Indiscipline could determine Champions League outcome

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Here is a prediction for you, Wednesday’s Champions League game at Celtic Park will not end with 22 players on the field.  Spartak and Celtic are both enduring awful form at the moment but with different characteristics.  The accusation against Celtic (valid or otherwise) is that they have failed to apply themselves sufficiently to overcome opponents.  Spartak, on the other hand, stand accused of indiscipline.

Zenit drove the proverbial horse and cart through their midfield on Friday night.  Two goals were conceded to players who carried the ball to the edge of the area and shot unchallenged, but Spartak went down running, kicking, heading, kicking and kicking.  Their failure is clearly not a lack of desire.  Celtic can use this indiscipline to their advantage.  Know to expect late or illegal challenges but don’t rise to the bait.

An hour into the corresponding game in Moscow Spartak were 2-1 ahead having lost 3-2 to two late goals in the Camp Nou in the previous game.  At that point Spartak were in the box seat to qualify for the knockout stage.  A professional foul on Gary Hooper destroyed that position as they were reduced to 10 men and Celtic thundered back to win the game.  One momentary lapse in discipline on Wednesday night could cost either team.

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The loss of two goals through the middle on Friday will hopefully give interim coach, Valery Karpin, cause for confusion.  Celtic destroyed Spartak on the wings in Moscow, something we would expect them to tactically adjust for on Wednesday, but this recent loss might have them pondering which defensive frailty to concentrate on.

Aiden McGeady made his first team return as a second half substitute after a six week injury lay off.  He is a player who will be as much at home as any of the rest of us on Wednesday so I’d prefer he missed out on this occasion.

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918 Comments

  1. What a nonsense of a story in the papers today. Quoting Pat Bonner Hoops, would be trailing a rangers if such a club existed in the SPL.

     

     

    Might as well say, Celtic would have Rooney if we played in the EPL.

  2. I see Lawwell is now editor in chief of DR & SM as well as CE of SFA and Celtic plc.

     

     

    Where does he find the time?

     

     

    Leggohalucination

  3. Campbell Ogilvie quote “There have been different regulations regarding contracts over the period and the regulations have changed.

     

     

    Neil Doncaster said prima facie evidence and now wee Campbell saying another thing.

     

     

    Not to worry i’m sure the brothers are working hard behind the scenes to look after their titles.

  4. Following on from Alex Thomson’s latest blog.

     

    Here is the SPL Rule with regard to payments to players.

     

    I think the wording is interesting and possibly very significant.

     

    How would YOU interpret this?

     

     

     

     

    D9.3 No Player may receive any payment of any description from or

     

    on behalf of a Club in respect of that Player’s participation in

     

    Association Football or in an activity connected with Association

     

    Football, other than in reimbursement of expenses actually

     

    incurred or to be actually incurred in playing or training for that

     

    Club, unless such payment is made in accordance with a

     

    Contract of Service between that Club and the Player

     

    concerned.

  5. RT @TheManInTheKno: @krys1888 @celticservant rules were changed in ’05 to “all payments of any description”. B4 it was just “submit full …

  6. i think the word ‘payment’ will be the issue here

     

    they are eventually going to get away with everything and its going to make them even worse

     

    it sucks and its going to be hard to take but we just need to concentrate on Celtic and ignore any form of manky mob

     

    ba a fan of football !!! if that stretches to admiring QoS then good stuff

  7. Further extracts from SPL Rules

     

     

     

     

     

    D1.11 Any Club Playing an ineligible Player in an Official Match and

     

    the Player concerned shall be in breach of the Rules.

     

     

    D1.13 A Club must, as a condition of Registration and for a Player to

     

    be eligible to Play in Official Matches, deliver the executed

     

    originals of all Contracts of Service and amendments and/or

     

    extensions to Contracts of Service and all other agreements

     

    providing for payment, other than for reimbursement of

     

    expenses actually incurred, between that Club and Player, to

     

    the Secretary, within fourteen days of such Contract of Service

     

    or other agreement being entered into, amended and/or, as the

     

    case may be, extended.

  8. stevo

     

     

    Check out the actual wording from the rules I posted.

     

    It appears to me that the ONLY form of payment of ANY kind which doesn’t have to be reported is that of EXPENSES.

     

    Would appreciate one of our legal eagles’ opinion on this however

  9. medtim

     

     

    i can hear it now ‘it was a loan not a payment’

     

    so the word ‘any’ becomes irrelevant

     

    if ‘payment’ was replaced with ‘money’ then it would be different

     

    the spirit and intent of the rule is very clear but for the manky mob it will not matter

  10. sixtaeseven: CQN, antidote to deceptive, selective journalism on

    SoS

     

    …the biggest game of their existence so far…

     

    ;o)

  11. A loan is a payment if it is not paid back.

     

     

    None were paid back.

     

     

    How will they get out of that evidence, stevo?

     

     

    Remember, they have already decided there is a case to answer. They already know that side letters were hidden from them.

  12. Summa

     

    I am guessing they are talking about the Dundee Utd game.

     

     

    My comment on Alex Thomson`s article:

     

     

    “Alex,

     

    I don`t know if you read Jim”succulent lamb” Traynor`s final article from the Daily Record. If so, I don`t think you will be so confident in your assertion that “there’s no possible witch-hunt for sources and leaks this time around.”

     

    Regardless, another reasoned article which will be well received by most of Scotland`s football supporters but dismissed as the words of a “Despicable, pathetic little creature (s) craving some kind of recognition ” by Mr Traynor (his words) and the majority of The Rangers fans who, understandably if not excusable,cannot/will not accept that the old Rangers might have behaved badly before being liquidated.”

     

     

    JJ

  13. sixtaeseven: CQN, antidote to deceptive, selective journalism on

    Being stripped of SPL titles should be the least of their worries.

     

     

    A sine die SPL ban would be more appropriate.

     

     

    That would suit Chuck cos he doesn’t want to play in the SPL (which I suppose means European competition as well…).

     

     

    Rangers then, Sevco now, Dead forever

  14. sftb

     

     

    if ‘A loan is a payment if it is not paid back.’ then indeed they are guilty as sin and the good guys win!

     

    Dont get me wrong I want it all. I want them to actually be puniished and have titles etc stripped. I want HMRC to appeal and win and the history they hold onto so dearly reflect the extent of the stealing and cheating.

     

    I am just struggling to imagine it actually happening to them (it would happen to any other club in Scotland)

     

    I actually want this to be a watershed moment in football which sorts out what is right and what is wrong (in England too) and start a real process of putting financial fair play in place!

  15. Sixteen roads to Golgotha on

    Each time “The Peepil” suffer what they perceive to be a setback,they always seem to respond with violence,or the threat of violence.

  16. .

     

     

    Did Not know the Cup draw had been Done.. Oooooft..

     

     

    “Dundee Utd and Rangers, which one do you class as the favourites there?

     

    “I know that Dundee Utd have put Rangers out of the Cup last season, and there might be a little bit of revenge there.

     

    It is a fixture which looks to have already attracted some controversy, with a Rangers fans’ group urging supporters to boycott the match.

     

    “The Rangers support has waited patiently for the opportunity to send a clear message to those that tried to destroy our club – starve them of their much-needed cash by boycotting this game,” said a Rangers Supporters Assembly statement.

     

    “It must also be remembered the disregard this club had for Rangers supporters when it unashamedly refused to offer refunds to supporters for a game abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch in 2009.”

     

     

    Wow..

     

     

    We have our Willo Flood window..

     

     

    And they have there Flood Game..

     

     

    Move on..

     

     

    Summa

  17. saltires en sevilla on

    Good morning fellow Celts – cold but dry in West Renfrewshire

     

     

    There might be a wee gemme on tomorrow night..

     

     

    Forster

     

     

    Lustig Ambrose Wilson Mathews

     

     

    Brown Kayal Ledley Mulgrew

     

     

    Samaras

     

     

    Hooper

     

     

    With Commons filling for Broonie if needed

     

     

    Lassad and Watt on at some point

     

     

    3-1 to Celts

     

     

    Lustig; Mulgrew & Hooper

     

     

    Bring on the Spartak!!

  18. stevo

     

     

    I don’t doubt that there will be dirty deeds done on their behalf BUT they will have to come up with a better excuse than “a loan is not a payment” under SFA rules.

     

     

     

    Just checked the bookies odds on the Spartak tie. They have confidence in us.

  19. stfb

     

     

    thats excellent news

     

    i am following it as best i can but am far from competent in legal matters

     

    glad for this place to keep me right

  20. 001:

     

     

    I get up to Gympie a couple of times a year; it’s not too far away from here. I’ll make a point of visiting the cemetery the next time I’m up that way.

     

     

    They have a Highland Gathering up there every New Year, been a couple of times; can’t quite put my finger on it but it just ain’t home.

     

     

    Is this gathering still on for St. Patrick’s Day?

  21. Messi will play tomorrow, but how many of his usual team mates will be around him? Still, he will get a goal or two and the Barce fringe players should be able to get the job done.

     

     

    We must concentrate on our game. Get the win in the bag and then worry about the score in the other one.

  22. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    So an appeal can overturn the judgement of the FTTT, not long ago we were told the judgement was final

  23. Canamalar, my understanding was that if the judgement went against Oldco it was final and any appeal could only be made based on legal technicality. However HMRC were always going to be able to appeal. Not that sure what happens next if HMRC overturn the FTTT at UTT.

  24. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    BDO quietly beavering away in the background

     

    D&P still under scrutiny

     

    Judge hodge notable for some dodgy decisions, under scrutiny

     

    Share issue went silent

     

    First real away payday being boycotted

     

    The big question is, will they survive to play D Utd.

  25. Listening to a wonderful lady called Annette wiping the floor with a Rupert called Robert on Radio Scotland re. compulsory unpaid work for those on the dole.

     

     

    Don’t get this quality of caller and debate dahn sowf.

  26. sixtaeseven: CQN, antidote to deceptive, selective journalism on

    Canamalar,

     

    Chances are that Hector will appeal the FTT result at the next level, the Upper Tier Tribunal.

     

    FTT result was given by Scots judges, UTT will be rules by UK judges.

     

     

    FTT is not the full-time result, mor elike half-time score.

     

     

    There could be a lot of back tracking from the folk who are claiming a win at this stage.

     

     

    The fat lady insnae even in her taxi for the opera yet.

  27. Good Morning all from a cold but bright Tipperary, delighted the blog is back to footballish matters this morning. The only 2 matters pre-occupying my thoughts are (A) That Celtic might beat Spartak tomorrow night and (B) When can I invest my wad of cash in Chucks lucky dip. I have been well advised that I could double nay triple my investment within 7 days. Abramovich & The Sultan of Oman are the latest to express an interest and it is now certain to break all previous records for being the most over subscribed share issue of all times.

  28. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    weejoe,

     

    We’ve been getting told since the decision was published that the judgement could no be overturned. Many a knowledgable poster such as BRT&H, Paul McConville and many more.

     

    But from reading the Thomo blog it appears there’s hope yet.

  29. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    hen1rik

     

     

    08:42 on 4 December, 2012

     

     

    This new club haven’t actuaaaly won any trophies……the oldco is deed…….don’t they understand? ..simples really…….LOL

  30. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    sixtaeseven..,

     

    Ah and jabba exit stage left falls into place :o)

  31. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    neil canamalar lennon hunskelper extrordinaire

     

     

    10:13 on 4 December, 2012

     

     

    Absolutely. ….. On all points, but the share issue silence is the most interesting for me …….

  32. .

     

     

    Kit..

     

     

    Yea the Sydney St Patricks Day gathering is a Defo..

     

     

    Estadio Nacional will be Over.. It’s a Sinday this Year and we Play The Sheep or Hertz on the Sat Night Sydney time..

     

     

    Should be Guid Craic

     

     

    I had a Look at that James Connolly Association Australia Facebook page.. You should have a Look Interesting..

     

     

    001

  33. The article on Traynor makes good reading and echoes my own feelings that while the FTT came down on Rangers’ side by a majority of 2-1 it is not fair nor is it finished yet.

     

     

    http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/a-fitting-farewell/

     

     

    Alex Thomson in his latest blog goes further on the fairness question and I for one will be taking this matter up with my MP.

     

     

    I will be urging him to lobby David Gauke, MP, the Treasury Minister to press HMRC for an appeal of the FTT.

     

     

    To let the FTT stand as it is, would be to give a green light to every tax-dodger in the country.

     

     

    It ain’t over till it’s over.

  34. FAVOURITE UNCLE on

    bhoys and ghirls let me be the first on C.Q.N to congratulate wills and miss junior trolley dolley on the great news sweeping the empire.i was just thinking who would be most upset by this event ,FITZ HEWITT or david beckham.herry is now 4th instead of 3rd in line and davie boy will not get a lookin on tv.hold that result .becks just on from a former colony giving a speach.craig burley treatment for him.now my thoughts at this time are for miss kelly from canada who DENOUNCED her religion to marry the 27th in line .she will now be 28th,but let me say here and now that i am an unashamed loyalist and i hope she and her husband are crowned in early january 2013.what a year of celebration that would be ,CELTIC’S 125th ann .and a new monarch.

     

     

    ps JUNGLE JIM if you are about could you please SPOOF read this and re’post correcting any spellling ,puctuation or gremmmetikel errores.

     

     

    ps again i have not received my invitation to tea ,cucumber and smokie sandwiches for the cup replay in ARBROATH.

  35. CultsBhoy loves being 1st forever & ever on

    I think we will win or draw. I think Barca will win regardless of who they field. In some ways a 2nd string Barca may be more challenging than 1st picks with nothing to prove who are protecting themselves from injury.

     

     

    2nd string Barca guys are probably of similar ability to first team colleagues but are just further along the conveyor belt desperate to prove their worth.

     

     

    Tomorrow it’s all about Celtic imo