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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Mackeys Forge 4.20 Gowran
Afternoon all.
Was going to take a chance on Vincentti in the 1st at Ascot,but I will hedge my bets
by going fof Captain Ramius in the 3.35 Ascot.
Bon chance mes amis à l’exception Bada Bing.
HH
Lads,
CQN naps here today… I will update the table from last week and post this afternoon.
Cheers, fleagle1888
Royal Wedding for me in 1600 at Fontwell.
Arra best.
CQN Saturday Naps Competition – Week 9 Results & Standings
Some great results last week… Valentines Day found the winner of the Cambridgeshire (Bronze Angel @9/1).
Our two leaders both found winners – green T (Annecdote @5/1), and Rockon (Rosdhu Queen @4/1), and finally, Mhark67 got off the “mark” (Steeler @11/4).
+£ 9.25 green T (4)
+£ 7.88 Rockon Neil Lennon (3)
+£ 1.00 Che (1)
+£ 1.00 Valentine’s Day (1)
+£ 0.20 TheBarcaMole (2)
-£ 0.97 hunza rugli (2)
-£ 1.00 BULL67 (1)
-£ 1.00 voguepunter (1)
-£ 1.50 Sixteen roads to Golgotha (2)
-£ 4.00 fleagle1888 (1)
-£ 4.00 gerry_bhoy (1)
-£ 4.50 tommytwisttommyturns (1)
-£ 5.00 leftclicktic (1)
-£ 5.25 MHARK67 (1)
-£ 6.00 Glen (1)
-£ 9.00 Bada Bing
-£ 9.00 bobbymurdoch’s winklepickers
-£ 9.00 Cathal
-£ 9.00 Citibhoy
-£ 9.00 gourockbhoy
-£ 9.00 Magnificentseven
-£ 9.00 Raymac
-£ 9.00 Som mes que un club
-£ 9.00 What is the Stars
*No selections from : Citibhoy, gerry_bhoy, Glen
*Non-runner : fleagle1888
Cheers, fleagle1888
Newmarket 3.20 Prussian
good luck bhoys and ghirls
T4 if you get any further down that league table you may have to do a sevco and ask for a share transfer.
Lads,
my nap is Camborne (Ascot 2.30) for the unstoppable John Gosden team.
Cheers, fleagle1888
ASCOT 16:10 – FACETHEPROBLEM
cheers Fleagle
Hoping for a change of luck today with ETON RIFLES 3:05 ASCOT
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
Angels Will Fall in the 5.00 at HQ please, be lucky bhoys and c’mon Camelot and The Hoops tomorrow
16:20 @ Gowran Park -Protaras – NAP!
Hebcelt
I can recommend 2 Fat Ladies at The Buttery beside St Pat’s Anderston. Great Service Great food and one or two wee surprises.
Buon Appetito
D.P.
donpepe
Buon appetito to you my friend,wrong thread.
CQN Saturday Naps Competition – Week 10 Results & Standings
Only 2 winners yesterday – Sixteen Roads to Golgotha jumps to the top of the napsters table (Protaras @14/1) .
Valentine’s Day makes it back-to-back winners (Body and Soul @4/1)
+£12.50 Sixteen roads to Golgotha (3)
+£ 8.25 green T (4)
+£ 6.88 Rockon Neil Lennon (3)
+£ 5.00 Valentine’s Day (2)
+£ 0.00 Che (1)
-£ 0.80 TheBarcaMole (2)
-£ 1.97 hunza rugli (2)
-£ 2.00 BULL67 (1)
-£ 2.00 voguepunter (1)
-£ 5.00 fleagle1888 (1)
-£ 5.00 gerry_bhoy (1)
-£ 5.50 tommytwisttommyturns (1)
-£ 6.00 leftclicktic (1)
-£ 6.25 MHARK67 (1)
-£ 7.00 Glen (1)
-£10.00 Bada Bing
-£10.00 bobbymurdoch’s winklepickers
-£10.00 Cathal
-£10.00 Citibhoy
-£10.00 gourockbhoy
-£10.00 Magnificentseven
-£10.00 Raymac
-£10.00 Som mes que un club
-£10.00 What is the Stars
*No selections from : Citibhoy, green T, hunza rugli
*Non-runner : Som mes que un club
Cheers, fleagle1888