Rolling-over St Mirren easily tells you nothing about what will happen at the Camp Nou. As it is, we performed as well as any team in Europe would have last night. Inter Milan and Chelsea won the Champions League in 2010 and 2012 respectively after putting on a similar performance to Celtic in the most testing theatre in football.
The manager, players, supporters and everyone at the club deserve enormous credit for their part in this. Celtic’s achievement is all the more remarkable when you consider they live within their means, and this is not a dig at some former domestic rivalry, the most consistent trait of those currently regarded as uber-teams, including Barcelona, is a refusal to limit expenditure to match income over any business period. We can admire the art of this Barca team while looking forward to the day Financial Fair Play regulations inhibit their expenditure to the £200m-or-so a season more than Celtic’s income.
Barca will know they face a difficult task at Celtic Park in two weeks. Our goal came, as I predicted on Sunday, after a free kick inside the Barcelona half was dropped onto an elevated Celtic head inside the box. When the game is analysed I’m sure the coaches will conclude that we should have invited more challenges in similar areas – on the wing, circa 35 yards from goal. This is an easier area of the field to get possession in than the penalty box and, for Celtic, equally as dangerous.
Messi, Xavi and Iniesta got everything right for their first goal immediately before half time. The passing was fast, tight and each first touch was excellent, but this was a rarity. On all other occasions Celtic forced them into a pass which was too tight or too fast, or to simply make another safe pass and try again.
The second Barcelona goal was a consequence of defending too deep to press the cross. It was the kind of goal you lose in the 94th minute on a huge pitch.
Celtic successfully defended corner kicks zonally. For 70 minutes Barca took short corners, almost always to an unmarked player on the wing, Celtic didn’t mark this player all game, which brought a complaint from me every time, but they defended the zones the needed to inside the penalty area. Conceding possession outside the box looked like a conscious decision. Eventually Messi was reduced to pitching corners down the throat of the Celtic defence with predictable results.
There is still have a hard job ahead to qualify for the knock out stage or for the Europa League but we have gone toe-to-toe with every team in the group and have competed admirably with each – which was regarded as an objective as recently as last month. I’m enjoying my football this season.
Click here to read the fabulous CQN Magazine for free, or strain your eyes squinting below. You can also buy a hard copy of the magazine here from Magcloud.
[calameo code=000390171a36dad35d58c lang=en page=52 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
727 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- »
Any word about Sammi, please ..?
Churchill is supposed to have said that democracy may not be perfect but it is the best we’ve got. Well if this is democracy and this is the best we’ve got, GOD HELP US. Perhaps we should have been warned by the GAME OF SHAME at Celtic Park a few years ago when the main offenders were the Rangers management, the Rangers players and the Rangers supporters but the only person punished was our manager(whose scouling face was shown by the B.B.C. over 100 times.) Is there no one out there prepared to stand up for what is right and what is good?
TBJ
That´s a possibility but, in his opinion, his team relies on a few players – he named the obvious ones – and he feared their passing. I couldn´t agree with him. They have an amazing squad but, like Paul, there is unfairness in teams being allowed to run up debt year after year in order to capture the best there is.
Tonight is the very first time I have heard Media House being mentioned by any one in the MSM.
Is the return of Mark Daly a sign that our hero was not impressed by Chris :oD)))
Ernie @ 18.02,
Thanks for the link: it doesn’t contradict a word that I wrote.
“… their passing”: meaning their leaving, aging, wearing out. I fear their passing on the field: brilliant, busy, mesmerising.
Ggh
Tony watt under contract until jan 2014 so they should get a new deal next summer
Pat
They have the best squad ever .. And some real superstars
We have our best squad in decades imho… And some potential superstars too
So … Remember remember the 7th of november ;)
Good news. Thanks.
Somewhere in Bolivia on the 7th, I think. The wife has organised this trip. I´ll get to see the game since ESPN is very popular here and so is Barcelona.
canamalar
I heard that masel earlier, strange that it’s taken so long for them to get a mention, or not as the case may be :>)
Oldtim was asking after you btw, his feet were fine :>)
Pat
I will be in the cape town cafe in goa … Drinking cold kingfisher beer at 100 rupees a bottle. But my heart will be in glasgows east end
I´ll sign off by agreeing with you, TBJ, about Barca and Celtic. There´s a lot of potential in our squad both in the foreign imports an the homegrown.
God bless
Jinky.
Naw ye can elaborate when I see ye.hoping to make wee oscars race night.
Good night pat
Keep the faith
Interesting that currently there are no pleas/ discussions for a; CB/ GK/ Striker etc in the January Window.
The scouting system has proved to be most fruitful these past 2 years – kudos to John Parks and his team (would be keen to hear that he was the recipient of a new contract).
Reckon he should be given a medium to long-term brief to find the following:
Medium-term: find a Hooper type/ cost player by August 2013 – cause I doubt he will stay if subject to a £8M+ bid.
Long-term and most important: within the next 18-24 months – find a Sammi-type replacement – the day will come when we will need to replace him for whatever reason (pace/ or his time to go home).
Report from Camp Nou: FC Barcelona & Celtic FC – A special relationship
“Where yah going?” a curious Celtic lad
asks; two of his friends have just
crossed the street even if Camp Nou is in
another direction. His mate looks back
and answers “Buying a Catalunya flag!”
like it was the most obvious thing. Later
as the Barça hymn starts at the Camp
Nou, looking up at the Celtic fans in the
top of the stadium quite a few Catalan
flags can be seen, at least over 10 of
them. While looking down at the Barça
fans an Irish flag can be seen as well.
This is without a doubt a meeting
between two clubs that seem to have a
pretty good relationship. Before the
game has started it’s not difficult to
understand that irrespective of the
outcome on that green pitch tonight, the
love between these two groups of fans
will prevail.
In a night where a thrilling game took
place at the Camp Nou between a
fantastic defensive side in Celtic and an
as always offensive Barcelona, there
were several things to observe off the
pitch as well, in the stands, on the street,
and in the metro. As I walked towards
the green line at the Catalunya metro
station, I soon found myself totally
surrounded by Celtic fans. Waiting for
the train to arrive, more and more Celtic
supporters gathered around, all of them
with a beer in the hand and all of them
singing. Entering the metro, the singing
got louder, the jumping started and so
did the “party”.
To start with, the Catalans around
looked a bit alarmed but that would
soon change to smiles all around as they
started to enjoy the “show” in the metro.
All of this gave me flashbacks to
another train, an older one in Poland.
The only difference was that then it was
Irish fans instead of Celtic ones but the
rest was more or less the same. Just as
in Poland, where the Irish wanted to
make everyone support Ireland by
putting their Irish wigs and hats on your
head, the Celtic fans tried their best to
get some new fellow fans as well. As
two mothers and their kids, fresh out of
a football match entered the metro, the
Celtic lads greeted them. The boys were
both dressed in green and white match
clothes, not Celtic’s, but their local
club’s. They didn’t seem to speak any
English and the Celtic fellows knew no
Spanish, but they still found a way to
communicate. One of the Celtic
supporters, a middle-aged
man, couldn’t resist handing over his
Celtic scarf to one of the boys. Another
Celtic supporter followed suit and gave
his Celtic scarf to the other boy. One of
the mothers divulged that they
supported Barcelona. Soon pictures were
taken with their new found friends, and
as the boys left the metro with their
moms and huge smiles on their faces,
the Celtic fans screamed after them
“Don’t forget.. GLASGOW CELTIC ”.
I’m sure those two boys will never
forget this event and had gotten
themselves another favourite team.
Walking my way to Camp Nou, I finally
saw some Barça fans among all those
green and white shirts. Barça would
obviously have more fans at Camp Nou
this evening but after following this
team for over eight years, I’ve never
seen as many away fans at Camp Nou
as I saw this evening with a huge
contingent of Celtic supporters making
for an incredible view.
On the pitch, the two teams with great
history together on the stands as well as
on the pitch walked out. It was Celtic’s
fifth visit to Camp Nou with the first
coming long back in 1964 when Barça
won 3-1, making this the win with the
biggest margin at home over Celtic.
Since then the Scots have come back to
draw 0-0 in 2003, 1-1 in 2004 and lose 1-0
in 2008 after a goal from Xavi. In other
words, the games between these two
sides at the Camp Nou, have always
been pretty even (though Celtic has
never managed a win) and so would this
evenings game also turn out to be. With
Barça taking control over the game
from the very start creating good
chances early on it would be Celtic who
took the lead, an own goal from
Mascherano (credited to Samaras)
showed once again the problems
Barcelona are suffering in defence.
Barça, however, who have lost to a
Scottish club at Camp Nou only once, 2-1
against Dundee United back in 1987, had
other plans. Young defender Marc
Bartra managed to impress on the
opportunity given to him and his strong
performance may have been one of the
factors we came away with a victory.
Another beast on the pitch was Celtic
keeper Forster who time after time stood
between Barça and the goal. A great
finish from Iniesta in the first half and a
late late winner from Jordi Alba in extra
time in the second half saw Camp Nou
explode and Barça leaving the pitch
victorious. Once again, Barça
demonstrated what has come to be their
strength this year – the mentality. Barça
has lately gone from being the Manita
team to become the Remuntada team.
As noted before, it’s not only the
football, the fantastic comeback, the late
goal, etc. that I’ll take with me from
tonight’s game. I shall also remember
the atmosphere and the fans. One may
wonder why two clubs which play such
different styles of football have so much
mutual respect and love for each other.
Xavi summed it up pretty well: “Celtic,
like Barcelona are more than a football
club. Our clubs are a symbol of culture
and community that has not always been
made welcome in their respective
countries.”
Walking home from Camp Nou, I saw
more of this special relationship. There
was a little kid walking in front of me,
he was wearing a Messi shirt and waved
a Catalan flag. Next to him walked what
I assumed was his dad, wearing a Celtic
shirt. Soon I spotted some guys wearing
Scottish kilts, that and Barça shirts.
Charlie Hegarty, an Irish Celtic fan who
travelled to Barcelona to attend the
game told me about how he and his
mates drinking some Estrella at a little
cafe outside the stadium, had been
singing their songs when about 20 Barça
fans joined in and sang their songs and
later even joined in singing the Celtic
songs. Seeing this and hearing even
more about it makes me incredibly
happy because this is exactly what I
believe football should be all about.
But where does this love between this
two clubs really come from, can it have
to do with one specific player in Henrik
Larsson? Who played for both clubs and
is enormously loved by both, even
tonight the Celtic supporters were
singing about Larsson, the king of kings,
although he retired in 2009 and left
Celtic already in 2004. Charlie agree that
Larsson had a big impact on the clubs’
relationship: “I would think he is the
major reason. Plus, that Catalan fans are
genuinely nice people and make us feel
welcome here..” Although some other
Celtic fans implied that the relationship
was built way back before Larsson even
though his presence have helped. “We
have the same values. We are both more
than a club” says one while Chris Wedlock
says “A love for not only the game of
football but both clubs are built on the
shoulders of their fans. Love, respect and
heart. ”
Another question that might pop up in
your head is why did so many Celtic
fans this evening decide to wear Catalan
flags? One might believe it could have
to do with Scotland also wanting
independence, however as Charlie
explained to me, it was actually mostly
the Irish Celtic fans who wore the
Catalan flags. “ All of the Catalans want
independence, not all Scots do. It would
more be us Irish who see it from the
Catalan’s point of view given our history. I
wore a Catalan flag tonight and I will
store it away for the 7th November. ”
I asked Charlie if this special
relationship also makes him a Barça
supporter, when Celtic isn’t playing
them that is. Although he says that there
is only one team for him and it’s been
Celtic since birth, he did admit that “I do
follow Barça since mid-90′s. Rivaldo was
the man back then, but Sir Bobby signing
Ronaldo was immense. And I love seeing
Barça turn Real over! ”
When I was in Poland, in the train
returning back after Spain trashed
Ireland 4-0, the Irish would not stop
singing. Losing didn’t mean they would
stop. It was a bit of the same tonight,
Barça won 2-1 after a goal in the last
minute. Most supporters would be
furious losing like that, not Celtics, they
kept the great smile, kept on intervening
with the Barça fans and kept on singing.
What was shown tonight at Camp Nou
was a thrilling Champions League game
but also a perfect example from Barça
and Celtic fans on how football fans
should be. Everything built on Love,
Respect, Heart!
Images are from Charlie Hegarty as well
as Alexandra’s own. Follow her on twitter:
@AlexandraJonson
praecepta
23:11 on
24 October, 2012
Long-term and most important: within the next 18-24 months – find a Sammi-type replacement – the day will come when we will need to replace him for whatever reason (pace/ or his time to go home).
A very,very good point to make.
Sipsini
I get home on the friday afternoon… Will be jet lagged out my nut so probs driving at oscars night.
Get my e mail address from paul67
Out of context? wtf!
“As we have previously stated, Duff and Phelps maintains that our conduct of the Rangers administration was carried out to the highest professional standards. “We do not respond to information that is taken out of context, as we believe is the case in the BBC story. “We welcome the opportunity to review a complete copy of the
information that the BBC references in its story.”
Wee Oscar looking good in his Phillies cap.
http://imageshack.us/a/img3/8319/imageprx.jpg
MWD
praecepta
I know it’s early days, but I think we have a ready made replacement for Sammi in Lassad.
We have him on a 3 year deal, given time I think he may well work out for us, and as he cost nada, if he doesn’t I wish him well.
Invercelt
22:55 on 24 October, 2012
‘Ernie @ 18.02,
Thanks for the link: it doesn’t contradict a word that I wrote.’
The bookies have the same opinion about the outcome of the referendum as I do.
You have a different opinion.
THE EXILED TIM
23:22 on
24 October, 2012
Thats a bold statement, save it for this time next year, so you can bite me back but so far not convinced!!!
Praecepta,
Re the pending transfer window.
I still think we need to look at the forward line.
If Hoops gets injured, we lack cover especially as it looks like Sammy will be out for a while, , Stokes is also injured, and we need to nurture Tony Watt.
I don’t want to hastily judge our two new forwards, but , neither has scored, and it is now close to November. I know that Miku comes with a decent reputation, but , my experience suggests that successful strikers at Celtic , tend to lay down early markers with goals in the first or second games, whilst in other cases like Brozek , Bangaru , the wait goes on.
I thought it was significant last night that Forest came on before Miku. Whilst Forest has more pace, I would suggest that bringing on Miku would , in theory , be less of a disruption to the gameplan? The fact that NL twice overlooked him ( vis a vis Commons) suggests IMHO that NL either has doubts , or hasn’t seen enough ?
Heard someone mention Davie Provan at the end of ssb. Emdae know what it was about?
prestonpans bhoys
It may be, but take the Greek god, we signed him Jan 2008, it took him 3 years to be accepted by the majority of supporters, I heard quite a few on his back last night, and that was after his goal.
I am amazed at what some folk expect.
Lenny obviously trusts JP, and I think give time, Lenny will transform our North African bhoy into a hero.
I think Lenny should have put Miku on last night, it was made for him imo.
THE EXILED TIM
23:31 on
24 October, 2012
I think Lenny should have put Miku on last night, it was made for him imo.
That was the conclusion for the bhoys today at work, I didn’t see it but I did see our Greek god as someone special unlike others for a number of years.
Hopefully I’m wrong this time and your estimation of Miku is right.
Jude : Heard a bit out driving. A few tims were on getting on their case about provan’s commentary last night and other celtic games. They felt he was always anti celtic.
FOI response from Strathclyde Police proves Sevco lie, Police say attendances lower http://t.co/XmtoujZr see KDS
TET
You might be right – was sorry to see him get injured pre-CL game – he might have offered a bit of relief as a direct replacement for Sammi.
We are entering interesting times – IMO it’s almost certain we will be doing a Ki-type sell-on annually (despite the opportunity to qualify for the CL).
The trick will be to introduce a few youngsters (like Tony Watt); Dylan, Philip Tw etc whilst unearthing another few gems such as; V67, Izzy, Mathews etc., etc.
The financial balance looks better than stable – the target has to be Pot 3 qualification as a minimum in Europe every year.
Just hope I am around long enough to enjoy. :-)
H!H!
TET,
hopefully catch up with the olftim soon.
Mark Daly even mentioning them caught my interest, could he be sniffing about another EBT payment
and oldtim :o)
prestonpans bhoys
When Sammi went off, I would have put Miku into Hoopers role, who was having a mare if the truth be told, he couldn’t control anything, I would have dropped Hooper back into the hole place, if Lenny wanted to keep him on, but as I live in a cave and know nothing about football…….
Just looking at it from what I saw, I also think if we had pushed up about 10 yards, we would have given their centre back more of a problem, who didn’t look comfortable when balls were put into the box.
Not slighting Lennys tactics, we were so, so close, but we left with nil points at the end of the day.
In all honesty, I would rather we lost he game 5-3 than they way we did.
But hey…..
THE EXILED TIM
23:45 on
24 October, 2012
I know what you mean, last time I was there we lost a goal in 2 mins and were out. Would feel so gutted with that result and all that travel but hey thats what we do.
Hope we don’t have this coversation after Lisbon, what a bummer…
PS still don’t know if its the 19th or 20th we will be arriving.
right bed time night bhoys……….
Plenty more years left in Sammi at CP,I would try and get a playmaker in the midfield,the only position we don’t have filled.
praecepta
I feel the same as you.
The legs tonight are sore, climbing them stairs last night with all the walking, then the lift at the hotel not working, 28 flights of stairs at 2 in the morning after everything had me in bits.
A couple of seasons of CL money should sort things, along with the sale of a player each season and we should be looking ok for the forseeable.
Maybe when the hun go pop again, we will have an out to more riches, and then we will see who can rule europe, we might not be around to see it, but it will happen mi amigo.
We are this good living within our very meagre means, I dream of what it would be like if we really had a few bob to spend.
…………………………
canamalar
You wouldn’t know what MD knows, I would imagine he has a few things that he can’t reveal, yet…..
CW singing as well, something is going down.
Jockeying for position, who will blink first ???