Efe Ambrose looked a tad nervous at the start of last night’s game. He wasn’t the only one. Adam Matthews was pressed into an early return from injury, a forced change, but Celtic’s decision to deploy a more adventurous line-up than in previous encounters with Barcelona was by choice.
The result was 36% possession, heady heights compared to last season’s win and narrow defeat, but oh what a price. When Barca went 4-0 up early in the second half I suggested “This could be our record defeat”. My Dad said “Artmedia was only one more than this”. I meant THE record defeat, not the record European defeat. We were a few bounces of the ball away.
Results like this are always possible at this level if the game plan is wrong. In the minutes before kick off on Champions League nights, when the stomach knots with tension, I tell myself there is no shame in defeat, but “let’s make sure it’s not 3-0 again”. This must always be the priority. There seems to be a couple of rules:
If we defend the 18 yard line, in numbers, we have a chance of winning Champions League games, but beauty will very much be in the eye of the beholder.
If we chase vanity marks, as we did at home to Juventus and Milan, and away to Barcelona, we’ll lose heavily.
Last season’s Champions League campaign was a textbook lesson on how pot 4 teams from weak leagues should tackle the tournament. Spartak Moscow had more possession at Celtic Park than Barcelona had at the Camp Nou last night, but Celtic won both games against the Russians. There is a shout out loud lesson here.
Between now and the beginning of the next European campaign we have a great opportunity to build upon the type of football we saw in the last two domestic games. If we do this well, we can prepare for next season with a more mature model, but venues like the Camp Nou should only see our bedrock tactics for the foreseeable future.
The Celtic Graves Society are commemorating the life of Peter Scarff, who died of TB 80 years ago this week at the age of 25. Peter, a teammate of John Thomson and Jimmy McGrory, scored 54 goals in 112 games for Celtic before contracting his fatal illness at 23. A short service will be held at Peter’s grave in Kilbarchan Cemetery at 11:30 this Saturday, 14 December. You are all welcome.
There’s a Celtic shirt signed by the first team squad available for auction on ebay in aid of the Wellburn Care Home in Dundee, run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. It’s currently going for a song, so get there and fill your boots.
“The centre of Astana very much had a western feel- vibrant, affluent with a splattering of large video screens on the buildings advertising top of the range cars to luxury apartments. With skyscraper office blocks and top-end hotels with marble kerbstones, this very much is one side of Asia.
“The stadium itself looked fairly new, the shape of it reminded me of Tyncastle, thankfully we were made welcome here though!”
From a trip to Kazakhstan page 136 of the 2014 CQN Annual, available here:
Sean Fallon, Celtic’s Iron Man:
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While I agree with paul67 comments about awefull tactics in the Spain
It is not really correct to criticise Neil without also criticise PL
It was PL that ensured that we had Pukki and not a goal scorer
It was PL who forced through the sale of Vic with out giving Neil any of the funds from Vic
Our champions league performances this year are purely down to PL
Sydney Tim 8:10
A Hun post if ever I saw one.
No offence to anyone on here but to get a CQN fix, I’d put the philvisreturns name in the find box and quick scroll through all the comments, If I’d had a crap day or even a mediocre day. I knew philvis would make me laugh.
Shocking drop by England.
Just in to say….
I’m not the most ‘pivvy’ Cellic fan going around these parts but, I can sense a climate of ‘fear’ on the blog from some sage fholks ?
I can detect that – some sort of own-goal has been scored by some elevated Celtic supporters – what with their almost insatiable consumation of all things Sevco ?
Meanwhile, back at the ranch….ole pistol Pete has been buying some ‘pups’ that don’t seem to have the pedigree stated on the tin. But hey….what does it matter….when the huns are died ?
Well…if anything, I think that the vast, vast, vast majority of Timdom have fallen for this…the huns are died stuff and , ye know what ? I think that it’s the Cellic, or rather the remnants of the Cellic that remain today…that have gone back the way ? imo
Ye see…..I think that it’s almost like the storyline out of ‘Trading Places’ were the main two movers n shakers are – DD n SDM and, the little or, not so little scam is this…Rankers go doon the divisions and have ‘The’ inserted into their name on a piece of paper that will – forever be locked away in some we masonic safe @Hampdump’s offices, never to be seen by the pulic eye.
The huns will go doon the divisions for 3 years, missing out on 3 years CL money pot = what ? £45 – 60 million ? All to avoid a possible bill of what ? £140 million ?
Aye – the huns are the mugs alright, eh ?
Meanwhile – The Cellic are a shambles borne out of the fiscal policy of – buy cheap(preferably foriegn?) and kid the mugs(fans) on that, the recruitment team at CP are the king predators when it comes to ‘diamonds in the rough’ ?
Well, when the ‘diamonds’ become scarce buy dearer ‘diamonds’ – preferably foreign and, that’ll dae for the brainwashed-sheep who’ll turn-up no matter who wears the Hoops – just as long as they can laugh at Rangers !!!
Well, ye see….the point has been reached were the fans withoot the blindfolds can see that – the ‘diamonds in the rough’ policy has dried up.
The fact that a quality / fitness / auditor was brought in to ‘analyse’ the ensuing mess and, was hush-hushed oot the door after delivering his findings / solution…should have fholk asking – Charlotte to reveal what and who demanded the sacking / removal of Jim McGinness from Celtic ?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I can’t prove it but – I reckon someone or, persons are onto a nice little earner from Celtic fans money.
Magnifique Hookey Street – CSC
Hail Hail – Take Care Tims – Off oot.
Tony you are indeed a lowlife criticising Celtic fans for wanting better
A low life
KevJungle,
Whit can I say? You watching the cricket too?
Keep fighting the establishment.
The Truth will Set Everyone Free.
Hey celts r just fkn awsome no long speech this time
up like a bird
04:34 on 13 December, 2013
If only some of our supporters would completely ignore the ‘Gutter Press’ ……and support Neil and the Club to the hilt…….we have had a fantastic run under NFL…..and no more oldco …..WHAT IS NOT TO LIKE…….HH
kevjungle
08:15 on 13 December, 2013
You’re KOJO, ya wee shoite….hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
UP LIKE A BIRD….
Haven’t read back but please accept my warm welcome aboard.
Ermmmmmm…..Lets get it out the way very quick then.
You’re not a Currant Bun?
Angry? Disappointed? Confused?
Maybees Aye….
Maybees Naw.
So said King Kenny Solomon….
Particularly with Paul67 header… ‘Vanity Tactics’….
Cannot help think he is correct, but only in respect to the header describing the recent past of the PLC. No doubt that it is a tangible variable.
Tonight a friend invited me along to the Perfect Tonic…My visit to the Ed Sullivan Theater to see (Glenn Hansard and His Team of Musical Artists put on) a Show……
Perspective…
Watch It….
Google it….
CBS.Org. Glenn Hansard. .
Or immediately enjoy the same place, the same singer, during a very significant year for Celtic, not so long ago….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H1kM-TfJdA
Too tired to comment further right now …..
Still…
Very unusual times.
Very.
ryecatcher
08:28 on 13 December, 2013
Hold on now….he hasn’t passed my test yet….hahahahahahaha
Sydney Tim
Just attention seeking …always wanting a wee fight ….then will advise that your opinions are irrelevant to him
M6bhoy
One negative assumption after another
Leading to the sale of our only creative footballer …….
Brilliant …. Not
Whither the cash strapped scrofulous hillbillies the day?
dontbrattbakkinanger
08:42 on 13 December, 2013
Hahahahahahaha….a day nearer oblivion….!!!!!!!!
Praise the Lordfor the Cricket, and Mr Brad Haddin.
Dbbia
Not a barmy army man then ??
What did commons say ?
Proudbhoy
Go back a padre to Twist and Turns about 4-30
67HVN- their AGM [if it even takes place…] should be hillbilly mayhem de luxe.
No 1 Son of Struth said [ regarding current Board room ] ‘It’s not a popularity contest’
He’s not wrong.
it’s a scrofularity contest, with all kinds of world records to be broken.
PFAyr- baggy green brigade, since Lillee and Thompson were in their prime.
Haddin is now out, but he steadied the ole ship[ again].
….pfayr supports weeoscar
08:47 on 13 December, 2013
Proudbhoy
Go back a padre to Twist and Turns about 4-30
—
Cheers
Fair play to him. No one is asking club to splash stupid money.
Only good thing about bad champions league campagin is we might be able to keep lustig and van djik another season.
Big Georges Fan Club @ 00:39 on 13 December, 2013
I don’t detect the sense of entitlement you mention. I do however, detect a sense of disappointment amongst the support that the club is not fully exploiting the unique position it has at the moment and hoovering up domestic honours in what is increasingly a one-horse race. I’m struggling to recall a time when we’ve been beaten in so many domestic competitions in such a short period of time and not once by the huns.
This season, I expected (more fool more me) that the manager would learn from his many mistakes to take full advantage of the massive gulf that exists between his team and the rest in Scotland to knock up a domestic treble this season. He’d be the first person in the club’s history to be a treble winner as a player and a manager. The way Aberdeen played us at CP a few weeks ago, I’m no longer that confident that we will repeat last season’s double.
The CL qualifying rounds are no longer the shark-infested waters they once were since Platini introduced the champions route which makes it considerably easier for us to get to the group stage. This season, we couldn’t have faced easier opponents if we had chosen them ourselves and even then we struggled to get by the last two – Elfsborg and Karagandy.
When the CL group stage draw was made, my initial expectations, was that we were in with a decent chance of making the Europa League on the basis of what I knew of other teams in the group. After the performance in Milan, I dared to hope we could make the last 16 but expected we’d probably still battle it out with Ajax for third spot. To finish bottom of the group with seven fewer points than we garnered last season and with one rubber to go, fell some way below my expectations.
I’ve watched Celtic for over 50 years and can remember a few gubbings in my time – the 5-1 defeat to Dundee at Dens Park left a particularly nasty mental scar as did the afore-mentioned 4-1 cup final defeat to the Maryhill Magyars. The big difference between these and the Camp Nou drubbing was the attitude of the players. We got beat 6-1 but it could have so easily have been much much worse and many of the players appeared not to care that much. I genuinely think the home side felt sorry for our predicament and took their foot off the pedal after the sixth goal.
During NFL’s tenure as manager, the sloppy attitude of some of his players has been a worrying development in domestic games. To now see this creep into CL games and on the biggest stage we can operate on, is just downright unacceptable. If NFL can’t crack down on this (and I personally don’t think he can, based on his repeated failure to stop it domestically) then we need to look for someone else who can.
A Zombie body twitched yesterday and sent me a joke about our Barca result, he was advised that mibbees someday The Rangers will experience European football but in the meantime he can look forward to the Ramsden Cup. Back to silence again for them, lol
swat the zombie csc
HH
Sevco will lose ANOTHER 38k today and tomorrow and the next day and the next day after that.
But Heyho it doesn’t matter to their knuckle dragging fans,as they watch quality players destroy every team they have faced this season.
They have one half decent player who would get in a bottom half English Championship squad.
Can’t wait to see the furious bears when Lee Wallace gets punted in January for around 500k to a team like Blackburn or Bolton,to keep the lights on for about another month.
Or…….Another insolvency event on 18th December….just in time to cash in the assets prior to a never gonna happen AGM?
Sevco,the gift that just keeps giving and not just for Xmas,too.
ryecatcher
I know Lee Wallace. He does not want to go to England. He would sign for Celtic though.
LB
Morning all. Very bleak down here. Dark, wet and windy and it looks set to go downhill over the weekend.
Hope the game is still played tomorrow and that our manager has the team playing in the adventurous style of the last couple of Scottish matches.
Our Barca humping undoubtedly raised a sneer from the hordes
We will have the last laugh of the year …….their AGM should be amusing
For now ….back to it with a decent performance tomorrow
Hamiltontim
Sorry i,ve not had the chance to thank you earlier for your assistance with the tickets last week been very busy travelling and catching up at work .
You are total gentleman , oh and the grandweans loved there first away game ( they think its like that all the time) .This Celtic thing will never catch on !
HH
Good Morning fellow Celts well if the MSM are to be believed the Ghost wont be moving to Cardiff City as big Malky has other players in his sites in Scotland.I don’t think we should tear ourselves apart over our CL performance this season it was a real tough section.My concerns about Lennie are much nearer home and are our defeats in cup games with Morton at home being the latest worrying lack of performance I felt at the time to little was said about it if you think about it terms of players, salary,and fan base we are the big fish in Scotland and should at least be in every cup final.Lennie gets a fairly easy ride from the Celtic support due to his playing status at the club but I think the time has now come for us to be more objective about his managerial performance which at times has been rather poor maybe we should now be letting him know the honeymoon period is over. H.H.
M6bhoy….was also at that 5/1 hammering at Dens Park.Big Roy was the only one who put up a fight after the 4th goal that day.It was a big Tim (Jim Murphy) who destroyed us in that game.
Know what?……That game cost us the league to Fergie’s Aberdeen and gave him his first title of many.
Can’t stand the man but hey what a record he had after that.
Maybe owes much of it to being kick started by a very good Dundee team that day.
I distinctly remember a lack of fight from the Hoops which was unusual and unforgivable.
Sydney Tim
All you do is slag the board, NL. PL. are you in a panic because your teams AGM next week is going to be the biggest pantomime in Europe ?
Ledley can’t do any better than CFC ….if he wants to leave for cash …he knows where the door is
I’m not a fan ….posted missing too often …he plays well when the team are playing well….when it gets tough …hides
Pfayr
Honestly, you should read what you just posted there, lol, priceless.
Sevco losing 1.1 million a month….Yes a MONTH.
That’s a lot of bus tokens from down the back of a couch?
tonydonnelly. Sydney Tim is a Celtic supporter and has posted on the CQN blog for a fair old time I don’t allways agree with what he writes but he is entitled to his opinion.To suggest he is a hun is in my opinion one of the worst things you can say about a Celtic supporter. On this blog we don’t have to agree with each other but surely we can accept some people will not agree with us without resorting to slagging just my opinion mind. H.H.
KevJungle
08:15 on 13 December, 2013
Just in to say….
“..Meanwhile – The Cellic are a shambles borne out of the fiscal policy of – buy cheap(preferably foriegn?) and kid the mugs(fans) on that, the recruitment team at CP are the king predators when it comes to ‘diamonds in the rough’ ?”
But Kev, yesterday you stated that :
“To be specific – £5 million for Balde n Pukki or £650k for Russell ?
Ah mean, it’s no my money that is being wasted – some of my family’s though
that is their look-out – they have been warned often enough.”
So, yesterday you were telling us the problem is that Celtic spend too much money on foreign players and you would rather see us spending much, much less on a Scottish player. But today you;re saying that Celtic simply “spend cheaply” on foreign players.
Which is it?