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.
The CQN Annual, the perfect Christmas present, is available here
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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The hun orientated media has to nail its “colours” to the mast,
since all their careers depend on a 4th tier outfit , if chuckles
doesnt succeed they have nothing.
The propaganda is designed to keep the huns at the forefront
of the news , to the detriment of all others, mostly to ensure
interest in the share issue is high.
Sevconians going ballistic about DU website describing the draw as v The Rangers
Brilliant. Well done DU
Hoping we can negotiate Arbroath away ok and it should be a right good game against Raith.
With McCoist’s record in Cup Competitions I hardly think Dundee Utd will lose much sleep over their tie. I predict the Arabs give the Sevco a sound thrashing!
Marti
Palacio67
Summed it up nicely.
Given Celtic’s current indifferent form how many of the happy clappers would honestly relish being drawn against THEM?
We will win the next 3 games because we have to. The same way we went to Tynecastle and humped the diets.
That is what annoys me about this current team. They pick and choose their performances.
ASonOfDan
13:37 on 3 December, 2012
Jordi Alba ensures that the Catalans will make a “serious game” against Benfica on Wednesday at Camp Nou.
“We are already ranked, but we make a serious game against a team of very great level,” said the Spanish international.
“All teams that come to Camp Nou in complicate life. Against Benfica we will try to play our game and try to win,” he added
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Not sure if this was posted earlier but it seems Messi likes us..
Barcelona star Lionel Messi: I want to help Celtic reach last 16 – their amazing fans deserve it
3 Dec 2012
LIONEL MESSI last night vowed to help Celtic into the last 16 of the Champions League as a tribute to their “amazing” fans.
The Barcelona superstar and his team can do the Scottish champions a massive favour on Wednesday night as Group G reaches its climax.
While Celtic host Spartak Moscow in their final match of the group, Benfica travel to the Nou Camp to
tackle Tito Vilanova’s Spanish cracks.
Victory for Barca over the Portuguese would leave Neil Lennon’s team needing just a point from the game against the Russians to move into the knockout phase.
And Messi has assured Celtic he’ll be doing his utmost to beat Benfica, despite the fact his side have already booked their passage into the next stage as group winners.
The Argentine’s double in the 5-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in La Liga at the weekend took his tally for the year to 84 and leaves him just one short of equalling Gerd Muller’s scoring record from 1972.
Messi has targeted the Benfica game to match Muller’s milestone and says he’d be delighted to give Lennon’s team a helping hand in the process.
While the twinkle-toed magician may not have agreed with the style of play adopted by Celtic in their two games against Barcelona, he is full of admiration for the passionate fans and reckons they deserve to take the next step.
Messi said: “The Celtic fans deserve to be in Europe.
“They have been amazing in both games we have played against them recently.
“We knew what they were going to be like in Glasgow.
“But the way they were in Barcelona after they had just lost in the way they did was amazing.
“I have never seen anything like that before.
“We have not always been supportive of the way that Celtic try and play football.
“However, their fans deserve the knockout stages of the Champions League as I think the competition would be a quieter place without them.”
Taken from the Daily Rankers but the quotes are from the weeman.
HH
/Bishop B
The rangers? Oh! you mean Sevco Scotland Limited.
Good afternoon CQN
Heard that Traynor is to sit in one stand by himself
To make it look like a big crowd at home games
Keep the Faith
Hail Hail
Apparently this is from a corporate announcement e-mail sent today by Glasgow City Council. Imagine the Sevcovians employed there are raging…
‘Two tickets for Glasgow Celtic versus Spartak Moskva – 24 hour silent auction
We have two tickets up for grabs for the biggest football match of the Scottish season so far between Scottish Champions, Glasgow Celtic and Spartak Moskva.’
Think Dundee United have to be favourites for their Cup tie…
I watched the highlights of the Ibrox match on Sportscene last night.
TRFC looked all round what they are – a lower league team – solid Journeymen past their prime, Kyle, McCulloch etc… some solid pros who have found their level and promising youngsters who may/maynot make the grade.
Reminded me a bit of Wycombe Wanderers teams and many of those who come to play @ Adams Park.
Just a few observations on the programme, the first may not be universally accepted but I thought young Naismith looked a player, the way he took his goal reminded me of the young maestro….
The second echos the comments regarding BBC Scotland’s Sports Departments bias, now I could be wrong as I don’t always watch but Sportscene normally covers the Scottish Football week in general and that weekend’s Football in particular.
Yesterday they concentrated on Sunday’s two matches with a nominal review of all the other games, was there a Cup review programme on Saturday evening?
A few weeks ago (think it was the Scottish Cup third round weekend), they started the programme by saying “as tradition we will be starting with the SPL” as if they needed to point out the reason they were not featuring the Ibrox game with top billing.
see dundee utd have changed it from the rangers to rangers
Dilemma ,do we want to sign Johnny Russell in the transfer window,or leave him to hump Sevco.
Lhads and Lhassies
Slightly off topic but my ten year old son who has shown no interest in fitba to date is now very excited about the Champions League. I’m looking to either buy two tickets, which would need to be next to each other or swap my Business seat, right on the half way line with lounge access for two tickets
Please contact me michael_mclaughlan@msn.com if you can help out.
Cheers,
Barassiebhoy
The Holy Goalie making an appearance at the game on Wednesday.
Re the name : from the United website
“United have been drawn at home to The Rangers in the Fifth Round of the William Hill Scottish Cup. The tie is to be played on 2 or 3 February 2013″
=======================
Looks like someone changed it. How ridiculous is this becoming?
Grant Russell@STVGrant
Early trolling by Dundee United ahead of Rangers cup tie? “The Rangers”. http://bit.ly/VqsPFV
———————————
Rachel Lynch@Rachel_Lynchx
Dundee United they no THE situation. #Respect pic.twitter.com/hCi8vH5r
The Idiot, had a great time in Saltcoats. Many thanks.
AndyM, will be pleased if Aiden does not travel.
Chairbhoy, aye, true.
saltires en sevilla, I hear you.
thetimrieper, agree.
Philbhoy, perhaps.
To explain DU Web Site reference.
STV Grant pointed out the usage of The Rangers which was there when I looked but gone when I checked back.
The second link shows I did not imagine the change.
This is all getting rather ridiculous. Rangers have been liquidated. The Rangers are a new club in SFL3
Italian football authorities have instructed Italian football clubs to eliminate ” offensive “chanting / banners etc within their stadia . . Clubs have responded by stating – – Mmm — How and what happens if we cant ?
Italian football authorities state that UEFA is driving this ..
Sunny , clear blue sky , very windy , a feels cold 12 degrees.-way down south
P67
Good for Turnbull Hutton, getting his just deserts (after we finally take care of Arbroath).
I see that the Official ‘The Rangers’ website already have them in “the last 8″….you would think that some of the ‘wearrapeepul’ attitude would have been put back in the box
hhplc
We shall not be moved by the Hearts, the Hibs or the The Rangers.
Following Saturday’s game played in Arctic conditions some posters suggested that the brave souls in attendance should be guaranteed a ticket should Celtic reach the final.
Good idea. Only problem being that this might lead to the big game only brigade having to go without.
It is now over forty five years ago that I mentioned to a member of the Parkhead hierarchy that Man U were then running a voucher scheme that ensured the every week fan a ticket for big games.
He assured me that Celtic would look into it.
Unsurprisingly thy didn’t seem to look too hard.
Then again, just like today, the needs of the hangers on had to take priority.
ASonofDan
See that’s typical of the way that tarriers have taken control of Scotland today. How can Glasgow City Cooncil compare that insignificant game with the match between the mighty R****** and the cream of the SPL, Motherwell FC when our top drawer players had to negotiate safely around Motherwell players who kept lying down and nearly tripping us up. It’s time that we told them that WATP. It’s disgusting so it is.
Auldheid
STV Grant himself seemed quite offended that DU used The Rangers on their website
Only Sevconians believe it is the same club. The rest of Scottish football knows otherwise
SoT
Saw the Juventus banner mocking the Superga tragedy
The Ultras run Italian football
It has always been thus
They want to be called Rankers then pay your bills Zombies..
Jano Ananidze injured today, won’t play against Celtic Glasgow.
If not injured he would be starting XI player.
Zbyszek,
thanks for the updates, it is appreciated.
Zbyszek
Whats their attitude towards the game, will they play their
strongest team or will they leave some of their better
players at home.
The brothel door still seems to be open.
barassiebhoy
You have email mate we can do that deal :)
Did United receive the money they were owed when Rangers went bust?
I know they are not one of Monsieur Charles hand-picked band of acquiescent spaniel SPL clubs, but I believe he did undertake to pay all of the deid club’s football debts as one of the conditions of being allowed to acquire its SFA licence.
Ironically, it was money from last season’s Scottish Cup.
kitalba
10:18 on
3 December, 2012
Enjoyed reading that reminder of what we are up against with fuds like jabba bringing their hatred of all things Celtic to their employment, an employment where they are charged by their professional ethics to be impartial …… He certainly is desparate if he is pursuing a job with an SFL 3 club…..did no one else want you, jabba ……?
We rest our case….!!!
quonno 14:09 on 3 December, 2012
I worked at the ticket office in 1998, and I can assure you that tickets were allocated for cup draws based on previous attendance. As were away tickets.
Can’t argue one way or another as to how it’s done now, but it certainly was done as fairly as possible at that time.
thetimrieper
The game after, against Rubin Kazan is more important than this one against Celtic Glasgow.
I expect few changes in the team, at least four. Must go now. Will be back in the afternoon, maybe with few news if I find them.
Ah, they fly to Glasgow tomorrow. Not important game, right?
Arabs pumping a version of The Rangers in 3 out of the last 4 Scottish Cups, with us filling in the gap.
Just caught up with Jabba’s epic flounce.
It reminded me of Kim Jong Il at the end of “Team America: World Police”, just before he got into his tiny spaceship and blasted off:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9Rhdwqjc1k
Poor Jabba. (thumbsup)
I thought they changed their name to “Rangers Internationale” last week…
HardToKeepUp CSC
Zbyszek
Cheers Z
HH