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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I just accessed BBC Sport and then went into the Champione League page. Under the Team by Team you have the link under CELTIC…
‘Rangers to meet ICT in League Cup’
Who is this rangers and why has someone on the BBC sports desk chosen to put this link under CELTIC?
That’s why we’re paranoid…
Correction-Arrested on suspicion of murder,sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
ASonOfDan
If you click on Celtic in the SPL table it brings you into the Huns Highlanders lstory, BBC I shit ’em..
Lennon n Mcmjallby- picked up Peter Green ‘Blues Don’t Change’ CD on ole Amazon for £3.99. It’s covers of blues standards. Peter’s voice is in good nick and you get flashes of the playing which made him the greatest of the British blues players.
Worth checkin’ out at the price.
timmy7_noted
10:41 on 5 October, 2012
Good to see that you stated your retribution was delivered “at least 30 years ago”
Statute of limitations for prosecution being ….. about 30 years ( I believe)
The Onlooker
I see once more that wee Gordon is singing Celtic’s praises.
Terrific comments about Sammi, Brooonie and NFL. Told his ITV colleagues the Celtic result was the result of the week when they wanted to talk about Chelski.
Have to say I love the wee man when he talks about us – always positive and upbeat – and so not in keeping with the MSM.
I will always give the wee man a huge round of applause when he ever appears at CP; we have much to be thankful for to this wee guy.
Nuclear Bovril and a Half Munched Pie, 08:45
There are only two Craigy Whites
starry plough
We were recently informed by an ex SFA official now working at UEFA
Celtic don’t have any friends at the BBC.
Alot of hurting zombies out there…
OG Rafferty
When Sevco beat Mulletwell in the last round of the league cup and they were giving it big licks about beating an SPL side, you said let them have their moment as you had news that was going to make them cross… is this still to come?
ps. keep the updates coming, I think most of us appreciate that you are given information in confidence and can’t go shouting it from the rooftops, its good to have the reassurance that justice will be done:)
HH
jimmci
11:05 on
5 October, 2012
WGS should be the role model for the likes of Provan, Nicholas, Walker, McLeod et al, how to treat a former club which did your career no harm at all by giving them respect
Hail Hail to WGS
asonofdan
Just emailed the BBC Sport department asking them to explain why they are part of the media campaign to try and convince the rest of us that the NEW club is a continuation of the old club awaiting liquidation .
Also asked them to explain why they are continually showing this clubs matches when there are matches involving other clubs who pay their taxes and abide by the rules which could be covered.
I’m sure they will get back to me very quickly with a perfectly logical answer. :-)))))))
JohnnyClash @ 10 32 .
Di Natale ?.
34 years old . 5ft 7 ” A 1 goal every 2 games striker .[ an achievement in Serie A ] His contract with Udinese terminates in the summer of 2014 ..
He has consistently claimed that he only wants to play for Udinese . Likes the club , the city etc . Likes the the lack of stress and hype playing for a small club from a small town . Such an approach to life is said to have deterred bigger clubs
Rumored not to be the brightest button in the box . . Rumored to be very resistant to coaching .
Media claiming that he had to beg to be allowed to play at Liverpool. . Famous Club / famous stadium etc . It is claimed that Guidolin , the Manager didn’t want him to play [ much more important Serie A game on Sunday]but eventually gave in to Di Natale’s persistent pleas .
traditionalist88, 11:22
I think it will still happen – it was being talked about yesterday – but it may not be for a few weeks.
Neil Lennon: Brown will struggle for Sunday. Matthews is 50/50. Lassad is back. No fresh injury worries.
My admiration for this group of players rises weekly.
The crowd will be energised from the game midweek and we need to keep our foot on the pedal.
FourGreenFields
Aye, Good Luck with that. I think you will be waiting a while.
SoT
Cheers.
SoT
Just seen Miccoli’s HT for Palermo at the weekend
His 3rd goal is stunning technique
Always liked the little guy. Quality player
in terms of being able to keep the foot to the floor on Sunday, the event on Tue was greater but the atmosphere on Sunday will be greater. I do not see any problems putting on a performance
If Broonie is struggling then i would expect him to pull out of the Scotland squad for next week also
Playing for Scotland could damage your chances of playing at the Nou Camp son
MOSCOW, October 5 (RIA Novosti) – Spartak Moscow midfielder Demy de Zeeuw is urging his teammates to put their midweek defeat to Celtic out of their minds for Sunday’s derby against CSKA Moscow.
The Dutchman was scathing of his team’s Champions League performance on Wednesday, when Celtic forward Georgios Samaras headed a dramatic last-second winner to make it 3-2 after Spartak were reduced to 10 men.
“Against Celtic we didn’t get the result we needed, and it put everyone in a foul mood,” the 29-year-old said. “We have to forget about it and fight at all costs, we have to get the win any way we can.”
Spartak, last year’s runners-up to Zenit St. Petersburg, are fourth points off Anzhi Makhachkala’s lead in the Russian Premier League, in fifth position.
Victory over second-placed CSKA would propel them into second, if results elsewhere go the way of Unai Emery’s team.
CSKA look to bounce back from last week’s shock 2-0 defeat to Dynamo Moscow, which ended a run of six-straight wins.
“The fans need to see us fight for every ball, and if we do it well for the full 90 minutes, we can get a good result,” de Zeeuw said.
The former Ajax and AZ Almkaar player said he relished the opportunity to play Sunday at “one of Europe’s most important derbies.”
“A sold-out Luzhniki stadium, the crazy support of the fans, it’s something incredible,” he said. “On my first day in Moscow I saw photos of the derby in a club office. I was massively impressed and happy that in my football career I’ve had the honor of taking part in games like that.”
De Zeeuw moved from Ajax in July 2011, and has two goals in 20 league appearances for Spartak.
SOT
thought you would appreciate this:
just got the chance of meeting the owner of http://www.tenutaditrinoro.it/home/
and having a tasting menu with him and his wines at Martin Wisharts.
TMWTL
Why not …Huns have done it for years …besides which Levein is a tool…must be dreadful having that eejit as your manager
HH..
Joe Ledley… Hero.. We don’t miss Sevco… Classic line…
PFayr
If GS was in charge of Scotland now, i would back them to get 3 points in Cardiff and possibly nick a point in Brussels
With Levein in control, i don’t see them getting more than a point from the 2 games
It will be Cheerio to Rio
From CFC site
Charlie Mulgrew signs new deal with the Champions
By: Paul Cuddihy on 05 Oct, 2012 10:23
CELTIC are delighted to announce that Charlie Mulgrew has signed a new deal with Celtic until summer 2016. And it caps a great week for the player, who played his part in the team’s magnificent 3-2 victory over Spartak Moscow in Moscow on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old, a product of the club’s Youth Academy, has been one of Celtic’s star performers since Neil Lennon brought him back to the club in 2010, and he was unanimously voted Scotland’s Player of the Year last season in every award up for grabs.
And the player, who has scored 14 goals in 92 appearances for the Hoops is delighted to have committed his future to the team he supports.
Speaking exclusively to the official Celtic website after signing the deal, Mulgrew said: “It’s good to get it signed and focus only on the football. Last year was a good one for me. I’ve been happy to be back. Things have been going well for me so hopefully that can continue.
“All the players here now understand what this club is all about, and for me, growing up as a Celtic fan, I understand fully what the fans expect here and hopefully we can deliver that.
“All the boys have a big drive and they’ve been here long enough to understand what the club is all about. It’s a massive club and there is a big pressure here, week in and week out, but everybody’s happy here.
“That’s what you’ve got to do at a club like Celtic – the fans expect things, they expect you to win games, so I know the expectation levels here and hopefully we can continue doing well and winning games for Celtic.
“It humbles me to hear them singing my name and getting behind the team. Everyone appreciates it and it helps us. I know it’s a cliché but they are the twelfth man at times and it really helps the team.”
The next test for Mulgrew and his team-mates will be an SPL match against Hearts at Celtic Park this Sunday, October 7 (KO: 12.45pm).
And there is a real determination within Neil Lennon’s side to keep their winning run going, not least because it will maintain their position at the top of the table.
“Confidence is high,” said Mulgrew. “It was a great win for us in Moscow and we need to continue that in our domestic form. It will be a hard game against Hearts. Their last SPL result wasn’t great, so they’ll be up for the game and we’ll need to be on our toes and up for it after our game on Tuesday.
“Hearts always give us a game, and playing here, with a good crowd behind us, they can drive us on to get the three points, which is important.
“We won the last game against Motherwell to go top of the league. We want to stay there so we have to keep winning and keep an eye on domestic football.”
whitedoghunch you,re the man to ask. I,m taking Mrs Hebcelt out in Glasgow for a very special dinner on Oct 13th,any suggestions?,boat is being pushed out no expense spared. I like Brian Maule @ Chardon D’Or but she got food poisioning the last time we went there!!! Although I still rate it. 1 Devonshire Gardens? Appreciate any help. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Gary Hooper’s goal against Murderwell on Goal of the Week on SSN, get voting Bhoys
and Ghirls.
TMWTL
Any manager who doesn’t include Commons in the Scotland squad is a fool ….hells teeth look at the moderates who are in the squad
Levein is a thrawn beggar who lacks a professional approach …
O.G.Rafferty
Good good
HH
If SB Is to be rested on Sunday …replace with Ledley and go as was from Wednesday
Jock Stein.. LEGEND
Immortal..
Jock Stein ..CELTIC..
Honoured to have witnessed Mr Stein and his work..
HH
Bale, Ledley, Ramsay, Allen
That’s a decent midfield Wales have
hebcelt – had a very poor evening at Chardon D’or about 18 months ago and I wouldn’t go back. The restaurant at Hotel Du Vin, as it’s called now, was very good the last time I was there with some friends.
Hope WDH can sort you out with somewhere special.
T4
dbbia
Cheers I’ll see if I can download any of that from the ole music box pro,I dont know if its a question of maturity but I prefer Clapton me’self.
PF – Kayal needs game time as well, but I would definately start with Ledley. It’s a no brainer!
T4
Ten Men Won The League – Bale, Ledley, Ramsay, Allen
That’s a decent midfield Wales have
Tidy darts. (thumbsup)
asonofdan
I’m sure as a valued licence fee payer ( idiot ) I will receive a prompt and informative reply to my questions .
:-))))
T4 / hebcelt
Re Du Vin ….headchef has changed … Don’t know what it’s like since change