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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Andy Murray cruises into the quarter finals with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win over the potentially dangerous Dimitrov.
A win on Sunday will complete a perfect weekend,
i was in the company of a good muslim friend the other day (celtic man) and i just asked him about all this isis stuff going on, he was very much opposed to it and after a lengthy chat i asked ‘ ahmed what does the call allah ukbar translate to?’ with a very straight face he answered ‘ its the muslim equivalent of ‘we are the people”…..aye god is good i laughed
so the fix is in thompson after terrible refereeing decisions gets the gig deary me rancid cheat
Thompson is one for watching, but it wouldn’t matter if it was Collum/Madden/Beaton/Muir or McLean Dallas Dallas is pulling their strings.
Just wait till Dallas Jnr gets the gig, it’ll move up to another level when that twat appears.
Good morning friends from a rather disappointingly wet and blustery East Kilbride. Hope things improve for the weekend as it’s the Kano Golf Day on Friday.
MIT
Just lost a long post to you….Damn!
Anyhoos, Fine buddy – In Majorca for a wedding with Burghbhoy. I’m not marrying him though……Not that there’s anything wrong with that :-)
Jobo
Apparently we are going to be hit with a Tropical Blast.
I think that means ‘some nice weather’.
But today every weather front has to have an almighty over the top frightening description.
We used to call it an Indian Summer.
MWD
Superb piece r James Forrest re Keevins.
http://thecelticblog.com/2016/09/blogs/hugh-keevins-lost-in-a-sea-of-spite/
Next,Traynor-The “Eminence Grease” of Scottish Football
MOONBEAMS
It probably has racist connotations nowadays(!)
Good morning campers. Looking forward to a very positive day on CQN.
We have a game on Saturday that Brendan Rodgers can use to prepare us for the real deal next Tuesday. It’s all about making sure we go into the Barca game on the back of a good win and with a real positive attitude.
Patrick Roberts needs a run out to get game-time; Crisitain Gamboa needs an opportunity to play alongside his new team mates; if Brendan wants to use Dorus De Vries in Camp Nou, he needs more game-time with the defence.
KTF
BMCUWP
Possibly. However the Herald (top class media outlet) did have Indian Summer as a headline yesterday on one of the articles it put up on twitter.
MWD
I would disagree with James Forrest about Keevins. Imo, he is not stupid. He has deliberately chosen to take on the role he now has. That, imo, makes him even less to be respected. He must be sick to his stomach with himself. All to have to a career here in Scotland. Sad.
Are Aberdeen FC a bigger club than, Celtic FC ?
Ah mean, AFC leveled the truth at Sevco, that
takes cojones, lots of cojones.
Ah mean, Aberdeen FC….
Won 2 European trophies in one season.
Ah mean, no Scottish club has done that before.
Ah mean, AFC hate the huns more than us and,
AFC, walk the walk.
Ah mean,…..it’s like this…..
Celtic FC will ‘never’ taste freedom until,…..
the keys are in the hands of Jeanette Findlay and her ilk.
Ah mean, when will Celtic fans stop being kidded on by a
bunch of Thatcherites who control your club ?
Desmond – “Rangers FC are a wonderful club, blah, blah…etc.”
McCann – “Rangers FC being put out of the same league as Celtic FC, was the ‘worst’ decision ever.”
Lawwell – “We lose £10 million per year without the old firm games.”
Rodgers the squirrel – Sucked-in by Spanner & McCann after the Tynecastle game were, KT was assaulted and it didny rate a mention – watch the interview(canny do links).
3 soul selling liars and a, squirrel who’ll, grab yer money out yer hands and then throw you to the mercy of all the devils in the Scottish hun establishment.
Aye,….and still there are some on here who think that the huns fans are gullible ????
Give Jeanette Findlay the the keys of the club and, only then will Celtic FC’s soul be set free.
….off-oot-zzzz…..
Mwd/bmcuw
Aye the weather language has been radicalized.:-)
Uppin the ante
No longer the once a year mention Of a hurricane,now they are named Iin alphabetical order
Excuse me buttin in:-)
HH
Kev,
Mornings are always that wee bit brighter after hearing from your good self.
Up the rebels.
Kev j
Good to see you posting
Not good is the ‘tupeing’ over of those age old fears bout a club that died.
It happened kev
They shat their identity
Down the loo
Whoooosh gone.
We have the rest of time to highlight.
Hope your well
HH
KevJungle
Any chance you could post a link to the bit where Aberdeen call them Sevco?
An Tearman
A hurricane. Otherwise known as another windy day here.
Naming them just puts the fear right up people.
When we were wee we used to try to fly off hills by holding open our jackets. Now! Powder puffs.
Apparently here, and I read a story on this (factual?) people don’t take hurricanes (another wind wet day) as seriously when they are named by a female name – lots of people get wet and wind blasted. But when named with a male name – we all stay in and drink beer.
MWD
Mwd
Lol
Aye your only.allowed to get risk thro yir telly noo so everythin has got to be categorized,frettin, feart,shitinit, oh oh,
:-) come to mind.
And mind if your takin a pic turn aff the flash lol
HH
FAC met again last night and I’m sure Hamilton Tim will be able to update us. In the meantime, if you haven’t completed the consultation survey please click this link and complete it now. If you are unsure about what to write, this crib sheet will help. Remember you are agreeing that the act should be repealed. Also remember to click SUBMIT at the end or your views won’t be included!
FAC the Act!
KTF
Did someone on here not say , some time ago, that Thompson is usually quite fair in games against them because he is very much in the public eye? Also, as he has already been seen to favour Sevco this season, will the pressure not to do so again not be increased just a we bit?
I can see that he would maybe try to show that he has not been influenced by criticism and send off Broonie in the first minute but, overall, I am not too bothered who the ref is. They are all pretty much tainted.
Kev J
I think the Aberdeen `no previous games` has been misinterpreted as a dig at Sevco . Their computer, I believe, is only looking at SPFL games in the last two years so, of course Sevco won`t be on it. Neither will any other teams who are in the Top division now but weren`t in the last two years.
JJ
PS I would like to be wrong re Aberdeen.
WITS from 9:53 last night.
Yes. The very same San Pedro de Alcantara.
JJ
HOT SMOKED on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 8:57 AM
Thompson doesn`t give a damn about yesterday`s furore.
He knows that , come Tuesday we Tims will all be focused on Barca .
Yesterday`s chip paper.
Remember calling back wee Leigh when he was clean through when we were 2 up .
AND giving a free kick to us.
The epitome of sleekit hunnism.
Aw , sorry boys . I blew too soon.
His ” mea culpas ” are designed to provide opium for the Timmy masses.
( Not ” Ite Missa est “. Not them masses )
He`s knows how to media manage.
He`s been well schooled.
MWD
In the past minute, I have received an email purporting to be from you. It looks like a scam. ??
JJ
BURGAS HOOPS on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 6:47 AM
Thompson is one for watching, but it wouldn’t matter if it was Collum/Madden/Beaton/Muir or McLean Dallas Dallas is pulling their strings.
Burgas, truer words cannot be spoken! On the way to each game my mate and I follow the same rituals, talking about team, tactics, etc. One of us then asks “Who’s the MIB today?” and after a wee pause we both shout “It doesn’t matter”. They are a truly awful lot. Anyone who sounds like, or has been outed as, Timmyish bends over backwards not to be seen as offering us anything at all (viz. Gollum and Clancy). The others? Well,………….. you know the script there.
Hot Smoked
San Pedro
Lovely spot
Went there with the kids for 10 years in a row,some very happy memories
Used it as a base to explore spots like Ronda,Grenada,Seville
Happy days
Macjay
“Thompson doesn`t give a damn about yesterday`s furore.”
Did something happen yesterday or was that a general comment?
Just to be clear, I am NOT saying Thompson will be fair. I am saying he will be no different from any other Scottish ref who was to be given the gig.
JJ
WITS
Where did you stay?
JJ
MOONBEAMSWD ‘STAND UP ON 15 FOR THE GB’ on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 8:45 AM
An Tearman
A hurricane. Otherwise known as another windy day here.
Naming them just puts the fear right up people.
When we were wee we used to try to fly off hills by holding open our jackets. Now! Powder puffs.
Apparently here, and I read a story on this (factual?) people don’t take hurricanes (another wind wet day) as seriously when they are named by a female name – lots of people get wet and wind blasted. But when named with a male name – we all stay in and drink beer.
MWD. Did you know (and this IS a fact) that all tropical storms used to be named after females? Allegedly this was because, like females, tropical storms were wild, unpredictable and left a trail of carnage after they left.
Political correctness has a lot to answer for! Though any excuse to drink beer has to be good.
mon the hoops
JJ
from my sky account?
MWD
HOT SMOKED on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 9:20 AM
” yesterday`s furore ” means ” the past. ”
========================================================================
Just to be clear, I am NOT saying Thompson will be fair. I am saying he will be no different from any other Scottish ref who was to be given the gig.
I profoundly disagree.
Ask yourself why he was given this gig again.
Given his history of bias in games against the hun.
Morning all.
Come Saturday I shall be thankful that I will be over a thousand miles away and nowhere near Scotland in general, and Glesga in particular.
The thought of those ***** and their disgusting songbook makes me sick.
…but I will watch the game, and expect us to win quite comfortably.
It’s what happens when the game is over that concerns me.
HH!!
Hot Smoked
Friends of ours had an apartment in Guadalmina near the Golf Course where the the Barcelo Hotel is
Morning Celts
We know what to expect from Craig Thompson, a Hun refereeing Celtic v his beloved team…..only in Scoddland
Thats why we need to be brilliant.
If we play to our potential….it wont matter.
Cmon the Griff….Let them have it son:)
HH
MWD
No. I have deleted it anyway.
J
Macjay
The profundity of your disagreement does not enhance it veracity 0:-)
You could well be correct , though. The one I like least is Madden but our players seem to get on quite well with him.
JJ
talking about keevins hes been a twisted washed up excuse for a journo for the last 40 year lie after lie total wank