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. Doc

     

     

    There are many pool supporters who are Tims, but they are a divided club, the Tims would have Irish blood in them, the huns don’t.

     

     

    Take yourself down to lpool at the marching season, it will open your eyes.

  2. I park my motor doon past Dalmarnock station.

     

     

    I walk up the Clyde Gateway and I see this brilliant white structure hovering above the road. As I get closer it becomes clear that it is paradise floating above us and I realise that tonight will be special.

  3. TET

     

     

    Don’t hold your breath if you expect them back soon.

     

    Word on the street is, Armageddon part 2 for the Hun.

     

    And I just mean Newco, no cash, more Celtic supporters enquiring re-shares than Sevcovians. Rumours and nonsense of course.

     

    They are entertaining though.

  4. The Comfortable Collective on

    In hindsight, given Celtic won last night, it is good that Song and Mascerano were not sent off. Although both deserved to be.

     

     

    They will both now not be banned for the next Barcelona CL game, and available to them, and it is in Celtic’s interest for Barca to win their two remaining CL games against Moscow and Benfica.

  5. The Comfortable Collective on

    Is it true that Barcelona’s player Song is related to that fine English actor Charles Dance?

  6. Wouldn’t it be nice if Hearts went into admin,

     

    Stayed there till the end of the season,

     

    Went into liquidation and came out again during the close season,

     

    Applied for membership to the SPL precedent already set last year,

     

    ……….And the rest of the SPL teams voted them in!!

     

     

    Would some people feel a little bit of paranoia

  7. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    sipsini,

     

    the big picture, for me has the existing authorities completely overhauled and the game administered fairly, this will happen sooner if they are shown up as the incompetent cheats they are.

  8. harryhoodsdugbitme

     

     

    The first time, Benfica game maybe, the GB started singing,” We’re the Famous Glasgow acetic and we’re going to Wembley”

     

    I laughed, and thought that’s optimistic in the extreme, but…………

  9. My daughter took her young Andalusian friend to the game.

     

    A supporter of Real Madrid, this was not her first CL match. It was her first visit to a Celtic match. The stadium is not as impressive as the Bernabeau she observed. The atmosphere however beats it hands down. She had never heard fans support their team so much. She had never heard fans cheer every throw in. Nor every corner as though it was a goal. She asked what the fans were singing about the Champions League? She joined in the huddle in the CL and asked if she would have the opportunity to do so again before the game ended!

     

    She was on her mobile to home at the end of the game ensuring her family and friends that they had never been at a football match until they had experienced the passion of her new team…Celtic!

  10. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    within a few years the majority of people in scotland will be asking why they ever put up with them, that my friend is the big big picture :o)

  11. Doc

     

     

    I think sevco will go pop, they can’t sustain or justify their outgoings, even a half wit like me knows that.

     

     

    There will be another newhun co set up, and I will say it again, Cowdenbeath will feature in the plan.

     

     

    But whenever they come back, and they will in some form or another, it will be too soon.

  12. Canamalar agreed, taxi for hertz I’ll pay for it myself. Perhaps they could start again as a brand new Edinburgh FC, minus the racist and sectarian hatred now that would be good for Scottish football and great for the nation. Maybe the Sevco Zombies could learn from it, whit dae ye think? Ach mibbe I’m still dreamingCSC

  13. Canamalar, the lhad who sits next to me said, a few weeks ago, if this is Armageddon, bring it on, Aberdeen game, maybe Hibs.

     

     

    Fair competition, no expectation of a right to win. We ,may, or may not win, but if the other team win by being the better team, either on the day or over the period of the season, then fair play, well done.

     

     

    Look how Barca reacted to loosing last night, class, pat the opponent on the back, shake his hand, admire their quality.

     

    I diverse a little but……

  14. Neil Canamalar.

     

     

    I agree with your points.problem being its Scotland we play our football in.until the day comes we move on it will always be the same a game of chess with thems with a queen and us not.hh

  15. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    Vmhan,

     

    Glasgows dreen and white

     

    Edinburghs green and white

     

    :oD))))

     

     

    as long as they start were all new clubs should start, outside the sfl, its a cleansing thing :o)

  16. Lennon n Mc....Mjallby on

    Liverpool has perhaps one of the best pubs in the world,the Cavern pub,not the Club,the Pub across from it,if I ever was to relocate it would be to thon sainted city.

  17. TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on

    hotshot

     

     

    22:54 on 8 November, 2012

     

     

    Sadie’s bhoy,

     

     

    Tardelli was insanely passionate but how about this , in the context of the time it was provocative, for the Communists anyway. 16mins in.

     

     

    Brazil v Czechoslovakia World Cup 1970 (on youtube)

     

     

    http://www.youtubecom/watch?v=J8ovwCz0HuA

     

     

    ……………………………………………

     

     

    Followed the link but no video showing.

  18. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    sipsini,

     

    things are changing for the better all the time, the revolution is picking up pace, they are loosing their grip on the information, who would have thought Neil Lennon would be seen the world over as a hero for scottish football :oD)))

     

    nast night was another nail in the coffin of their misinformation propaganda machine, it wont happen overnight but it is happening.

     

    The more interviews he bums up scottish football the more the general public come round, intolerance is dying on its feet, their nimbers and power are diminishing with every good news story.

  19. The Battered Bunnet on

    However Romanov has structured the shareholding and debt of Hearts at his related Ukios/UBIG organisation, will determine the short term and long term future of the club.

     

     

    The group/interest has a vast majority shareholding on the one hand, but more importantly, is the owner of more than 75% of the debt. This means by default that the Romanov related creditor holds all of the cards in an insolvency.

     

     

    If Romanov is in control of decision making, then the smart play is to take Hearts into Administration, bump the smaller creditors, and come out the other side with precisely the same assets, but no external debt, and a lean football operation still in the top tier. This means that the original plan to profit by selling the land when property prices are optimal, and relocating the football club to a cheaper site remains viable.

     

     

    Of course if Romanov does not control decision making at group, and there is considerable doubt on this, then the risk is that the decision makers cash in their chips and take whatever value is on offer for Tynecastle as a development site.

     

     

    Without a stadium, whatever remains of Hearts will be a shell, and the future is grim, if there is a future at all.

     

     

    Looks to me that Adminstration is pretty much inevitable. If Romanov is in control, Hearts will suffer but re-emerge from it.

     

     

    If he’s not in control, Hearts are gone.

  20. I asked a work zombie apologist if he watched the game, he said no (I fully understand what I was saying). I replied asking why he didn’t watch the top Scottish team in Europe. His reply; I watched Chelsea, a British team. He is a reasonable guy but hurtin sore. I smiled and walked away, biting my lip from saying ‘re-adjust your mind son and accept your new role within Scotland – that’s your only way back’. They just don’t do ‘hearts and minds’!

  21. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    Jabba calling for emergency league reconstruction due to Hearts implosion to avoid armageddon or a meltdown. He canny make up his mind. He does though want the huns to take the baby huns place due to dunfermline being skint.

     

     

    HH

  22. Before I go to bed, following a blog debate on sport.es regarding the results for Barca and Real last night.

     

     

    Unbelievable the vicious and mostly fascist/racist crap they throw at each other.

     

     

    Leave spanish football to the spanish from now on.

     

     

    Good night and God Bless

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