With Lionel Messi and Barcelona focussed on winning their final group game against Benfica tomorrow night Celtic must achieve a better result against Spartak Moscow than Benfica manage at the Camp Nou to progress to the latter stages of the Champions League.
Aiden McGeady has suffered a recurrence of a pennate muscle tendon injury and is doubtful. Georgian creative midfielder, Jano Ananidze, is also out injured, while coach Valery Karpin is under pressure to axe Argentine defenders Juan Insaurralde and Nicolas Pareja after both picked up red cards on Friday night against Zenit. The Russian media have also turned on Dutch midfielder Demy De Zeeuw, who was at least partially culpable for the Zenit defeat. Celtic could face a more cohesive Russian team tomorrow, although perhaps without some of their more talented players. Who this troubles most remains to be seen.
Reading (and writing) Celtic Quick News you learn of the thousands of actions Celtic fans take in order to assist others or alleviate pain and distress. In aggregate these actions can and do move mountains.
Yesterday it was announced that one of our family, Rod Stewart, is donating proceeds of his new single, Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas, to the Celtic Charity Fund and Teenage Cancer Trust to fight this horrible disease and assist those afflicted by it.
The single will be available for download from this Sunday, 9 December. It offers you and me the opportunity to raise awareness – and funds – on a level we would otherwise never be able to achieve. Charity is part of your job as a Celtic fan. On this occasion, on aggregate, we can have an enormous impact.
Still looking for tickets for tomorrow night?
You can email an auction bid for two Wee Oscar Write Bands, each comes with a free ticket to Celtic v Spartak Moscow. Send an email with your bid to weeoscar4life@gmail.com. Competition closes at 20:00 GMT tonight.
You can buy the CQN Annual at the Cathedral House Hotel before the game tomorrow night. The Hotel are organising a lift to the game too!
We’ll pick up on the SFA president once the more important matters are out of the way.
1,188 Comments- Pages:
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Mort
14:29 on 4 December, 2012
It’s not all bad though. Some of my favourite items of cutting edge designer menswear come from army surplus.
jungle jim.message for you bottom of page 16 last thread.
What a week so far!
The Pope is going to start tweeting (Is he really RTC I wonder?)
We have a new royal embryo – third in line to the throne (what happens if it’s twins?). I’m no royalist but good health to all expectant families everywhere.
HMRC are going to appeal. Woo! No masons in the UTT please.
And finally, tomorrow night…the last 16 maybe?
canamalar – Thanks for your insights. (thumbsup)
re. Kayal33 & Kojo
Almost our entire squad are underperforming at the moment. Who’s improving? Lustig, maybe?
I’d go for this cat in hell’s XI:
Forster
Matthews Lustig Wilson Ledley
Mcgeouch Ambrose Kayal Samaras
Watt Miku
Philvis..,
Anytime
Kojo – Good point, howevah I must stress that, in general, the freer the markets, the freer and better off the people.
The less free the markets, the poorer and less free the people.
So the lesson of history is clear: free the markets. (thumbsup)
now Time Out Barcelona seem to be reading the some this blog
http://www.timeout.cat/barcelona/ca/articles/article/2012/11/28/barcelona-km-0
Free market India
I think Ambrose must take Victor’s place, with Wilson and Mulgrew in central defence. Mulgrew and Ledley together in midfield is a nightmare scenario for me.
and jail the bankers!
philvisreturns
14:28 on
4 December, 2012
The government central bankers pulled us back from the precipice the ‘free market’ drove us to.
Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are not everyone’s cup of tea but they were in the right place at the right time.
God help us if the current crew get in the same boat. I imagine most people got a bit of a fright at what the ‘free market’ was capable of doing to us.
up_over_goal
Like that team except Lassad for Miku.
Paul67 et al
I notice that Jim Traynor is listed on BBCi player as host of the Radio Scotland phone-in programme on Saturday, though I did not listen to the replay. If the reports and rumours are correct and Murray’s mouthpiece is set to get on board the new club formed by Charlie Green, does that mean his contract with the BBC is now over? I think we should be told!
Kojo
the team will be Forster, Lustig, Ambrose, Wilson, Izzaguirre, Brown, Kayal, Ledley, Mulgrew, Samaras, Hooper
Ambrose won’t move to midfield, and shouldn’t, as the manager will go with his strongest defence (in his opinion), Ledley will start in midfield, and the youngsters will be on the bench and rightly so. Watt has been most effective as a sub and McGeouch has hardly played (and was poor on Saturday).
The manager will go with his tried and tested European team/formation with Kayal coming in for Victor. A 0-0 draw will possibly be enough to see us through so stop them scoring and its job half done.
The ‘free market’ is the mantra of the corporate rogues who work hand in glove with the state.
up_over_goal
14:36 on 4 December, 2012
Miku?? Did you see his performance v Arbroath on Saturday??
Lassad, maybe, but unlikely, but never Miku.
Kayal33
McGeoch was poor on Saturday? We all see it differently. I thought he was easily our best and our only creative player – he should have been in central midfield.
79caps
14:45 on 4 December, 2012
He should have been in central midfield, I thought he struggled out wide (except a couple of decent runs in 2nd half), but he looks like he’s going to suffer from the curse of the creative player at Celtic in recent years, stuck out on the wing (see Naka, Aiden)
Paul67 et al
First Tier Tribunal? First? Might be a clue in there somewhere!
up over goal
Yes..You may have something ,there..
“The Whole Squad is Underperforming”
Going by oor last Embarrassment… which are getting More and More Frequent..if Ah may say so…
You are Technically Correct in Your Observation.
Howevahhhhh…
Ah believe that there are Two or Three Guys who should Not Be selected fur this Game again the Russians..
Because..
IN MA OPINION…
None of these Guys ,whom Ah hiv Omitted .have bin Playing well.. in there last
SEVERAL outings,when they hiv started.
To Wit:
Joe Ledley, Hooper..Miku….and to a Lesser Extent..but still Under Achieving,lately.. Kris Commons..
and..
That Makes them.
Unacceptable.
for selection in Tomorrow’s Game..
We must only SELECT.. Players who hiv bin turning in.. at least..
Acceptable Performances.
That is how Ah wid select Ma Players.. fur any Game…really..
Too, Bad..that
Neil uses Far Different Criteria ..frum Me… when it comes tae Team Selection.
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Pre -match nerves in evidence,here.
I hope our players don’t think the game is getting easier the more Spartak first team regulars drop out.
Classic banana skin scenario.
I’m sure we,the choir,will not allow any slacking!
I’m a little more worried with the Barca drop outs,if true.Xavi and Inniesta are the beating heart of this animal,despite all the other talents on display.Team game may suffer but will hopefully allow the little Argentinian to take centre stage.
Reading some of the team suggestions for us I would hope we do not disturb a settled defence.Leave Ambrose in beside Wilson.Kayal,a proper defensive midfielder should slot into big Vic’s position;a position he made his own up until this year.
I still think we are not a great offensive team so should not throw caution to the wind and go all out attack……………….well not at least until we see the mettle of the Russians.
They may,indeed,be rank
Oh,and great news about Hector back up off the canvas.
Ding,ding.Round two!
Kayal33
You see, this is where it gets tricky. I agree that Lassad is the better playe (ON THE SCANT EVIDENCE THUS FAR). However, Miku was excellent v Barcelona, and if it’s 4-4-2, he and Watt (despite the Arbroath flat tyre) still have a decent record together (2 goals, 2 assists in 135 mins of football). Lassad’s been great, but that was in 4-3-1-2.
On your team of tried and trusted –
If we’re predicting a team, I’d say there were question marks over Izzy – he’s only just back, so there’s the possibility that Mulgrew or Matthews will start at LB.
I think Neil will need to be more imaginative than simply going with the stalwarts. Leaving aside my opinion of them, few of that team you mention have had a great success rate – Lustig/Brown – 33%, Ambrose/Wilson – 52%, Izzy/Mulgrew – 67%, Sammi/Hooper – 67%. The only ones who have a decent record in 4-4-2 are Kayal/Ledley – 84%.
Success rates aren’t everything (I like Lustig/Brown, despite the fact they’ve never won a match when played down the right) but there are too many dodgy combinations in there.
P Brady-“Someone should be coming down hard on them for wasting tax payers money. They should be chasing people who are actually not paying tax and millions of pounds of it.”
Got to be a lurking bhoy who posted that one…
Kayal33 @ 14.47
I agree absolutely. Celtic managers seem very reluctant to play the likes of McGeoch, Naka and Paddy in central midfield. They prefer to have 3 workhorses, which is one of the reasons we struggle to break down a packed defence.
Army surplus?
Last night I watch a commando chappie I know try on his latest issue fighting smock.
The latest camo pattern on the sleeves, snazzy breathable central panel in khaki.
“A bit too big” says I.
He shrugged.
“When are we ever goanae wear this? Half the lads have already got them on Ebay.”
I trust Neil Lennon to select the right team for the task in hand and I am confident the players will step up to the mark.
There is absolutely no point in concerning ourselves with events at the Nou Camp. If Benfica win then they will deserve their place in the last 16.
Kojo, absolutely tough one tomorrow. Agreement on that subject.
I was at a doo on Friday with Dixie Deans, Pat McCluskey and Patrick Rollink. First question to me, “Who’s Kojo?”
The people of Ayrshire are none the wiser.
falkirkbhoy, yes, it sure is.
Lennon n Mc….Mjallby, as much as me, I’m sure.
Celtic Mac, could be.
up_over_goal
14:51 on 4 December, 2012
The starting 11 I mentioned isn’t necessarily what i’d like to see, and Matthews instead of Izzy is a distinct possibility, but we haven’t really played 4-4-2 in Europe. Sammi plays much deeper, its more a 4-4-1-1. Personally i’d go 4-5-1 in Europe everytime with Forrest & Sammi wide of a striker (Lassad or Hooper) and three in the centre of midfield (Brown, Victor & Ledley when fit, Kayal or Mulgrew as back up).
Kojo
I don’t see it that way. Players should be selected not just on how they’re performing, but on how well they’d suit Lenny’s game plan.
Take 2 players at random – Mulgrew and Commons. Played in a 4-3-3, Mulgrew has been excellent at LB (12 from 12 pts, and great performances). Commons as AM in 4-3-1-2 also superb (15 from 18 and nearly always briliant).
Put them together at LB/LM and what do you get? A truly abysmal pairing. 5 points from 15 and nearly always dreadful games (the most recent example was the turgid home game to St Johnstone). Players need to be played in their best positions with partners who get the best out of them.
If Scott Brown is the answer tomorrow wtf is the question?
Kayal
Ah respect yer opinion..pal..
We all hiv wan. And that is the way it should be.
Needless tae say…
Ah disagree, quite a bit actually… with you opinion regarding how Young McGeough
played agin the Smokies…
Ah thought he played well..and did Improve Markedly from his previous Performance..
He is coming oantae His Game…
He wid gie us the kinda Attack minded.. Tak ye man oan.. Type of Player , which we have missed so dearly..in oor Last Several Performances..
We miss. the Magic and the Spark of. Forrest…
In Ma Opinion.An Improving McGeough, will compensate, for our Loss of Forrest.
Again ..In Ma Opinion..
Ambrose is a Natural.. Mid Fielder..
He is A Stoap Gap. C.B.
Ah..know.
Ah am alone in having That Opinion of this Guy.
Nevertheless.
His Place should be in the Celtic Mid.. as an Attacking Midfield.. GENERAL.
He is well qualified for that Joab.
Nice chatting..
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
A wee bit worried about Kayal’s tendency to give away stupid free kicks.
Kayal 33@ 1440.
If there’s any more than one change from your line up I’ll be amazed.
I see a Russian web site has been trolling CQN for some material ahead of tomorrow. They have quoted a dozen or so contributors from the comments section. http://alturl.com/zagqn
Paul67
I am very much looking forward to your Ogilvie article.
Paul 67
I’ve been mis-quoted
Kayal33 думает, что лидер «Спартака» покинет команду:
На мой взгляд, Макгиди зимой переберется в премьер-лигу.
Lazy Russian web-site!!
Pigalle
Here’s my Ogilvie article:
Cake and eat it flyman.