…OK, I suppose we have to mention them.
I did a preview for STV on Monday and was asked what my expectations were for last night but had to admit I had zero expectations. This season I hoped we would get into the Champions League group stage, or at least, the Europa League. We remarkably overshot. My real hope for the latter stages of the tournament was that we would exit without taking a hiding.
Technically, 0-3 at home is a bit of a hiding but it doesn’t feel that way for several reasons. The first half was the best football we have seen from a Celtic team in years; far better than either of the performances against Barcelona, and on a par with anything under the Strachan and O’Neill eras. Unlike Barcelona, this match plan was flawed, but it was an honourable flaw.
The “gamble” to play Efe is one which Neil may consider, in time-honoured Celtic tradition, will be inscribed on his gravestone. When you face Juventus you need to take gambles; if they all worked, clearly, they were not gambles. This one didn’t, we learn and move on. The player put on a brave performance and I’m very proud of his achievements this month.
With an away game at the daunting Juventus Stadium to come, many considered that our best chance of qualification would be to win the home game, and we clearly went about our business with the intention of doing just that. Had we faced Juve in the group stage it is possible we would have left fewer spaces at the back. Any watching Barcelona players must have marvelled at how big Celtic Park looked on TV last night compared to their visit two months ago.
We don’t know how good Juventus would have been if we camped in front of our own penalty box, as they did for long periods, but they were a more-than-effective counter-attacking team.
It is hard to pinpoint what we were missing. Georgios Samaras would have played if fit and would have given us the height-dimension up front we lacked without him. He would also have given Gary Hooper the support he badly missed. Charlie Mulgrew’s status as Best Corner Kick Taker in Europe is at risk if he doesn’t take corner kicks until Kris Commons has innumerable tries.
Juve were prepared for the Celtic threat from corners and behaved illegally throughout the game. One of the referees should have had the strength of character to deal with the problem but they were sadly unable.
There were many positives. Emilio is back to his very best. On one occasion in the second half two Juve players were goal-side with only Forster ahead. Emilio made-up the five yard deficit and stopped the attack. His pace, skill and decision-making were first class.
Kris Commons repeatedly took-on a crowd of Juventus players before releasing a team-mate or making space for a crack at goal. He looked like he enjoyed the occasion but didn’t get the clear-cut chance his play deserved.
Lustig and Matthews are both excellent right-sided defenders with pace and skill. Kelvin Wilson did well, as did Efe for long periods. Fraser had little to do all night but had no chance with any of the goals. Victor Wanyama bossed everyone in his vicinity, and this was some vicinity. Roy Keane played 13 games for Celtic and, after an unfortunate debut, I remember thinking “This is what all the fuss is about”. Victor elicits the same sentiment; more on the consequences of this another day.
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.
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Paul67
“The player put on a brave performance…”
I really must take issue with that comment on Efe. KC hits closer to the mark with his reported comments.
Efe was woeful. Not brave. His non-challenge for the first goal was, in fact, the very opposite.
The decision to play him was a poor one. its not as if NFL was backed into a corner with the call. He had plenty of options. Further, and I am not simply saying this with the benefit of hindsight re last night, I don’t actually think Efe is as good as some have been claiming this season. Both Efe and Neil must take responsibility and must not repeat the same mistakes.
KC, Emilio, Lustig, Vic and Skoosh played well. Hoops had nothing to feed off. JF only flitted in and out. Again, he’s not match fit and, as with Efe, I didn’t understand the rush to include him in first XI. Lenny had options, including Joe Ledley, arguably our most consistent player.
Anyway, lets hope for a double this year. I genuinely think that anything less will leave a frustrating taste in the mouth.
HH!
Pfayr
“disgraceful stupid comments from Commons …id drop him from the squad for the weekend ….unacceptable”
Why???? They’re true.
oldtim67
17:06 on
13 February, 2013
I agree with your comments,I also felt Forster was not blameless.
The tactics were good and a great effort by the players(9) however we cannot afford the luxury of 2 players,who by dint of arrival timing and previous game time are selected.
I previously expressed concern that in my view,NL has surrounded himself with people who tend to accept his decisions with little constructive criticism or input,how else could the entire coaching staff have reached the same conclusion re Ambrose and Forest.
A Managerial disaster class, we were holding Juve.with 17 mins to go despite a gift goal and a man short in Forrest,a different selection would have succeeded.
well, if anything lennie’s raised our expectations – not an easy thing. big game at the weekend – back to life back to reality
….pfayr
22:09 on
12 February, 2013
Night bhoys
Too many amateur hour managers on this evening
………
You should have said hi to me neigh-bour.
V
Speculation to follow:
Traynor was, and still is, Murray’s servant. At a time when Murray’s reputation was taking a pounding, Traynor defended him very aggresively. You can’t be editor of the DR during the Murray years and not be in his favour.
The move to Whyte was at the request of his real master, perhaps to have someone on the inside who could find out what Whyte was up to.
Lisbeth Salander strikes again.
Dexter
It would seem you have never played a team sport.You never criticise your teams mates in public.You win as a team and lose as a team.
Please ignore that Pfayr finger trouble.
V
Although the latest revelations about JT are somewhat embarrassing, I can’t imagine they’ll make a jot of difference to Sevco or the MSM.
It will be more of the same old guff that we always knew went on anyway.
IMO, the SFA president is far more conflicted and what has happened with that one? Zilch!
bournesouprecipe
17:34 on 13 February, 2013
‘Man with multiple facial piercings now working for British Rail’
Central Station CSC
…………
You should have come over and said hi to me neigh-bour.
V
Daryl King or Jingle Jackson the morra ?
we have learnt a lot about our team and our players this season. we learnt we have several players who can compete at a high level and we now know with a little bit of luck we can get into the c/l group stages.
for the most part, foster, izzy, wilson, efa, mathews, lustig, commons, victor, brown, sammi and hooper have all shown they are able at that level.
hooper is likely to leave this summer so might not be with us for our next adventure into the c/l.
the best and worst think we learnt is that victor, omg, victor is real, pure, total, unquestionable class and we should enjoy having him for however long he is with us. i’ll tell you what, unless we get offered £15 million + for him, i would not even get round the table to discuss selling him. i would simply emial some footage with a little?
victor is likely to leave this summer so might not be with us for our next adventure into the c/l.
imho, we will still have a core group of players able to preform at that level and i still think, kayal and forrest injury free and playing in the first 11 will prove able as well, with a couple of others youngsters knocking on the door.
lets enjoy the ride bhoys and ghirls i dont think this will be our last onwards and upwards
I have waited until my anger settled down with regard to last night .
Yes I was angry ..the big was was a bridge to far and I am surprised that Neil went that route .
The big guy stopped running when the ball was going over the line he was in a better position to clear it even in a desperate lunge . had huge argument with my m8 today re this have watched it back and still feel the same .
It was all over at that point we missed big sammy more than I ever thought possible and at 1.0 despite our pressure then it was what Italian teams to best soak up and break.
Disappointed I thought we would get a draw at worst .
Ach well always next year were we will be a bit wiser .
On jabba . it’s a bloody nose but hardly earth shattering as we all hoped
And like a few have said . despite what Thompson says some journalists will have had to submit there exclusive interview before publication as that’s the deal to get it .
Also and I will put the tin hat on I would be sure our Peter WILL HAVE DONE LIKEWISE.
Also and I think I seem to remember a strong rumours that jabba may have been approached by us not long into Dr Reids time at the club .
Be interested however to see how its reported as jabba will have a few bits and bobs on some people up here and I hope he comes out slinging the mud to se the responses as that may prove to be better than what we have had today
14 July 2011 14:49
(Hi Craig, as agreed the following is what I think would cover the Sunday Mail piece. You’ll notice I start with the £15m but also that I haven’t quoted you on that amount. There might be one or two minor alterations between now and the deadline but these would only be cosmetic and grammatical once I’ve had a final look.Thanks, JT.)
I find the above interesting part of Thommos revelation it implies Jabba knew the 15 mil for players was crap but he went along with it and in the process mislead the public.
It also implies Jabba was quite willing to write lies for the sake of promoting oldco to me this means 100% he was in cahoots with the oldco propaganda machine
It strengthens the allegation his duplicity started with Murray so I guess once he sold his journalistic soul there was no turning back for Jabba and his recent appoint at Sevco was a natural course of events.
Looks like the slug was angling for job with them for years and would sacrifice his journalistic integrity to achieve it…
Remember Jabba WARNED everyone to be careful when they write about Sevco, I think he needs to be weary of the BAMPOTS :)
oldtim67
17:35 on 13 February, 2013
‘ernie lynch.
Ernie.Your such a clever person,another of your abilities is you can read minds,Rather than having a fly on the wall,we should just ask you.’
You posed the question.
Maybe you had assumed that NFL posts on here and was going to answer the question for you.
In which case I apologise for my intrusion.
I
Fanandpatriot 17.55
“Dexter
It would seem you have never played a team sport.You never criticise your teams mates in public.You win as a team and lose as a team.”
1. I have.
2. KC was being interviewed. He was clearly asked about the game. Do we want the stock boring answers from our players or should they say how it is? If Roy Keane had been playing last night, he’d have said the same.
3. In team sport, individuals have responsibilities. These responsibilities include those to their teammates. It simply cannot be argued that NFL’s and Efe’s decisions did not let down KC and the rest of the team.
Let the truth free
The Barca win was a wonderful occasion. Howver, had we drawn instead and beat Benfica at home, we would still have qualified.
The expectations would not have been so high last night and maybe we may have been more successful.
I don’t think we are good enough to beat Juve over 2 legs, to be honest.
In some ways, it’s better being beaten comprehensively than to have to agonise over an exit on penalties or away goals.
While Traynor’s total lack of journalistic ethics has been revealed to an unsurprised nation (and way beyond), is it not time that the BBC Scotland Sports Department was taken to book for allowing this arrogant hypocrite to spout his bias over the airwaves. Haven’t they a responsibility to broadcast evenhandedly.
Having said all that, the self-same crew regularly trot out thon Dougal chap when there are any issues between Celtic and the Dallas tutored refereeing fraternity to give his “objective” opinion, which always seems to come down against Celtic…….Hmmmmmm.
Dexter
I think it’s very harsh to criticise Ambrose on those grounds. For a couple of days cyberspace was full of pleas to get him home quickly so that he <could play – quite possibly he felt that he’d be letting down his team-mates and all of us if he had said no,. he wasn’t fit to play.
Dexter
To bring Roy Keane into the equation doesnt do it for me ,a selfish player who put himself before his country and his teammates.
If Jim McGuiness has any imput in first team affairs I think he will be having a quiet word in Lennys ear.HH.
Big nan
The Brothers silence was broken on BBC Radio Scotland.
……former Grade 1 referee Stuart Dougal stated that the referee did everything within the laws by not awarding a penalty for all holding at corner kicks. His point was, and I am not convinced, that the ball was not in play (Cascarino v Hearts in the 1990s seems to offer a different outcome as I recall, but that was some time ago)
If the ball was not in play, then this must have been “off the ball” and(red) cards produced? No such challenge from BBC to their resident “Authority”
dexter
17:43 on
13 February, 2013
The Juve player subtly pushed Efe off balance at the first goal…….end of …… Just something else the ref didn’t ‘notice’ …..
Recorded the game on STV and ITV1……watched about 5 secs, then deleted both ….LOL
Fantastic atmosphere at the game last night……!!!!!!!!!
Dexter,
What if other Celtic players from last night followed the public statement make by K.Commons?
If eg Izzy said “Forster had a stinker”…to which Forster said “what about Mulgrew,he was crap”….for Charlie to then say “what about Hooper,he was invisible”….for Hooper to say “but what about Commons,6 shots at goal not one of which bothered their keeper” etc etc etc.
Would that,in your view,be a good thing for Celtic FC?
Two bitches fighting but no hair pulling :))
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8eCT9wTOuU
Fanadpatriot
I think you’ll find McCarthy sent Keane home in 2002;-)
HH
Vmhan
✊
Sir Paul
Sorry Pal…
Ah Dinna Buy..Yer Soft Soap… It’s Ayewiz.. Lye and Sunlight. .fur Me!
It wiz NAE Gamble, that Neil Made.. Last Night.. when he Played Efe, as a C.B. agin the Slaverin’ Italian Wolves..
It wiz.. a Common or Garden..
Mistake!
And .. if Ah may lay It oan Thick…
‘
A Mistake o’ MONUMENTAL PROPORTIONS.
Well afore , Mr. Lennon’s Player Menu, for the Evenings Festivities, wiz made Public..
Ah. Wrote oan this Very Forum..
“Efe,is a Fine Player.. But.. He is No C.B.”or words tae that effect..
and.. That wiz no a New Opinion, which Ah wiz expressin..’
Ah hiv bin repeating that Very Same opinion of Efe, as a C.B. ,oan here…since.. the Very Beginning o his Celtic Tenure…in the C.B. position..
If A Callow Yoof , like Ma Sel..( Gie’s a Break!..ed).. O.K… that’s Stretching it.. a wee bit..
If a Complete Fitba’in’ Dilettante.. like Ma sel.. Who’s only true knowledge of Football..it that It is Round and Bounces..
Could… See.. that Efe, wiz . oot of his Element , when playing as a C.B.
Then..
That is Why .. Fur Mr. Lennon, too go ahead and Elect tae Select, Efe.. for this
Most Important Game,of Last Eve..
Jist Makes Neil’s MISTAKE.. so.. well.. MUNUMENTAL..
and…if A Dare .. add..
SO ..
UNFORGIVABLE!..as weel.
Right Noo.. at this time..
‘
Neil Francis..is in MA Bad Books.
However.. Ah will Relent..and Forgie Him.. In Time..
Fur
Ah must remind Masel..that He is oan a Learning Curve..
and ..Making Mistakes, is surely recognized ,as part and Parcel of that
very thing.
Nevertheless..
The Mistake must be Recognized.. and Exposed..
and.
NOT GLOSSED OVER.
Like Ah hiv Said..
NEIL, made a Mistake… Which is Faur, Faur, different.. from taking a Mere… Gamble.
In Ma Opinion.. of course.. In Ma Opinion.
Kojo
Still.. Laughin.
Frank Gill@HoopyHoop1967
I predict ALL Scottish journalists will sidestep, or just plain ignore @alextomo piece on Traynor…leopards and their spots etc
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10malex thomson@alextomo
@HoopyHoop1967 bbc scotland have asked me on tomorrow morning abt 8.30 so it would seem not.
I can’t remember Hartson, Sutton, Larsson , being bullied and josled by Italian defenders.
Infact it was quite the reverse .
TT
Typical……….Eggheads get beat when I wasn’t paying attention
Stuart Dougal on STV on pushing, pulling and play-acting – “Juventus played it brilliantly.”
Douglas states no penalty as ball not in play but in every clip stv showed the ball was clearly visible -utter tosh -dermott Gallagher on SSN more reasoned with his comments
OG
If CW is the source of AT’s info today, it would be very silly would it not for anyone who has had any communication with CW for example the SFA SPL SFL to expect this to remain private?
I have never heard a more unadulterated heap of shi*e than that flowing out of the mouth of the bigot Dougal on STV news
TinyTim@18:29
True but buying players of the calibre of Hartson + Sutton nowadays would cost you £10m apiece.Henrik was just priceless
The team has been crying out for a bustling type centre forward since last summer.
Paul McConville @Paulmcc12
Guess Who’s Scheduled To Be On BBC Sportsound Tomorrow? http://wp.me/p1Adbc-NL