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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Forster in England squad
Did any one have any info on the Celtic Triangle – asked the Question yesterday ajd have not seen a response – apologies if i missed anyones reply!
I am happy to confirm that there are interesting times ahead
I think everyone has it wrong. What DD actually said was….Rangers is a ‘grate’ team with a ‘grate’ history. Grate as in…fire…ashes…gone.
Or maybe he meant grate as in irritate, annoy etc. :-)
Anyway, does anyone think their fans are going to start taking comfort from the words of DD? As for the MSM, not worth bothering about.
Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster has been called into the England squad for the first time.
Forster, who joined Celtic from Newcastle in July this year following a successful loan spell, has been in impressive form for Neil Lennon’s side.
Roy Hodgson has rewarded the 24-year-old with a place in his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland.
Lennon has previously tipped Forster for England honours.
Forster spent two loan spells with Celtic from Newcastle United before making the switch permanent during the summer.
Speaking in August, Lennon said England did not have a plethora of goalkeepers to choose from.
“I think he is developing into a top-class goalkeeper,” said Lennon.
“He has played in huge games and showed he had the character and qualities to play in those games.”
England play San Marino at home on Friday 12 October and visit Poland on Tuesday 16 October.
Auldheid
10:47 on
4 October, 201
well said, sir
It’s bad enough that the MSM make a meal of every utterance from anyone Celtic-ish but I really hate it when the Celtic fans do too.
If DD had said “The sky is looking grey today” the MSM would say it’s a mental sign of his inner feelings of missing Sevco.
If DD had said “The sky is blue” lots of Celtic fans would be saying it’s a mental sign of his wanting Sevco in the SPL.
No matter what he says, everyone’s a critic.
Look at where we are and where Sevco are. At the start of last season, how many of us could have even imagined what was in coming?
Personally, a choice between DD and any director (past or present) of Sevco or RFCia and I’ll take DD any day.
Congratulations to big Fraser Foster on his call up to the England squad
Well done to big Fraser!
Hope he gets a shot.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Congratulations to our big goalie!
O.G.Rafferty @ 11:11
“I am happy to confirm that there are interesting times ahead”
It’s a wolf, it’s a wolf……..
;-)
Well done to the new Holy Goalie…..
Well deserved.
Auldheid
10:47 on 4 October, 2012
“Anybody remember the last pronunciation from Celtic we got our knickers in a twist about?
Have any of the things we might have thought those pronunciations meant materialised or do the pronunciations just trigger our own inner beliefs, fears and judgements into surfacing?
Over time if none of the fears (for example those expressed on the appointment of Neil Lennon) come to pass is that not an indication that the inner belief is in fact not true?
Are we so determined then to hold on to that belief we ignore the reality that is shouting “change your mind” because we just have to be right.
edit.
Auldheid, you are so right.
My initial post on this subject asked for people to put their prejudices aside.
Unfortunately, many were unable to so do.
There is a constituency in our support who pathologically resent senior officers within the club.
They didn’t like Fergus, they booed.
They didn’t like Quinn, they booed.
They didn’t like Gordon, they booed and worse.
Didn’t want Neil Lennon, they prejudged him.
They don’t like Peter,
They don’t like Desmond.
Unfortunately, their default position is to pounce on anything that can be construed as being against the “feelings” of the fans.
This type of supporter has always been with us., seemingly wallowing in negativity about the club.
My late father referred to them as anti-Celtic, Celtic fans.
Fortunately, through the efforts and sacrifices of previous generations, we have an educated, intelligent and capable generation of people, who can more than hold their own in business and the professions.
They are not a breed apart from us, they are us.
Celtic are not two entities, Us and Them (Them being the Board).
Ironically, that is the case that is being argued across town.
Celtic is a Trinity or Three Legged Milking Stool, if you prefer.
Board, Staff and Fans, We all need each other to survive and prosper.
None more important than the other, as, like the Milking Stool, if one leg breaks, you will fall on your arse!!
United we stand…etc.
What progress for Fraser Forster.
A lot of folk, myself included thought he’d never do for us and now he’s our number 1 and in the England squad.
Amazing.
Good on the big fella.
Congrats to Fraser – so they don’t have to leave us to further their international ambitions after all. Lets not underestimate the significance of this in terms of attracting players etc. Commons of course just isn’t good enough for Scotland, we should all be clear on that;)
Also can’t wait to read the ramblings of that moronic Newcastle ‘blogger’ who spends more time putting the boot into us and the SPL than talking about his own team.
There are huns everywhere, whether they know it or not.
HH
JohnnyClash 11:22
in wolf’s clothing. And it’s come to blow your house down
hamiltontim
11:22 on 4 October, 2012
Hope you got a free ticket to Ipox this afternoon. I expect you will be intolerable in here this evening with your newly honed skills.
OG Rafferty
This the new story or the youtube gold one?!
Timescale at least please?! ;)
HH
Would like to hear pardews thoughts on the big mans call up to the England squad !!
Where are you Alan
HH
‘Celtic is a Trinity or Three Legged Milking Stool, if you prefer.’
-like my fellow Solway Star St ‘Patrick I prefer the shamrock.
What time do we draw the salt n sauce rangers away in league cup?
It should be remembered that there are only two English goalkeepers in the CL and they are rightly in the England squad.
Perhaps Pardew could point to the lack of good English keepers in the EPL. A fact that he has contributed to by playing a Dutch goalkeeper and not nurturing an English youngster like Fraser.
Tremendous news for the big fella, the fact he comes out and practices during the half time interval is a mark of his dedication and professionalism.
Watched the Vancouver game last night.
Kenny Miller off with hammy problem but Robbo was everywhere, winning tackles and spraying the ball around for fun.
Capped off with a very well taken half volley for his goal.
Well done Barry, Commons call up for Miller?
Really happy for Big Fraser, just shows that playing for Celtic doesn’t harm your chances of an England call up. Will also give Gary Hooper encouragement.
Dontbrattbakkinanger
11:29 on 4 October, 2012
‘Celtic is a Trinity or Three Legged Milking Stool, if you prefer.’
-like my fellow Solway Star St ‘Patrick I prefer the shamrock.
*******
Of course, but I was trying to be inclusive, with both religious and secular references. :>)
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream
11:29 on 4 October, 2012
What time do we draw the salt n sauce rangers away in league cup?
2pm
Big hail hail to the lionroars67 & Top Corner
Good to meet you ghents
0-1was a terrible score though :oD)))))
Was good to find out some of the players names :o)
scotlands shame
08:54 on
4 October, 2012
Agree with most of what you say, but some posters correctly feel it would have been better for DD to divert the interviewer back to Celtic when he was asked to ‘dirty his mouth’ by talking about a zombie club…… And these posters do have a point…….anyway, since the zombies are history (pardon the intended pun) now, we should all continue to concentrate on talking about our wonderfully developing team, which DD continues to contribute to……!!!!!
kayal33
Cheers
kayal33
11:42 on 4 October, 2012
2pm
ttt, whose the big ass that sits atop the stool
Solway Star and the Mudflats at the Ole Burns Howff………..
Another waste of time and money.
Sorreeeee, Kayal…… Thought you were asking the question …..LLLOOOLLL
DD is CORRECT when he talks about Rangers being ‘relegated’.
They were in the top tier of Scottish football clubs.
Now they are in the fourth & bottom level.
If that is not a relegation of their status, I am at a loss to understand what else he should call it.
The fact that their relegation was as a consequence of them cheating & ignoring the football laws that every other club has to abide by is incidental. The fact that they are completely to blame for their own relegation alters nothing.
If I was the boss yesterday, but today I am the sweeper-up, that would mean that I have been RELEGATED, no matter what caused my demise.
RANGERS HAVE BEEN RELEGATED.
END of…..
WOW ….. Has FF got a call-up …???
kk,
Whose been relegated ?
kilbowie kelt
11:46 on 4 October, 2012
They were, indeed, relegated initially but ……even better……they have now been liquidated…deed…..gone …….whoooppeeeedoooooo