In eight days Brendan Rodgers takes Celtic into the Camp Nou to face Barcelona. While Barca are not current European champions, there is little doubt they are the best team in the world at the moment, and no doubt whatsoever that they are the greatest team of the era. A gargantuan task lies ahead. This week we’ll have a look at that challenge and how we might best prepare.
While Brendan has carried all before him in domestic football, and at home in Europe, his Celtic lost in Gibraltar and Israel, while taking a creditable draw in Kazakhstan. Playing in the Camp Nou is another world entirely, however.
Neil Lennon did very well top inhibit Barcelona on three of the four occasions he managed Celtic against them (the fourth was a dead rubber for Celtic, who conceded six, but was a must-win for Barcelona).
On the three meaningful Celtic games, we won once, lost once with 10 men, and conceded a last minute winner in the Camp Nou. A remarkable return against one of the best teams in the history of the game.
Neil’s team defended his 18-yard-box with remarkable endeavour, even with Efe Ambrose and Kelvin Wilson in central defence – and Adam Matthews at left back. Not exactly a legendary defensive line-up, but what Neil proved more than anything, football is about the system, not the individuals.
In some respects, defending against Barcelona will be more straightforward than against St Johnstone. There will be no reluctance to clear the ball long, instead of trying to thread a pass in the middle of our own half. There should be no complacency, and at all times defenders should be aware that their defensive partners are not far away.
In defending the 18-yard-box, Neil’s Celtic conceded space near the corner flag, an area we would normally contest, as this is where dangerous cross balls can emanate from. What that Celtic team had was no only a comfortable height advantage over Barcelona, but this advantage combined with a natural ability in the air, which say Celtic score regularly and defend successfully.
I expect Mikael Lustig, Erik Sviatchenko and Kolo Toure all to play along the back line (will be amazed and concerned if Mikael plays a conventional right back role), with Nir Bitton dropping deep from midfield. So we will not be short of height, but gelling them into a cohesive unit will be one of Brendan’s major tasks when players return from international duty.
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Even a fabricated Penalty. I thought it was a pure dive.
My last post ( ever I hear some say in hope) was for Cowiebhoy.
!!BADA BING!! on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2016 9:06 PM
Bitton subbed 58 mins, not sure the reason
hopefully just cause he’s pish more often than need be
borrocks
The ref in the Ireland game is on the take, I challenge anyone to sue me for saying it.
……………………………..
JJ
The side letters were given to the hun players telling them that the money they were getting was a loan that they didn’t have to pay back, hence the tax evasion and the case going all the way to the Supreme court, the letters were not disclosed to the sfa, which in itself is cheating.
HH
Personally,I have never held any great dislikes about Hun players.Apart from the odd one or two,for obvious reasons.When we gub them,yes the points are usually handy,but that is not the best part of the game.Its watching the hordes at their end.Knowing the torture they are going through,the terrible pain they are feeling.The “Peepul”gubbed by Tims.ts unbearable for them,and the thought of watching that,while we give it big licks,is worth anything.Its not Rangers,we know that,but its the same vile scum,that support them,so on Saturday,when we gub them,I wont care f it Sevco,Newco,Rangers,TRIFC,I wil still feel the same elation.
2-2 Ireland
We should sign that Daryl Murphy.
Big Daryl Murphy’s first international goal. 2-2
Great stuff Big Daryl Murphy
I think that if we were playing Aberdeen or Hearts this coming Saturday, then CQN would already be talking of the importance of the game, team selection, formation and tactics. I take the fact that we don`t seem to be so doing as a reflection of the uncertainty many might be feeling about the appropriate response to our participation in the event about to take place. Or are we just awaiting the Internationals end?
JJ
TET
Thanks, K.
JJ
woop
PLYMTIM
I thought you might like that fixture.)) For me it’s never been a question of what the support would do. We’re Celtic supporters but we also want success yesterday so where would this new found patience for languishing in the lower leagues of England come from
Logistically speaking though I can’t see how Celtic would grow through such a process except down, we couldn’t pay wages to top players so we would have to downsize to the leagues etc etc and then if we reach the Nirvana of the top flight we would need to be a top four club PDQ to qualify for Europe???
Celtic are too big for Scotland but I don’t think we would accept an offer to play in the lower tier of English football, I just can’t see from a business point of view our board ever going for such a deal.
Europe is where we need to be especially with changes afoot, the board know this hence the appointment of BR. They tried to muffle it with Ronny hoping they could squeeze out a cheap qualification from him and hopefully they realise now that’s a failed strategy and back the manager to get our name back up in Europe in preparation for the invite that might come our way at some point.
HH
Good Evening (again).
Final piece of the day. All about match-day catering. Sort of…
“Catering Problems At The Evening Shark-Jump” https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2016/09/05/catering-problems-at-the-evening-shark-jump/
Corkcelt
Are you coming over for any of the Champions League games?
JJ
HOT SMOKED
So climate change has reached Scotland and January is no longer sou’ wester weather:)))
I’ve been away half a lifetime so I’m not au fait with the new winter conditions:))
HH
CANAMALAR IT LOOKS LIKE OCD OBSESSION on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2016 4:07 PM
Reggie,
If the money was going into the club fair enough but it’s no it’s going into a Plc’s bank account.
Probably,the most stupid,ludicrous thing I have ever read on here.
Absolute Bollox
Hopefully Hot Smoked.
JJ
You should get your contact here to get a few bargains for you, this time of the year the supermarkets are pushing the red wine to beat the band, there are bargains galore, nobody drinks it cos of the heat so they sell it cheap, I have been stocking up big time, the run up to Christmas is another good time as well.
The Coto 2010 was half price last week only for a day, twas lucky I was in the shop on the day, don’t normally go into it but the place I usually get the chickens feet from didn’t have any, the wee dugs love their chickens feet :-)
HH
I think I thought something earlier about this or that.
I just thought I’d tweet it here.
MWD
Two all draw. Before the game I’d have taken that all day long.
Not the greatest performance but there you go.
I hope that is a good point for Ireland.
Starry Plough
May is now the sou`wester month;
Corkcelt
Good. Hopefully we can meet up.
TET
Coincidentally, I opened a bottle of Coto 2010 last night. Beautiful.
I`ve still got a few of the 2005 but I am keeping them for a wee while yet. I will be over in San Pedro for the last week of October.
1 goal beat me for £290 ffs
It used to be that after a run I would shower and feel energised. The same occurs now after cycling. After golf, the least energetic of the three, all I want to do is sleep ! I played golf today so, goodnight all 0:-)
JJ
JJ
For the price it is imo the best around.
A month or so yet afore I will be partaking in the vino tinto, the heat and the red are not the best of amigos :-)
Enjoy when you are over.
HH
Hot Smoked
You mentioned San Pedro
Is that San Pedro De Alcantara just passed Marbella ?
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2016 6:12 PM
Starry Plough
Straight-Jacket….As long as its a Versace one, im game.
Dont mind being incapacitated, but i like to be smart:)
HH
I take it you mean”Well groomed”
“O shut yer face missus”
MARGARET MCGILL on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2016 7:18 PM
I wouldn’t be surprised if Senderos is on an EBT
Neither woud .I heard he was on “Double time”for working a Saturday,at his last job.
NEGANON2 on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2016 8:04 PM
I am away in killin for the weekend with my wife’s large extended family
Going by the rest of your post,I would think there would be a few wanting to be”Killin”you.Probably want t throw you off that hill.Would not be going to nearthe edge if I were you.
Turkeybhoy
Are you drunk?
Dallas Dallas: Cheers for the response earlier. Now that the transfer window is closed I think that we as fans could promote ideas to improve fans’ experience at Celtic Park. It is worth noting that a lot of people visit CP outside of match days.
Also, Peter Lawell keeps an eye on this site, allegedly, so if we discuss it regularly who knows what might happen. I won’t be holding my breath though.
Stand up for Almore and the Peoples Green Cafe
Turkeybhoy
His EBT will be worth as much as a handful of old building trades holiday stamps.
Almore
I can play a few tunes, live set.
A few Rebs:)
HH
Hmmm…just got an e-mail from Herald Scotland asking if I wanted to be part of a discussion group on what they do, how they do it and how they can improve it.
Anyone else got an invite?
Do I accept?
Interested in your comments troops!
HH
Cheers WITS. Tiocfaidh ár gCafé:-)