Two clubs from outside the top five wealthy leagues reached the quarter finals last season but Benfica were drawn against another team from outside the big five, Zenit St Petersburg. Apoel Nicosia eliminated Lyon in the last 16 on penalties (we should be practicing penalties every week between now and then).
Two teams, Basel (who earlier eliminated Manchester United) and Bayer Leverkusen (who eliminated Valencia), lost seven goals in one game in the first knockout round last season. This tournament retains an ability to be harsh and unforgiving at every moment. Leverkusen actually conceded 10 to Barcelona over two games.
Apoel Nicosia conceded eight to Real Madrid in the quarters. The Cypriot team held things together for as long as they could but failed to reach group stage of the Europa League this season, going out at the hands of Neftchi Baku (Azerbaijan).
Our seven potential opponents, all from the top five leagues, will each present an enormously difficult challenge but some are easier than others. Our biggest advantage is our own position. Those seven clubs will each underestimate Celtic, we have by far the lowest coefficient of all teams left in the tournament.
Thanks for the great support for the CQN Annual. You can order online here!
We are enormously outgunned and inexperienced at this level but we know a few things:
We can defend under incredible pressure.
We can score, home and away, against anyone.
We cannot retain possession. This is not a good thing, but it is an acknowledged weakness, so we know not to plan to retain possession. If in doubt, laces through the ball and get into position.
Our opponents will know we have the tallest team in the competition. Height is an advantage until your opponent learns how you use it. During the first half on Wednesday Celtic tried to repeat the corner kick success we enjoyed against Barcelona and Benfica but Spartak had read the script. We will be unlikely to score the same goal again in Europe. A fresh plan is needed.
The Spartak goal is a real lesson. This is not a goal we would have conceded against a far superior Barcelona. We had a 1-0 lead and our entire left flank was exposed, compromising a winning position. We can leave our left flank exposed at Kilmarnock tomorrow but this kind of laissez-faire defending came within 8 minutes of eliminating us on Wednesday and will do so in the next round if repeated.
Penalty kicks determined the outcome of 50% of Champions League knockout ties last season (20% after games, 30% during games). No amount of practice is too much.
Planning for the quarter finals starts now.
The next issue of CQN Magazine will be out next week. If you would like to advertise get in touch, advert@cqnmagazine.co.uk.
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If anyone is to blame for Barcelona + Man Utd fielding teams mainly full of reserve players, then it is UEFA themselves
The ridiculous way the competition is set up, means that most of the top sides from the big leagues have already qualified with a couple of games to spare
Prince Harry’s jubilee tour on behalf of the Queen in March cost £107,098… Nice work if you can get it. Of that £51,443 was spent on scheduled flights for himself and his staff from London to Miami and Rio de Janeiro back to London. A further £55,655 was spent on a private jet to take him from Miami to Belize and onto the Bahamas, Jamaica and then back to Miami… Thanks Nan, Thanks Peasants.
Gordon_J – The total cost to the country is around £200M per annum.
Seems pretty reasonable seeing as we’re rich enough to waste over £10Bn a year on foreign aid. (thumbsup)
There’s no doubt that many on here will have a wife, husband, son, father, brother, best friend etc etc that is a Rangers supporter.
They are not all 2-headed monsters. Misguided? Of course.
I know a good few Rangers fans whom I would trust with my life.
Awe _Naw..,
I was trying to get Ed to explain why if he accepted the club were dead, did he immediately switch allegiance to a brand new club whose first action was to further corrupt Scottish football, why would anyone immediately align themselves to a club that usurped the correct procedure and qualification to the top of the game at the expense of more qualified clubs.
Hopefully he will come back and answer that because from previous discussions he has made some sense, but this one is going to be a cracker.
izzy – Alex Salmond spent over £100K going to a golf match. (thumbsup)
Ten Men Won The League
15:41 on
7 December, 2012
You are absolutely right…..and no one is denying Barca’s right to field reserves if they are able…..just don’t talk about a “Special Relationship” between us and them…..its only in Peter Lawells mind….
ulysses mcghee
15:30 on 7 December, 2012
I only logged on to post an inflammatory statement.
________________________________________________
And when I seen the badness in the amazing link that you posted, that was me wanting to see that badness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z_7eu64y6c
It was when I over complicated things and studied how good the message was because I am now an over critical person because…….Well.
Your delivery was so f’n good on so many LEVELS and it was delivered with pure innocence. A heroic post and it probably resonates more with me than any ever post submitted on this incredible site.
CANAMALAR 1535
Oh,wtf does that mean?
Get a grip,bud. that is a piece of nonsense as a contribution to debate.
He said,you said,utterly pathetic.
philvisreturns
15:43 on
7 December, 2012
Two wrongs don’t make a right…
.31003
I joined the KKK because I liked the evening wear debate has been done to death.
Nobody has hounded Ed more than me. He will tell you that himself.
He has always been civilised.
His intentions are good and always have been good. Most blue noses would have considered jumping off the Kingston Bridge on Wednesday.
As you say always civilised.
Never a name change.
He has never repeat never changed his tune on CQN
He has nothing to hide. He is consistent.
HH
philvisreturns
What happened with the Queen’s first cousins,Nerissa and Katherine, who were both nieces of the Queer Mother?
Hi, think I saw someone enquiring about an SFA meeting yesterday. I believe they met with the SPL and SFL to discuss league reconstruction (and to consider the points raised by Dundee Utd in view of the Sevco boycott of their cup tie).
This was released yesterday, as reported by the BBC.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20627259
philvisreturns
I see you are busy, again.
Here is a wee track to take you off track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KduJS8y48jc
“@gerrycfc1: A guy on mastermind the nite bbc2 at 8 oclock tonite his preferred subject is celtic”
Mort
13:28 on
7 December, 2012
***********
Playing catch up here :¬)
I agree we have nothing to thank Barca for, I support the Celts and thats it.
Plus we’ll have to beat them again to win the big cup at Wembley.
V
Prince of Goalkeepers
Thanks but not a mention of the huns
HH
31003 – Two wrongs don’t make a right…
Neither does highly selective outrage. People who get worked up about the Royals wasting millions, while our government wastes tens of billions, need to catch themselves on. (thumbsup)
izzy – What am I, the royal correspondent? (thumbsup)
Another excellent state of play analysis,Paul.
A timely reminder of our low co-efficient and pot 4 status.
Its difficult to think in these lowly terms after another historic game on wed night.We and others around the world judge the fans and atmosphere at Celtic Park to be in the top……………..one……….if you ask me.
Great observation about us not being a “possession” team.Efe Ambrose does have a habit of dribbling out of defence.As good a centre half as he is,he needs to be educated in what the word “blooter” means.(not alcohol!)
I had a discussion/argument with a pal of mine who reckoned our central defence was poor.Wilson and Ambrose were caught out a couple of times but rallied really well to the cause,which was admirable against the strongest,most mobile twin attack force I have seen at Parkhead for a long time.Ari’s chip over 6′ 7″ Frazer Foster was sublime and If Emenike is looking for another club…………………………
All in all an heroic performance by all the players and management.Punching above our weight,indeed.Now that we have a larger list of injuries lets work on getting an “offensive”,ball playing,cavalier team on the park for the festive season SPL games.
Play the dribblers!
Glad to see the reappearance of Ed on this blog.If you can judge a man by what he writes,he seems like a thorough gentleman.
petec – Thanks buddy. (thumbsup)
its malaga for me lads …….. low cost holidays either week 3 days/ nights around the tie
to costa del sol inc flight from newcastle ……£90 or edinburgh £140
so i bse who i want on that in the next round
base *
philvisreturns
What am I, the royal correspondent?
Jeezo! Jenny Bond’s a Tim? Well i never :)
Bob
Based on the principle that they are doable both for me and Celtic. I want Schalke
HH
I’ll have a Schalke, please Bob.
Petec
xxx
HH
BMCW,
You know exactly what it means, you invited izzy and anyone else who had a go at Ed to go fourth and multiply that my friend is intolerance whether you like it or not. So climb down off that high horse and remember who you are, I don’t actually remember Ed getting as much abuse as Izzy got, I know for a fact had Izzy abused Ed as much as has been claimed, he would not be posting now, he would have been censured.
Bob
down side if we draw Malaga is lack of tickets, less than 2,000
schalke for me
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
15:51 on 7 December, 2012
Awe naw, I suspect SFA have written back to Dundee United with answers to points they raised, and this info will be released in due course (maybe even as soon as tomorrow on Radio Shortbread as Jim Spence seems to have good contacts at Utd).
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
Are Schalke beatable by the time mid February comes around?
How big is their squad etc?
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
15:12
Now eff off and ………
>Jehovah !!……..Jehovah !!
TPoG
I asked Jim Spence earlier if he had heard anything regards a reply from the SFA to DU, but so far no news
south of tunis
14:57 on
7 December, 2012
Is it true that Vincenzo Iaquinta is ” on trial” at Celtic ?
‘———————
Daily record exclusive :
“Vincenzo Iaquinta on trial for crimes against football”
FPLG demands to know who the jury are!
Mark HATEley “does not think its like a new signing”
Ten Men
Thanks for the info
Ten Men Won The League – The Queen’s a Tim too. She was quite taken with Alex Rollo in the Coronation Cup.
When asked about Rangers (RIP) she reportedly said:
“Pay yer taxes, ya fennies.” (thumbsup)
Philvis..,
Toasting with the tears of benefits claimants
Your Masonic values are there for all to see.
The team most likely to have a decimated squad come February is Malaga
Sales of key players such as Isco in January are highly likely due to their financial problems
ernie lynch
15:13 on
7 December, 2012
Ernie, I simply posted Phil’s blog article and it included the quote ……. sorry if I offended you LOL……. I don’t want to really upset you but, some right mythological nutcase also told me Xavi said he would like to play for Celtic before he hangs up his boots ……OUCH…… Don’t shoot the messenger …….. Pleased to know that you have time to check every quote you read …(just kidding…!!!!)