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.
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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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good wgs on espn prog
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Ernie..
Was going to Ask this Question Earlier you might Know the Answer..
One of the Scenarios of Rangers going to the Wall or Admin was that All Debenture (Club Deck) Holders would get All their Money back..Think it Totalled 6.5M..
Cant remember which Scenario it was..?
or How could i find out..
Anyone else Know..Thanks in Advance..
Summa
http://thejanefieldend.com/thank-you-aiden-mcgeady/
New article posted.
new artivle posted
Don’t understand why Scott is playing ……. It must have been his decision…. Some mhan ….true Celt
ernie lynch that valuation of £1.5m will have been affected by the Ticketus floating charge. Otherwise HMRC would have insisted on the stamp duty on the full value.
Do you know if the property transfer was recorded at the Land Register for Scotland?
BTW. I much preferred the previous and grandiose old name, The General Register of Sasines.
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
Lads, for those who are in the CQN Saturday Naps competition, please go back and post your selection at the end of the previous article :
“Celtic eliminate two excellent teams from pot 4 ”
Alternatively, if you cannot access the previous article for any reason, then you can send me an email message with your selection to : fleagle29 at gmail.com
All the best, fleagle
Live match thread up on new article
Just announced that Goebbels , sorry , Jabba , officially appointed as propaganda spokesman!
That’s just leaked out from the bunker.
A marriage I would say made in heaven and says a lot about the impartiality of the BBC!