There were some tasty, some would say succulent, draws in the Champions League yesterday. Milan-Barcelona have both won the tournament within the last decade, and although Milan are at the bottom of the trough at the moment, this tie will be a huge attraction for those of us who like our football tinged with history.
Real Madrid will travel to Manchester for the second time this season as both teams look to reclaim former European eminence. Porto-Malaga is not one that sets pulses racing but it is a token of an often-discussed concept at this level. Malaga are a fine side but are new to the competition, Porto come from a less-illustrious league but are steeped in Champions League heritage. Do you need to learn how to play in this tournament or were UK TV commentators making excuses for the failure of the English champions? Not sure but I fancy Porto to progress.
Arsenal have the daunting prospect of Bayern Munich. The German champions are clear at the top of the league which produced three group stage winners. They are also still self-flagellating after dropping the ball against English opposition in May. Beating Arsenal will not mend those wounds but it will be an absolute must for Bayern.
I watched a bit of Shakhtar Donetsk during the group stage; they are a very skilful team. Borussia Dortmund will not enjoy their trip to Ukraine, I expect Shakhtar to progress.
Valencia are not enjoying the best of seasons but although Paris Saint Germain are now top of Ligue 1 I think they are set for a fall in the Champions League. PSG may have enough to get past Valencia but if we make it to the quarters I would be happy to face them.
Galatasaray sit alongside Celtic as rank outsiders at the bookmakers, never a bad place to lurk at this stage of the competition. Schalke are tighter odds than Milan (7th in Serie A) and Valencia (11th in La Liga) perhaps because of the ‘kind’ draw. There will be at least one team in the quarter finals we would fancy our chances with.
The immediate challenge for Neil Lennon is to keep his players’ focus on tomorrow’s game against Ross County. It took an injury time equaliser to earn a point for Celtic against County earlier in the season, so nothing can be taken for granted.
Have you ordered your CQN Annual yet? Get it here!
[calameo code=000390171cc0c3617c8cc lang=en page=48 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
876 Comments- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 24
- »
podium?
That’ll do.
Now for lunch,.
spawny pod?
Ho Ho Ho
hail hail
Long time till Juve – we have a few games to take care of before then
afternoon all.
holidays beckon.
great
We better enjoy it while we can. It will become a thing of the past, once Fat Sally shows up with his £30 Miliion…
timmy7_noted 12:18 on 21 December, 2012
“No thanks to Giggs blotted his copy book as far as I am concerned.”
For pulling his hamstring?
A NUMBER of fixture amendments have been announced by the SPL for early in 2013.
Celtic’s away game against Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday, February 9 will now have a 12noon kick-off.
And Celtic’s home game versus Dundee, which was scheduled for Saturday, February 23, has now been moved to Sunday, February 24 (KO: 12.45pm).
Paul67 ‘ I expect Shakhtar to progress.’
I really don’t. I expect Dortmund to win both games. Football is all about opinions though :)
(@OHenleyAlex)
‘Every club wants to play #Celtic for the right reasons,’ – UEFA President Michel Platini to Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell.
From the previous thread….apologies
Burghbhoy,
Reading through last night, I noticed your post re your “Sevconian” postie – which also coincided with my inbox taking a severe rattling, mainly by a retired postal worker from our parish. I can only assume that you are still drunk from our massive swally session last August, and that you are confusing the postie with the coalman.
If I am correct (and I always am) your postie is on paternity leave and will be back on his route in January – when his Christmas tip will be due for delivering tickets in a timely and sometimes express manner throughout the season.
I have it on good authority that he taught the postie in Harthill how to whistle the champions league anthem.
Hail Hail Brother
Teuchter ár lá
I don’t think football is about opinions.
Leeds United’s new owners, GFH Capital, have outlined their vision for the football club and warned that they won’t be spending “crazy money” in their pursuit of success.
Compare that to mad, mental, Chuck and his £30 Million nonsense.
Just heard news from australia that the world did in fact end. It has now formed a newco which will be known as The Plant Earth and retains all its history.
I think arsenal can get thu against bayern. They will have no pressure on them and no one will be expecting them to get a result.
just caught up with the nightshift howlers,and started to wish the Mayans were right.
then i got a top five place.
cant argue 2 much with Paul except i fancy dortmund instead.
Also hope the hoops can now go on a wee christmass run and extend our lead over the next few weeks.
mayansforever.csc
Timmy7 Noted- From previous, don’t know when you last went but the Wee Curry Shop is now the Glasgow Curry Shop, under new owners, the menu has changed and some old favourites gone but they still do spiced haddock- a bit different- but still to die for.
Decor been smartened up too.
Enjoy!
I see Fraser Forster’s old club were drawn against a team called Mentalist Kharkiv in the Europa league.
I thought the Mentalists were ineligible for European football for the next 3 years. (thumbsup)
Celtic_First – In your opinion :)
Paul67
I reckon Neil Lennon knows maximum points before the break and the League will be near enough ours. Lets us concentrate on that elusive League Cup and Juventus.
If I am correct in my calculations the last 16 in this season’s CL have won the EC/CL a total of 33 times, and have appeared in no fewer than 59 finals!
Not too shoddy!
HH!!
Re formed rangers have got £30 million for players. Just read it in the daily record. Must be true then. Word is celtic are the real losers in the whole liquidation scenario. How can this be?
I see Podge and Rodge are 66-1 to represent Ireland at the next Eurovision contest.
I’ve got Eurosong fever already. (thumbsup)
Have to agree with LordLuvRocket. Dortmund have been the outstanding side in the tournament so far. In my humble opinion of course…………..
Paul67
Succulent
*. ┏┓┏┓ .*
┏┻┫┣┻┓
┃━┫┣━┃
┃━┫┣━┃
┗━┛┗━┛
Oldtim67
I’ll give you a call tonight to sort the details for meeting tomorrow.
Don’t know myself yet!! ;-)
I have no reservations about us playing Juventus in the last sixteen. We may as well take them out now than in the last eight. I also think that beating them will be the fuel we need to get us to London.
gsu
Mark Hately has the look of a man you just caught doing a jobby in your kettle:
http://i3.dailyrecord.co.uk/incoming/article1132403.ece/ALTERNATES/s98/Mark-Hateley.jpg (thumbsup)
Hamiltontim.
Did we discuss when we’re meeting up before the game,if we had it’s slipped my mind,can you enlighten me again.
Philivis,
Mentalist Kharzie – definitely descriptive of Ibrox.
How many Mayans does it take to change a lightbulb?
Philvis – favourite Rodge and Podge quotes..
“she was so ugly a sniper wouldn’t take her out”
Mentalist Kharkiv are a team of pseudo-psychics who work as consultants for the KGB and play football in their spare time. There’s a telly programme about them on Channel something.
Paul67 – for various reasons I’d like Real Madrid in the quarters….
I think Fat Sally has been coaching her…
Miss Universe 2012 was crowned earlier this week, with Miss USA’s Olivia Culpo being handed the tiara.
However, one of the highlights of the annual ceremony was an awkward and obscure answer to one of the ‘prove you also have a brain’ rounds.
Miss Venezuela – Irene Sofia Esser Quintero – was asked what law she would create if for some reason she was given the opportunity.
After being given a translation of the question, she attempted to respond in English.
Her answer was as follows: “I think that any leys [Spanish for “laws”] there are in Constitution or in life, are already made. I think that we should have… uh… a straight way to go… in our similar, or, eh, in… in our life has it this.
“For example, I am a surfer and I think that the… the best wave that I can take is the wave that I wait for it. So… please… do our only… eh… law, that we can do. Thank you, Vegas.”
hamiltontim.
I just posted there.didn’t look at the posts,just copied & pasted from last blog.