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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STARRY
Almost, but not quite, as good as this belter from Iain ‘Brinesie’ Brines in April 2011 (4 mins 15 secs):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9454408.stm
Absolute peach, gutted he retired…
Willie Collum gets Saturday’s match …
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/resources/documents/RefereeAppointments/SPFL/05.%20SPFL%20Appointments%20-%20Saturday%2010th%20September%202016.pdf
EMBRAMIKE SAYS “THE HUNS ARE DEID” on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 11:00 AM
Thanks , mate.
After all the false trails.
Don’t know what all the fuss is about. We will give “thems” a right old doing, loadsa goals. Just hope they play to my belief that you don’t give a mug an even break.
Hail Hail
KINGLuBO
Oooooooh interesting….
Collumn
Connor
Clancy
In the same officiating line-up. 3 MIBs with Timmy names/backgrounds to avoid any allegations of bias.
It’ll just be their absolute incompetence as match officials we can blame…
Goddag på dig
Bhoys were do you recommend parking on Saturday. I usually Park in And around Helenvale st
Collum Clancy and Connor
rANgers statement imminent?
Turkeybhoy on 6th September 2016 10:29 am
Yep. Not nearly as bad as Bobby Davidson or Tiny Wharton who were shameless – just look at Wharton’s masonic handshake here with John Grieg!
Now they were able to get away with more because there were very few games televised and if a game was on TV it was 1 camera angle only!
Mibbery was much better in the old days!
FAC the Act!
KTF
bournesouprecipe on 6th September 2016 11:10 am
Goddag på dig
_________________________________
Hello to you too ………….
FAC the act
KTF
Willie Collum ?
” I was a professional footballer for 9 years and I have been a professional football manager for 13 years . He is ,without doubt , the most incompetent Referee I have ever seen ..”
Vladimir Petkovic , Manager of Lazio ( currently Manager of Switzerland ) – 5 4 13 . . – Press Conference after a truly wowee performance by Collum in a Fenerbache v Lazio Europa League game
Good morning CQN
One week to go before we start our C/L campaign i am looking forward to all the group games, unfortunately we have a minor irritation playing a new club having their first season in the SPFL before our herculean task of qualifying out of a tough C/L group
On the subject of C/L i am going to the game in Germany in early November, so on the look out for tickets any help gratefully received HH
TIMBHOY3 –
Helenvale St should be fine.
I normally park in the Lisbon Lions car park. £5 per car. I phoned Celtic customer services yesterday to check availability. The southern end of that car park is for Rangers supporters, so was advised to come early. Not sure if I fancy parking in close proximity to that mob,
I’m going for the comfort zone that is the Jock Stein stand car parks.
SOT
The Italian association is clearly jealous because we’ve a whistler with eyes in the back of his head, – mind you the ole Italians won’t be the only ones.
Willie Collum was second choice behind Boooaaaabbbby Madden, who has an away ticket for the game.
It’s easy to criticise guys like Colum, done so myself on many occasions. But take a wee minute out and think about the bigger picture and what he represents in terms of change.
I believe he is still head of the largest refereeing association in Scotland.
Twenty years ago the idea of an RC officiating at this type of game was remote.
Progression towards equality is slow, but will happen. They’ll fight tooth and nail, all the way to preserve their angle, but eventually their chicanery will be eradicated.
Ain’t you ever wondered why Colum has been vilified in the SMSM ?
lions roar
Best of luck early estimates put travelling fans for Germany at circa 10,000 . I’ve booked through official travel partners but even that avenue looks like it may be going to a ballot
ok a made a mistake but this is the guy who gives penalties when facing the other way poor very poor ref
I agree with those who say mibbery in days goneby was much worse than it is today. Pre-1980, games weren’t televised live, even Celtic/Rangers games, and those that were had at most 2 cameras.
Nowadays, with half-a-dozen cameras, and digital technology, it is much more difficult to hide the cheating, although as in the case of the non-penalty v ICT in the Scottish Cup semi-final, a compliant media helps.
When I think of referees like Wharton, Davidson and Syme, my blood curdles.
So we have 4 eyes for Saturday.
Great news. He won’t miss a thing.
MWD
one of the worst referees ever was jimmy renton a dont think there was a lodge that he wasnt a member of a worked for his firm back in the late 90s he was open about his leanings very open
MMMMMMMM Interesting choices not the usual suspects
Have Celtic FC made representations to SFA behind the scenes ?
Willie Collum plus Assistant Referees at the weekend are Frank Connor and Douglas Ross with the 4th Official duties being handled by Kevin Clancy
late 70s sorry about that it was at mossmorran
Willie Collum. William Collum. Mr William Collum.
Dark clouds descended. The wind dropped. Silence. A woman screamed, a thousand ravens flew out from the trees, an unbearable squawking enveloped the land, lightning flashed, thunder cracked…………….. and then…….
he blew the final whistle. 3-0 Celtic, Griffiths (2), Sinclair (pen).
George Smith
Maybe not so remote in the eighties
Smith took charge of the 1980 (Celtic v Rangers), 1988 (Celtic v Dundee United) and 1990 (Aberdeen v Celtic) Scottish Cup finals. He also took charge of the 1988 (Aberdeen v Rangers) and 1989 (Aberdeen v Rangers) Scottish League Cup finals.
Celtic have won 18 of the last 19 matches Collum has refereed.
Madden hasn’t been given a game this from what I can see. Maybe he’s got plans.
MICKBHOY1888 on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 11:36 AM
Thanks for that very helpful………………………..
BLANTYREKEV on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 11:42 AM
Our resident Hitchcock speaketh.
:-)
The zombies will be in uproar about an RC getting the game
Craig Thomson starts the game early to beat the cameras.
Craig Thomson
Always gave Celtic more cards than the ex-Rangers IL in Glasgow derbys
He continued the trend in the first game between the new club and us, with a 90′ card to S Broon
Always gIves Celtic more cards than opponents when he has us.
These bare stats have won me a good few £££ and I have posted at length on here several times before.
His game management is remarkable in terms of usually managing to come out a game to public acclaim while directing the flow of a game against Celtic
The non advantage at Hampden v Newco when LG was clean through was and is a classic.
Never the slightest doubt he would get the game on Saturday.
My son is involved with football in East of Scotland and he was at a function a few years ago where Willie Collum was in attendance. My son did not hold back in asking him about awarding a penalty to Rangers when his back was turned.
Collum said, “You’re right. I didn’t see the incident, but in my earpiece I clearly heard my assistant shout Penalty. I asked if he was sure. He said yes and I had no option but to give the penalty.”
Just seen advert on Twitter for SKY sports MANC derby starts 30 mins after Celtic game ?
Cracking scheduling SKY, what an utter disaster SKY have been for Scottish football
All thanks to the headless chickens who run the game here ended up with a basket case of a deal
Who said Thomson was getting the game ?!!
Had a quick look on Sevco media, they are happy with Collum being appointed, they think he’s fair but prone to howlers. I would tend to agree.
Also noticed they are very confident that they will win. They seem convinced they should play their normal game and match up with a like for like 4-3-3. Thier attack is much stronger than ours apparently and Krancjar will run the show.
Auld Tam
That is bolloks,
The decisions was made within a fraction of a second before hun hit ground. All Billy saw was hun hitting ground. In those fractions of seconds those communications could never have taken place before he blew.
And if you watch the tv, as I am sure I remember tims doing at the time there was no evidence of Billy speaking to anyone over the comms.
He is a liar!
MWD
Apparently the match officials will be brought to the game via an underground tunnel direct from the Vatican…