The beating of Barca, II. This time it’s Tony.

1064

Where do we start discussing last night?  Perhaps the end of the night.  There was joy in abundance, not only inside Celtic Park, but in the streets surrounding the game and in a hundred thousand homes across the world.  This joy manifest itself into a great sense of community.  That performance brought tears, hugs, spontaneous jumping up and down, and not only from Celtic fans.  Messages have poured in from fans of other SPL clubs and beyond.

This is what great sport can do for people.

Brother Walfrid has excellent timing.  He managed to arrange our kick-off meeting to coincide with match day four of the Champions League group stage.  Those of us who attended the anniversary celebrations on Tuesday were reminded what Celtic is all about, the best team in the world were in Glasgow waiting to play, the fairy tale script was written, but could it be delivered?

It’s the details which are most impressive.  Mikael Lustig looked like he could play in any team in any league.  He was comfortable and composed throughout.  Adam Matthews, deputising for an injured former Player of the Year, played out of position flawlessly.  I watched him struggle at left back on his Celtic Park debut in a friendly against Wolves last year; it defies explanation how far he has progressed.

Please forget about Victor’s goal, it will only detract from his incredible midfield performance.  His composure, skill and assertiveness troubled Iniesta and Messi all game.  This was all the more impressive given the absence of captain, Scott Brown.

Georgios Samaras was crucial for most of the evening.  He was the one player Barca seemed afraid of, although a lack of training caught up with him before he was subbed.

I’ll not burden Tony Watt publicly with the comparison I made of him earlier in the season but he possesses an impressive array of attributes: upper body strength, pace-with-the-ball and a nose for goal.  I’m tempted to say he will continue to improve but, to what level?  Without injuries to Hooper, Lassad and Forrest it’s unlikely he would have enjoyed as much time last night.  Sometimes Fortune Favours the Celtic.

All of Europe would have been impressed with Fraser Forster last night, dubbed La Grand Muralla, the Big Wall, by a Spanish newspaper.  He will play for England, so too with Kelvin Wilson if he maintains this season’s form.

The only man with a problem today is Neil Lennon.  Tactically the two games against Barcelona have been as accomplished as any I have witnessed.  Neil needs to know how to follow that in Lisbon. I’ve no idea.

Happy Birthday Celtic!

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  1. Fabulous night when everything came together to make a truly wonderful experience

     

    If only we could keep this group together for 2 or 3 years – we could make a real impact in Europe

     

    Victor will be a giant of the game – if he keeps progressing and working

     

    It would be great to build a team around him but unfortunately he will be for the off before long

     

    The club must ensure that the monies we raise from selling prized assets like VW are re-invested as much as possible

     

    We should be trying to identify VW’s sucessor now – long before we have to cash in on him

     

     

     

    Watching Barca warm up I was really impressed by the effort they put in before a ball was kicked

     

    The rumour from KDS is that NL wants the guy McGuinness from Donegal GAA tto join his staff – hopefully he can make us even 10-15% fitter.

     

    That way we should be able to cope even better with the quality of opponents we face in the CL

     

     

    HH

  2. TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on

    Kojo

     

     

    Just logged on again to CQN. Like you it tickles me pink when I see footballers and other sports people bless themselves. That’s because I’m a Catholic.Only in this country and possibly Norn Iron is it classed as a crime against humanity. To be honest though, it’s a personal thing and should not be done to provoke. I also don’t care what religion our players choose to follow or not to follow, as long as they give 100% for that Celtic jersey. Possibly my all time favourite memory of a player blessing himself was Marco Tardelli when Italy beat Germany 3-1 in the 86 World Cup Final. Hiss goal celebration must be the greatest of all time.

     

     

    With regard to making the Sign of the Cross in general, I once heard an Irish priest liken it to dialling Heaven. That is how I’ve come to regard it. As I get older I find I have to dial heaven more often to ask God for help. :-)

  3. Can anyone tell me the significance of the red around the green cross in last nights display ?

     

     

    Apologies if already covered, catching up!

  4. Clashcitybhoy – reading your post and thinking about what you were saying: how can we keep our profile high and make our income improve on the back of this? for what its worth i think we need to:

     

     

    make sure we are there or thereabouts every single year, build up a profile and do it within our own budget i.e. have a relatively some sqaud of quality players with young players on the fringes rather than having lots of squad fillers.

     

     

    buy quality young players with the promise of top class football. sell for top dollar, hence, telling potential signing come here you’ll get your chance and we’ll let you move on when/ if you want in the future.

     

     

    the sale of guys like victor for top dollar to top clubs has many benefits, the money should be very good, but it also tells players they can make a name at celtic.

     

     

    more top class games mean more 50,000 + paying top dollar with television money.

     

     

    see that celtic triangle, build it with the money earned on the pitch and from the sale of players, a nice museum, cafe, restuarant, hotel, bar etc… would coin in lots of new revenue. same idea with country hotel at lennoxtown training complex.

     

     

    buying high profile players does next to nothing with regards growning the club unless its a naka or a ki.

     

     

    looking at everything happening at celtic its hard to argue they are not already working towards what i just said.

     

     

    TBH i am more positive about our future than i have been for a long time

     

     

    hail hail

  5. Magnificentseven on

    THE EXILED TIM

     

    21:19 on

     

    8 November, 2012

     

    Someone posted earlier, sorry can’t remember who.

     

     

    In 180 mins of football, Barca have only lead Celtic for 10 seconds.

     

     

     

    and we have led them for more than 90 minutes

  6. BIG-CUP-WINNERS on

    croppybhoy

     

     

    Improved fitness would be fantastic. Barcelona aren’t really lacking in the physical aspects of the game. What I noticed last night was their superior speed of reaction and anticipation.

  7. Magnificentseven on

    Stringer Bell

     

    21:24 on

     

    8 November, 2012

     

    Can anyone tell me the significance of the red around the green cross in last nights display ?

     

     

    Apologies if already covered, catching up!

     

     

     

    its the original badge on the first strip

  8. The Spirit of Arthur Lee on

    Stringer Bell

     

     

    If i told you the answer BT would say i found it out somewhere else

     

     

    LOVE

  9. When the Terminator said “il be back” he was away to drink a carryout in Wanyama’s house..

     

     

     

     

    B-)

  10. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    I am stealing all your stuff bhoys snd ghirls sorry but I have a glut of German and English mates that are getting it right up them. The lack of comment on any if them is a good thing. ;-)

     

     

    HH

  11. Magnificentseven on

    Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo

     

    21:28 on

     

    8 November, 2012

     

    Magnificent7

     

     

    They were ahead for 23 minutes.

     

     

    HH

     

     

     

     

    most of the game last night and 27 minutes over there I reckon hence more than 90 minutes

  12. thetimrieper

     

     

    Polish media don’t care much about Russian clubs and football. Russian is my my first foreign language.

     

    It’s nice to read how big they are, how easy they will outplay Celtic and then see flustration.

  13. jtsTICks (from previous page) –

     

     

    A fine post mate and I know you were there in Spirit.

     

     

    Quite significant that in 3 weeks time the Spartak – Barca game has an early 5.00 kick off. If Barca take anything at all from the game (and have they EVER lost twice in a row?) then a scoring draw in Lisbon means we qualify for the last 16. Which is nice.

     

     

    Jobo

  14. NatKnow - "We welcome the paper-chase..." on

    According to Wikipedia, Jandy Sardine has only played for 2 senior clubs – the Huns and their the mini-Huns.

     

     

    Ah’m startin’ tae hink Jandy is a jinx…

  15. The Spirit of Arthur Lee on

    Awe Naw

     

     

    Where are you?

     

     

    German and English mates that are getting it right up them

     

     

    LOVE

  16. What a week – I was fortunate to go to St Mary’s and then Celtic Park afterwards on Tuesday with my 83 year old Dad and 76 year old Mum – they both had a great night and trip down memory lane. Also went last night with my 8 year old son and he has not stopped thanking or hugging me since – just shows how Celtic reaches out to people of all ages. Truly blessed to be part of it and humbled that I had my family around me on two fantastic Celtic nights this week……Hats off to the Celtic Graves Society for Tuesday and to the Green Brigade and Celtic Fans last night!!!

  17. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    Magnificent7

     

     

    Messi put them ahead until Victor equalised as we had an away goal. 1 min in nou camp and when did vic equalise ?

     

     

    HH

  18. thetimrieper

     

    I must say I read today plenty in the Polish media on how good and brave was Celtic against Barcelona. A joy to my my eyes and ears.

  19. Magnificentseven

     

     

    About 110, no bad for a reserve team, who have virtually no money, against the best on the planet.

     

     

    Their two subs last night cost 60 million,the 3rd, I can’t recall if they paid for Pique.

     

     

    The more you think about it, the better it is.

     

     

    The energy last night was something I have never felt before, it was really coming through the TV, it was incredible.

     

     

    Grown men, including myself in tears, tears of joy and hapiness.

     

     

    Not another club on the planet comes anywhere close.

     

     

    Somos El Celtic

     

     

    HH

  20. GourockEmeraldBhoy on

    bournesouprecipe

     

     

    21:01 on

     

    8 November, 2012

     

    GourockEmeraldBhoy

     

     

    Doesn’t seem to happy with an iPad

     

     

    Tis not indeed, neither me android. Will dig oot the old laptop laters……..

     

     

    Cheers

  21. •-:¦:-•** -:¦:- sparkleghirl :¦:-.•**• -:¦:-•

     

     

    Watching that video you posted and wife walked in. She said ” You greetin again! I thought your team won last night?”

     

     

    lol!

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