Much of our Champions League history was on show last night, apart from the fragility which has accompanied Celtic so often on the road. The game was immeasurably more difficult than any challenge we face in domestic football. The opening minutes were so stressful, otherwise composed players were spooked, but winning is all about how you react when you are spooked. Do you crumble and concede an early goal?
With less than three minutes on the clock, and Spartak about to take their third corner kick, how many of us thought back to early goals lost in the opening minutes of recent European adventures?
Not for this team, who reacted to being spooked by scoring a genuinely top class goal.
It wasn’t until Spartak went down to 10 men that we made them look like Motherwell (the similarity in possession, passing, composure last night and on Saturday are remarkable) but, Spartak going down to 10 men was not the deciding factor in the outcome of the game. Kris Commons should have won a penalty when Celtic were 0-1 up and Gary Hooper was clean through on the goalkeeper at the incident which led to the red card.
Once level, with 20 minutes remaining, the stage was Celtic’s, but a more illustrious (i.e. expensive and feted) Celtic team had the same stage against a weaker opponent in Anderlecht in 2003 but ended up losing the game. Last night Hooper, Izaguirre, Samaras, Forrest and Brown went about their business in a steady and unspectacular fashion, exuding the confidence you need to win at this level.
No result is achieved in this competition without an enormous performance; just ask those who lost in Belgium nine years ago, including the proudest man in Europe last night.
Bring on the Salt ‘n’ Sauce Rangers.
The next issue of CQN Magazine is in the planning. If you would like to contribute an article, or advertise, let me know, articles@cqnmagazine.co.uk.
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Why Dermot why?
Probably just being polite but did he really need to talk about Rangers and their “history”? Hope he realizes he’s opened the door for Green to latch onto us.
Unless he’s just being polite which isn’t beyond the realms of impossibility. Maybe he knows that Sevco won’t be back in any form soon enough….
TMWTL
More eloquently put than my post!
I suspect we meant the same thing.
Popped into Waterstones in East kilbride this afternoon and noted that a certain book, which apparently has not been reviewed anywhere in the Scottish media, is sitting at No.7 in the best sellers list. How can that be? How can a book that has received no media review/publicity be the seventh most popular book in terms of sales in Scotland? (And I’m sure I read that it’s in the Sunday Times Top Ten list as well!) Makes you wonder!
Oh dear Dermo.
Philbhoy
The man is totally out of sync with his paying public. He has just scored a horrible public relations own goal
DD’s spoutings, according to STV site.
Celtic’s majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has spoken for the first time about recent events in Scottish football and says that Rangers’ situation did not affect thinking at Parkhead.
Desmond has presided over a period of financial stability at Celtic Park at a time when Rangers have been troubled by off-field events. However, he does not expect a long wait before the Glasgow rivals are competing against each other in the top flight.
“Our attitude has always been that we can only control our own affairs and concentrate on our own affairs,” he explained.
“Anyone else’s affairs are for their own doing and their own making. Celtic is what I get up in the morning thinking about and what I go to bed thinking about.”
However, he said that the size of the Ibrox fanbase was a factor in what he believed would be the rise of Rangers in the next few years.
“Rangers is a fantastic club with a great history,” he said. “With the support that they have, they will come back.
“They will, in not too long a time, be back in the SPL. I have no doubt about that.
“They’re needed for Scottish football because of their following and the size of the club and especially their history.”
Desmond said that Celtic were benefiting from financial stability but that he would not change a prudent approach in the transfer market.
“I think that’s [down to] the executive and the prudence and direction of the board,” he said. “That’s been our plan, what I call ‘Mr Micawber economics’, that we’re just balancing revenues and expenditure.
“We’ll continue to do that and we won’t be bullied into overspending.”
I wouldn’t take anyone with a Celtic connection’s comments re Them at face value.
The MSM have been frothing at the mouth trying to get a negative Them quote from a Celtic source.
Let’s see where the game is at the final whistle and leave all prejudices to one side until then.
TMWTL
He’s a clown and an embarrassment to Celtic Football Club and Her supporters.
He should sell up and go.
Preferably quietly.
Until now, I have been happy to give our biggest shareholder the benefit of the doubt but his comments about thon deid team are disgraceful. Even if he was being diplomatic, he has given the MSM a lifeline: thon deid team in needed in the SPL. Gies peace.
What a clown DD is, so disassociated with the fans and whats going on…..
“Rangers is a fantastic club with a great history,” he said. “With the support that they have, they will come back”.
Mind u he is above all reproach with regard to shonky business practices.
Anyone who thinks that Dermott was doing anything other than saying “nothing to do with us” when Nimmo Smith loads the SPL club revolver and pulls the trigger, is not in touch with reality
Interesting that DD suddenly pops up from nowhere the day after one of our finest results in recent times. What the hell is he thinking giving those cheating bassas any comfort?
Barcabhoy
19:00 on 3 October, 2012
Anyone who thinks that Dermott was doing anything other than saying “nothing to do with us” when Nimmo Smith loads the SPL club revolver and pulls the trigger, is not in touch with reality
******
Agreed. Too many on here bring their personal prejudices into play when dealing with club personnel.
Barcabhoy
Why did he comment about them at all?
Ha Ha.
Looks like good old Dermot is playing a good game with the zombies and laptop loyal fuds.
Building them up for the big fall that’s coming.
Indio
Dreadful comment from Desmond. Terrible timing as well.
Barcabhoy
Are you Dermot Desmond?
thomthetim
Especially the usual suspects , who’s chosen method is personal abuse
Has DD been taking lessons from Burley, Provan et al?
Couldn’t have made a worse statement frankly…
yes , he cant be bothered facing shareholders, but a wee game of golf and hes there at the drop of a hat. Maybe he will play the next cqn pro am and we can educate the absentee landlord then!!!
To be fair to Desmond, he doesn’t actually say that we need Sevco. And he’s probably right in saying they’ll be in the SPL sooner or later.
Will we?
thomthethim
I agree, but he didn’t really have to say this…….
“Rangers is a fantastic club with a great history,”
They’re needed for Scottish football because of their following and the size of the club and especially their history.”
The rest, nothing of any consequence, scored an own goal with many of the support.
Not that he will give a toss.
Anyone who criticises The Great Desmondo is a f*****g pleb.
There was no need for DD to mention them at all. None whatsoever. A good PR rep would have made any questions on the subject off limits
I still maintain he has scored a massive own goal here
obonfanti1888, 19:07
Now that indeed is a question
Every MSM outlet will latch onto his words that now even celtic agree its the same club and history. Well done Dermo or should it be father Dougal!!!
From what I saw DD gave a quick interview on the golf course.What he said,even if he meant it, has no bearing on Sevco’s imminent demise.
2 – 0 for the young Celts already
Indio
I wish DD was more like Charlie Chuckles and put the boot into all and sundry.
Twardzik with the first, McGregor with the 2nd.
Indio
O.G. Rafferty
Meh, probably just internet bampoterry on my part.
I agree with those saying why DD felt the need to talk about Sevco at all, not least in light of last night’s result.
Just watch the desperate charlatans at Ibrox and the press cling onto DD’s statement for all its worth.
wow
3 – 0 for the youngsters
Indio
If the last few months have shown anything at all, it is that there is absolutely no need for Celtic to take public head shots at RFCIA
Haven’t we learned from that.
Bland statement in public are what we have to put up.
Privately however we can take aim and blast away………and we do
This is just another example. Remember the ravings from the usual suspects who were going ballistic demanding Celtic had to publicly declare that they would vote against Rangers getting back into the SPL.
That’s just what wasn’t required. It would have turned a Rangers scandal into a Celtic v Rangers issue, and that could have lead to a very different outcome
Celtic have played this entire scandal masterfully, Dermott’s statement is another example.
As Celtic’s biggest shareholder was he speaking for the board, the club, the supporters?
Or was he just talkin’ billionaires bollocks?
3-0 for the young hoops!
exciting times
Herron with number 3
Indio
obonfanti1888, 19:18
maybees aye, maybees no
O.G.Rafferty 19:10:
Now is that a clue to your second alluded to story?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!