Celtic were not the only seeds to get a bloody nose in this week’s Champions League play-off round first leg games. Lyon and Real Sociedad looked well matched before the game but Lyon’s 0-2 home defeat suggests the seeds were outclassed.
Austria Vienna were the team I wanted this round but despite indifferent domestic form they upset the odds and beat Dinamo Zagreb 0-2 in Croatia. Perhaps the biggest surprise was Schalke’s 1-1 home draw with Poak Salonika.
Our defeat was, apparently, an historic sporting occasion for a country who are only a decade or so into their relationship with the game. Kazak prime minister, Serik Akhmetov, went into the home dressing room after the game on Tuesday to congratulate Shakhter and bask in the fruits of his sports development policies, but I hear there is trepidation ahead of their trip to Glasgow.
Top Russian TV analyst, Vasily Utkin, predicted, “Celtic will solve all the problems before second game, they will learn what mistakes they did in Astana and they will show their real power. If this happens I’m pretty sure Celtic will go through.
“In the previous round Shakhter beat Albanian champions Skenderbeu 3-0 but in Albania they were down 3-0. They are the team whose emotions are very important. If Celtic start the game well at Celtic Park, with all their songs from the stands and support given by their fans, the players from Karaganda may start the game on their knees.
“Their only chance will be on the counter attack. Whether this will be productive is the question for Celtic. A goal for Shakhter would complicate Celtic’s situation.
“I see Celtic reaching the Champions League group games. They are Champions League quality. Whatever Shakhter will do they are not Champions League quality, at least not yet.”
“This… is a question for Celtic” is the key phrase. Champions League qualification is in our own hands. Beat Shakhter Karagandy by more than 2-0 at home is as good an offer as anyone will get to qualify for the Champions League.
[calameo code=0003901713852289beccb lang=en page=92 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,082 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- »
Tonydonnelly
I don’t think the players have ever been fitter than they are now.
Northbhoy
Hope everything went well on Tuesday.
“Bon courage”.
YNWA
Sixtae
Tonydonnelly @ 08;49,
That’s a good point, the game has certainly changed, but the role of the Striker hasn’t.
I’d say strikers are more important now than they have been in the last 30 years.
Man Utd won the Premier in England despite fierce opposition due to a Striker.
I posted a couple of weeks ago that very few Celtic Managers have started a Season without 2 or 3 20+ a season forwards.
Even under so called poor managers and poor Boards, manly we still managed to put goal scoring Strikers on the pitch.
To me Lenny has 2/3rds of the pitch covered, the final 1/3rd he has struggled with, even with Hooper there we often looked woefully deviod up front.
We saw on Tuesday what happens when the Manager gets the defence wrong as well.
Hope we come back strong tomorrow.
NopathosinpaphosCSC
Hail Hail
ACGR
Yes very interested and thanks very much for the offer– you are a gem.
Blantyre Kev wins a prize — best wee counter in the land ( just don’t say that out loud too quickly!)
Tony Donnelly 67
I think you are right to an extent because last year Hooper, Samaras and Commons were all serious goal threats away from home and produced.
Makes me think that defences failed to cope with multiple threats whereas one striker is far easier and obviously not designed to get goals but to prevent them at our end!
Malone Bhoys
I beg to differ but respect your opinion, but the LL played with just 11 starters for 90 mins. For a few years before subs came in, you look at old pics. Of the LL (Lisbon lions) I am sure some one will have them, and have a look at the thighs on every player even auld Faither, my opinion is I have never seen a fitter team, then again who knows.
Re PAPHOS-just sent a txt to a good friend of mine there-MEMORIES bar JASON st definetly showing the game-its a very good bar-smallish lots of screns,owner Andreas good guy[AEK ATHens supporter-dont get him started on big dan!}-he will look after you all..HH
Good morning CQN from an overcast Nordrhein Westfalen, a high of of 23*C predicted. Good luck Tom Mc with the op.
BRTH, they also link us with 5′ 4″ Piatti, more MSM made up nonsense. We are looking to build up a football team not have a remake of Snow White and the seven dwarves.
I’m also surprised that they haven’t linked FC zombie with Gotham born billionnaire Bruce Wayne.
Ps, apologies for being sizeist and to anybody who is vertically challenged, you know size isn’t everything ;-)
diggingaholeformyselfcsc
GCT
All the very best with your operation
.
Who was it that said..
White Rabbit’s cant Jump..?
Not long in after a hard day..Takes Jinky’N’Larsson out on the Front Porch grabbed a Coldie and gave the Wee Buggers some Apple..
Lay down on the on the Couch took my eye off them for 2 Mins..Heard a noise looked round and Jinky is lying upside down on the Hedge on the other side of the Porch..wtf..
l made a Joke on here a couple of weeks ago that l would need to keep my eye on Jinky on a Friday Night as he is a bit of a Charterer..
Jeezo 20 Mins later l was still chasing him round the Garden..But l got him..To the Amusement of my neighbours Wife..
Well he is Under lock and Key now..
RabbitQuickNews..
Summa of ASenseOfFreedomCSC
Thanks Sixtaeseven
the funeral went well and we gave him a great send off
thanks for your condolescences
God Bless
Can’t be long before we get a decent rumour on RobbieKeaneQuickNews
Hi Lhads,
A poster mentioned last night that Aston Villa were 3-1 to beat Liverpool tomorrow evening. I couldn’t believe that, so I checked Paddy Power this morning and of course he is right. I think thats the best value to be had this weekend for anybody of a betting frame of mind. I threw a few quiid at it anyways.
Marti
Tom McLaughlin
07:44 on
23 August, 2013
Kind regards and best wishes.
Is Zheng Zhi fit for Wednesday? Could be a game changer, or tie changer in this case
HecanevenplaystrikerCSC
Northbhoy..,
Sorry to hear of your loss, hope you and the family are baring up, memories of good times will always be with you.
Hail Hail
Anyone know if any of the SMSM red tops ripped into Fat arse this morning for his absolutely ridiculous brass neck statement for every one to get round the table? What is it with this mob and rules? Honestly it’s getting beyond a joke, Ffs how many rule changes are we going to get this year for thems, it beggars belief, a discussing low life of a club that has the whole media here running scared to say a thing in case we have riots in the street. SHOKING.
like a new signing…… GB reinstated….appease the fans…..meantime searching the globe for one for the future goal scorer.
ic Football Club statement
By: Newsroom Staff on 23 Aug, 2013 09:44
CELTIC Football Club announced today that it has suspended the relocation of Season Books for supporters within Section 111 at Celtic Park.
Following extensive and positive discussions with supporters’ representatives for the Section, the Club has received assurances relating to previously raised safety concerns and unsafe behaviour within the stadium.
Celtic has engaged with the Glasgow City Council Safety Advisory Group regarding this matter and they have noted these assurances. This matter will be monitored on an ongoing, match -by-match, basis by both the Club and the Safety Advisory Group.
Celtic Football Club would like to re-iterate its commitment and responsibility to ensuring the safety of everyone who visits Celtic Park. It is our absolute priority.
The Club is pleased to have engaged in positive dialogue in relation to this matter. We thank the Safety Advisory Group and supporters’ representatives for their continued co-operation and we look forward to working together to ensure a safe environment in the stadium.
I didn’t see the Greggsmeister on the telly last night but I read James Forrest’s article and saw the photo of him waving those sheets of paper. I’ll guarantee those sheets of paper were just like their bank account – empty!
WTF?
Moonhowler goes on corporate junket scandal!
We’ve been duped,I tell ye!!
I hope you choke on yer prawn sandwiches,ya sell-oot bassa….
PS-a really nice gift from someone who clearly cares about you-even if they are happy to see your reputation trashed,or shafted.
.
So has Celtic FC backed down of have the Moved Laterally..;-))))
Summa of SideBoredCSC
lionroars67
I hope thats the end of this one now. I know extensive talks have been taking place and well done to all involved for sorting this out.
Marti
Maybe they found a centre forward in 111
Absolutely damming words from the Karagandy manager in today’s Metro.
He claims they beat us due to “a serious tactical error” that he’s noticed from “every game we’ve played this season, including friendlies” and that we “produced no surprises”. Can’t disagree with him at all.
We were let down by Neil.
I’d like to see the GP on they wee things from the shows that John Travolta and Olivia Neutron Bomb danced on in Grease.
Olivia – that’s what I call lateral movement – yummmm!!!
HH
BGFC
YourTheOneThatIWantCSC
For a certain Moonhowler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1gxJ7mj2uY
GP=GB oops!
Twists n Turns.
have sent you mail.
.
Guardian writer and journalism professor Roy Greenslade accuses Scottish media of failing readers over Rangers coverage
Professor of journalism and Guardian media blogger Roy Greenslade has accused the Scottish mainstream media of “turning a blind eye” to leaked material relating to the financial crisis at Rangers through the @CharlotteFakes Twitter account. Professor Greenslade said he believed there was a clear public interest in reporting the information, which appears to reveal the depth of the relationship and influence of PR company Media House on the Scottish press, and questioned the failure to go after the story. “If this involved any other big business which wasn’t football the press would be all over it asking questions,” he told The Drum. “Even if they weren’t able to reveal the intimate details of the material, they’d have a formula for dealing with it – ‘Although we can’t reveal the content… the revelations are explosive… there are deep questions about what was going on at this company…’ and so on. Yet they’ve just turned a blind eye to it.” Police confirmed last month that an investigation was underway into the Charlotte Fakes leaks but have revealed no further information into the progress of the investigation. The mysterious Twitter account has for months been releasing streams of correspondence between some of the main figures involved in the crisis at Rangers, including former owner Craig Whyte and founder of the club’s former PR agency Media House, Jack Irvine. It’s unclear how the Charlotte Fakes material was obtained but the documents are widely considered genuine within the media community. Some of the documents have even been removed from hosting sites at the request of legal firm Levy & McRae. In one of the emails, from Media House founder Jack Irvine to “Craig” – thought to be former Rangers owner Craig Whyte – Irvine apparently detailed his plans to take charge of the PR situation at Ibrox – and beyond. “Equally the morons in the media need to know they dealing with somebody who takes no shit from them and knows every one of their editors and their little secrets,” the email read. Irvine has declined to comment on the leaks and the Scottish media has so far refused to give the information much attention. Media House recently lost the PR contract with Rangers and the club emphasised in a public statement last week that Irvine no longer spoke for the club. Professor Greenslade said the media must be held to account and the information in the Charlotte Fakes documents pointed towards a serious problem with the influence of PR over the Scottish media during the course of the Rangers story. “I think it’s in the public interest to reveal that PRs acting for a company were influencing what newspapers were saying and were influencing the debate about something that is in the public interest, namely the liquidation of a company. “There is a public interest in the doings of the mainstream media. If we are holding power to account – and that is what we say we do – then we ought to hold ourselves to account as well, we need to be transparent. And these emails touch on whether journalists were doing their jobs impartially and therefore they are in the public interest. “I’m not being overly critical of Jack Irvine because we know what he was doing, he was acting on behalf of the company that hired him, but it’s the tame acceptance of what Jack Irvine was giving to journalists that is more worrying.” However, sportswriter at broadsheet title The Scotsman, Tom English, defended the Scottish media’s reluctance to touch the material. “Some of the documents have been very interesting, but I think accompanying that there has been a level of hysteria,” he said. “As journalists we have to separate what is interesting and what is relevant. There has been stuff on Charlotte Fakes that has made me think but has not yet made me act.”
Summa
Radio Scotland were in fine deflection mode this morning. They simply reiterated McCoist’s demand and then had the Thistle manager on saying that any footballer who gambles should be banned. So, he wasn’t taking issue with McCoist. Yesterday, they quoted 2 people who said that the SFA specifically visits each club before the season begins and tells them that, basically, no player can gamble on football. Very, very different reporting.
.
Above Courtesy The Drum
Well done Celtic and the GB
Now,get a CH and striker, then hammer SK and the negatonians can all do their cold turkey while we continue to support Celtic.
HH
Apart from the inability to deal with the long ball approach and Izzy getting caught forward here’s one. Lustig leaves his man free on the right to receive the ball. He is close enough to be able to close him down but the left winger being able to be an outlet causes problems, none more than the number of set-pieces we concede due to this. The midfielders have, for a long time, been guilty of switching off in games and not tracking midfield runners.
Summa
“As journalists we have to separate what is interesting and what is relevant. There has been stuff on Charlotte Fakes that has made me think but has not yet made me act.”
What a fecking eijit that Tom English is! Lucky he wasn’t around when the Watergate Tapes were around. NIxon would still be the American President!
Marti
Jack won’t like having his firm slagged in The Drum.
Not good for business when the public know what is going on in the world of the black arts.
Tom English, defended the Scottish media’s reluctance to touch the material.
“Some of the documents have been very interesting, but I think accompanying that there has been a level of hysteria,” he said. “As journalists we have to separate what is interesting and what is relevant.
There has been stuff on Charlotte Fakes that has made me think but has not yet made me act.”
……………………………………….
Aye right you are Tom!
Read more at http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/08/23/guardian-writer-and-journalism-professor-roy-greenslade-accuses-scottish-media#M4OPI6VZuy7Cks2l.99
Interesting discussions reFootballers fitness past and present.
As a boy in the 70’s I was on the train from London to Glasgow, accompanied by a Scottish International long distance runner and a Football coach.
The debate lasted 5hrs but never a dull moment, so can’t really do it justice on a short post.
The cruix of the Athletes arguement was they must be in tip top condition at all times, self disciplined and fully focussed, no serious Athlete would be able to compete if they smoked or drunk.
The Footballers arguement was their training was every bit as demanding, plus you have a Manager/Coach puahing you on ensuring 100 percent exertion.
Wonder how the debate would go today.
No doubt most top Footballers are Athletes now, though is Lionwl Messi? Whether he is or not, one things for sure he’d a found the game tougher back then.
The older footballers had ploughed fields to run through. Different types nowadays. Then your wage depended on you playing. Nowadays they are more like weans. Little niggle and three weeks off. Although if you look at a mcgraw they are now better looked after than rhose poor players back then