…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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On the Jim Traynor revelations, I am astounded to learn that the fearless, fair-minded, svelte red meat eater had a relationship with Craig Whyte before winning the title role in A Chump at Sevco
Craig Whyte: Fatty, hand me my memorandum, and lift up your chin. No, no, no, both of them.
.
Up-Over-Goal..
Only donegal danny at a Radiohead concert with a set of Philip Larkin poems would be less than delighted with our European season,
Ha Ha..
Even Ole DD and His Brothers would admit We Missed Sammi last night..
Summa
Alonso is a very good central mid.
United in the last third have very good movement which is the reason they score so many goals in epl.
Great example when Carrick had the ball in centre of park and all 4 of his guys ahead went on criss crossing diagonal runs to create chances.
Catching up a bit. Just read Alex T’s latest article. If that looks bad just imagine what it must have been like in Murray’s era.
“For gawd’s sake Jim. Not “lamb” – “SUCCULENT lamb” and make sure you say the red wine was the finest”.
And don’t forget the bit about Ronaldo.
Real set to bring on Gail Platt
Italia Bhoy
”
United being cute where we were not.
Falling over at the slightest contact to relive pressure. Not nice to see, but par for the course at this level it seems.
”
Have you forgotten about Kris falling when elbowed on his head in the penalty box?
How about Izzy falling after trying to stay on his feet after being fouled?
How did the ref react to these incidents?
Sometimes we are quicker to blame our own. We have seen Amoroso, Giggs and Eduardo get a pen for diving because they played for a bigger team. We got a pen against Spartak because they, like us, are not part of the elite. We got a pen. only once against an elite outfit in the CL and that was in a dead rubber match in 2001.
Real battering United, but still 1-1.
If it stays like that,United will be delighted.
Up_over_the_goal @ 20:50,
I think Lenny got his tactics right yesterday evening.
Liked the team when I saw it (excluding Efe) but thought attacking Juventus could be a problem.
But unlike Barca we managed to get the ball off Juve and had our chances.
The quality of player made th difference in the end.
One thing I would say though is that one of the reasons I liked the line-up including the bench was the ability to radically change the formation, possibly should have donethis rather than chase the game.
Still I’m guessing over two legs the out come would be the same.
Hail! Hail!
Pepé Le Pew on for RM
Ole Fergie looks rough with that zip up top, he wears
Just watched Billynowels from three days ago.
He nails it time after time.
Jones with his 687th foul
Incredible how Jones hasn’t received a yellow card for persistent fouling tonight.
Peter Mullan a couple of rows in front of me in Main Stand rear….
We battered Juve…0-3
Incredible free kick from Ronaldo. 40 yards out, hit like a cannonball, and an inch over the bar.
Beamishmypint
Ah Agree,pally.
Kris, wiz in the wrang.
He broke the Code…of Omerta.
and ..ye know whit the consequence of that..is?
Somehow ,though Ah think Neil, wull no feel up tae..
Gien Him a Kiss.
Kojo
Yer pal.. who likes ye , already.
‘
Still, Laughin’
Shrek substituted
Rangers FC Official @RFC_Official
OPINION: James Traynor has written an opinion piece after being the subject of an @alextomo blog today: http://bit.ly/XM8hoA #RFC
That Ronaldo must be some player – they get a free-kick 40 yards out and PP immediately suspend in-running betting!
For those who dont want to use the link
ONCE again Rangers are the subject of an article by Alex Thomson, who appears obsessed by this club’s business.
This time, however, he turns his attention on me in a most callous and disgusting manner.
Fortunately I’ve been the target of many bloggers many times because of the well, let’s just say strident way I’ve gone about my work. So, if you give it out you have to take it back.
This is one of the unwritten laws of journalism but this person’s blog cannot pass without comment. Incredibly, it’s allowed to sit under Channel 4’s name.
This man has set himself up as a paragon of integrity yet he relies on Craig Whyte as a credible source.
Does he not know the former Rangers owner is under Crown Office investigation?
Thomson publishes the content of emails in which I make it clear to Whyte that a story about his spending plans will start with the figure of £15m for new players. It was necessary to let Whyte view the piece so that it would be difficult for him to try to deny it later.
Of course he did try just the same but he knows he said it. I know he said it and so, too, should Thomson. If he’s spoken to Whyte he’ll also know what this man is like.
The email was sent not because Whyte was being given editorial approval, as Thomson appears to be making out, but because I wanted Whyte to see the figure.
Also, show me a journalist who hasn’t used these methods to extract further information and I’ll show a hack who wasn’t doing his job.
It is necessary to get close to people in football if you are to gain possession of the intelligence required to do the job properly. And that brings me on to Thomson’s other point.
He claimed I asked Whyte for a job. How utterly absurd.
This blogger conveniently forgets to mention it was my work, along with that of the Daily Record’s Keith Jackson, which finally exposed Whyte and brought him down.
We had been gathering information about the Ticketus deal and also Whyte’s failure to hand over PAYE and NI. It was a long process and vital that the line of communication with Whyte remained open.
The fact is he asked me to come and work with him on more than one occasion. He also asked if I would advise him privately.
A game was being played out and working for Rangers at that time wasn’t the goal. In fact, I kept my newspaper informed of the offers through a senior editorial executive because it was important they were on side with the operation.
I also made sure a senior person at the BBC, with whom I had a contract, also knew.
One or two trustworthy colleagues also were made aware of what was going on and we actually laughed at the very thought of me working with someone we were determined to expose.
On any other day I’d have dismissed this latest blog without comment but this is a special time for Rangers. We are a year on from administration and are putting in place a solid structure under the new regime.
Rangers have released a documentary on that crucial year on this very site and that’s what we should all be concentrating on. Enjoy, and stop worrying about bloggers.
More in this category: « Questions Remain
Nice wee treble, yesterday’s shandy paid for
The Ronaldo free kick over the bar was on CQN before my SkyGo
2-2 Dortmund
well thats serial new rangers hater thommo put in his place by jabba.
Jabba saying he along with Keech ‘brought Whyte down’.
What a liar that man is. He was miles behind the story.
DontPatmadug
OPINION: James Traynor has written an opinion piece after being the subject of an @alextomo blog today: http://bit.ly/XM8hoA #RFC
______________
Methinks the man doth protest too much (© Willie Shakespere – I believe)!
Raspberry-Killie score in last minute 1-1
ICT 1 Killie 1. Late equaliser. John Robertson on Shortbread, `that Inverness dressing room door is in trouble`.
Oh dear fatman, at least the hoards will be happy you are on the case.
Chairbhoy
Ah hiv no Criticism .of How oor Team Played,in last eve’s confronto
Actually, Ah thought that they Played very well.
We created quite a few chances.
Howevah…
That. Lousy, Cheap..but.. Confidence Shatterin’ First Goal,that the Italians sneaked..
Sealed oor Fate.
Ah always maintained that We had to Score First… if we were tae make a Fist..
Sadly..
They did…
In these kinda Games..
In Ma Opinion..
He who Strikes First.. is Nine Tenths away from
Taking Awe the Marbles.. when He goes Hame.
Ah dinna Blame oor Players, wan bit..
Well.. mebbe.. a wee wee toaty bit..
Nevertheless..
Ah wiz Proud of them.. they Sure played their Hearts out..
Kojo
Yer pal..who always , liked ye aloater
Still, Laughin’
Bollix, had the 2 CL games and the spl game as a draw treble
Your move Craigy Bhoy……
ernie lynch
19:00 on
13 February, 2013
How would a defender, facing away from the corner kick taker, know when the ball is in play?
———-
Wong mirrors.
conner1888 @ 20:54
Maybe a complaint from the Joyce family?
TET -Was 3 draws…
I am sure there is more to come out on Jabba the slimy zombie hutt. Today was mere “Jabba baiting” and he has responded in true arrogant “no one likes us” style.
Dignity does not get a look in
HH
CRC
Jabba really is a pompous git. The very idea of a fat mess like him belittling a highly respected war correspondent is just too funny for words.
“This blogger conveniently forgets to mention it was my work, along with that of the Daily Record’s Keith Jackson, which finally exposed Whyte and brought him down.
We had been gathering information about the Ticketus deal and also Whyte’s failure to hand over PAYE and NI. It was a long process and vital that the line of communication with Whyte remained open.”
Aye, from one of those “bloggers” you so hate Jabba. After all, was it not quite some time after RTC had revealed that Ticketus had sold off the season books that Keith Jackson more or less copy and pasted from RTC before climbing down when Rangers (RIP) complained? Such brave, fearless “journalism”.
Thomson isn’t stupid. I daresay he has more…..