We’ve never known an easy Champions League game. Ever. Teams with low resources who have pitched up at Celtic Park have always caused us problems. Even our biggest win (3-0, Benfica) was a tense affair with little between the teams territorially.
Five years ago we returned home with a point from Spartak Moscow, expecting a victory at Celtic Park but we had to endure an incredibly tense evening before prevailing on penalties. Celtic will need to be on top form if they are to win tonight, and a win is what we need to target. Barcelona will be professional but they will also exercise their right to rest players. It’s worthwhile remembering that Barca required late winners at home against both Celtic and Spartak; nothing is assured from them tonight.
Spartak have injury worries which will probably see Kirill Kombarov (not to be confused with his twin Dmitir) play at right back. Kirill is a real weakness and should struggle against Celtic, who have several strong options on the left. They will play with two holding midfielders in front of a back four with one striker and three across the middle. Aiden will be a valuable out-ball for them.
This game will take patience, from us as well as the players. Remember how many games teams have taken and lost a lead in this group. Scoring or losing a goal is no indication of the result. It will also be a game where substitutions are likely to be key. Fresh legs in the last 20 minutes could turn the game.
Take care tonight and have another great European experience.
CQN Annual now available at Timland in the Gallowgate and the Cathedral House Hotel.
Dundee United will be devastated by the blow delivered by The Rangers, who have declined tickets for their Scottish Cup tie. The game is, however, 9 weeks away, which is a long time for a fledgling new club to survive. The Rangers board cite Dundee United’s behaviour towards their predecessor club, Rangers, who went into liquidation owing United money for the Scottish Cup tie in January this year. I strongly recommend you don’t try to figure out the logic here, you’re just not clever enough.
After the demise of Rangers was confirmed, The Rangers asked to be admitted to the Scottish Premier League, however, no such facility existed for a new club, so a vote to change the rules was held and 10 clubs, including United, voted to keep the status quo.
Celtic also voted against changing the rules, and if Dundee United are to be punished by a boycott from The Rangers fans, we surely cannot expect them to turn up at Celtic Park as though nothing happened. In fact, Celtic were firmer than any other club on this matter. It seems only fair that we are punished, not by one boycott, but by many. The firmness of Celtic’s refusal to change the rules is surely worth boycotting 100 games at Celtic Park, which would really teach us a lesson.
The pain we would experience facing The Rangers without their legnedary fans would be close to intolerable. I really hope they don’t embark on an extensive 100 game boycott of Celtic Park. Please, please, forgive us for voting against a rule change.
Surely we’ve suffered enough by not facing you in league competition during this Armageddon season? If only we knew how much we would miss ‘Rangers’ when we encouraged the club to vote against the rule change last season. Screw the rules, we just didn’t know what we were doing!
Celtic should be just as worried about this prospect as the Dundee United, who apart from Celtic, are the only Scottish club to receive an award From Uefa for the good behaviour of their fans. Think about that for a moment, a football ground filled with nothing but award winning fans! What is our game coming to?
Charles Green has got Scottish football on the run now.
Epilepsy Scotland have a Celtic ball with certificate of authenticity, signed by 12 Celtic players on the day of the Barcelona game which is available for auction by email. The competition closes tomorrow (Thursday) at 20:00. To win this fantastic piece of Celtic memorabilia email your bid to trusts@epilepsyscotland.org.uk. The prize if for collection only, any postage required would need to be paid separately. All funds raised will go towards Epilepsy Scotland.
Really pleased with the feedback on the CQN Annual, many thanks. You can order online here, it’s an excellent Christmas present, even for yourself!
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(thumbsup)
philvis, I bow to thee
Commons has more dimensions to his game than Mulgrew. However Mulgrew does what he does very well.
For me Commons bit more at home on the European stage than CharlieBhoy.
One of many tricky picks..
Watt Hooper and Sami the key players tonight
3rd?
Any chace of a road report for central Scotland please?
random top 10 ?
klv
Who would have thought a Celtic team containing Sammi, lusting and Wilson would carry so much of our confidence
Well done NL. Well done Celtic. You have made silk purses where a lot of us doubted it was feasible.
If we don’t go through tonigh then so be it. Europa still a bonus, and we ha e be chance to get to the semis, at a push.
Still yearn for the CL though! C’mon!
!!Bada Bing!!
11:29 on
5 December, 2012
Enjoying The Fear on Channel 4 with Celtic fan Peter Mullen,superb as usual in the lead role.
================================
Yup – been watching it too – intense and absorbing, but sometimes uncomfortable, acting as usual from Peter. Looking forward to the next two episodes, but they will have to be via the old Sky + box – I’m sure I have something else to do this evening…
Off oot to the lunchtime x-Bikes class at the Time Capsule – fingers crossed for later.
HH
BGFC
We owe Aiden big time.
The great Jimmy McGrory could not have been any more selfless than Aidie, in working WITH Celtic to maximise the club’s benefit from his moving on.
You are a Celtic HERO, Young Mister McGeady.
Have a GREAT night everybody,…no matter what transpires.
Top ten
So what do we know of Russia?
Ra-ra-rasputin was Russia’s greatest love machine. It was a shame how he carried on.
Winter.
All women under 30 are stunningly attractive mail order brides who will steal your heart and all the rest of your stuff.
Dolls that fit inside other dolls.
All women over 30 are hunchbacked, mustachioed babooshkas.
Furry hats.
Vladimir Putin fights lions and bears armed only with his raw masculinity.
Vodka.
Spartacus Moscow is named after a Tony Curtis film, but they don’t like both oysters and snails in Russia.
You can’t wear Soviet jeans anymore because Chernobyl fallout.
(thumbsup)
The Pantaloon Duck – philvis, I bow to thee
Why bow when you can duck? (thumbsup)
Another wee song to get us in the mood. This one has particularly catchy lyrics…
Ce sont les meilleures équipes
Es sind die allerbesten Mannschaften
The main event
Die Meister
Die Besten
Les grandes équipes
The champions!
Une grande réunion
Eine große sportliche Veranstaltung
The main event
Ils sont les meilleurs
Sie sind die Besten
These are the champions
Die Meister
Die Besten
Les grandes équipes
The champions!
Die Meister
Die Besten
Les grandes équipes
The champions!
Mon the Tic!
The Russian emblem is a bear?
Today can only be about Celtic!
Paul67
‘legnedary fans’
Brilliant
Although not for my carpet, which now has half a ham + pickle sandwich all over it due to my laughter
Stringer Bell – The Russian emblem is a two headed eagle, with a two-by-four with a rusty nail through it in one of its talons and a bottle of Stoli in the other.
The motto underneath can be translated into Scots as “MON THEN!” (thumbsup)
Philvis
You ever come across a chap by the name of Nikolai Dmitrich Levin? Had some peculiar ideas on land use in Russia.
Brilliant article Paul.
Sammy will be key tonight, both in open play and at set pieces. come on celtic!
Big Georges Fan Club-It’s excellent mate,yeah Sky + tonight,think there’s a game on somewhere….
The Battered Bunnet – probably related to legendary Scotland mangler Craig Levein. (thumbsup)
Ten Men Won The League :-)
roybhoy, thanks.
Re Sami ( who I have always loved as a Celtic player!!!).. Despite not being a prolific striker in general
Terms he will ECPECT to score tonight. That’s because he will be playing at his natural level.
philvisreturns
12:19 on
5 December, 2012
Stringer Bell – The Russian emblem is a two headed eagle, with a two-by-four with a rusty nail through it in one of its talons and a bottle of Stoli in the other.
The motto underneath can be translated into Scots as “MON THEN!” (thumbsup)
—–___________
Are you sure your not mixing Russia up with Airdrie? Happens quite a lot. The women over 30 are very similar.
any woman over 30 in Airdrie is know locally as a “grandmother”.
russia makes the most expensive eggs in the world.
infact they are FAB
Until your article I didn’t know how to spell Armageddon…
… it wasn’t the end of the world though!
i’ll get ma coat
More rumours Sevco don’t own Murray Park……always thought it was leased,could wee Craigy Bhoy be about to re-appear?
Stringer Bell – Airdrie was settled in part by Lithuanians fleeing the Russian empire, who were landed at Glasgow and told it was New York.
The ones who were too mental for Bellshill ended up in Airdrie. (thumbsup)
I wiz serious about the road report request BTW?
Travelling up the road from Lancs in a couple of hours (and back post match), someone said there’s a weather warning for central Scotland issued.
Any info appreciated.
Paul67
Quality piece, as ever Paul.
…Gonna bring the Russian Bear to his knees.
Phylvis @12.14
Good work! :)
Belter today Paul,love it!!
I have taken an afternoons holiday today to get physically and mentally prepared for tonights celebration because regardless of the outcome it will be a celebration.A celebration for a team still in Europe after Christmas when the usual suspects were predicting the lowest number of points ever for a UK based team in the CL,seems thats one record we have not heard about this year.
Roll on Armageddon,its great fun.
First beer in an hour or two,some dinner in the merchant city and off to the game,can’t wait………….:-)
kilbowie kelt
12:13 on
5 December, 2012
We owe Aiden big time.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
SPOT ON …….
Bring on the Hearts, the The Rangers, bring on the Spaniards by the score………
I sound like Edward VIII.
Sheriff Fatman – Thank you, I hope Jake is well. (thumbsup)
On Barca’s second string,
Benfica will play a lot more offensively than we managed to do in both games as they have more players capable of keeping the ball than us.
Hopefully this will give Barca more openings to exploit.
If Benfica go a goal behind i think they will crumble as historically Portuguese sides do not have the mental toughness, particularly away form home.
The negatives are that changing so many players often results in lack of cohesion,though i’m sure all replacements will be (a.) good passers and (b)eager to show their manager what they’ve got!
Looking forward to giving Aiden a cheer tonight(before the game).
We must go for it…no repeat of the cautious approach of the Benfica home game.
Away to look out ma longjohns!
The Pantaloon Duck @12:15
Looking forward to hearing that wee ditty later this evening. Hopefully won’t be the last time this season that we do! ;o)
Hair on the back of the neck READY!
HH
/Bishop B