet sometimes we can’t even pass the feckin ball, players paid what they are can’t pass the ball to a team mate is shocking, but the coach gets the blame.
Scott Allan when he has been on the pitch has what it takes, always has the head up looking for the pass, and makes them as well, now if we had players in front of him anticipating the pass, something that Henke was a master at, anticipating the pass, he skinned defenders time and time again.
I can be taught, but it’s so much easier if the players already have it in their locker, sadly most of our senior players don’t, so they will be gone when they can be gone, and weans will be brought in that can be taught, just my opinion mind.
HH
SALTIRES EN SEVILLA on 9TH DECEMBER 2015 5:31 PM
Bada
I know you are making a serious point.
Who would we bring in now that would make enough of a difference?
Serious question
PL will appoint another guy he can control,probably Owen Coyle.I thought when we played Quarabag,we showed a team shape for 90 mins,and game management,namely keeping the FBs in our own half for the whole game.I thought RD was showing signs of learning on the job.Nothing i have seen since the Malmo debacle,has convinced me,that we can move forward with Ronny in charge,unfortunately .As i posted ,it is easier to chase him on Friday morning,rather than the possible historic Treble.HH
Eddieinkirkmichael/Delany’s Dunky: I appreciate your efforts.
bada
I agree that, in many respects, Qarabag was one of our most mature/composed performances since RD took over. I thought it could be a springboard to some better football .. ..however, that hasn’t turned out to be the case.
” Now if you are trying to be pedantic around the exact wording between WILL and LOOKING to I would question your motives for wanting to be pedantic. ”
Sometimes posters do tend toward pedantry in a desperate attempt to support an argument. I am at a loss to see the above as an example of that. There is a MASSIVE difference between `Looking at` and `will`.
Being rather stormy just now, I just went out and had a LOOK at the North Sea 0:-)
JFH
We beat Malmo 3-2 at Celtic Park. Also, Kilmarnock have drawn with us Home and Away this season. Are they our equals? Not having a go, honest!. Just pointing out the weakness of that kind of argument.
How to get into Heaven:
Testing children in my Religion school class, to see if they understood the concept of getting to heaven, I asked them:
If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale,and gave all my money to the church, would that get me into heaven?
”NO!’ the children answered.
‘If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the garden, and kept everything tidy, would that get me into heaven?’
Again, the answer was ‘NO!
‘If I gave sweets to all the children, and loved my husband, would that get me into heaven?’
Again, they all answered ‘NO!’
I was just bursting with pride for them. I continued.’
Then how can I get into heaven?’
‘A little boy shouted out: ‘YUV GOTTA BE FOOKN’ DEAD.
Awe Naw
The Simpsons had an episode exactly like that. ( The Exploding Whale thingy).
JJ
‘Heaven is eating foie gras to the sound of trumpets’
Almore
Seems like whoever runs Heaven is quite fussy about who the let in. Is it a Celestial Lodge? 0:-)
JJ
Jungle Jim Hot Smoked. Although my memory let me down if a team beats you home and away in my opinion you cant be better than them. I also think that is part of our problem we assume we are better than a lot of teams such as Malmo Maribor etc.that might have been the case 20 years ago but I dont think it is the case now . H.H.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/09/donald-trump-ireland-sinn-fein-terrorism
Our favourite american
Almore
Ha brilliant mate!
Ps I’ll look out for Stranraer tickets.
Winning Captains
If you are lurking…
Want to order the Neil Mochan dvd from the CQN store..
Can I assume that it will be in it will be in USA friendly format?
Cheers in advance
NOWA
Whitedog … how ya doing?
re: foie gras.
I haven’t been back to Montreal in many years, but KT and I are going for a few days after xmas. We have booked a dinner at Martin Picard’s Au Pied du Cochon ….. quiet excited!!!!!
saltires en sevilla on 9th December 2015 5:04 pm
I abhor Antisemitism.
I think it should be confronted and challenged whenever or wherever it occurs.
If that annoys you, tough.
JJHS: I don’t know, the kids know more than me:-)
HT: Cheers, myself and my bro intend going over.
Mike all good looks a treat I’d have a bit of everything
I would add to that famous quote- with a glass of Tokai
Almore
Loved the wee story but didn’t know you had a husband :o)
RWE – Not sure, although I think it will be area 2, which means it won’t work. I remember a chap emailing last Christmas asking for a discount if he bought a copy of all the DVDs we had. This was arranged and the DVDs sent to him – only for him to discover that they wouldn’t play in the States. We had to source him a DVD Player and send that to him, so happy ending at least!
The Neilly Mochan book might be safer for you!
Ernie Lynch – the server speed isn’t what we’d hoped for and Paul is addressing this shortly. You can email him if you like for more details.
More people are reading CQN and obviously there are more images, ads etc. The server capacity was increased earlier in the year but the site is too slow in loading. It is as frustrating for us as it is for you.
Everyone buying a copy of our new book THE WINDS OF CHANGE tonight will receive a FREE copy of the TOTAL LARSSON 2 disc DVD. Over 350 goals on there…If you enjoyed Caesar & The Assassin you’ll want to read The Winds of Change, as the story of managing Celtic after Jock Stein continues.
Order now at http://www.cqnbookstore.com
RWE: Didn’t you hear about our referendum earlier this year:-)
Regan on Shortbread soon, fronting up the protection racket.
whitedoghunch.
I just purchased a bottle of gin called Rambla41,A mediterranean dry gin. Made in Barcelona, have you come across it on your many Barcelona trips.
MIKE IN TORONTO
Says it all when we’re talking about Qarabag as one of our most decent performances in Europe recently.
HH
wdh … Montreal seems to be bursting with good young chefs doing some really interesting stuff …. I quite fancy trying one of Chuck Hughes’ places …. I like his recipes, and I’ve heard such good and nice things about him. And my brother was raving about Lawrence …. not high end, but Liam and his wife (who are both serious foodies) said it might be there favourite place in Canada!
KT just got me a new Celtic track suit … I”m afraid that, after the Montreal weekend, I may need to trade it in for a bigger size!
Winning Captains
Thanks.
Almore
Couldn’t resist it…:o)
Cairnryan CSC
Oldtim
don’t know it look forward to hearing your expert take on it
Mike
I noticed a writer I trust talk Montreal food recently will try to find it and see if there were any hidden gems
Twentyfirst ….
nowadays, good players and good teams can come from countries that we previously would not have expected …. I’m not saying that Qarabag would beat Barca, but …..
As anyone who reads CQN knows, I am not a fan of the team/football under RD …. but I try to be fair…. , we played decent, smart football against Q…..not flashy, but smart …..
and, having seen them in other games this year, Q are not a bad footballing side …. we made them look not so good. so, in this case, credit where credit is due …
HH
wdh … thanks! would appreciate that.