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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I missed the draw (out clearing snow) ……… Raging at the reported bias from SSN ….and ….Dundee Utd being criticised for calling them by their (appropriate) new name….. Utterly dispicable …….United will hump them at Tannadice, and Sally will, once again, provide evidence of his managerial abilities……..
sixtaeseven
They’ve had more aliase than one of those conmen who prey on OAPs for money to fix their rooves.
Oh wait………
dammit; aliases.
Zbyszek
The news that Ananidze is out is a big boost for us
He is a tricky player on the right flank and has been an automatic pick for them
hailhailplc-Maybe Jabba has started with Sevco Politburo already:-)
Hail Hailstones in EK.
Pathetic swansong from Jabba……………………….. out with a whimper rather than a bang!
Reads like he has spent too much time recently in the company of his passion-killer colleague Joan Burnie.
Doctor Whatfor
DUnt might not be playing against The Rangers but they are going to play A Rangers of some kind…
…that is if they are still around in February
;o)
phivlisreturns
It is embarrassing! Where are the sub-editors when we really need them?
‘The Poodle Strikes Back!’
sixtaeseven: CQN, antidote to deceptive, selective journalism
14:32 on
3 December, 2012
I thought they changed their name to “Rangers Internationale” last week…
HardToKeepUp CSC
~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think that is about as likely as them changing to Rangers European.
R.I. or R.E?
Their narrow-minded hordes would view it as a Timmy conspiracy.
And their new Marketing guru would not want that!
He should worry about his own team….
BRAZILIAN striker Ari has vowed to knock Celtic out of the Champions League – so that Benfica can claim their ‘rightful’ place ahead of the Parkhead side to the knockout stages.
Good afternoon CHAMPIONS
Snow all gone from ml10, how are all of our esteemed bloggers coping with the adverse weather? Oh, delighted THEMS got D Utd. Hahahahahahahaha. They are going to get GUBBED.
Weefra HH
So we are away to Raith then – with apologies to Arbroath, but we will pump them in the replay!
Glad for auld Turnbull.
Arabs v Huns?!
A pumping on the cards there too!
HH!!
philvis. I don’t think The Hutt has promised that he ” wiw return”, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see him at some point coming back in a dramatic Ming the Merciless/ Blofeld type way.
They live in a parallel universe…………
The Blue Order Statement – Dundee Utd away
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The Blue Order – stance on Dundee Utd match
Following the Scottish Cup draw versus Dundee United at Tannadice Park, The Blue Order will not be travelling to this match.
Dundee United (and their chairman) were, in our opinion, one of the chief driving forces trying to kill Rangers off in the summer. To that end, we will not give them a penny of our money – and urge the club and all of the Rangers support to unite and do the same.
Whilst we understand and appreciate the conflict – support the fan versus the right thing to do for our club – our view is that the right thing is not to fund those who tried to kill us.
Tried to kill you!
Yer deed ya eejit!
Internationale Sevco. Yes it has a Dukla Pumpherstone – esque ring to it.
Could work.
and there’s more………….
Union Bears Statement
——————————————————————————–
After drawing Dundee United away in the Scottish Cup we have decided to throw our weight behind a full boycott of this match.
Dundee United are one of the enemies of Rangers and one of the main driving forces behind attempting to steal trophies from us.
Of course it will be hard for some people not to follow Rangers wherever they play but in this instance we must urge the full Rangers support to get behind a boycott of this fixture.
We urge Rangers Football Club and Charles Green to fully back the boycott of this match and refuse our allocation of tickets. Now is the time for the support to prove our unity and make sure that the enemies of the club don’t see a penny of our money.
Kayal33
‘… those who tried to kill us.’
No – they STILL dont get it!
They WERE killed!
They are DEAD!
STUPID, STUPID Huns!
HH!!
A big shout out and thank you to Saltires for the tickets for Wednesday.
Someone should direct the huns to the definition of liquidation.
Deid as a dodo, or some doo doo as Baldrick might say.
TBB @ 14.07
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I fully support and understand a hun boycott of the cup game against Dundee Utd,and I think the fans are absolutely right to do so.
I always hated going to games when we didnae stand a chance….
Excellent Ebay find
Dundee United must be devastated at the prospect of a hun boycott!
As will local publicans!
HH!!
With El Jabbadente allegedley going to Sevco surely his shortbread role is compromised?..might we see wee Jim Spence being moved up?.hope so.
Celts Celts the Hail is here.
Law & Beating Barca @mdkster
Pop Quiz: which current SFA President signed “side letters” of Rangers players which were “actively concealed” from HMRC, the SFA & the SPL?
SPL clubs pursue plan for two divisions of 12 teams
Scottish Premier League clubs have “unanimously” agreed to pursue their plan to expand the top flight to two divisions of 12 teams.
Chief executive Neil Doncaster says the present 12 clubs were united at their meeting at Hampden Park.
They will now propose what they describe as their 24-18 model to the Scottish Football League and Scottish Football Association on Thursday.
The 18 refers to the remaining SFL clubs not included in the top leagues.
More to follow.
But Chuckles says its a busted flush and he’s no playin!!!
barassiebhoy
Happy to help- hope wee man enjoys the game.
HH
The Pope has nearly 100,000 followers and he’s not tweeted yet.
Devotion CSC
HENR1K
Gie’s a clue.
It surely couldnae have been a man of unimpeachable integrity.
That would be too awful to contemplate.
Did he do the same at Hearts?
Raith away? The way we are going that’s better than a home tie.
Anyone know the Sc Cup minimum allocation for away supporters – 25%?
If so – reckon Dundee Utd would enjoy an 11K+ home crowd roaring them on without having to listen to the bile + it will make it easier on the viewing public’s ears!
Scottish Premier League clubs have “unanimously” agreed to pursue their plan to expand the top flight to two divisions of 12 teams.
Chief executive Neil Doncaster says the present 12 clubs were united at their meeting at Hampden Park.
They will now propose what they describe as their 24-18 model to the Scottish Football League and Scottish Football Association on Thursday.
The 18 refers to the remaining SFL clubs not included in the top leagues.
No formal vote was expected to be taken by the SPL, but a show of hands was needed to allow Doncaster to progress the plan.
Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson’s resignation from the SPL board last week had placed some doubt on the ability of the 12 clubs to produce a consensus.
However, after a three-hour meeting at Hampden, Doncaster emerged to say that agreement had been reached.
The SFL’s 30 clubs had previously agreed to support its proposal for leagues of 16, 10 and 16.
However, the SPL has been speaking informally to SFL clubs and sources believe they have the numbers necessary to gather sufficient support.
The SPL would invite clubs to enter the league, determined by their league positions prior to the start of any re-organised season.
It hopes that this would head off criticism from those who might argue that re-organisation is being used as a vehicle to accelerate Rangers’ return to the top division.
bournesouprecipe
102,344 now.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
15:12 on
3 December, 2012
He’s odds on :)
What has Traynor done now? Is he joining formerly his long time bosses: hun media??
I hope, if we beat Arbroath, that we draw against the Rovers of Raith and that we fill Celtic Park for the return, in order to compensate their Chairman for his integrity.