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!
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No pantos or works doo’s today thank goodness. Off to Paradise to hail Lenny and his cubs.
Tis the season to be jolly ……. Wembelee, Wembelee!
Nightshift is getting madder,John Lennon copied Slade……….? it’s all about opinions .
Cowiebhoy – you’ll love it!!
skybox.csc
Jobo
Nerston calling …. Glug glug …
Its not raining … Its pelting down here
Off to meet the vmhan and son at the 5 ways pre match
Jobo
It’s nearly afternoon, you’re standards are dropping my friend…
You’re = your obv. ;-) bloomin’ iPad
BT
Heated negotiations in blanturr… Never ;)
Oh how i miss the domsetic bliss
It’s a funny old game- 10 years ago Swansea were 1 point away from dropping in to the Conference now odds on to sign David Villa.
Should just be ‘your’ ya pie!!!! ;-)
burghbhoy
10:14 on 22 December, 2012
It’s only fair, as its Christmas, that we get QC and sing songs recalling Michael Fagans famous exploits today.
But self correction is good too……;-)
Bazzabhoy
I concur
Ya pie…;-)))
jinkster
Mrs BT is as you know a tiugh negotiator… o))
tough even..
Some shicking speling on hear tooday
Bazzabhoy
Since its Christmas, maybe £4 each for the Cairy oot. Lets push the boat oot !
Well you’ll never guess folks.
After Lenny won manager of the year The Scottish Sun has a big photo of Neil Lennon looking rather unhappy on it’s website with the headline:
Lenny: Rangers are weak on the pitch and weak off it – check out the photo if you so dare.
Stirring the pot yet again.
At least Neil is saying what needs to be drummed into the heads of numpites who phone SSB and other outlets crying about a defunct football match/football club.
You folk are not Celtic fans in any shape or form as far as I’m concerned just dinosaurs.
burghbhoy
That sounds like an excellent idea. Hopefully the kindie will not fall out the bus today.
She didnae scream… She didnae shout……
Bazzabhoy….u oan the auld electric soup already ?
See u at St Phils
Snake
The starting point for them is this: what will sell the most papers for us? Nothing else matters to them, hence phone-hacking et cetera.
Snake-Time for PL to get the editors of these rags in along with Strathclydes finest.Irresponsible ,inciteful articles allegedly attributed to Neil.Given what the man and his family have been through,final warning then banned imo.They need us more than we need them.
It’s Christmas brother. Hall for 12. Would you believe you can get arrested for singing songs if freedom in Bathgate Main Street?
Ebay Auction
First to go will be____
Celtic FC Fraser Forster, signed, Go…
13 Bids£440.0 + £6.35
49m
I remember paying paying about £1.50 for a Celtic tie which had Big Jock’s autograph on a bit of paper pinned on to it in a Celtic auction in a wee room in George St, Edinburgh in about 1969. Kept that wee bit of paper with me for years.
BAZZABHOY
You might be better to get proper legal advice-and thus cheaper to pay the fine-as there is every chance of them doing you for attempting to pervert the course of justice.
I got threatened wi that over a speeding offence because the cops didn’t believe my spelling of the street I live in!
Quick question. Is there anywhere I can check if a copy of the CQN Annual has been dipatched to me as I ordered one on the 14th, though credit card debited on 17th, and still no sign of it.
HassantagotstuckupthechimmneyCSC
snake- Such a typical example of a pot stirring tabloid headline which is simply an untruth.
Lenny says they have been “weakened”, which is an undeniable fact but does not mean they are “weak”,
Shameful stuff from the Sun and hack McDowall.
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers
To be fair brother, I was extolling the virtues of Bobby Sands rather loud.
I shall take the hit, just knowing the sevconians were raging makes it worthwhile. Rather embarrassing, and teenage behaviour, but what can you do.
Cancel that panic attack. Just looked out the window and a package was sticking out of post box. Yippee. Forgot An Post do Saturday delivery in run up to Christmas. Now do I read it or Wrap it?
Dena29 and Trish the Lurker I have a gift for you :-)
BAZZABOY
Nae luck,bud-but fair play to ya!
I’ve truly had a charmed life,getting away wi all sorts in Kilwinning-just as a windup,of course.
My Guardian Angel must be knackered…..
Good win for St Mirren last night, giving ICT the chance to go 2 points clear of Motherwell in 2nd place provided they can veat Dundee at home today.
Because the SPL financial distribution has not been changed since the demise of the Death Eaters, 2nd place is worth a tidy +£2M. For ICT and St Johnstone, that’s the equivalent of more than 50% of income, a huge incentive.
nollaig shona duit Celtic.
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers
Let’s go to the oak and get back on it and relive the Kilwinning days!
kitabla – 7-37
Have read this before about the Choctaws (possibly on here as well). The poorest will always give more of what they have. This promts me to repeat from a previous entry of mine.
1887-the Dawes Severalty Act -which lead to the creation of Oklahoma from the promised forever, Indian Territory, about the Cherokees but the result was applied to all the tribes.
“There is not a pauper among’st them in that nation and the nation does not owe a dollar. It built its own capitol,it’s schools and hospital. Yet the defects of the system are apparent. They have got as far as they can go because they own the land in common. There is no selfishness which is at the (base ?) of civilisation”.
His remedy for this shocking lack of avarice – given 160 acre plots leaving (land for future population expansion) 10,000 sq., miles for the land rush.
Taken from Stolen Continents by Richard (robert ?) Wright.
The Indians in the Territories were recovering from The Trail of Tears and the Civil War in which many fought battles which included their own tribesmen in the opposition).
“We” were just TOO civilised,they never stood a chance- greed won.
tusker
Bt
I thought you meant mrs bt was a taig negotiator ;)
BAZZABHOY
I’m back for 8-26 Jan.
How long I’ll last is open to question…..
Snake Plissken it’s Kenny McDonald of the sun who has written this article of Lenny with the snarling photo. It was an interview he did in England and Kenny McDonald has twisted it to put a target on lennys back. Celtic need to go to the press complaints commission about Kenny McDonald ( and Iain King the Suns sports editor ). I wonder if dermot has a connection to Murdoch as going by his tweets Murdoch is not a man to tolerate racist bigots and after Levesen he needs to be clean.
Kenny McDonald has previous with anti Celtic stories ; Hurting Iain King is clearly not enjoying Divsion 3 and McDonald clearly enjoyed being given the mandate to target Lenny –even if Murdochs sky sports just awards him manager of the year.
I am away to tweet Murdoch about the targeting of the Sky Sports Manager of the Year , Neil Lennon by Iain King and Kenny McDonald