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.
[calameo code=000390171a36dad35d58c lang=en hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
974 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- ...
- 26
- »
Just watched goals again, smile is even bigger, beginning to suffer lockjaw.
One downer about our team coming of age is that Forster and Hooper
will be capped for engerlund. HH
ps The comment was on The Herald site, not here.
JaseBhoy
Congrats on new adition to family. Bhoy or Ghirl?
MWD
BMCUWP your most welcome family is paramount enjoy the game. signing off now duty calls
hh the CELTIC family
http://www.itv.com/sport/football/article/2012-10-02/match-report-spartak-moscow-2-3-celtic/
highlights
gordybhoy64
He kicked a pass-back to one of the Aberdeen players in the first game of the season. It was to a player about 80 yards away but standards are standards.
Jungle jim – how did you manage to leave a comment? Didn’t think the Herald allowed that anymore.
the commentary on that ITV site is giving me massive chills
I see the diddies are out in force in Kilmarnock, after a cancer campaign picture of a woman’s breasts was placed on the statue of Robert Burns causing ‘outrage’.
I’m not sure ol Rabbie would have been too bothered.
Funny what some folk take offence at.
JungleJim 13.34
Maybe we should just change it to TOTY………..team of the year.
bamboo
I alluded to that myself earlier.
Their must be something in that.
Hi All, here’s what Betfair have to say;
As Celtic, Shakhtar and BATE Borisov all make impressive starts, Christian Crowther assesses their powers of sustainability…
Before these teams kicked a ball in this year’s competition, not many observers would have tipped them for qualification, but now all three have staked their claims with some real boat-rocking results.
Celtic – 3.2 to qualify from Group G
It was a night for all Celtic fans to remember in Russia as Georgios Samaras’ last-gasp winner clinched a first ever away win in the Champions League group stages for the Hoops. Neil Lennon was rightly delighted with the efforts of his players in coming from 2-1 down to overcome ten-,am Spartak Moscow 3-2 in the problematic surroundings of the Luzhniki Stadium. Celtic’s heroics have created a three-point cushion over third-placed Benfica, though Lennon’s side now face an ultra-daunting Barcelona double-header. Even the most optimistic of Hoops fans would have to concede that achieving a point at home would be just about the limits of Celtic’s capabilities against Europe’s finest. However, with Benfica losing at home to Barca, Celtic could probably afford to lose twice to the Catalans if they can gain at least one more win, probably at home to Spartak.
Verdict: The group dynamics are shaping up in Celtic’s favour and after such a confidence-boosting win, they will qualify.
Swiss
jungle jim
13:34 on
3 October, 2012
….and don’t forget big FF …….. Some of his saves this season have been fantastic …….. and he instils confidence in the team / supporters……….They should change it to TOTY……
BMCUW
The nuns used to whack us on the knuckles with rulers – and also on the back of the heid!
See you’re going to the game on Sunday! How did you manage to wangle that one? Your mum will go mental -no?! Just blame the auld bhoy for leading you astray!
HH!!
Awa’ wi’ drink and sumptious feasties
I’ve been and got a pair o’ breesties
I wudna run awa sae hasty
Wi muckle cleavage
dessybhoy 12:21, nothing to do with this story.
The Battered Bunnet, 12:39
Career? What career?
If I said what I knew then there would be no story – it would stop here.
jude2005
Paul 67 has them I believe
markderrybhoy, 12:44
I’ve estimated a timescale – let’s see what develops. It’s early days
Barcabhoy
Using your example of Malaga, teams from the “larger” countries receive co-efficient points relative to their country ranking as a way of giving a more accurate reflection of their likely ability if they ever qualify for a European competition. Points gained for other teams earning points (i.e. Barcelona) are minimal. Can you imagine Malaga had a zero co-efficient for not having qualified for the past 5 years, and are subsequently placed in Pot 4? This would clearly not be a true reflection of their standing relative to other teams.
HH
iBhoy
There was a Comments Box after the article.
Phrophet of Regret
Thanks for those highlights. The commentary was much fairer than anything I have heard from BBC Scotland or ESPN.
JJ
Paul, ‘Bring on the Salt ‘n’ Sauce Rangers’. Bring them on right enough! Especially after the comments of their esteemed owner in the Russian press prior to the game.
I hope we stuff them!
SJ
Absolutely smashing performance last night. There were so many plus points it is hard to know where to start. After the Benfica game I thought we’d seen the end of Izzy and he would cruelly never be the same player as pre leg break but I am over the moon for him bouncing back and stepping up to remind us why he was the most coveted player in the squad after the 10/11 season.
Paul67 makes great point that we could have had that game finished in 1st half if not for Hooper very slightly mistiming his run and a stone wall penalty being denied. Ref was very dodgy and genuinely thought he looked like he was on the take. With Russia & Qatar world cups/FIFA alleged corruption it wouldn’t suprise me what could take place in Moscow. The only reason he finally sent off their CH was seemed the linesman & other goal official weren’t in on it and he had to back track ala Dougie McDonald.
The squad is the most competitive I can remember in my 32 years. With Ledley, Kayal, Forrest, Matthews, Rogne, Watt, Miku, Twardick & McGeouch all interchangeable when inevitable injuries happen. We should all pray that Broony stays fit though and be wrapped up in cotton wool for lesser SPL games. Beating heart of team.
Special praise for Ambrose and Lustig. Great performances & look like they will only get better with time. Ambrose has makings of a very tidy player who has gas to burn.
Nou Camp will be another step up for this young squad where valuable lessons are given by the best football school in the world. This is a brillliant game to have next and as long as we keep improving and learning at this level then a defeat would not impact like others would. With the athleticism and speed in the Celtic team we might be better prepared than the other 2 to get someting over there.
Isn’t it great to be a Tic fan.
Ma diddies ne’er hae been sae clampit
this wondrous cloot wi’ “playtex” stampit
in double D
From the BBC
Harper Macleod have Craig Whyte bankruptcy bid dismissed.
A legal action by one of Scotland’s top law firms to have former Rangers owner Craig Whyte declared bankrupt has been dismissed at the firm’s request.
Harper Macleod, which previously acted for Mr Whyte, raised a petition to sequestrate the businessman over what is believed to be an unpaid bill.
At Inverness Sheriff Court, the firm called for the petition to be dismissed and expenses of £613.13 awarded.
Sheriff Ian Abercrombie granted the motion, bringing the action to an end.
The court document was not made public.
Mr Whyte, 41, was not available for comment and a spokesman for Harper Macleod declined to comment on the case.
Meanwhile, Mr Whyte is being taken to court by another law firm which previously acted for him.
Bannatyne Kirkwood France and Co was drafted in by Mr Whyte, in November last year, in an attempt to sue the BBC after it aired a documentary about him.
The case was due to call at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday but was postponed until later in the year.
No papers with details of the case were available at the court.
SPF
I hope we have a really big crowd on Sunday to welcome Home the Bhoys. Nothing to do with the greater atmoshere created by a big crowd, simply that I want the MSM to have something to write about. They are, after all, quite fascinated by attendances this year.
JJ
Bhoys. Great to read you rip into the herald bias. I long gave up on the red tops but expected better from the Herald- not sure why. Every week they write rubbish bout Sevco.. Last yrs coverage ESP Neil s attack at Tynecastle , the paper showed its side. And the mask slipped fully with the appearance of the liquidiser..
But still they ve never pursued David Minty even for a question…
Thank god for CQN..
HH
EBAY
I have just sold a bike on Ebay. I am brand new to this venture. What happens now? Do I receive confirmation of payment? Contact Buyer? Any help appreciated,
JJ
Forgot to mention the NextGen game tonight for Celtic youths v PSV. 7PM ko at Firhill and only a £5 to see the stars of the future. Get yourself down there if can to see hopefully a euro double.
We should go easy on young Super Ally McCoist (50), he is a rookie manager in only his second full season in charge of a club. Taking the reins of a new club in the demanding pressured environment of Scottish Football League Division 3 was always going to be a tough challenge. Veteran manager Lennon (41) is in his 3rd full season in charge of Scottish Champions Celtic and has the luxury of competing at the highest level of the game against clubs with comparative wealth that can only be described as “off the radar”. Perhaps Lennon (41) should spare a thought for the plucky young Alistair (50) toiling in dignified silence in Scotland’s 4th tier. Mr McCoist (50) is gaining experience that Lennon (41) can only dream of.
Chris
Jungle Jim
Ebay will email the buyer to let them know and request payment.
JungleJim ,
if done through paypal , you should get confirmation that funds have cleared. NEVER send goods until that .
The it’s up to you/buyer how you want to dispatch the goods.
PS It wasn’t in your trophy room , was it ?
Sanna
TALLYBHOY 1349
E-mail to explain it being composed forthwith.
Have to say,worried tf,still scarred by the memory of Mother’s Day 2004 at Easter Rd where my Dad and I,celebrating Didi’s two,behaved like two diddies thinking we may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.
Still,at least we canny have a drink/starter for ten before the game,that’ll help.
Oh wait,I’m staying in a hotel on Saturday night,bona fide traveller,etc…….
Emdy got a spare room-or two-for a fortnight?
O wad some Pow’r the breasties gie us
To see oursels as others see us
ScotPatsFan – Don’t worry about Craig Whyte.
He’ll be a rich man when he wins that libel action against the BBC. (thumbsup)
philvis….,
Maybe fund a bid for the assets
Glendaly and Sannabhoy,
Thank you both.
Sannabhoy. Nice one . For just a second I thought ,” What?” Then St Etienne Flashed before me!
” Wee coo`rin` timrous breasties
Whit a panic you`ve put in those beasties.
For any lurking huns and hacks,Is it cold in our shadow ?
ProphetOfRegret
The ITV highlights are only available in the UK. Is it possible for these highlights to be watched in Ireland…..somehow?
Also to the fella who is concerned we might have two players with England caps……can you tell me why please?
Slán
Corrib04
aye use expat shield add on for your browser. lets you watch iplayer and 4od and everything else too.
also use adblocker plus which will stop ALL the adverts on youtube and the midway ads on 4od and itvplayer
both these add-ons are free
BOOM!