I’ve been trying to interpret the Champions League group all evening. It’s an exciting draw. The world’s biggest box office team will come to Glasgow, a chance for us to marvel at, and test ourselves against, Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and the rest. We also have a sporting chance of finishing second or third, either of which would be acceptable.
For me most of this analysis is irrelevant for now. The two most important games are the first, Benfica, and the last Spartak Moscow, both at home, so for now, all that really matters is the 90 minutes at Celtic Park against Benfica on 19 September. Beat Benfica and you go to Moscow in the following game with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Can we beat Benfica at Celtic Park? Benfica have lost all three games they have played at Celtic Park, twice in recent Champions League history, but they are not a pot two team and we are not a pot four team for nothing. They have played only two league games this season and did not benefit from being tested by a Champions League qualifying competition.
In short, playing Benfica in the first game, when we will have played twice as many competitive games as they have, is ideal. We will be ready for them.
Tomorrow is a big day. Who was it said ‘perfect day to bury bad news’? While some of us are busy trying to keep a server online as transfer speculation reaches its annual crescendo, what chance last year’s accounts will be released?
If they are (and I have no information on this), you can count on some very bad news. Losses will be frightening, which sheds some light on some of the earthy tones from Neil Lennon today on just how big a result the win over Helsingborgs was.
We needed that win. We needed Messi and his pals to help us sell 60,000 ticket packages, and to prompt Celtic fans to go out and buy some of the many thousands of season tickets still available.
Let me leave you with a word that came out from the Spartak camp tonight. Andrey Tikhonov, Spartak player until he became a coach at the club last year, said, “Barcelona are favourites from the group. We and Benfica will be fighting for second place.
“Celtic are outsiders. The Champions League competition is about very good technical football. It has nothing to do with running after the ball that somebody kicked forward.”
Beat these clowns, Celtic.
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google translate – Del Piero to the Celtic
08/31/2012 08:26 Daniele Gamberini article read 3264 times
© photo by Matthew Gribaudi / Image Sport
According to sources close to the family, it seems that Del Piero has finally decided where he will play the season just started. Will move, less than sensational reverse (actually quite common during this session of the market), Glasgow Celtic side. To convince the former Juventus captain, the ability to wear the shirt of one of the most historic clubs in Europe as well as the ease of the national championship and hence the need to focus more on the Champions League, that the Scots will face one of the most influential groups .
So who do we have camped outside Ross Hall and Glasgow airpoty this morning, armed with a camera?? :-)
What a clown Tikhonov is. I am from Russia, but been supporting Celtic since 2001, lived 8 years in Glasgow. Now in Moscow and will go on and cheer the Bhoys at Luzhniki.
Spartak got the better of Fenerbahce by the skin of their teeth. They are quite a poor team, actully. Got beaten by Zenit 5-0 recently and other performances are hardly impressive. I am actually glad that we are considered outsiders. Let’s show them what they are dealing with this year. The team we have is much better than the one that got the better of Spartak in Glasgow 4 or 5 years ago, let them assume that we are suffering from orcs downfall. I am for one quite confident that we can get 3 points in Moscow.
BMCUW
Morrisson’s Gallowgate.
I have written a whole story on how hot Scotch Bonnet Chillies are – at both ends!
I know how a dragon feels after a
A rift is a drift that comes from the heart
If it goes the other way, it turns into a f…. (ah Primary school)
The other one I remember is
A Frt is a chemical substance, it comes from the land of bum
It travels through trouser leg valley, and comes out with the hell of a hum.
I think I wrote it on my control (11+) exam paper.
Scotch bonnet chillies – who needs central heating?
Hail Hail
Estadio
Rafael Van Der Vaart signs for Hamburg for £10.5m
Morning all from a grey(ish) North Ayrshire.
Still needing a microscope to read CQN. Very odd.
Had a request from a friend in Canada for tickets for Barcelona home and away. Anyone any idea how to get both for someone who isn’t a season ticket holder?
Still feeling very pleased with the whole occasion on Wednesday. You had to be there.
THE BATTERED BUNNET 0929
How about we invoke the damn-near mediaeval one about impartial referees,and really sock it to them?
Via Google translate:
http://tinyurl.com/8e9gh6j
Coach of the Moscow “Spartak” Dmitri Popov said “Barcelona” favorite group G in the Champions League football, and believes that the struggle for access to the play-off will be between the “Benfica”, “Spartacus” and “Celtic”.
“Of course, the favorite of the group,” Barcelona. “I believe that the fight for the next round will be between the other three teams. We will try our best to take second place. Speaking of” Benfica “and” Celtic “, I believe that Portuguese stronger. They successfully for many years playing in European competition and have a good experience. As for “Celtic”, I can say that Scottish football is in decline, it is to help us, “– said Popov, told the” R-Sport “.
(thumbsup)
TBB
It gets even better seemingly they are still insisting that Naismith, McGregor and all the others who walked away are still their players and they take up 6 spots in their 22 man limit!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Stephen McManus into final year of contract and out of take it on the chins plans…
Mowbray willing to let him go for around £250k
Neil always had a soft spot for our ex captain !
Fulham accept £7m bid from Aston Villa for Clint Dempsey
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD 0933
Press control and +,this will increase font size.
To reverse,control and –
Parkheadcumsalford
Taser and no conscience for the home game
Get to Barca for the away game and offer a barca member 100€ or get yourself a Barca address ID and queue at the stadium or go to Flahertys or Michael Collins bar and ask or stand in Las Rablas and sing ‘Viva la quince brigada’ at the top of your voice.
Failing that, the Taser and no conscience also works abroad.
Hail Hail
Estadio
TEN MEN WON THE LEAGUE
I think Paul is starting to realise Aston Villa may be a major mistake at this stage in his career.
I sincerely hope not,but I said from the start it was the wrong move for him. Lerner has only given each manager since MON one season…..
And ref McManus ….
Anyone saying that you should never go back or take an ex player back I will give you one name :
CHARLIE MULGREW
SAF saying Berbatov may be heading back to Spurs. His Fulham move not certain by any means
That boy is certainly p****** off a lot of people with his double dealing
ESTADIO 0941
Bit early for “post of the day”,innit?
We might as well a’ gie up noo!
Just happy you didn’t spoil “post of the month” by posting it this time tomorrow…..
BMCUW,
Works a treat. Thanks. Don’t know how it happened in the first place but back to normal now.
Dundee United quoting 2M as the minimum price for Russell.
Not a bad draw at all. I’m glad we avoided the English teams and the hype that goes along with these games. And it’s always brilliant to see Barcelona at Celtic Park.
A busy day with a few signings ahead hopefully. F5 keys at the ready?
Habe the flights booked for Benfic. Can anyone who has been there before reccommend an area of the city to stay in? Looking for somewhere central.
Estadio,
I think I would be drummed out of Los Ramblas if I tried singing there (or anywhere else).
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD 0949
AWE NAW tipped me off about that a while back,credit due……
He’s an evil genius,but he’s ours,haha!
GORDON J
Don’t encourage the F5,that’s what screws the server!
Thanks wikip for this description of the effects of Tasers, Scotch Bonnet Chillies and too much Buckie
“Tasers, Scotch Bonnet Chillies and Buckfast tonic wine are electroshock weapons sold by Taser International, Morrisons Supermarket and offys throughout the West of Scotland. They use electrical currents, essence of blast furnace and the age old secrets of monks with a sadistic tendency to disrupt voluntary control of muscles causing “neuromuscular incapacitation”. [1][2] Someone struck by any of these will experience stimulation of his or her sensory nerves and motor nerves, resulting in strong involuntary muscle contractions.”
Hail hail
Estadio
Pauloantony – Not sure about mick tbh. I agree with you regarding master mulgrew but I think that had more to do with his attitude first time around at parkhead.
I think he realised the errors of his ways and bucked up his ideas hence paving a way back to paradise.
Mick was a good honest pro but nothing has changed with him that would warrant a return to celtic. I remember this blog in the days of mick and heid – holy majoley.
I would take heid back first :)
Langtoon
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS,
I’m sure there will be a few new articles today to spread the load
lisbon1967
Been to Lisbon last twice we’ve played there, stayed on Avenida Liberdade once and just off Marquis de Pombal Square the other time (can’t remember hotel names). Anywhere from Marquis de Pombal Square down the Avenida Liberdade is a good central location and there are loads of hotels in that area.
A fantastic city to visit, took wife and kids on another occasion and would go back again in a heartbeat (unfortunately can’t make it for game this time). Enjoy.
McManus isnt good enough,£2mil for Russell is a good deal IMO.Del Piero would be brilliant,a box office signing.
I once met big Mick as he was sitting in John Street eating Scotch Bonnet Chillies and drinking buckfast. Someone tried to Taser him, but the electric stream bounced off him and blwe the machine up, turning the hun-top clad wearer into a demented shaking eejit (prior to that he wisnae shaking).
Mick’s ma man!
Hail Hail
Estadio (I better go now before I go completely doo lally)
“Celtic are outsiders. The Champions League competition is about very good technical football. It has nothing to do with running after the ball that somebody kicked forward.”
Strange opinion from the footballer.
How you can score the goal then? Going backward?
pauloantony
09:40 on 31 August, 2012
Stephen McManus into final year of contract and out of take it on the chins plans…
Mowbray willing to let him go for around £250k
Neil always had a soft spot for our ex captain !
___________________________________________________
Now, given Neil’s ability to get inside players heads – find buttons to press that other managers canny find…..Hmmmm
Estadio, you have some adventures. (thumbsup)
Where’s Cueller these days? That would sicken hunnery no end.
Spartak HAS A NEW HERO btw
lisbon1967
09:51 on 31 August, 2012
use these guys
lisbon1967
09:51 on 31 August, 2012
Lennon n Mc….Mjallby
signed for Sunderland a couple of weeks ago
Kayal
That solves that then ;)
ESTADIO
Less than twentyfive hours to go,buddy.
That’s less than 90,000 seconds-and each of them passes in a minute,you know!
Have a grand day tomorrow,bud-you deserve it………