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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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP3PCZR9-gA
The Pogues
Galway Races
DJBEE,
Many thanks, I´ll do it.
Sipsini, none springs to mind. I’ll look through the collection.
1970 team -the Lions, apart from Williams, Hay, Brogan, Hughes instead of Simpson, Craig, Clark & Chalmers.
No George Connelly, even though he played in both semis against Leeds.
sipsini is it “Voices in my Head?”
Several versions and arrangements.
Thanks also to CRC. An amazing site for a grateful lurker.
Cheers doc appreciated.
sipsini
bottom end of ardencraig road, just in front of my skool st. dominics.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwrel&v=2ZOs7YXqCng
For Philvesreturns.
Sometimes musical saye even more than a painting can say.
petec
Had the cardigan not made the rallying call that the huns needed the CL to survive, things might have been different for BTM.
The first derby game at the bigot dome summed up his tenure for me, the blatent cheating was so in your face, even Craig Levein said his bit before he took the soup, he had no chance.
But he was not the one to galvanise the club, that was Lennys job, and he has surpassed my expectations.
What he has achieved is astonishing, I was speaking to a bloke today, he told me he read something in a paper and couldn’t believe how little our squad cost, the admiration for us is everywhere.
Doc
FFS man you’ve got me in tears!!!
What a beautiful send off for Liam Clancy.
Unsure who was buried today, but if his send off was half of that then he’s a lucky man – may he rest in peace. You take care, mate.
hh
bjmac
barbsbhoy2
You will enjoy, put the hoops on minus 2 and you might even be able to afford a tee shirt buy XX large if you are a small, they shrink.
1970 EC Final
George Connelly was on the bench.
Fanad
Get the possession right and we won’t need penalties. The old man says the reds chilling nicely in the fridge – there’s always St Phils though.
Regards to the family HH
Phyllis dietrichson
“No George Connelly” As one who was there,that was Jocks biggest mistake,he played Yogi Hughes ,I still say,but may be wrong,that he played him becaused he missed out in Lisbon.
We most definitely underestimated our opponents.But that’s life. HH.
Ntassoola.
Cheers.it’ll be good to here it again. I’ll pass it onto my mates as it was on on their cd which i lost.
bjmac
23:49 on 7 December, 2012
Sorry mate, did not mean for that, but the wee man was a star, big Dundee Hibs man, story to tell about that if you are going on Sunday.
If they were to sing that at my wake I’d be fine with that.
Barbsbhoy
Been in The Fiddler …many many times
Excellent craic …not far from Mirador…about a mile …not too dear in a taxi or a pleasant walk if you fancy it …it’s in San Eugenio …
Gordon64
And I was there.
1970 Celtic v FeyenoordSTRONG>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q97IfBOIR5Q
The Body of an American
The Pogues
(The Wire’s unofficial theme)
Friday frank
Tell old Jim I like my red at room temperature,Have a nice Christmas ,on the slopes or the pub.Regards to you all.HH
Some more obscure Motown
The first one is a cracker IMHO
Eddie Hendricks (Temp)
Jnr. Walker
Levi
petec
23:39 on 7 December, 2012
Nothing has changed …… our success has never gone down well in this Country …… We can only continue to grow Glasgow Celtic with sporting integrity, and charity, to the fore …….and, thanks to the LL etc, our aspirations are eminently more achievable, since the ‘barrier’ has been swept aside ….. Bring on the ‘insidious’ …. LOL
Kit
Fair play to you.
The myth of discourse between the team
and the board has become fact.
Sorry, meant to add …….OUR DAY HAS COME…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL9hDmoxkiA
The Pogues and Joe Strummer
St Patrick’s 1988
London Calling
Doc is Neil Lennon – That is spooky. Are you psychically attuned to Philvis in the same way I am to podia?
Thank you for that beautiful song. I’ve liked The Dubliners since my Buncrana-born granny introduced me to them. She also taught me the best rebel songs when she wasn’t playing Josef Locke vinyls on her record player.
Sadly she died some years ago, but this was her favourite song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z265BuKCQrc (thumbsup)
Marrakesh express.
At the fives?
I was glenacre quad then moved upto dougrie rd across from st Margaret Marys chapel.
Ended up back in westcastle me and my kids.
Hope all the bhoys heading to kilmarnock have a great day out. Lets hammer these hun apologists, cement our place at the top and finish off what’s been a great week for Celtic.
barbsbhoy2
23:27 on
7 December, 2012
I am in the El Mirador Hotel in Costa Adeque Tenerife and would appreciate a pointer to a Celtic pub where I could watch the match tomorrow. Any recommenations would be appreciated, taxi ride no problem. Many thanks for any suggestions.
******
The Irish Fiddler, San Eugenie.
Tell Gerry, the Boss, and his mate, Neil, that I sent you and they’ll let you buy them a drink.(joke).
gordon64
23:59 on
7 December, 2012
Kit
Fair play to you.
The myth of discourse between the team
and the board has become fact.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sorry, just in …..can you elaborate, Gordon, please..?
philvis
Your Granny had decent taste.
Just a pity it skipped a generation :>)))
Thomthethim
Buy them a drink is about right :-))
The last Killie game I saw in there was that 3-3 carry on in Oct last year …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4uP32mnAjY (thumbsup)
pfayr,
I was in that day too.
I’m just back after a couple of weeks r&r.
THE EXILED TIM – Your Granny had decent taste.
Just a pity it skipped a generation :>)))
Thank you my friend in Celtic.
I never could cure my parents of their addiction to Disco.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I65whHoCkHs (thumbsup)
can i have raspberry on that champions league ice cream
22:42 on
7 December, 2012
Great News
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-20643803
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Now that IS very good news…….LOL
philvisreturns
I always admire, covet, your ability to achieve at the highest level.
Your podium achievements are beyond wonder, I bow.
Your taste in music is beyond compare. I just listened .