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!
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prestonpans bhoys
According to the civilised world Zenit St. Petersburg is institutional racist club. They should never ever play outside Russia.
I don’t know how UEFA can accept Zenit policy and not ban them.
Canamalar
Lowell, as you know ignores letters so why waste your time…
Evening Times bitter headlines
CELTIC’S Champions League last 16 dream – and the £3.176million bonus that goes with it – is today hanging by a thread.
Fails to mention the money we have already gained from this competitionso far. They are hurting.
Zbyszek
17:41 on
21 November, 2012
I think they may have met their match in a certain Euro final a few years ago!!!!!!!!!!
EuroChamps
Ha – true nowadays my best feature is my Gazebo
Zbyszek
Well said
Zenit have their own ‘sectarian’ signing policy. Completely ignored by Platini + his fellow band of administrative incompetents in Nyon
I take great delight in watching Zenit get beat
BSR
I thought it was your soupe not your toupe
bt,
No he doesn’t.
He investigates everything fully, then ignores it, regardless of his findings.
Yes, I remember.
Not joking with calling them racist institution.
Never ever black footballer played for them. It’s their policy. It was first time this year when Sport Director opened secret negotiations with black player from France. When supporters knew it turned to be big scandal at the club. Of course, negotiations were cut with later explanations that the news about negotiations were far from the truth.
Ra Ra apoligists for the Club formerly known as Rangers trying to convince the world, they would have been allright if the tax case had just been announced earlier.
meanwhile, no kidding, reports that they have found life on mars.
its just not a handsome hun.
Ten men
What is their policy?
The Exiled Tim/Cork Celt
Just noted the attempt by the Scottish MSM to rehabilitate their fallen hero, Sir David Murray. Is that the same Murray, on whose behalf, MIH wrote off £100 million of debt to the former Rangers FC. Is that the same MIH who as a result of reckless borrowing, from the Bank of Scotland, are in part owned by the Public, due to another reckless deal by Lloyds Bank, which traded £150 million for only 12.5% of MIH? Is that the same Murray whose company still owes the UK government hundreds of millions, (via Lloyds) in Bank of Scotland owned debt. Is that the same Bank of Scotland that had to be bailed out by the public owned Lloyds Bank? Is that the same Bank of Scotland, found guilty of “very serious conduct” by the FSA in March of this year. Is that the same FSA who found that the Bank of Scotland favoured “single names” in its’ lending policies? Is that the same Sir David Murray who was indeed one of the “single names”? Is there another word for all this in Scotland? You better believe there is!
googybhoy
You would think they would be happy that at least one Scottish club is doing really well in the world’s number 1 clun competition.
It seems it would be better to be papped out in the preliminary rounds, like the others.
Is it any wonder that Scottish fitba is in such dire straits?
I know it shouldn’t get to me, but it does because I know who they are pandering to: the cheats, teh tax dodgers, the peapil.
Good article here that puts the FTT in a proper perspective. Well worth a read.
http://wingsland.podgamer.com/
googybhoy ♥ Celtic
No mention of any offsetting income from Europa Cup games against what might be top names?
I hope wee Lionel still chasing Gerd Muller’s record come the Benfica game……
I see the stv have started an all out propaganda war, ignoring the most salient facts. This has one aim, to mount pressure on HMRC to drop the investigation and appeal.
Rangers: Johnston predicts ‘slap on wrist’ after SPL probe
Former chairman Alastair Johnston believes Rangers will receive no more than “a slap on the wrist” following a probe into the use of dual contracts for players .
A tax tribunal investigation this week cleared the club of any illegality over their Employee Benefit Trust scheme .
The Scottish Premier League will decide whether its own rules were broken.
“But whatever transgression Rangers had is worthy of not much more than a slap on the wrist,” said Johnston.
“And I suspect that’s exactly where they will go.
“In the report yesterday, there were references to one or two instances where, indeed, the principle of dual contracts might have been applied and might indeed have existed.
“But it was very minor and related, as I understand it, to bonus payments or whatever.
“The SPL can can conduct an investigation and, if their investigation is consistent with the option of the tax tribunal, there could technically be a breach of their rules and regulations based on their interpretation.
“Having said that, the barrier to any sort of penalty, or any culpability here that would result in anything more than a slap on the wrist as a result of yesterday’s decision, is significantly higher.
“The barrier for doing anything else that would involve something more fundamental, such as stripping titles, absolutely does not exist anymore.”
Johnston thinks Sir David Murray might have sold the club to a different buyer
The new Rangers, now playing in Division Three, is unlikely to be affected by any decision , other than its claim to silverware won under the previous regime.
Johnston thinks the SPL should scrap its own investigation – its independent, three-man commission is due to start its delayed hearing in January or February.
However, he believes that “certain interests within the SPL” who have had “an anti-Rangers rhetorical” will ensure the probe continues in order to “save face”.
The First Tier Tax Tribunal, by a majority of two to one, decided that Rangers’ EBTs were loans rather than wages and Johnston was not surprised that the initial HM Revenue and Customs decision and Rangers’ successful appeal had taken so long to reach a conclusion.
“It was a very, very challenging investigation because it wasn’t a black and white issue,” he told BBC Scotland.
“Obviously a lot of the people at the club feel gratified or validated in respect of what happened, whether it’s the auditors or the people producing the accounts, or counsellors or advisors.”
Johnston thought that, had the decision come earlier, it might have prevented former owner Sir David Murray selling the club to Craig Whyte, whose reign led to the club going into administration then liquidation.
“Obviously there’s a huge amount of irony here because, if HMRC had released their decision expeditiously, consistent with the one released yesterday, then I would like to have thought that the bank and Mr Murray would not have prevailed on Craig Whyte to acquire the club for £1,” he said.
Johnston thought that, without a potential debt of £134m hanging over the club if they lost the tax case, “a lot of people not far from the west of Scotland” would have been keen to acquire a club that had just won the SPL, qualified for the Champions League and had a debt of only £16-18m.
BT
(⊙_⊙)
.
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).
..
Paul67..
Do You ever read My Posts..? (Martin42 Does)..;o)
Google..The Georgious Samaras Story Part 125..History in the Making..
Beats Henke’s record of 4 in a Row away in Europe..(In the wee Diddy Cup Yoofa)..:O)
Summa of ImortalSammiCSC
.
Did Anyone Notice Lord Lucan when Benfica Scored..(Sporting a Afro)..?
Summa of ObrigadaLordCSC
Summa of Sammi….
More like
Demis Roussos
Tax avoidance Tax evasion call it what you want but the bottom line is. Glasgow Rangers tried to avoid paying their beloved Queen Elizabeth money that she was due to her..
.
One will not be amused!!
Good evening friends.
More good games in our competition tonight. I fancy Ajax, Kiev and Madrid to win with Milan to draw. So there!
Celtic Mac
Ha, the one and only.
What a sad, sad wee counrty.
Remember the Saddam and Fergus comparison ?
It stinks, it’s rancid, it’s scottish politics.
Zbyszek
What is the policy of Zenit?
Kayal33
A change of tack there. Not that they did not register fully but that it was no big deal.
Given the FTT said it was done to give Rangers a wage advantage related to football but they apparently did not record the full remuneration with the SFA, the SFA could take the view that they kept it secret BECAUSE of the advantage it conferred.
The attempts at keeping it secret from HMRC and the SFA/SPL reported inthe FTT decision suggests Rangers thought it was precisely because it gave them an advantage that they kept it quiet.
The FTT words are pretty damming on the intent behind the adoption of the EBT policy by Rangers, especially if that is what Rangers told them.
jude2005 is neil lennon \o/
18:20 on
21 November, 2012
Tax avoidance Tax evasion call it what you want but the bottom line is. Glasgow Rangers tried to avoid paying their beloved Queen Elizabeth money that she was due to her..
.
One will not be amused!!
jude2005 is neil lennon \o/.
When is a loan not a loan? When it’s not paid back or never intended to be paid back. Everyone knows this was a loan aka salary and we’re now having to listen to these clowns taking the moral high ground.
I understand that the deadline by which HMRC would need to appeal the decision made public yesterday is Christmas Eve. Provide I can count to 56…
dessybhoy
Have a look at the Zenit squad and tell me what you don’t see
Got to say Sammi’s record in Euro away games is simply magnificent , well done big fella!
Like a lot of posters disappointed with last evenings performance simply because we can play a lot better. We do not in any way look like conceeding easily unlike so many Celtic teams of the past and that is pleasing . I am sure that given more games in that rarified atmosphere of C L and we will start to boss games
I would love us to play the Celtic way with free flowing attacking football but understand that in these games we are playing some great sides and it is just not possible to do that.
Would certainly have jumped at the chance to be in this position after the draw.
Well done Lenny & the Bhoys.
Some CQNers have restored my sanity after yesterday’s tax decision and clarified some matters for me.
Still convinced that independent enquiry will not now have appetite to strip titles. Yet again highlighting the pandering to the Orcs.
At the end if the day, having calmed down , they have still cheated by overspending and paying players through EBTs they would have otherwise not Ben able to attract.
They are dead. Rot in hell!
.
Did Rangers Win their Tax case..?
Summa of ToldYouTheyWouldCSC
Dessybhoy
See my post at 17:54.
No black , no yellow, only white players. It’s one of their principles.
Ten Men
I will guess black african players?
Tet.
Im in total agreement with you.
I’ve already experienced the frenzy today at work.
Thems tend to think they will be leapfrogged into the spl, most of their pash being regurgitated from the clown leggo.
Anyways i didn’t get a very nice reaction when i asked them a few questions…
What league are you in?
What happened to your history ?
Is your shares still worthless?
How’s the asbestos problem?
Feel free to suggest more that il be more than pleased to put to thems.hail hail
jobo
I still stand by the text I sent last night
Bloomin’ Count Arthur Strong is preferable to Jim Traynor and Alistair Johnston and I think that the Count is as funny as paint drying.
poor old Jabba is ashamed to call himself a journalist because of their treatment of the dead club