It is a measure of how far we have come during this Champions League campaign that a 2-1 defeat away to Benfica, leaving us favourites to qualify in second place for the Champions League knockout stage and assured of European football after Christmas, is a disappointment.
Unlike previous defeats in this competition, this one has not limited our ambitions.
Around this time of previous Champions League campaigns I’ve opined that Uefa Cup/Europa League qualification would be preferable to finishing second in the group stage, leading to inevitable elimination to a group winner. Teams who drop out of the Champions League have the prospect of a decent run in the Europa League, earning more coefficient points and potentially more cash, whereas Celtic never convinced me they could reach the last eight of the Champions League.
This time is different. We got it wrong last night and as a result lost the head-to-head against Benfica but this was not the case against Barcelona. Most of the current group leaders are better than Celtic, all would create more chances and have more possession against us, but here’s the rub, Celtic can score goals against anyone and can defend remarkably well.
Georgios Samaras has now scored in three consecutive group stage away games; he scored in all of Celtic’s five away games in Europe this season, surely a record. This is beyond a mere statistical oddity, it’s a result of a strategy which Benfica, Barcelona and Spartak have been unable to cope with (last night’s block-and-free-header routine was a thing of technical brilliance).
We’ve scored five goals in total in our three away group stage games. In the eight away games in the competition proper before this season, since losing in Copenhagen, we scored only once (remember against whom?)! In short, we can go anywhere and play effective counter-attacking football which even the best team in history had trouble dealing with.
That doesn’t mean we are champions-elect, of course. Benfica, who are a worthy team but are not tier-one material, got the better of us. They played to form last night and Celtic dipped. Scott Brown was clearly unfit, Charlie Mulgrew may-or-may-not have declared himself ill before kick-off but his condition did not help (stunning corner aside).
Neil also left out Kris Commons. Kris’s form has shaded since The Beating of Barca, so I was not surprised to see him on the bench, but did you notice we started to get balls into the Benfica box after he came on? More of this and I fancy Benfica would have yielded. In his post-match comments Neil Lennon reminded us his players are young and will learn from the experience.
It’s easy to overlook the fact that the manager is also young and learning as he goes along. His tactical decisions have been the real revelation of this group, even if he did leave Kris out and his gamble with Scott Brown didn’t work. His progress as a manager has been, as our old friend might say, astonishing.
Fraser Forster provided more evidence of his outstanding ability. Mikael Lustig and Kelvin Wilson looked perfectly at ease with under frenetic pressure but Efe Ambrose particularly impressed. I’ve watched Celtic defences for decades and we always seem to have a ‘junior partner’ but not now.
The defence made two mistakes last night but in all their games together they have yet to conjure up a Big Dan Moment.
My objectives for this Champions League campaign have already been surpassed but expectation levels are never level, so let’s take care of Spartak and see where the adventure goes next.
Orders are now open for the very first CQN Annual, get it here!
[calameo code=0003901717b03ef5e64cb lang=en page=100 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
833 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- »
ttr
Ta for that. Night all Night Wee Oscar & Izzie God bless x
Bó-aire – I think the good doctor has given enough scope for HRMC to question the findings of her esteemed colleagues. Almost appealing, if not compelling.
Bó-aire
I’m liking the cut of your jib already
did you not just join the blog the other night ?
worlds 4 strongest army
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
02:41 on
21 November, 2012
“miki..,
Probably cursing whoever replaced the masons, cause be both know some other greedy power hungry illegitimate would have perverted everything decent about the ideals to get what they want. Almost every attempt has failed to deliver.”
This,also the masons are on the LEFT as well, look up Peter singer, a nutter of a leftist. He might not be formally part of em but he advances the 33 degree plus agenda!
On a masonic website one girl self identifies as a commie…. Marx had some nasty ideas on top of his better ones.
We need a socialism that is one nation in its nature, that is not Blarish but is lateral to the past and present dystopian marxism and the dystopian version of third wayism currently operated. It also needs to abandon social liberalism and libertarianism to be replaced with rights and responsibility’s and individual liberty but also a knowledge the individual is interconnected with society but not conformed with society.
Any catholic or protestant mason is not being true to their religion and has began moving away from it, though they might not recognize it and still be fairly “ok” Christians, however no true protestant or catholic can become a 33rd degree member, if they claim to be, that’s all for show… Sadly many buy their claims…
Bó-aire
Perhaps a Poonerism will enter the whistle blower language.
Lets hope HMRC put said whistle to their mouths.
The country borrowed £2.5bn more than predicted last month due to lower than expected tax revenues. Someone’s going to have to foot the bill.
MurdochAuldandHay
We-e-e-ell, started *posting* after many months of lurkage; but it was always a foregone conclusion that a serial pedant such as myself would crack eventually. And the night shift seemed a good place to start, ‘cos folks are very tolerant after midnight GMT…
Auldheid
Poonerism sounds good; it’s just a pity that herself is a doctor rather than a Reverend.
‘Course, at the mercy of the Rev Spooner, she’d be transformed into a blistlewhower.
And (possibly due to its being after midnight GMT) I can’t help but wonder just what a blistlewhower’s special skills might be…
I understood that HMRC were on record as saying that they would appeal the outcome of the FTTT if it didn’t rule in their favour?
The Freemasonry Are The Glue That Holds Our Society Together In Troubled Times…
They Are Our Last Defence Against A Descent Against Mindless Barbarism And Marxism….
They Keep The Lights On,The Lawns Trimmed….And Bold Canamalar Locked Up In A Padded Cell,24/7…..
They Do Good Works Like Oor Philvis…..
And The Wombles Of Wimbledon Common…..
Ain’t That The Truth….Virginia..?
Antifa,
must admit, I was very surprised during my holiday in Cuba to meet people who claimed to be masons and tried to curry favour due to that. Same people were greetin about Castro, in fact what a surprise they got when their decleration of support for the USA was met by most of the europeans and canadians with disdain. In fact, shoked might be a better description to their reaction.
Oopsydaisy……the devil’s awake…
: > )
and shocked
I love it when Huns escape FF and RM on to our Site. They must see the difference.
Ivan lentil lol
headtheball,
I remeber something like that too, hopefully someone will find the statement and post it should wipe the smile off a few faces :o)
Then again , they have had since the 29\10 to prepare the appeal, so I’d expect it to come sooner rather then later, there is still the the tendency for political interference and pressure to change their minds.
there we go, admitted by the sea cucumber, a satinist as well, and that fascist scum is trying to convince us its a tim ffs.
HENRIK 2358
A bit concerning that the post in question “identifies” RTC.
Especially as he is a fairly high-profile poster on here…..
My fathers funeral was today. the Monsignor done my dad proud, he remarked on comments on “quicknews” …..
Can someone please point me towards those posts.
Thank you in this regard.
One love CSC
MIKI67
He’s brought his alter-ego with him. Brushed up most of the spelling and sentence construction.
Gonna be a l-o-n-g night for the regulars-and BO-AIRE (Welcome,btw…)-tonight,I fear.
Makes me nearly glad to be working!
Vinny, Sorry to read about your dads passing. May he rest in peace.
HH
Vmhan
I lost my father when I was thirteen.
I’m still confused about that time, and I don’t really understand how I felt.
But I’ve accepted that I probably won’t ever.
My heart goes out to you.
Bó-aire
Naw tee :)
VMHAN
GREENLION2 and ST STIVS are on from about 1920,page 7,discussing the funeral.
My condolences,mate.
Universal Credit? Now, that is going to be a disaster. Just like it’s supposed to be.
This UKplc has become a 21st. Century equivalent of a pirate’s safe haven.
Or a Del-Boy economy.
The current biggest gaggle of high-end property buyers in London right now? Super-wealthy Greeks.
My mrs. watched as a guy in JobCentrePlus (a.k.a. The JokeCentre) got told he couldn’t sign on coz he was 9(!) minutes late. He explained that his wife, who is pregnant, was sick that morning and had delayed him. Could they be a wee bit flexible? Not a chance. Stony-faced they told him, “Computer says ‘no’…” , called ‘security’ (G4S) and turfed him.
One day, people will stop watching telly and there will be a reckoning.
That is, if we’re not all flooded and living on an archipelago.
Back to sleep for me.
HH!
I’ve lived to see Rangers die but to be sure of being around to see the end of the tax case I’d have to stop smoking, drinking and a few other things.
Is it worth it, I ask myself.
VMHAN
Whatever use my thoughts are, they are with you.
Rascar, Re the other night I never got round to posting this….I did earlier today so you may have missed it…for whatever it’s worth
http://tinyurl.com/ccmq3e4
Hail Hail
Estadio
vmhan01:21 on 22 November, 2012
>>>>>>>
Before I go :
Condolences. My dad went 42 yrs. ago. I still think good thoughts of him every day.
headtheball,
in fact in that statement did they no say it was policy to appeal
Estadio
Hippo sniffin glue…. you just went with it!
Class!
A dangerous wee place, the intoxicating void beyond our conscious mind.
Mind how ye go.
I let the wife off the hook last night.
It’s usually my favorite punch, but my uppercut was so effective, so I didn’t need it.
Interesting Cannamalar. Thanks. As for kojo, meh he seems to wait till I have posted to annoy me… Have to laugh hes supposed to be religious yet he sticks up for the masons? The masons are scum, particularly the top members. Now don’t get me wrong some of them at the bottom may be ok because they do not know enough about their “craft” and some a bit higher up go no worse than corruption but without any agenda to deliberately breakdown societies morals and reduced the population etc. However those at the top…. Nope they are not very human, sadly I wish they literally wern’t human that the mad lizard stories where true, that no one could hold such ideologies but alas some humans are screwed up.
Sad fact is uneducated atheists say stuff like ” I don’t believe in no devil” can’t they grasp its not a matter of the devil being true or not in their little minds but that in some folks minds it is, that they call him lucifer that would be all fine and well if it did not lead them to believe and do destructive things because they think thats how the devil would wan’t them to behave. Like they think non-belife in the devil keeps them safe from the effects of those who worship him…. I wonder if they will ever wake out of their bigotry against christians and muslims etc to realize that all religions are NOT equal, a hindu is not equal to a satanist and a murderer is not equal to mother Teresa!
Miki made a great point about tv and universal credit earlier. Such a shame for the Palestinians who are innocent victims of Israeli terrorism. I dont wont any one to die but kind of which the turks, egyptians and tunisians would send in men and wipe out their army, no way they will fight to the last man then they can give back the land not in 1948 treaty. I hope kojo is gone now! Pissinger was on fox what an evil man…
Obama is ok but not keen on his love of abortion, republicans love war, democrats love killing children… Pity the religious right cant convert to voting the left wing christian democratic party. I hate Libetarians they are almost my complete antithesis but one thing we agree on is getting rid of patriot act and homeland security (and the british equivalent).
They also believe in gay marriage which is terrible but they at least, tend to believe religions should be exempt from marrying them but practically thats of no use as can’t see how they would be able to go against EU laws etc…. Some of em are against abortion but other than these few points of agreement they are my antitheisis on social policy, on economic justice (I see NHS as a economic justice issue, the same as free education at point of need, NOT a social issue!) etc etc.
But we agree on no snooping or collectivism, which the liberal left often dont so even a persons antithesis is not completely antithetical, life don’t fit in boxes.
something weird with blog can see my comment if logged in but not if logged out?
Seeing I’m still up cause the gale outside is keeping me awake, thought I’d post a couple of petition links for anyone wanting to show support for the people of Gaza.
Not wanting to spark another debate here, so if you don’t agree then just please scroll on by, but if you do then please sign, it will only take a minute.
Get Your MSP to support Gaza
http://coordin8.org.uk/app/index.php/scotparl/findMSPs/sp2012
US White House and State Department: Condemn Israeli Aggression in Gaza
https://www.change.org/petitions/us-white-house-and-state-department-condemn-israeli-aggression-in-gaza#share
HH
Antics,
It could be said the belief in heaven causes more harm than satirists, many many believe they are going to a better place which allows them to destroy what we have here.
Couple of things playing on my mind,
Did Ogilvie get tipped the nod on the FTT decision, else why would he brass it out ?
What is Hodge doing about D&P handling of conflicted administration ? he has had our heros recording for a while now, hopefully our hero has kept a copy in case the evidence mysteriously goes missing or gets destroyed at the behest of our Scottish govt, I mean it won’t be the first time eh.
Antifa too, bloody predictive gubbins
Need to sleep now
Night night n
Hail Hail
Barach thanks for the link. Fox is really nuts at times, women on it is saying america needs to invade North Korea, Invade Iran, Have a naval war with china, and stand up to turkey if it goes to war with Israel, oh now shes just said that troops should be sent into venezula… No way america can do all that itsself, jeez they wonder why people attack them? Hope Britain says get stuffed…..
Vmhan….I have just noticed that your dad had passed away….thoughts and prayers with you and your family…