Celtic’s win in Moscow on Tuesday has caused an interesting introspection in Russia, with both Spartak and some in the Russian media coming under scrutiny. The pre-match tone was set by comments we reported from former Spartak player and coach, Andrey Tikhonov, who, on the day of the draw, said:
“Barcelona are favourites from the group. We and Benfica will be fighting for second place.
“Celtic are outsiders. The Champions League competition is about very good technical football. It has nothing to do with running after the ball that somebody kicked forward.”
Another former Spartak player and Soviet international, who now works as a technical analyst and all-round raconteur , Aleksandr Bubnov, had a completely different take on Celtic, Spartak and the Russian and Scottish media.
Bubnov told Russian television:
“Spartak players thought they could push Celtic defenders around like toys. They played long crosses forward like the idiots. Celtic defenders knocked back everything. It was like training for Celtic, they were on holiday.
“When Celtic attacked for the first time, de Zeeuw thought that Insarualde would stop the Celtic player, Insarualde thought Pareja will stop him. When Celtic scored de Zeew asked, ‘Where was Pareja ?’ Pesjakov answered de Zeeuw, “You forgot? Pareja is still at the lunch, he will be back for the second half.”
Bubnov criticised TV analysts who before the game debated whether Celtic would survive in the bottom half of the Russian premier division or a lower division. He added:
“We were told by the experts that Spartak will shut Celtic out, kill them and bury outside the stadium. They are experts, they watch games, they take money for this kind of analysis. They told us Celtic are one story heroes.
“They talked about Rangers relegated to the fourth Division for financial cheating. You see how they do things there? What fantastic salvation. You are cheaters Rangers? OK, go and take long rest. Those in charge are professionals, nobody would help Rangers. They don’t go to the president, or the prime minister.
“Cherdantsev (TV expert) never played football. You heard him, Spartak players and all these experts. ‘No problem, champions of Scotland? Who are Celtic, who are Scotland?
“Experts? Did they watch Celtic against Benfica? Benfica are top in Portugal, Celtic drew with them. Even the stupid Scottish experts came here and told us Spartak would win 2-0.”
When asked how Spartak should play in the return game against Celtic, Bubnov suggested:
“You need to close wings and play carefully at the back. Celtic will not perform like Spartak did against Barcelona. They played and let the other team play.
“Neil Lennon was very smart coach. He closed Spartak options on the wings. Emeri (Spartak manager) should close Celtic wings. Emeri’s tactics was move wingers to the centre to leave more room for attacks from left and right defenders. But, our defenders were poor and slow.
“Emeri was stupid, he moved Aiden McGeady and Dmitri Kombarov to the centre because Neil Lennon closed wings. What happened? They both played out of position and Kombarov scored an own goal.”
“Spartak were open on the wings and there was a brothel at the back. Neil Lennon did what he wanted to do with Spartak”
Conversational Russian is apparently rich with imagery.
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Really pleased for big Fraser – he deserves the call up!
It would be fun if Aleksandr Bubnov was writing for the rags over here. Imagine the headlines:
“Joy as Celts score three times in Russian brothel”
;o)
Paul67
Sometimes the leader just writes itself …
Brilliant !
“Spartak players thought they could push Celtic defenders around like toys. They played long crosses forward like the idiots. Celtic defenders knocked back everything. It was like training for Celtic, they were on holiday.” = Celtic flapping under constant pressure
“Spartak were open on the wings and there was a brothel at the back. Neil Lennon did what he wanted to do with Spartak” = Lucky Celtic take advantage of 10-man Spartak.
“Even the stupid Scottish experts came here and told us Spartak would win 2-0.”
I demand to know the names of these stupid experts.
“Experts? Did they watch Celtic against Benfica? Benfica are top in Portugal, Celtic drew with them. Even the stupid Scottish experts came here and told us Spartak would win 2-0.”
Perhaps we should send this to every hack on every rag and ask them if they stood up for the Scottish Champions and predicted that score?
Lucyr
Proof positive that Sammi can indeed score in a brothel.
oldtim67 12:26
Hmm…I very doubt you are right.
Me thinks that Bubnov is the guy whose credibility is under the question mark. Why? For one reason.
As you probably remember I worked with couple of Russians.
I remember one of them used to tell: you guys don’t tell “mess like in brothel”. Never put these two words together.
I have been to brothels couple of times and can assure you, they are absolutely very clean places with fantastic order. Everything is on it’s place.
Now compare that oldtim67 to what Bubnov tells.
TBB –
8-)))
Yurcl
oldtim67
12:26 on 4 October, 2012
Paul67 etal.
Would I be right in thinking Zbyszek had a hand in composing your headlines today?.
____________________
I also felt the influence of our immensely gifted Polish correspondent in today’s article.
We are deeply in his debt.
Not that I’m saying it’s going to happen…. But what would you take..?
Celtic into the Champions League semi or Celts to win the Europa cup?
Lol love that he quotes Scottish media experts??????
Although did not know we had media experts ….
Jimmy Bullard says he regrets not signin 4 us….. And so u should…..
very interesting paul67 whoever you are
the upshot is though – they will be very different in celtic park and they now know who james forrest is (he was reminiscent of agathe against inter ?? was it inter) not to mention mulgrinho, hoops, hercules and so on… Can’t wait to stuff them again
did mcgeady destroy a team in an early european game – barca ?
anyway , it’ll be very different , so will my expectations !
A Zombie just e-mailed me a link for the back page of the Daily Ranger….what’s that all about?!
T4
Talking of brothels…
Greek team Voukefala, who hail from Larissa have taken the slightly unusual step of gaining kit sponsorship from a nearby brothel.
Club President stated:
“The proposal was made strictly for economic reasons
As soon as the offer was made, we couldn’t turn it down.
The firm is a legal enterprise valued at two million euros
When we announced to the players that our sponsor would be a brothel, they wanted to know about bonuses.”
Bonuses? I will let others comment on that one.
Whoops posted b4 a finished
Jimmy on talksport jist now yeah u should regret not signin 4 us but fortunately 4 us we dodged a bullet imo
In Neil we trust. I quite like this role of right off, under dog, also ran. Let them all think we are shoite. Over rated, over paid..kicking above our weight is just foine with me. Four games to go…and we have every reason to be confident.
The Curse of the New Article strikes again.
From last thread:-
ctober, 2012
thetimrieper
Not wishing to prolong a debate, but, sport in general and football in particular, actually needs competitors, in order to have, eh, competition.
Therefore it is not prudent to annihilate all opposition, merely to keep them in a place where you can dominate them.
Philvis,
Of course we find them in all walks of life, like you so eloquently described
However, at the happy stage of life, where I am, I really only encounter them with regards to Celtic.
Would you believe that even in Big Jock’s time we had them.
Hoopeddreams.
The lastpost is a great ringtone to have when in the zombies company;-)
Yorkbhoy
Last 16 over Europa for me.
MWD
TBB @ 12:33
;-))
Post of the day.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
TTTT
You been on the moon visiting your brain this last 24 hours?
MWD
Moonbeams WD. Kano 1000 \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. Champions. C’mon Wee Oscar.
12:43 on 4 October, 2012
Yorkbhoy
Last 16 over Europa for me.
##########
Agreed.
Oldtim
who is this etal and can we afford him ?
thomthetim
Good point,although the competition in our country has been far from healthy for many a year
Yes thanks. Last 16 every time!
Thomthethim 12.42,
We did indeed have ‘them’ way back in Big Jock’s days.
The good thing then was that they did not have so many platforms from which to preach their pessimism.
Ramsden’s quarter final for me.
MWD,
you can keep your last 16……I’ll take the semi-final thank you very much!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Anglo Scottish Cup First round for me
Thanks
I see the flying pig is still on the meths, wants an Old Firm tie (whatever that is) and confident Rangers (whoever they are) will win.
The Texaco Cup is what it’s all about for me
Congrats to big FF
Hail Hail
Ha, we were discussing where our work’s Christmas night was going to be this year. Someone produced a flyer/menu from The Rangers and suggested going to Ibrox.
I have only been in this place for about 3 weeks but I let my feelings known about that one straight away!
Anyway,what happens if I fancied eggs benedict for dinner? ;)
Dryborough Cup 2nd preliminery round for me
thomthethim
12:42 on 4 October, 2012
”However, at the happy stage of life, where I am, I really only encounter them with regards to Celtic.”
So you’re surrounded by people who are complacent and lack ambition?
And that’s a happy place?
Is this it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtyqPzeso5A&feature=related
Personally I dont want to be anywhere near them in the next round of the Cup.
Apart from giving them a right doing (i.e. min of 4-0) we have nothing to gain and everything to lose.
Sure it would be nice beating them again……Hoooops! sorry, I did, of course, mean for the first time!……but why take the chance?
Much easier letting any of the other teams preferably Aberdeen have the pleasure of KO-ing them.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Ryman North Div 3 is where it’s at.
Following the startling revelations on Sammi’s prowess, ought we suggest Neil Lennon makes the arrangements for the next beer tasting session at Wellpark?