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.
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thetimrieper
I agree, problem is though, if we keep doing that and don’t manage to hold on to the better ones for any length of time, we will only attain a level that we wont pass.
It’s a dilema.
But hopefully a few seasons of CL money will change that.
mncelt:
If we can keep together this team, this backroom team and this management team … oh wow. It gives me vertigo thinking of how high we might climb.
TET-The great point about the current team, is it has been assembled without CL money.
southside @ 15.38,
It’s possible to drive to Sicily (except for the bit across the water!) – maybe not too dear compared with the cost of driving from Naples. I do a near-equivalent journey every year.
James Forrest
It was only a couple of seasons ago JP was getting slaughtered on here and elsewhere.
I’m delighted his work is now really paying off, the two you mention are something special, and will be moved on for a huge profit.
Bada bing
Can’t quote exact figures but I believe that the difference is substantial. Getting beyond the last 16 should surely mean that the pressure to sell players on is reduced markedly.
Fantastic effort from the bhoys last night.
Iwas on 2-10 shift, new it was 1-0 us, was buzzing.
Came home watched highlights, dissapointed but still buzzing.
Great effort from all our staff.
Big mention to all our fhans, what fine ambassadors you are.
All of you take a bow.
As a matter of interest, how many fhans did go?
Having seen his hun burd at close quarters, and knowing how bitter she is, it came as no surprise to hear Durham talk total gash re: our tactics.
An out and out tadger of a man.
A man I would gladly boot right in the staines.
brimmer
!!Bada Bing!!
Prudence, something many of us were not happy about a year or two ago, but…….it’s prevailed in the end.
Maybe the CL money will enable us to offer some of the better players better deals, and if they do move on, we get better money for them when they do go.
All that money spent in the summer has not improved Zenit
What a very average side they are
Superb riposte!
Brian McNally @McNallyMirror
RT @tinyallycatg5:You could write what Durham knows about football and tactics on the back of a stamp and leave room for his name & address
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Similarly to the UEFA Champions League, the prize money received by the clubs is divided into fixed payments based on participation and results, and variable amounts that depend of the value of their TV market.
A group stage participation in the Europa League nets €640,000, with a €60,000 bonus per group match played. A victory in the group pays €140,000 and a draw €70,000. Reaching the knock-out matches triggers additional bonuses: €200,000 for the round of 32, €300,000 for the round of 16, €400,000 for the quarterfinals and €700,000 for the semifinals. The losing finalists receive €2 million and the champions get €3 million.
In comparison, any team that reaches the UEFA Champions League group stage will be paid €3.9 million.
According to UEFA the fixed payments for the 2010/2011 UEFA Europa League season were as follows:
1st qualifying round: €90,000
2nd qualifying round: €90,000
3rd qualifying round: €90,000
Playoffs: €90,000
Group stage: €640,000
For each match in group stage: €60,000
Group match victory: €140,000
Group match draw: €70,000
Round of 32: €200,000
Round of 16: €300,000
Quarter-finals: €400,000
Semi-finals: €700,000
Losing Finalist: €2,000,000
Winning the Final: €3,000,000
-Lifted from ole Wiki/EWLM/EWTB.
Just watching SSN, the SPL Chief exec explaining the punishment given to Hearts for not paying players on time, a sixty day embargo on registering players.
Why it’s out with the transfer window, I know they could have signed unregistered players, but that isn’t likely, seems a non punishment to me, or am I missing something.
Mark Daly @markdaly2
Don’t miss Rep Scot at 6.30 tonight for new revelations about what RFC admins Duff & Phelps knew, including secretly recorded evidence.
“@tirnaog09: Barca Press: Celtic fans are an example of Civility, they have this ‘we are not like Rangers’ mentality’ Spot on there! http://t.co/oZKcxSVL”
Anyone want to translate the headline for me
Collected my 125 year anniversary top from the post office today.
My brother got it for me from the celtic shop and sent it down.
Wife said she didnt like it (shes a prod) she dislikes the big green cross.
I say’s well you aint wearing it are you and anyway’s i like it so there.
Looks like im in the spare room then .
hail hail.
The Europa League money is small beer compared to the ECL, we’ll jist need to win it for the glory.
Doctor Whatfor-Yeah think it’s a fair gap in money mate,but I think we could go far in EL,if that’s where we end up.HH
Mark Daly@markdaly2
Don’t miss Rep Scot at 6.30 tonight for new revelations about what RFC admins Duff & Phelps knew, including secretly recorded evidence.
Mark Daly article on the huns tonight Reporting Scotland BBC1 @6.30,secretly recorded evidence against Duff and Duffer seemingly.
Dontbrattbakkinanger
17:24 on 24 October, 2012
It’s not the players we need to keep, it’s the manager.
______________________________________________
I totally agree with that.
Neil is incredibly young but will have more experience than coaches 20 years older because of what he has been through. The goal was scored at the 18th minute last night. It’s a sign I tell ya. :))
Bada bing
Nae doubt!
newradbhoy
There were about about 5000 bhoys and ghirls in Barca last night apparently
HH
Ernie, Greenjedi,
Unlike Ernie, I don’t claim to know what everyone else thinks or even what a lot of nats are thinking – but I suspect that Cameron would like the referendum vote to produce a “yes” as he’s more interested in hanging on to power than keeping the UK together. Of course, it’s absurd to make assumptions about the result at present. BTW, someone repeated the old smear that “the SNP gave us Thatcher in 1979” a few days ago: nonsense – the electorate did it.
!!Bada Bing!!
17:50 on 24 October, 2012
‘Mark Daly article on the huns tonight Reporting Scotland BBC1 @6.30,secretly recorded evidence against Duff and Duffer seemingly.’
At the moment any revelations that are about anyone other than Murray or Greene are a distraction.
Manic day after a mental night, and haven’t been able to read through all of the comments since the game ended but here’s my tuppence worth…
I thought the players and the manager were inspiring. A callow cadre of talented ingenues who played a mature, well conceived, well executed game against an extraordinary football team. It was awesome.
The performances of Forster, the back 4 and the guys who worked the middle of the park were all remarkable. The tenacity, concentration and bloody-mindedness to stay in the game was as gutsy a performance as I’ve seen in sport.
The lessons…
Losing Sammi was a huge blow to the plan. That said, I thought Miku would have played the point man more effectively than Hoops once Sammi went off, while Hooper will be hugely disappointed that his efforts during the game didn’t worry Barca at any point.
Similarly when Broony went off, I thought perhaps Kayal was a better option than Commons.
Given the performance of the defence all night, I was thankful none of them were exposed at the winner. Young Forrest is a hugely talented player, but he perhaps will reflect in the weeks ahead that at the very top end of football, there is no substitute for ruthlessness. I dearly hope he learns this lesson and emerges as an elite player.
And perhaps that will be the legacy fro this game: Learning. This is as talented a group of players as I have ever known at Celtic, which is from the early 70s. If they can learn what it takes to compete with and emulate the best, we are in for a banquet.
Greenjedi.
It’s possibly a hereditary peerage.
Iq levels are not taken into account only blood and greed.hh
Mark Daly says he has more dirt on Duff and co. on Reporting Scotland tonight.
ernie-I think all roads meet together inc wee Craigy Bhoy,anything to scupper the share issue is good imo.
Battered Bunnet
Slight disagreement here. If Kayal had been sharper and more aware then he could have prevented the cross from coming in. No cross then there would have been no goal. Don’t think it’s entirely fair on young Forrest. Just saying.
Invercelt
17:55 on 24 October, 2012
http://www.oddschecker.com/specials/politics-and-election/scottish-independence/referendum-outcome
!!Bada Bing!!
17:59 on
24 October, 2012
ernie-I think all roads meet together inc wee Craigy Bhoy,anything to scupper the share issue is good imo.
Agree All roads in this farce do meet………….the truth is never a distraction
A little bit of hidden camera footage is whats been missing from the show so far.
The denial will probably still come from whoever is implicated and the huns will argue that it was a fenian conspiracy but for everyone else the popcorn may be out again:)
HH
Evening Bhoys,
Sorry to repost from last night, but can somebody please post a link to pictures from the quiz night? The captain of the team who won by a country mile (not) Zombieheadhunter, is keen to see them and to share with the still-celebrating team members. In fact, some of them were still celebrating too much last night!
Thanks.
HH
Ten Men Won The League
Re. Zenit St. Petersburg
After that deal that cost them 100 m euros some footballers play against the coach and the club. Couple of players relegated to the second squad. They wanted new better contracts.
Whitedohhunch…
Where were you last night? Popped down for a beer, but you must have been out with yer fancy pals from Blantyre… Fancy a shandy at the weekend?
HH
!!bada bing!!
17:32 on 24 October, 2012
Mr Singh’s in Elderslie Street doing very hot stuff just now,building well alight seemingly.
———
Good old Sati Singh, box holder at Sevco and a former club down Govan way. Wonder if its insured?
SuspiciousmindsCSC
Oh what a web of lies Duff and Phelps weave to deceive
Looks like the lid is just about to blow off the adminstrators credibility which begs the question where are Ticketus in all this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-20074388