…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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Jude ………..
to save you looking back :))
Dont say us big fellas aint good to you.
alex thomson@alextomo
TOMOBLOG: TRAYNOR AND WHYTE http://bit.ly/12LN5Vr
Kojo
Where they not in the winning team that qualified to lose last night?
OK we might qualify without them and I tend to be sangfroid about comings and goings but you have to look at it in the round surely.
Now keeping them until we qualify makes sense and if we do not they get punted and we are still in the readies.
Journalists seem to have no problem hacking phone messages, so the technology must exist
BGFC
bsr
Great pic btw. Whats up wae Efe?? o(
thomthethim
22:34 on 13 February, 2013
the raven,
Agreed, but,depending on available players, I don’t think Efe will play for a couple of games.
Unlike the rest of the squad, he never had a winter break.
—————————————————————————-
good point m8 , forgot about Efe having no break .
Maybe Neil should play him , to show he still trusts him , then give him a week or 2 off
Celtic1st
You have messages on your phones. Could your employer grab them?
Yes, if he had the desire and knowhow.
After last night’s performance Efe should not be selected on Saturday.
If he is then what does it say to players who are not?
Kojo
Long time no chat palsy, Hooper is very much replaceable I agree but big Vic is not. If we loose Victor in the summer like I think we will for a bucket load of cash, we would not be able to replace him with a like for like player.
Hooper on the other hand, I think we could? The chances a Celtic striker gets in game time is a lot more than most teams get and I think Hoops at times is all huff & puff. Tell me what striker has left Celtic to greater success?
Yir pal, JD
My dear,dear,dear,friend.. CultsBhoy
Ah am gled that you see things the same wey as Ah dae.. re.. those Two
Scunners..
Yep.. Scunners.. fur.. they are only interested in making BIG BIG BUCKS..
We hiv given them the Platform.. and the Mike…and the Orchestra.. See.. Celtic’s Enormous Fan Base..
and they hiv dug in thur Heels.. and Simply refused tae.. Extend thur Contracts..
so..
‘As they say in .. France..
Tae Hell wi’ them.. that,is the Polite Translation, by the Way…
So Ah say…
Whit’s guid fur the Goose is jist as guid fur the wee.. Cockerel doon the road..
or.. words tae that effect..
In fact.. If they do go..
Ah wull be Delighted.
Kojo
Yer pal.. who likes ye..aloater
Still, Laughin’
With six more journos lifted today for phone hacking down south,
I refuse to accept it was not happening up here.
Good night this time .
Jabba undercover WAAAHHHAAAWWWAAAAHHHHAAAA
like an Elephant trying to hide behind a golf flag stick.
Just read Alex Thomson’s C4 Blog – how superb is that?
And Jabba – well he is now spinning around is desperation!
i wonder if the BBC will apologise for their clear misjudgment in appointing Jabba?
Its all too wonderful!
Pity about the result last night – we had overachieved so much I think we kinda convinced ourselves we were better than we actually are.
James Traynor going underground to catch a crook
http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTc2MDA1Nzg5N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNjE1Mzk4._V1_SY317_CR3,0,214,317_.jpg
The Raven @22:44 thinks “Maybe Neil should play him(Efe) , to show he still trusts him … ”
Is that your criteria for team selection? NL has to prove his loyalty to a player by selecting him?
I prefer current form myself.
N A2
What page is it on?
Just logged on for a late night lurk.
So Jabba spouts more bul**hit.
If he was on the ball regards Whyte then why was his rag
printing crap about a £3 million bid for a Spanish striker ( Javi Guerra ?)
in the January transfer window ?
I sent an e mail to Gary Ralston of the record asking why he put his
name to that drivel the next day.
His reply was he was sorry i perceived his story as drivel.
Every internet bampot knew they were potless.
Crap journos,crap paper.
JUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :))
leftclicktic
22:42 on 13 February, 2013
Jude ………..
to save you looking back :))
Dont say us big fellas aint good to you.
alex thomson@alextomo
TOMOBLOG: TRAYNOR AND WHYTE http://bit.ly/12LN5Vr
MaH
Not accessible coming up!! o(
lct
Ta muchos. You will get your rewards in heaven my son!! <:0)
Tin hat firmly on.
I don’t think Hooper is as good as most of the blog are making out, he is a decent player, probably as good a striker as england have presently, but that’s as far as it goes imo.
In comparison to say Danny Welbeck, I think Hooper is a better player, but as he does not play in england…you know the rest.
I f we sell him in the summer, which I think we will, we can get a like for like for a quarter the price, Spain would be a decent market to scout, clubs are desperate for cash, Belgium is a good market as well.
The league we got Kayal and Efe from have some decent players, they can be had for very little to what we will get for Hoops.
I’m sure JP is on the case.
I understand Hodgson was watching our english bhoys last night, I doubt either did themselfs any favours.
Ntassoolla
I think you are being a bit harsh on Efe. He can’t be that far off form if he won the ANC. He clearly shouldn’t have been playing last night. Couldn’t possibly have been properly prepared or in the right mental frame after Sunday. And that’s before you think about the travelling, being away from the club for a month, playing in a different position and not having time with his team-mates to prepare as a unit.
Was it dougal that sent off Lenny in an “owl firm” game?
Ntassoolla
22:46 on
13 February, 2013
After last night’s performance Efe should not be selected on Saturday.
If he is then what does it say to players who are not?
———————-
It tells them they have a manager who is prepared to allow players room to improve, that mistakes will not be held forever against them and that if they are patient and over the piece respond to the challenge of replacing an Efe they can become a Samaras.
Other players might of course take the huff but that is their perogative.
Ntassoolla
22:49 on 13 February, 2013
The Raven @22:44 thinks “Maybe Neil should play him(Efe) , to show he still trusts him … ”
Is that your criteria for team selection? NL has to prove his loyalty to a player by selecting him?
I prefer current form myself
———————————————————————————————————-
Thats not my criteria for team selection . Since Efe arrived and started playing at the back , he’s practically been a first team pick . After a howler like last night , show a bit of
faith to the guy , get his confidence back etc .
Current form would not have gottem James Forrest a start last night , not played
much footy recently due to injury as you know . Where as Ambrose probably
played to much …………….. These are the hard decisions Neil has to make .
My dear,dear,dear,friend.. Auld Heid
Hiya, palomine..
Nice tae greet ye,
You know fine well. that in..
Kojo’s World..
A Player is Only as Guid or as Valuable. as How Well or No Well…that he Performed in his LAST GAME.
How well he Performed or How No well he Performed… in Any ither. Previous Instances..
is of Nae Consequence.. whitevah.
Therefore..
Efe.. Messed up in his Last game.. and as ye know..
Kojo, disnae Countenance.. EXCUSES..
So Efe, must Not be Seen in the Future, in a Celtic Shirt fur ,at least a Few Games..as a ..well.. Consquence, of his Poor Performance agin the Italians..
That’s Justice.. Kojo style.
Same goes fur Victor and Hoops..
It matter Not one whit.. whit they did or did not do fur us..in the Past Euro Ties..
That is old Laundry.
They didnae help oor cause , last night.. so..
Who needs ’em?
We do.
Right. We do. .of course..
But.. Like Ah say…
If they go in the Summer.. .I will no bat an eyelid..
Ah wull be Traumatized..
But..
Ah wull No BAT AN EYELID.
Kojo
Yer pal..who always enjoys chatting wi’ you.
Still, Laughin’
thomthethim
22:34 on 13 February, 2013
the raven,
Unlike the rest of the squad, he never had a winter break.
==========================================
SPL break last game 02/01 Celtic V Motherwell
African Nations Cup Nigeria first game 25/01
Longer break than the rest of the players!!
Just in case not already posted
For those of you that can tear yourselves away from discussing anything Hun Jabba or Whyte,Mastermind may be of interest on Friday night when celtic fan John Savage appears on Mastermind at 2000hrs on BBC2. Johns specialist chosen subject is Celtic
This comes from the official Celtic FC website
http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=3684
Wonder if he is successful,how long Peter will be in securing the DVD rights
Remember Jabba has just made a lot of enemies of ex colleagues,and editors ,by telling the hun hordes not to buy the rags.
Tigertim,
He wasn’t at home. He was in training camp.
mickbhoy1888
I reckon some of the posters on here would do ok at the mastermind thing….me, I know the answer to everything, just like we all do >}
As regards Efe can someone confirm or deny that for the duration of the African tournament he turned out at right back which I am led to believe is his preferred positio
Kojo
“and as ye know..
Kojo, disnae Countenance.. EXCUSES..”
I would have thought Logic, Insight and Consistency might appear higher up on your uncountenanced list.
Ntassoolla
22:46 on 13 February, 2013
After last night’s performance Efe should not be selected on Saturday.
If he is then what does it say to players who are not?
———————————————————————-
It tells them they were not good enough to be selected for the European tie nor the SPL tie, but if they continue improving then there MAY be a vacancy.
Gershon was signed in January but was not even added to the euro squad, should he be disheartened by this??
The manager took you this far, do you no longer respect his judgement??
Confirm
Kojo
You live by the same standard I take it?
Never had a bad day?
mickbhoy
In the recent ACN tourney Efe played RB as he usually has done for Nigeria.
Mind you he was sent off in their first match so that may not be a recommendation for playing him there.
greemdreamz
we have exceeded expectations..lets CASH IN!
Setting Free the Bears
Let’s Face it..pally
You simply Do not Like Me..
so..
Why don’t we jist leave it at that.. ?
And Ignore eac ither.
Instead, of Your Constant..Niggling at My Contributions
Kojo
TET
Ok mr Celtic answer me this to save me the cost of an e-mail . What day has been set aside at CP for for us to uplift our tickets for St Johnstone away next week ;- .?