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
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 29
- »
From last thread…
12:18 on 22 August, 2013
Re the supposed duff striker signings, my take has always been, we have goalkeeping coaches Stevie Woods, midfield Thommo Parker Lenny, physios, dieticians, psychologists, but no striking coaches…maybe one of these guys with the proper coach would have been a diamond, why spend money on the most important part of the game and not have a specialist coach….makes sense tae me
Kikinthenakas
Árd Macha had to look that up..Armagh, every day a school day.
Being an Ayrshire bhoy having recently stayed in Kilwinning for some years I often thought of using this prior to MickTT
Thanks to Network Rail in giving all stations there Gaelic name I refrained from using the Kilwinning translation…
Have a look if you ever have the misfortune
Cill D’ Fhinnean…
Ayrshire is Green and White
HH
im genuinely hoping for a 3-0 against these damned russians
and a packed CP that puts the fear of ghod into them cheering celtic to the high heavens
i have watched quite a few european return legs in my time
im struggling to think of that many when we overcame an away defeat and clinched the required victory at CP to get us into the next round
so as a long time mineshafter and professional “see I told ye so” in the spirit of unity, and the old jungle, lets cheer ourselves up and list the highlights of those golden nights where we overcome a first leg defecit to clinch the return leg and the tie at Paradise
whos first?
I’ve got a couple of bottles of raw cabernet they could use to launch their war cabinet.
BRTH
There are paranoid Tims, there are placid Tims, there are even uber Tims, but if I’m thinking of the Tim you were referring to, well I’ve had him marked down as a psychedelic Tim ever since the fall out from the Ross County Semi. defeat.
For all the 1000’s of comments during this transfer window, suffice to say that if our urgency to sell players was matched by our urgency to maintain playing standards in our squad, we’d all feel a bit happier about our club just now.
kikinthenakas
agree – I think I’ll apply
Ard Macha
And therein lies the dilemma facing us. Neil Lennon knows how to set up a team against a creative team like Barcelona but was found wanting when he tried to play an attacking formation against Juventus at Parkhead, culminating in what I think is our worst ever home result in Europe. Cheated for sure, but also out thought. I mention the other night that Commons had one shot on target, Brown one drive in the first half and Ledley blasted one miles over. Shakther have nothing to fear from a repeat of that midfield. Neil, like Gordon Strachan before him, (with Aiden and Naka mind you) believes he can compensate by playing wide, but up against a four and then a five that is difficult even for the best players. Izzy got forward, for sure, but we lost both the ball and the second goal from one of those forays. Players need to push through the first line of defence, through the middle, and take the ball with them. We failed to do that in the first tie. Neil is no attacking tactician, but he is a motivator, and a leader, and he will bring that to Celtic Park on Wednesday. We have good capable players, who really, and I mean really, need to raise their game.
Tet.
I didn’t say I was superior.
You had a dig at anonymous posters who have digs at anonymous posters while chastising posters for calling others names who happened to be Huns or happyclappers in your opinion. No need for the victim nonsense.
Hi Guys,
First chance to post since we lost to Shacktar. They killed a sheep before kick off aparently to bring them luck. It certainly worked. they were very lucky to avoid defeat let alone win the game. My thoughts from a celtic point of view is that the central defenders will get better with more games together. i do feel we are weak in the left back position from a defensive point. Izzy is hopeless at defending but good going forward. a lot of goals Celtic loose is down his side with poor positioning and poor reading of the game.
We will win i think at home 4-0. im that confident. But a penalty box man is needed urgently going forward. Next week we need a fast start with a very fast tempo. There defenders are all giants so i would suggest keep the ball on the deck , we must score early to put them in to panic mode.
Dexter 12.27
You make some very valid points .
TT
I’ve got the unenviable duty of puting my old dog penny,of 14 years to sleep later tonight,ex wife has made the deccission a few days ago based on the athritis in her rear legs and her poor quality of life now since our other dog jake was given the same exit a few years back..heart breaking then and even more so now..my poor kids are the ones who will be hit hardest by this cruel part of life..sorry for puting this on cqn..but when you work self employed on your own this site can be a great place of comfort and tranquility hail hail to you all
I would love to see Henrik Larsson coaching our forwards in the art of movement, positional play and most of all, goalscoring. Simple things like how to time your jump for a header, how to lose your marker, when to drop off, make near post/far post runs. Who knows, it could save us money in the long run instead of spending on failed project after failed project.
Tommysbhoy 13.33
The denser the better
Look, lets get things into perspective, if we as a team can beat Ajax 3 – 0 on their patch, we can – sure as hell is hot – beat SK 3 – 0 on our patch.
It’s up to the manager to pick the team and command the tactics and for our players to respond and perform as we all know they can.
I just think it would be nice if we had our striker. Has anybody seen our striker? Where’s oor striker? Peter, come on now, you’ve had your wee laff, show us the striker.
Son to Father…
Da! What’s a striker?
glendalystonsils
13:50 on 22 August, 2013I would love to see Henrik Larsson coaching our forwards in the art of movement, positional play and most of all, goalscoring. Simple things like how to time your jump for a header, how to lose your marker, when to drop off, make near post/far post runs. Who knows, it could save us money in the long run instead of spending on failed project after failed project.
If they don’t know by now, they never will.
HH
tommysbhoy
i was in a similar situation a few months ago
heartbreaking
take care
PF
Tommysbhoy
I grew up with dogs all my life and the task you face was always one that was detested in our house. My dad– a real doggy man– was inconsolable for days after.
All I can say my friend is that life in all things has an inevitable cycle.
Still got pictures of the dogs and always have fond memories.
HH
Did we put out Cologne and Dinamo Kiev at CP in the second leg…
Was at both but the memory, we did win.
larsson80 @ 1258,
thanks for posting that.
A fantastic send-off by a guy who clearly loved his dad dearly.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Micktt… Agree.
Apparently the sevconians ” Can’t produce worker ants like the RC’s”.
However I believe they produce their fair share of benefit scrounger ants.
Sevcomedian seeks advice from fellow intellectuals on the quality of an item of club merchandise:
“New Puma training gear falling to bits
My boys training top and jumper is 3 weeks old and falling to bits. Has anyone else had the same?
——
“why the [blazes] you telling us for, complain to nike themselves.”
——
“Did you wash it at the right temperature?”
——
“As I work in retail manufacturing they will tell you, put the tops in a tinfoil wrap and put it in the freezer thus stops the material de threadilizing and when you put it in the washing machine it re congratulates back together. Wash it at 32.5 degrees and it wil be fine.”
Recongratulations!
tamrabam
I have been at a few, but one that does stick in my mend was during the Wim Jansen season, so late 1990’s. It was mentioned on here last night, the return leg (UEFA Cup?) against Tyrol from Austria. Think it was one of Henrik’s first games at Celtic Park, playing alongside Simon Donnelly. Finished 6-3, (which would do Wednesday), but such were the timing of the goals that no sooner were we going through were we going out. Think we went out to Liverpool that season. Great atmosphere that night too.
MickTT
that’s the trouble. We’ve had too many who don’t know.
tommysbhoy
Very sad indeed. It’s dreadful when this day arrives. Happened to ours a couple of years back. All I can say is that it was all very peaceful at the end, no struggles, just closed her eyes.
I feel for your kids. A special treat needed to cheer them up.
I betcha cant concentrate on work? I was a wreck that day. Kept clock watching wishing it was tomorrow.
Having said all of that, the fact you are so upset just shows what a wonderful life you must have given your dog. Hang on to that thought and best of luck my friend.
There is always an ear for you on CQN.
Monaghan
I think they have been sold a dead parakeet
Don’t you just love it when one troll replies to another troll? Must do better sons of Jack and spawn of satan.
You’re that clever you didn’t see the Unseen Fenian Hand coming. You’re deid!
Maybe the war chest is hidden behind the war cabinet.
Monaghan1900
13:57
That last one is definitely a Timposter.
Tommysbhoy
So sorry to hear that. Had same situation years ago. A new wee puppy helped get my children over their heartbreak.
glendalystonsils
13:57 on 22 August, 2013MickTTthat’s the trouble. We’ve had too many who don’t know.
Then I wouldn’t waste my time coaching them, I’m not Henry Larsson by the way. But I know what ye mean…
HH
Clink\o/
13:59 on
22 August, 2013
Monaghan
I think they have been sold a dead parakeet
——
A Govan Blue?
That’s where the sevvies have been going wrong: they’ve been dethreadilizing when they should have been recongratulating.
Celtic_First
14:01 on
22 August, 2013
Monaghan1900
13:57
That last one is definitely a Timposter.
——
May well be. So difficult to tell them apart.
I mentioned the other day I was embarrassed by our performance or lack of it on Tuesday night and I stand by that. We lacked creativity and yes we lacked a striker.
However part and parcel of being a Celtic fan is win lose or draw, support the team! I will take my seat on Wednesday and believe we can turn this around!
I just wish I could get the Partizan Belgrade game out my head!
glendalystonsils
13:57 on 22 August, 2013MickTTthat’s the trouble. We’ve had too many who don’t know.
P.S Your talking about the basic qualities of a footballer, at 43 I can do it, never played football at any level but can play, you can probably do it, no what I mean.
HH
Sir Ciff Richards to front UK’s entry in next years Eurovision Song Contest singing “Recongratulations”
Q. Is a war cabinet smaller or bigger than a war chest?
Son to father…
“Da! that’s Neil Lennon on the phone”
Father to son…
“What’s he want”
Son to father…
“He wants to know if you’ve seen our striker.”
Father to son…
“Tell him I saw four of them with suitcases in hand and thumbs out on the side of the London Rd. a wee while back”.
Son to father…
“Neil says your as much help as Peter”.