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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From BBC:
” Kris Commons was stretchered off against Spartak with a cut to his thing after scoring the winning penalty.”
A cut to his thing? Now that is a bad tackle.
HH all and happy Friday!
Doc is Neil Lennon
Sorry to hear of your friends passing.
May Alex rest in peace.
Prayers said for those he leaves behind.
HH
AS someone who remembers London Calling first time round, I will now forever associate the song with our fantastic result on Wednesday . Played it,every day since in the car.. Helps noise up the natives too!!
HH
Kayal33 @ 13.25
I agree that an attacking midfielder is what we need most. I think we have two already, though they are both young. Dylan McGeoch and the Bosnian-Swede Atajic who has impressed me a lot when I’ve watched the Under-19s. Atajic is not ready for the CL, but could easily start in the SPL as he has such good technique. Dylan, however, should be given a chance to show what he can do before February.
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
11:50 on
7 December, 2012
kevjungle – murdo’s 30 yds title winning boots 1979
11:40 on
7 December, 2012
Was it his headed goal against the zombies that upset you ..? …..Joe Ledley is absolutely brilliant….
*********
Aye and that game put us ahead of the huns (IL) after a 15 point fightback, JL run down to the corner of 111 and picked up the corner flag, waving it to the good Celts in the GB in salute…….. magic!
I like Joe Ledley CSC
Is it too early to put Neil up for a nighthood? Or would the rangers boycotte te garden party?
Soldiers in primary schools now…’Commando Joe’……dear god.
The match finished 40 hours ago.
After such an achievement, one person here must have posted at least 200+ times.
None of which were worth reading.
hoopy do.yes i as just going to ask same question.H H
67Heaven
13:19
Good article there from Davie. Thanks for posting.
Feels good having y/our faith in Lenny and his Lions being rewarded eh.
In fact I must admit Im feeling rather smug about it. Ha
Lenny is and always has been The Mhan.
Wem-be-ley….
PeteTheBeat
13:52
>…………………………………..
re Joe Ledley yes he is quietly effective ….in a defensive sort of way and I have no gripes with that except that we have ample` Neil Lennon type’ players.
What we need is a playmaker someone who can thread a defence-splitting pass or two.
Doc is Neil Lennon
13:10 on 7 December, 2012
I also buried a close friend this week.
As Damon Runyan used to say, ‘ A story goes with it.’
I was at the hospital last week visiting a cousin. In the bed opposite was an old guy with an oxygen mask over his mouth, obviously in bad shape. As you do, I tried not to sit looking at the guy.
When I got back home my missus tells me I had had a phonecall to tell me that a lifelong friend was in the same hospital I had just visited.. A guy I went through St. Pat’s, Dumbarton with & spent some of my ‘mad’ early years with all over the place. Newcastle, London, Kent,.. wherever. We had stayed in rough doss-houses, Sally Ann centres & all kinds of lodging houses & digs, taking whatever work turned up. Tommy was a time served shipwright, but here we were doing rough labouring work all over the place…No matter.
I went back up to Gartnavel to search him out & was shocked to discover that the poor guy with the oxygen mask was Tommy.
I had sat within 2 yards of his bed for nearly an hour & had not recognised him.
I had a lovely visit with him. He tried to lift the mask to make silly jokes about our wasted youth.
He died the following day & I was at his funeral on Tuesday.
What a strange world we live in.
God rest Big Tommy Boyce.
God rest your pal Alex.
Anyone know if any stats on our scouting departments’ work are available?
Countries visited,games attended,players watched,ect?
Just asking like
BB
The bould b`hoys….. Tá ár lá anois..!!! on 29 July, 2012 at 02:19 said:
Bould predictions
1.Celtic Will sign a striker
2.Celtic Will make it to the CL Group Stages
3.Celtic Will progress from the CL Group Stages.
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=9950&cpage=9#comment-1510552
Argue with that!
One to watch for the Friday night rock music fans.
BBC4 at 9pm is showing an hour’s worth of an AC/DC live concert from River Plate in Argentina.
SPF
.
Courtesy Follow Follow..
Back To The Future
By Bill McMurdo
I have been doing a lot of reminiscing lately about the Rangers of my boyhood years – the Waddell-Wallace era.
For me, there is something deeply symbolic about the strip the current team is wearing. It’s not just about honouring the past i.e. the 1972 European Cup Winners Cup triumph; it is also a statement and a message.
I firmly believe that in order to go forward, Rangers must go back. Back, that is, to the days before David Murray, when Rangers were Rangers – and everything that meant. The Rangers I knew growing up in the 1970’s were very much in the mould of the Rangers my father knew. The club was steeped in tradition, pride and an ethos that was very much marred by the Murray years.
Under David Murray, Rangers became a bloated parody of itself. There was success, yes, but we are paying the price for that now. Sadly Rangers became a club made in Murray’s image – arrogant, disdainful and disrespectful of others. Where once Rangers led Scottish football and was the favourite second team of most, during the Murray years this changed to despite and a desire to see Rangers humbled. Why? Because Murray wanted to dominate Scottish football, not lead it.
Being the biggest club means you are the club people look to for help and vision in times of trouble. With great power comes great responsibility, as Uncle Ben taught Peter Parker. Rangers lost this under David Murray but have found it again in our present role in the SFL. The teams in the SFL are only too happy to share in the bounty that comes with Rangers’ presence. This is exactly how it should be.
The values that were embodied by Struth, Symon, Waddell and Big Jock Wallace must once again be the warp and woof of the Rangers ethos. Of course, we don’t want Rangers to go back to the days when it was a sleeping giant commercially; there have to be good business people making money for the club off the field. But the traditions and philosophy that shaped Rangers pre-Murray can be and must be rediscovered in the way the team plays the game and in the way the club and its officials conduct themselves.
The Rangers I knew growing up inspired both fear and respect from others – yet also, curiously, trust. Teams in difficulty could rely upon Rangers for help. This is what we have to get back to.
There’s no question about it – people who hate Rangers have done their best to destroy the club and all it stands for. Like most Gers fans, I would be only too happy to see this doubled back upon these haters. But the reality is, with Scottish football in meltdown, the traditional role of The Rangers is one the club must face up to.
Rangers Football Club must once more lead the game here in Scotland. This was our historical role long before David Murray showed up at Ibrox. And it is our destiny now.
Summa
Testing
.
Izzy..
You have Still Not answered My Question..
Do You have Any Celtic Tattoo’s..?
Summa
ScotPatsFan
Is the wee guy with the short school trousers in that group.Sorry for my ignoranceIi never really progressed bye the Beatles
I like Efe Ambrose,,,and what he brings to the team. He is comfortable on the ball and plays out of defence on the ground , a welcome change to those defenders around him who are all too prone to aimlessly hoofing it up the park.
Summa of Sammi….
14:03
You have Still Not answered My Question..
Do You have Any Celtic Tattoo’s..?
>Aye hundreds…… And a devil dug called gunga.
Your turn.
Sunday night bbc2 Led Zeppelin live from London.
Be there or be square.
Doc/KK – will raise a glass to both gents this evening. Take it easy guys.
HH
TTTT
TimJim
Yes, the wee guy, Angus Young, is still running around witht the short trousers on!
SPF
zimmerman
Day off/ Me too?
Is the O2 show?
Mort
13:28 on
7 December, 2012
Thought “Londons Calling” was a good choice of post-match music but as for the “Barca anthem”….
I totally agree with you, I thought it was a strange choice and as you said they did nothing to help us!
summa of sammi….
14:01 on
7 December, 2012
Oh dear …… Does he really believe that……..? …….. There is no hope for them
Doc/KK
Please accept my condolences for the loss of your friends.
Hail hail
doc is neil lennon
are you from dundee?
Apologies if already posted…
Lenny…The Green Gaudiola?
RRC…Yip..only an hours highlights though..
Not day off just 12 hour break between two 12 hour shifts.
ScotPatsFan
Like them will watch, still after weeks of that crap xfactor the wife insists we watch it will make a change a pleasant one.
Gotta be honest,the blog has bored the nipples off me,by and large,these last forty or so hours.
C’est la vie,I did my bit………
I’ll do my bit one last time for the day.
Picture the scene-a wee buncha Celtic fans in the pub after the game,bonhomie aplenty,when a Rangers fan of their acquaintance comes over and offers his congratulations on the result.
Natural reply would be-Cheers,bud,fancy a pint? Everyone happy.
NOT,IMO-Eff off,ya orange b…..d,naw,come back here till we interrogate you about yer new club that you don’t even go and watch.
Me,I much prefer the natural reply,but each to their own.
Have a good Christmas everyone.
KK
A really interesting story. But a sad one too.
May your friend rest in peace.
We’re on page 5 of this blog and no-one has raised the key point in Paul’s column – PENALTIES. Scoring from them has been our Achilles Heel for at least two years, we must have the worst conversion rate in the SPL. Commons was 1-2 inches from dropping us into the Europa Cup, too close for comfort.
I reckon FF would save 1-2 in a shootout but who would have confidence in us scoring 4-5 to go through when it mattered?
Paul is spot on. The team should be forced to practice these until they are sick to the death of it.
Emdy else think that Lassad looks like Sammi’s wee brother wi’ a haircut?
Jist me then
;o)