…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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I wonder how much research the man who prides himself on getting the facts by asking the right questions takes in this article;
“But if 39-year-old Whyte rides to the rescue Rangers fans can look forward to a January signing spree – provided the deal is concluded quickly.
And sources in London last night were adamant Whyte and his group would press home their interest.
As a supporter, Whyte knows how important it is to strengthen the squad to stave off Celtic’s challenge. The tycoon – Whyte became the youngest self-made Scottish millionaire in the 90s – is based in London and Grantown-on-Spey where he has been restoring Grant Castle at a cost of millions.
Born and brought up in Motherwell, he lived in Monaco as his wealth started to increase but returned to Britain in 1997 and is eager to buy out Sir David Murray’s majority interest and take Rangers forward. He is being backed by a group of wealthy individuals which includes London-based property developer Ellis – who tried earlier this year to launch a buyout bid of his own – but Whyte is the major player.
He has always made his own decisions and so far the man who left school to pursue his dream of becoming an entrepreneur has been on the money.
He started to make his fortune through a host of companies with interests in retail, construction, heavy plant hire, security services and industrial and office cleaning. And now Rangers fans will be hoping Whyte will succeed where Ellis previously failed. Ellis came close before but now he is involved with the billionaire it is believed Rangers’ owner is so far happy with what the consortium have to offer”
Chairbhoy
08:16 on
14 February,
As an aside I thought Juve defended brilliantly from our set plays.
————–
Yes, if rugby and American Football style tactics are permitted in football.
They’re not and their ‘defending’ was bordering on assault.
Wondering if Greens hirering of Jabber is a cost cutting exercise. They were in the habit of paying out 100’s of 1000’s to Mejia House Probaganda each year but using only Jabs would save Green loadsa dosh.
Looks like his cunning plan has back-fired badly.
GoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooD
Morning………………………………………………………………………..
C…………………………………………..Q………………………………………N
The best day this centaury in the Costas………………
Hang on…………………………………………….
What happened this time last year……………….
Roses are red…………………………
Violets are not……………………..
The huns are dead………………………..
Surely…………… not………again
BigJoehopingFORlightning2strikeTWICE
Roses are Red
Rangers ARE Dead
It was one year ago
Things came to a head!
Morning all. Grey here at the moment.
Has the MSM remarked on yesterday’s revelations about Traynor? Doubt it, as it is quite probably par for the course and has been for years. They are all simply part of thon deid team’s propaganda machine. They all know that if they want to get on in Scotland, they have to sign away any ethics they have.
It’s a great day for the 1st anniversary…………………
Happy 1st Sevco…………………………………………..
Must be 20deg already…………………………………
BigJoehavingJellyandICEcream4brackFAST
After Celtic losing to Juve, the Italian Sevconians, I am sure every Sevconian on the planet, all 500 million of them, feel deliriously happy today.
Like a drug driven junky slowly arousing from their trip they will awake to the harsh reality that their precious club will continue with their stuggles against Peterhead, Annan Athletic etc….
A very happy Administration Day to all you lurking Sevconians.
May you have many more….
Roses are green……………………
Violets are blue……………………
Craig Whyte is a legend………………
Will Jabba be one 2
BigJoeisApoetANDdidentKnowIT
mugged by juve … poor refereeing…
not the first time… probably not the last.
Here is Jabba in a nutshell:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudologia_fantastica
If you look up the definition of Mythomania in a dictionary this is what you find:
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6581/1360830751779.jpg
Roses are red,
Sevco are blue,
I’m a stupid Sevconian,
1 + 1 makes 3.
I don’t think we should be too harsh on the Huns today. This is their first Valentines Day with their new club and they might want some “getting to know each other” time.
Maybe Green will issue another sermon from the mound today.
Roses are Red
Bluebells are Blue
Maybe next year Sevco will be in division 2
Roses are red,
Violence is blue
You stupid zombies are dead
And Sevco will be too…
Zombies are dead
Now Jabba is too
Don’t mess with Craigy
He’ll come after you
Jabba, Airdrie’s own Baron von Münchhausen. Here is a picture of him on a German commemorative postage stamp. Does it remind you of anyone?
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/9406/1360831686941.jpg
Roses are red……………….
Violets are blue……………
Funny how Mr Whyte …………..
Landed Jabba in the shite……………..
BigJoetakesAbow
jake the snake@celticservant
“I have proof one other journalist at another paper & newsgroup sent their story to Craig Whyte for editorial approval” @alextomo
If we are contemplating selling Hooper could we look at signing Vydra from Udinese, he’s currently on loan at Watford and considering joining permanently. Surely access to the Champions League would be preferable to the Championship.
There again if Watford end up promoted this season he will probably join just to play in the Premier league which tells it’s own sorry tale.
Class finisher by the way, seen him in the flesh once this season head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
There’s an elephant in the room
And a big gorilla too
They’restillcomingtogetyoucsc
The Spirit of Arthur Lee
Please let it be true that he recorded conversations between himself and Murray. Jabba is just the first shot across the bows (actually hard not to hit Jabba he’s the size of an Aircraft carrier). Craig may get his payoff if the Murray rumours are true.
Gutted about result but thought we were excellant in parts.
The ball rentention we lacked in europe last yr has greatly improved.
Efe needs to be backed as his confidence will be low. I would have played him aswel if he declared himself fit enough. On hindsight lustig beside wilson would have been the way to go espcially since matthews been in great form recently.
I said in january i wanted us to spend and bring in centre half as we didnt know what shape efe would be back in.. Could have been injuryed.
Hopefully we get early goal in return leg and then mau have a chance.
Keep the faith ✊
Just heard a grudging kind of interview with Thommo on radio shortbread . He was asked if had an agenda against the hunies.
Thommo is doggedly working away at exposing the great sevco scandal.
Chairboy,
As an aside I thought Juve defended brilliantly from our set plays.
——
Good wind up, you trying to deflect attention away from all things Sevco?
I presume jersey holding and rugby tackling in the pen box is now legal?
6 officials from Spain did not see anything wrong with the antics, nothing, zilch?
Collusion springs to mind. Would not surprise me if many years from now it transpires that our game on Tuesday night was one of many in Europe which had been ‘got at’.
Hail! Hail!
TSOAL
I wonder which paper that would have been?
If the Record was in this practice I’ll lay you pounds to peppers another Tabloid with a size-able circulation was the other one.
Truly Craig Whyte has been the Pandora’s box of Scottish football and who knows just how much he has up his sleeve.
I doubt he has much on the SFA as he appears to simply ignore them but the other players in this saga will be twitchy for a time yet.
The question is (if Thommo’s sources are indeed coming from the wide eyed evil genius himself) why is he releasing this stuff now?
Hamiltontim @ 08:24,
True, I wasn’t talking about the all in wrestling, remember one ball coming over and four Juve players attacking the ball, only one Celt in the fray and of course it went to a Juventus head.
As far as the cheatin’ goes it’s a sad reflection of the state of the game but was one of the least surprising elements of the encounter for me.
Hail! Hail!
bamboo
You have to wonder when telling the truth became known as “having an agenda”
Yes I’ve got an agenda it’s called the truth you may not be familiar with it MSM man but it’s out there…
Starry who hates all these wee modern terms for talking borrocks!!
IMO, for what it is worth, we have a very good goalkeeper, we have defenders, we have midfielders, we have wingers. What is missing is a big centre forward who can bully defences, a Chris Sutton type of player. Sammi wins a lot of high balls but he is not a bully, and I’m not having a go at Sammi here ( we missed him badly on Tuesday). The trouble is players who are big and can bully defences do not come cheap.
As I wrote last night, the fact that having your copy approved at Ibrox before publication was/is common practise explains the recent wave of mildly critical Sevco articles penned by the likes of Leckie and Jackson.
Andrea Pirlo: Celtic aren’t dead. I once lost a CL final having been 3-0 up at half time.
Roses are red
and sold by the dozen
jabbas so ugly
cos his Da pumped his cousin
Another thing becomes more obvious out of the Jabba expose – the media don’t run stories by Celtic and especially not at the Record especially when you consider how Keevins got banned.
He clearly didn’t email Peter Lawwell or our PR department for “approval”.
Thugs and Thieves wasn’t emailed to Celtic beforehand either quite clearly.
But according to the Sevco lunatic fringe and guys like Leggo Peter Lawwell controls the Daily Rhebel.
You don’t know whether to laugh or cry at that kind of genuine paranoia.
And that is another thing – we were told for years about how paranoid we were, well the evidence emerging from Craigy Whyte (if it was him and Jabba seems to think so) proves we most certainly not. Tony Hamilton (AKA Tony Bananas) – you were ahead of the curve with you Laptop Loyal Diaries.
Snake P
Craig Whytes god is money.
Maybe he’s firing some warning shots to the SDM and others .
If you dont want me to really spill the beans…………..
monteblanco
09:17 on
14 February, 2013
—————————
PMSL big style!
Parkheadcumsalford
No mention in the DR or the sun about Jabba and Craig Whytes cosy attempts to manipulate the masses. (no pun intended!) So that makes me think (no, stop now! I hear you say) Well, we don’t seriously expect the record to write that their sports editor was in bed with Craigy Whyte. I guess that’s a given, but I do expect the sun to report on their rivals bad behaviour, so when the Sun doesn’t mention the story either it makes me think that the sun is afraid. Why else would they turn down a golden opportunity to slag off their rival red top, maybe because:
The sun journos fear that they too could be unmasked as part of the same battalion of succulent lambadiers ? or The sun is afraid of upsetting their sevco readership, same as when they pulled the Phil M serialisation.
Perhaps a combination of the two
So we now look further afield, what about the Herald? The Evening times? or even a UK national paper? Is there not any single newspaper or TV station or pundit in the UK willing to talk about this?
This whole rangers administration situation still keeps unwrapping like an onion, and every time we pull back a layer and keek inside we see another layer of bigotry and incompetence and deception trying to hide in the folds
Happy 14th February to all the timternetters – keep unpeeling that onion!
Vialli in no doubt about penalties
By IAN BLACK
Former Juventus captain Gianluca Vialli believes Celtic were unfortunate not to be awarded any penalties during last night’s Champions League defeat to the Italians.
Ex-Juventus ace Gianluca Vialli reckons Celtic were unlucky not be awarded a penalty against his former side
The Hoops slumped to a 3-0 loss in the first leg of the last 16 clash, leaving little hope of rescuing the tie in Turin.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon hit out at Spanish referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco and his officials afterwards for their reluctance to punish the Juventus players for their handling of the home players in the box.
Asked about the match officials, Vialli said: “I think the Italian defenders carry on a very bad habit they have developed in the Italian championships, where referees are very reluctant to award penalties for that kind of behaviour in the penalty box. Because of that, Italian defenders behave the same way in Europe.
“They’ve got to be extremely careful because there were definitely some situations where there should have been penalties awarded for Celtic in my opinion.
“There is a very thin line between what you can do and what you can’t do. Some pulling is allowed but you need to be clever. But yesterday was far too much in my opinion.”
According to the former Juventus and Chelsea striker, attention back in Italy has centred on the display of the team, rather than the referee.
He said: “Everybody has been concentrating mostly on the Juventus performance, which we all thought was terrific against very worthy opponents. I totally agree with Lennon, I think that Celtic were very good, they played very high tempo, but we thought were extremely good.”
I’ve had the best sleep I’ve had for months.
I just thought I’d tell you that because I’m delighted.
More strength to put the boot into sevco.
” Sevconian roses are red white and blue ”
” And soon they will rot ”
” Quite rapidly, too. “