I don’t subscribe to the ‘Nothing to lose’ lobby, who seem to think underdogs can play free from the burden of having to win. Let me remind you where this Celtic team have come from…..
Celtic came through two qualifying rounds to reach the Champions League group stage, as bottom seed. The collected 10 points in six incredibly tight games to finish above Benfica and Spartak Moscow to reach the knock out stage, losing only twice.
The margin between success (first or second place) and failure (bottom) was incredibly tight. We are now 10 games into our European campaign and in the knock out stage for the first time in five years. For Celtic, these opportunities are few and far between.
The team with nothing to lose is Juventus. They are Italian champions and will be so again this year. Their major competitors, Inter and Milan, occupy fourth and fifth place in the league respectively. Napoli are the only team within 9 points of the top and they only won the league when Diego was strutting his stuff.
Juventus will be in the Champions League group stage next season and will be seeded to qualify for the knock out stage. It could easily be the quarter finals before they face another tier-one side. In other words, if Juve lost this tie, there will soon be another chance.
No one in the Celtic team knows if they will have another opportunity to reach deep inside the Champions League.
Nothing to lose? For Forster, Matthews, Hooper, Lustig, Samaras, Commons, Wanyama and Mulgew, this is the greatest chance of their professional lives. Win it and they become celebrated across Europe. They before more valuable professionals, likely to earn bigger contracts in the future. They have everything to lose.
On Friday 1 March the Lisbon Lions will be at the Kerrydale Suite providing commentary and answering questions on their magnificent European Cup final win in 1967. This has never happened in 46 years since that game, to say it is a unique opportunity fails to tell the whole story.
The event is part of our 125 4 125 campaign – central to reinvigorating the charitable spirit which is part of the club we love. It will be a family occasions, tickets are available at £10 for adults and £5 for children. The night has been organised by several fans working in conjunction with the people at Celtic Charity, so please do your best to support this great occasion. Individual tickets or tables are available, details here.
I’ll see you there.
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Goa csc
Just not quick enough……….
Bronze
Top 5
and i had to log in
I don’t think we will lose.
Any spares for tomorrow?
HH
Bmcuw
Im 5.5 hrs ahead of the time i posted on here so you had. A distinct. Disadvantage ;)
Murray Park home deliveries ?
That’s what I dislike about religious fundamentalism…nae sense of humour!
Hits the post!!!
Come on you bhoys in green!
Myrtle Beach is green and white!!!
Wish I was in Glasgow!!!
BobbyM
There are no CL games on the betting sites..
Eastern Ex Pat
The game is on Irish tele as well.
I am in the south of Spain and have a sky box and get everything, without that or a bar with a link, it’s a stream I’m afraid.
HH
Mea Culpa
13:00 on
11 February, 2013
Guy on BBC tweeting that he hopes the Church breaks with tradition and picks a female Pope.
Anyone see the flaw here?
I guess this guy ain’t a Catholic.
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Blinkin’ flip………..
Obviously not just print media employing idiots.
A good point, Paul. Who knows whether we will be in the CL next season, when we have to get through 3 qualifiers.
However, I notice a tendency to underestimate Juve. They humped Chelsea in the group stage. Italian teams have the strongest mentality of all. They are very hard to beat.
Beating Juve over two legs will be at least as big an achievement as beating Barca in one game.
The Boy Jinky
13:02 on
11 February, 2013
Bmcuw
Im 5.5 hrs ahead of the time i posted on here so you had. A distinct. Disadvantage ;)
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Quick,mate-check The Racing Post site.
What won the 230?
Just logged on,had to double check to see I was not on FF.
Ten of the side that started for Celtic on matchday one were making group stage debuts, with Scott Brown the exception.
Squad has come a long way and continues to grow.
A result over 2 legs against Juve and who knows what might happen.
HH
Paul67
Good article, I don’t subscribe to the nothing to lose theory either.
Celtic have been in this CL for seven long months, and have already beaten at least one better side. The Celtic focus on this game is the biggest and most intense for many, many years, to the extent we even rested most of the team in the preceding SPL game, – we’re in it to win it.
Eastern ex-pat
12:55 on
11 February, 2013
Help please.
How can I see the game tomorrow outside the UK as it’s only being shown on ITV
Sign up for CTV
Just about to get of the London Euston train at Glasgow. What a change in the weather. I left in drizzly snow/rain and arriving in bright sunshine. Just like our spirits for tomorrow.
Hail,Hail.
Interesting angle Paul. I also hope the playing squash see this article. It’s quite the teamtalk.
You just made me very nervous.
Celtic and Juventus pizza…yummy
Squad, not squash. …
HH
Just realised McLeish ( Alex) has no job..geez he probably thinks he’s a shot at the Vatican!
A curious tale:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/deepening-mystery-of-the-irish-tycoons-eight-months-in-the-hands-of-kidnappers-8489067.html
Hi everybody
Long time lurker.
I am looking for a ticket for Tuesday for a friend, I know demand is high and it is a long shot figured it was worth a try. My friend is happy to pay face value but said he would be willing to stretch to £60. If anybody was able to help it would be greatly appreciated. Obviously, one of us would be willing to travel to pick ticket up in Scotland.
Thanks in advance for any help
Just in to find a new article up, and have had to chance to search back. Is there any truth that Juve are training over in the darkside or have they declined the offer?
Thanks in advance
HH
Posted from last thread
Half of the so called defenders of the Catholic faith on here have probably not seen the inside of a proper place of catholic worship in years . Some of them like to boast of their catholic credentials in the belief that it reinforces their Celtic credentials. I am quite sure that in dioceses all over the world there will be light hearted comments passed by senior clergy regarding the Popes impending retiral.
It will be harder to knock out Juve than beating Barca in a one of game…..this is the hardest game we have faced in 5-10 years……it will be a stupendous result if we go through….concentration will be the key over two legs…..don’t lose a goal at home and we are in with a decent shout….
Kikinthenakas
O.G. Rafferty………….You’re maw letting ye out to plat the day mate?
Canny stand the excitement.
Burgas Hoops
I’ve had CTV for 3 years now but CL games are not streamed live – commentary only, which might have to do.
Thanks for all those who came back with ideas.
Frustrating…
thindimebhoy
>>>>>
Nae offence to you, but thae pizzas look like what they are: virtuallu inedible keech.
But the photie was funny.
HH!
THE EXILED TIM
Thanks,mate-as I said,you were likely to be the man wi the info.
Have you been practicing for your upcoming waste of a good walk wi ACGR? Got a feeling you won’t be going home that night.
If he offers a wee substance known as THREE ELEMENTS,ask him if he wants a lodger-it’s unbelievable!
Stay there till it’s gone,mate-the first time I discovered that whisky didnae always taste of whisky.
If SIXTEEN ROADS is about,I will try to separate a measure or two for you in April.
Whiskey,pfwaaah. Try this,bud.
To me the last 16 is when the European Cup starts properly. This is the format used when we won it. The group stages are the champions league.
It’s now’ The European Cup’
Mickbhoy,
Bit of a sweeping statement that.
Corduroy was invented by a school teacher at Holy Cross High School, Hamilton, in season 1969/70.
Info CSC
Nice to see Big Sami back in training this morning.
http://www.snspix.com/8366703/print/8366703.html
Hopefully he’ll be fully fit for tomorrow night!
HH
/Bishop B