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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TTTT
My point exactly.
I asked and he had no problem answering.
no beef with Ed or for that matter anyone else.
It just seemed to me, there were a few that sprung to his defence, without letting him speak for himself.
HH PC67
Barcelona are an exquisite team to watch but make no mistake they won’t want to face us again later in the tournament. We have their number.
I am reminded of Martin’s benchmarking of Rangers.
Our counter attacking has been subdued slightly because James Forrest has not been available lately.
We can win this thing.
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
14:42 on 7 December, 2012
ernie lynch
’14:35 on 7 December, 2012
If you don’t think Barca deserve the reputation they have, then you should take up watching cricket’
The so called links, and the made up quote from Xavi, have nothing to do with the way they play football.
That wasn’t what you were talking about and it isn’t what I was talking about.
That McMurdo piece was crawling with revisionist drivel, he wants to return to the sectarian values that allowed his old club to try and blame the ibroke disaster on the supporters, aye commendable values indeed everyone is expendable.
While he propagates revisionist drivel he is obfuscating the truth, that club is dead, never coming back, no matter how many trubite acts they try and mask with the flayed skin of the original carcass, it really is becoming a parody of the American horror story, innit.
Is it true that Vincenzo Iaquinta is ” on trial” at Celtic ?
‘
Speaking of Charlie Nic- has it been mentioned John Collins joined in with a 1 man version of the mass huddle in the Sky studio, Tanner would have been sitting there boaking.
Mort
Just watching that on news- receptionist may have committed suicide – sky news
Absolutely tragic if true
HH
Good to see Stokes back in full training again.
Hopefully see him make a return soon.
http://www.snspix.com/8249851/print/8249851.html
HH
/Bishop B
Jungle Jim
14:39 on 7 December, 2012
‘ernie
How do you know Xavi never said that?’
It’s well known to be a made up quote.
How do you want me to prove that someone never said something?
How do I prove a negative?
We want to believe he said it, because it makes us feel good about ourselves, so we suspend disbelief.
Ntassoolla – My point is more general than the Spartak penalty, we have missed a barrowload in recent seasons. Practicing them regularly and with coaching input (as per Mort’s suggestion) would surely improve things. If only to help the players feel at ease with taking them.
Players practice free kicks for hours with the same objective – to get better at them. Wilkinson spent hours doing the same with the rugby ball even when he was the best in the world at it. If you drill something often enough into your brain on the practice ground you can eliminate the external distractions and nerves when it comes to the real thing.
Has to be better than the “hit it and hope for the best” option – no?
Mort
14:49 on 7 December, 2012
The receptionist who received the prank call from an Australian radio station and thought she was speaking to the Queen has been found dead, apparent suicide.
Thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.
Mort
____________________________________________________________
What?
I don’t know the story but what the heck is that all about. I can just guess that the MSM have created a story and made it as big as possible.
Sickening.
God Bless the ones left behind.
ernie lynch
14:55 on
7 December, 2012
I was primarily talking about the way they play football……..and I do know we have a very good relationship with them
saltires en sevilla
14:59 on 7 December, 2012
‘Mort
Just watching that on news- receptionist may have committed suicide – sky news
Absolutely tragic if true’
If the anorexic stalker and her dimwitted husband were treated the way they should be, ie shown no more and no less respect than anyone else on the planet, that poor individual would still be alive.
Sky now saying it was not receptionist but the nurse who shared info with oz radio guys
Sorry for passing on sky drivel
Clearly some tragic circumstances
HH
ernie lynch
14:59 on
7 December, 2012
Ernie …? ….. You are saying that he didn’t say it, but you cannot prove it ……. ?? …off for a wee swim
ernie lynch,
How you doing m8?
A wee question for your good self. How far do you think Celtic can go in the CL this season?
Ernie
Spot on
Some poor woman has been driven to despair and beyond because of the circus that surrounds these clowns.
Len Brennan 14.59
Excellent news badly missed in the SPL.
And for sat night rock music fans..Led Zeppelin live from London (‘s calling).
izzy – >Whos flouncing this time round?
Not izzy. (thumbsup)
Kilbowie Kelt – No doubt you will give us a look at that particular post, Phil.
…or maybe not.
I think his name was Mihal or Nihal – have a look back if you’re interested. Always good value when someone you’ve never heard of who has been on a blog for all of five minutes announces he’s quitting for-evah. (thumbsup)
Blindlemonchitlin – I want to know if Philvis has red or white tears of benefit claimants with his Swan Livers.
I hear the finest red goes best with liquidated lamb. (thumbsup)
petec
An australian radio station called the hospital where kate Middleton were staying and pretended to be the Queen so they could talk to her. Were put through to a nurse who gave them some information.
it was the nurse who has committed suicide.
Ernie
Agree, 100%. The media stoked up this news so much that everyone wanted a piece of it. had they left them alone, this wouldn’t have happened. No doubt the british media will now blame the Australians completely and ignore the impact they had.
Mort
petec
15:06 on 7 December, 2012
‘ernie lynch,
How you doing m8?
A wee question for your good self. How far do you think Celtic can go in the CL this season?’
London.
petec – With all respect, you’re delusional if you think we have Barca’s number.
I would hate to have to play them again.
ernie lynch – Wow.
Sometimes you seem compelled to remind people of the nasty streak in you. (thumbsup)
Wouldn’t have helped much when Prince Charles was being questioned yesterday by reporters on becoming a grandad and he said “how do you know I’m not a radio station?”.
The worshipful philvis has his duties to perform eh
I got a text referring me to the following,so I thought it was worthy of a comment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Izzy
14:45 on
7 December, 2012
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
14:18
A simplistic view of the situation. To use your analogy tho..
Said berr walks into a Celtic bar and greets the clientele, all of them, with a ‘you all must be buzzing after that.’…’anyway I’ve not been in for months but popped my head in now and again but didn’t fancy engaging, but had noted one of the conversations I overheard was of a charity appeal. Well I have a couple of friends of the blue persuassion who have contribute to that. Just to let you know. And oh well done on your victory btw.’ Before excusing himself to go to the gents. In the 5 mins of his absence a group of Tims are falling over themselves to buy big Ted a beer. Big Ted is sitting pretty with 20 drinks to his name on his return.
Wee Izz says
‘I don’t understand that why are you all fawning over this guy?’
‘Hey Ted where’ve been the past 6 months?’
‘Barman Barman’
‘Ban this guy. He’s a wrong un.’
‘He is an alcoholic.’
‘He hates Henke.’
‘Look a him, he’s answering back.’
‘ He said Jehovah !!’
Blah Blah
‘Anyway Ted. Why are you sooo good?’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
Actually,I was wrong,but it was worth the repost simply to highlight how utterly pathetic this whole shebang has become.
Izzy,you will not tolerate Ed. Ok,we get that. You are entitled to that.
Now eff off and start a blog wi rules that include not tolerating Ed,take the rest of them with you,and leave the rest of it to us.
Had it being polite,you are completely ruining this for most of us.
canamalar – that one was harder to parse than usual. (thumbsup)
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
15:04 on 7 December, 2012
ernie lynch
’14:59 on
7 December, 2012
Ernie …? ….. You are saying that he didn’t say it, but you cannot prove it’
I suppose we could write to him and ask him to swear an affidavit to the effect that he never said it.
On the other hand we could use a search engine to find out where the quote comes from. You know the sort of thing, the date and place he said it and in which publication or broadcast it first appeared.
Give it a try.
Come back and give me a link to when he said it.
Or just keep believing the myth.
The problem with that though is that if your respect and admiration relies on myth to sustain it, it’s worth squat.
BMCUW,
I’m actually enjoying it, and I’m afraid you cany claim to speak for most, you can’t even claim to speak for most moon howlers.
Len Brennan
14:59 on 7 December, 2012
Stokes not due back til mid-january according to Lenny at press conference today
philvisreturns
15:10 on 7 December, 2012
‘ernie lynch – Wow.
Sometimes’
########
Sorry, you’ll have to be more specific.
Zimmerman
Was fortunate enough to be at the gig….what a night!!
Then took my wee fella to see it when they showed it in the cinema’s recently. If you havent seen it, you will love it.
enjoy.
PC67
goldstar10
14:46 on 7 December, 2012
________
Thanks.
Mick is in the best of form & is back & forward to Donegal on a fortnightly basis, whenever he has a ‘long’ weekend. I will give him your good wishes.
Again,.. forgive my absent-mindedness.
Good luck.
Taking off AC/DC tonight and Led Zeppelin Sunday
Posted this last Sunday –
“anditsthepoleagain
23:13 on
2 December, 2012
Here’s one of my lads first clip on Youtube playing guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pcS2zuPSjE&feature=youtu.be
Very proud
Just buying tickets for Hibs at home 6th Apr for his Christmas it will be his first game along with the Home Strip with Sammy No 9 on it, need to travel up from Dorset during the School Holidays. Hope he doesn’t read this.”
Took him to see the Led Zep premier at our local Cineworld me him and a few old hippies, got soaked to the skin afterwards walking back to the car.
Philvis,
Yer point mason ?
As for the DJ playing the Barca song (not that I noticed) is it not more likely that it was to remind us that we’d beaten them rather than any show of respect or camaraderie?
We don’t know what kind of pressure this poor nurse was put under by her gaffers,
I would imagine it would OTT because of involvement of the demi-Gods which are
the royals.