Indiscipline could determine Champions League outcome

918

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.

[calameo code=00039017193b8a8bbd612 lang=en page=126 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

918 Comments
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. ...
  4. 5
  5. 6
  6. 7
  7. 8
  8. 9
  9. 10
  10. 11
  11. ...
  12. 25

  1. Just to show CQN is all inclusive.

     

     

    William and Kate are expecting a baby!

     

     

    Philvisreturns can dig out the bunting again…

  2. tomtheleedstim on

    hehehe…..

     

    BBC Sporf ‏@BBCSporf

     

    BREAKING: Prince William & Kate Middleton expecting a baby. The news comes 2 weeks since John Terry visited Buckingham Palace. #royalbaby

     

    Retweeted by Gregory Ioannidis

     

    Expand Reply Retweet Favorite

  3. The new league structure means two bites at promotion.

     

    Top four in the first instance and top four in the second instance.

     

     

    Clubs will want 22 games played before end of transfer window. An awful lot of games for anyone playing in Europe. Unless we start the season at end of July.

  4. Thinking of taking the wee yin to Kilmarnock on Saturday. Does anyone know what I’d need to show as evidence to enable me to buy a concession ticket for her?

  5. Hamiltontim

     

    17:01 on 3 December, 2012

     

     

    bought tickets today and had to show both my sons season tickets to get under 16s concessions (£10 each)

  6. TMWTL

     

     

    Agree with you. His injury is good news for Celtic.

     

    Ananidze was Spartak best player in the game against Benfica (2:1).

     

    Today he was diagnosed with damaged cartilage in his right knee.

  7. so has Jabber (been re-named) really signed up to work as PR for the team formally known as rangers?

  8. CQN Annual delivered this morning, had a quick look through but never made the roll of honour. Never mind maybe next year.

     

     

    Cmon the Celts

  9. tomtheleedstim on

    Hope not……

     

    Celtic Underground ‏@celticrumours

     

    Hearing QPR are interesting in Hooper. Lot of talk he may be away in January.

  10. Hamiltontim

     

    17:05 on 3 December, 2012

     

     

    think its a first come first served for season ticket holders only, don’t think there’s a general sale

  11. Zbyszek

     

    Good news on Aiden. Thank you.

     

    Hope you can find a few more injured Spartak players before Wednesday.

  12. tomtheleedstim

     

     

    17:13 on3 December, 2012

     

     

    I hope Gary stays and refinds his form. If he does go I hope he has more ambition than a lower EPL team likely to be struggling to stay in the league.

  13. Doc

     

     

    Cheers it won’t matter that Celtic have no record of her?

     

     

    Kayal33

     

     

    Surely there must be general sale there ain’t no way that we’ll sell our allocation, half my own bus are boycotting it.

  14. Interesting times, Cup Draw should mean that unless we shoot ourselves in the foot we should make quarters, add this to semis CIS and European Football Feb/March (hopefully Champions League) plus top of the SPL, not bad for a season where we are playing in fits & starts. Hibs fans are ecstatic, as are ICT, Dundee United are making a bit if cash as well and they can now look forward to humping Sevco. I just love Armageddon wish it came years ago.

  15. HT

     

     

    not according to website

     

     

    Tickets for this game are on sale to season ticket holders on a first come first served basis. Tickets are located in the Chadwick Stand and are priced as follows:-

     

    Adult £26

     

    Concessions (over 65/under18/students) £17*

     

    Under 16 £10

  16. tomtheleedstim on

    Doc – I agree mate. I think he’s a fine player but he needs to come good again.

     

    I think he may be struggling due to Stokes’ absence and Commons’ poor recent form.

  17. johnnyclash

     

     

    16:59 on

     

    3 December, 2012

     

    News: Richard Bacon has ten times more followers than Pope. More to follow….

     

     

    —-

     

     

    So he’s on a roll!!

     

     

    Coat and oot :))

  18. Doctor Whatfor on

    Jobo Baldie

     

     

    Many thanks for cutting through my confusion the other day re the link to buying the CQN annual.

     

     

    BTW in your absence from EK this pm it was hailstones.

     

    You sure get a lot of weather up there.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. ...
  4. 5
  5. 6
  6. 7
  7. 8
  8. 9
  9. 10
  10. 11
  11. ...
  12. 25