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Preparing for gargantuan task in 8 days time

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  2. Auld Tam on

    THE EXILED TIM on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2016 4:27 PM

     

    Afternoon Timland from a seriously hot hun free mountain valley.

     

     

    It is what it is, it’s too late now for the club or the media to change or tell the truth, it’s only and has always only been about the money.

     

     

    Another sad thing is I reckon the majority of the support still see them as the same club, I was speaking to a mate in America yesterday, as smart as eggs he is and he said they were relegated, couldn’t get his head around their death, I know for a fact that things like Res 12 are not known to anything like the majority whom still get their info from the smsm.

     

     

    Pump them full of the OF and they will believe it, sadly.

     

     

    ======================================================================

     

     

    TET –

     

     

    Tell me again how you didn’t say that?

  4. Auld Tam on

    Ernie –

     

     

    Thanks for that.

     

     

    I didn’t know he had died.

     

     

    Have saved that to read later.

  5. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Craig Thomson ref on sat

     

    That was a cert, he will stop the game as often as he can get away with it…

  9. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    Starry Plough

     

     

    Straight-Jacket….As long as its a Versace one, im game.

     

    Dont mind being incapacitated, but i like to be smart:)

     

     

    HH

  11. Burghbhoy on

    If we don’t beat that newco muck by at least 5 I’ll be raging.

     

    What’s the best pub to go to in the Palma area?

  12. THE EXILED TIM on

    AT

     

    That’s how you have interpreted it, it doesn’t come over to me the way you want it to, I put a comma to seperate the two things, but as I am not worthy of your superior knowledge of things, your mastery of english I couldn’t dream of holding a candle to.

     

    In your warped mind I have decided that a conversation with a mate in america allows me to state that that majority of supporters think they are the same club, that is one leap of faith, but you are the man, you know everything, you can read my mind, what a tool.

     

    Go away and annoy someone else you sad old man.,

  13. 'GG on

    In preparation for The Rangers’ first visit to Celtic Park in the SPFL, it may be worth looking back at Martin’s lead in to their first encounter to see if we can find some similarities between our current manager and the legendary Martin.

     

    We had won 4 league games on the trot, winning by one goal in three of them and by 2 away at Tynecastle.

     

    We had one UEFA tie only against the lowly Jeunesse scoring 11 goals in the two legs.

     

    So the build up before the game at Celtic Park must have been exciting.

     

    I was in quarantine and since the web was young fresh and poorly developed I was out of the loop.

     

    So it is even better to look back at this and savor the prospect of a resounding repeat on Saturday.

     

    https://youtu.be/5rQ96X9ekag

  14. mighty tim on

    Starry Plough you know us Maryhill types are quiet and reserved.

     

    All good here mate. When are you getting back to these shores mate it would be good to catch up G.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    KTF

     

     

    UTLR

  18. 'GG on

    I will be happy with a complete humiliation of the newly promoted team.

     

    I will be happy if Craig Thomshun leaves us with 11 men on the park.

     

    I will be happy when the traveling hordes are silenced and leave Celtic Park shortly after half time.

     

    I will be even more happy if the gates are shut and they are forced to watch our domination to the bitter end.

     

    Feeling confident.

  19. Almore on

    I’ll be lucky to see the last fifteen minutes of next Saturday’s match. I’m more interested in the improvement of fan facilities in and around the stadium.

     

     

    First priority is a café (beside the Superstore). CL money could be used to fund this.

  20. Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on

    TET,

     

    He’s a sick man, lies and twisted logic, probably spent most of his life doing it and thinks it’s normal. Kit nailed him and left it at that, he’s now looking for a new victim to troll best leaving it to its own devices. Even when he’s obviously wrong he can’t see it. It’s got to be a mental health issue, more to be pitied than despised, should have probably spotted it before now.

  23. bournesouprecipe on

    Think it’s poor that Celtic have no travel / traffic plans announced for the

     

    Sevco game.

     

     

    The old arrangement for Rangers won’t do anymore because of the changes to the footprint in the area including The Celtic Way, Billy McNeil’s statue etc,

     

     

    This is now a Celtic Fan only zone, and should be completed dedicated to the Celtic Support.

     

     

    They are gonna need a bigger kettle for rANGERs CSC

  24. starry plough on

    MIGHTY TIM

     

     

    No plans to get over at the moment mate although it is very tempting to get over and see Brendans team live:))

     

     

    The girls are off to Japan in a couple of weeks so I have a month free:))

     

     

    Let’s see where Mr Easyjet takes me!!

     

     

    UTLR

  25. embramike says "the Huns are Deid" on

    moo ‏@moo_ted 39m39 minutes ago

     

    For those asking , the referees appointments for the coming weekend fixtures will be announced tomorrow morning .

  26. Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on

    Anyroadup,

     

    I’ve said my last to him, he’s moved up to the scroll on past block. Has nothing of interest and brings nothing but vitriol and lies.

     

    Nytol.

  27. An Teach Solais on

    ALMORE @ 6.44pm

     

     

    Agree totally with your views on cafe for our supporters-especially those travelling a distance. Wonder if this is something for our SLO to take to the Board, or, perhaps, a question at AGM re plans to enhance the match day experience for our fans. I imagine that the Board would want, like the Superstore, for it to opened 6/7 days a week or for it to wash its face financially. Maybe, outsource it but would imagine that any potential operator may want it situated beside ticket office to be more presentable to passing, non football traffic.

     

    Also think that the suggested hotel might be better located at Barrowfield – again to make it financially sustainable.

     

    Good Luck with your eminently sensible proposal. HH

  33. THE EXILED TIM on

    No backsliding here Tom.

     

    Any more for the list Tom, you sure do like calling me different things, all merited in your warped mind no doubt.

     

    I stopped adding to it a while back, but for those who don’t know, this is one sad angry bastard, a few of the things Auld Tam has called me over the years cos he disagrees with what I post, tho not a complete list, it could well be added to.

     

    Arrogant

     

    Sad

     

    Deluded

     

    Fantasist

     

    Stupid

     

    Scum Bag

     

    Guilable

     

    A fool

     

    Ignorant

     

    Hunnish

     

    Patronising

     

    Wicked

     

    Evil

     

    Foolish

     

    Twisted

     

    Attention seeker…..aren’t we all

     

    Psychotic

     

    Paranoid

     

    Bitter

     

    Confused…..I will agree with that one on occasion

     

    Condescending

     

    A sick bastard

     

    Devoid of all humanity

     

    Don’t have a clue….give you that at times

     

    Idiotic

     

    An idiot

     

    Delusional ………..

     

    I made one post tonight giving my opinion then it’s jumped on.

     

    Then you take the hump cos I call you out for it, you are a fecking joke Tom.

     

    The blog has had rules for many years, since it’s inception if I am not mistaken….Rule number one is no personal attacks…..CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT TOM….NO PERSONAL ATTACKS

     

    Or do you think you are above that rule Tom ? cos you have attacked me over the years time and again with no recourse, there might have been had I complained, but I didn’t and I never would, I will bide my time Tom.

     

    IntercontinentalbalisticcementmixerCSC

  37. THE EXILED TIM on

    Canman

     

    Spotted it years ago, he needs help imo, but in his opinion I am all the above, so there you go.

     

    Thankfully it’s only a blog.

     

    I doubt you need hauners from me or anyone else :-)

     

    HH

  41. Almore on

    An Teach Solais: Go rainy Maithili agat.

     

     

    I genuinely believe that this is something that could be developed this year. CL means a lot more fans will visit the stadium. Apart from the Superstore there is not much else for them.

     

     

    The museum is another must. I have done the stadium tour lots of times. According to the guides, there is lots of memorabilia in storage and which would be ideal for a museum/themed café. Last on my wish list would be greater toilet facilities outside of match days.

     

     

    Celtic is nothing without the fans.

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