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:
726 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- »
dontbrattbakkinanger
08:49 on 13 December, 2013
Interesting few days ahead………on another subject…….don’t know what all the fuss is about.. we humped Barca last season, they humped us this season……..simples…!!!!!
ryecatcher
09:39 on
13 December, 2013
Sevco losing 1.1 million a month….Yes a MONTH.
That’s a lot of bus tokens from down the back of a couch?
——————–
Hey everythings fine down govan way dontcha know!.msm said so-so thats good enough for me and kevJ..HH
Jungle Jim @ 07:52 on 13 December, 2013
See that’s the thing about assumptions. You can’t always provide tangible evidence but have to rely on gut instincts which in turn are based on experience and observations. Now the question was asked if Lennon put Commons up to say what he said to the STV. I say no. What you say?
natknow – supporting wee oscar
09:41 on 13 December, 2013
FGS…..DON’T ASK HIM TO THINK…..!!!!…….hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Joe filippis
Your opinion mate, my opinion is he NEVER has anything positive to say about us, walks like a duck?
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon, supporting WEE OSCAR..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
09:49 on 13 December, 2013
natknow – supporting wee oscar
09:41 on 13 December, 2013
FGS…..DON’T ASK HIM TO THINK…..!!!!…….hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Well, we had a conversation going yesterday. I’m just trying to understand what the root cause of his perpetual angst is regards Celtic.
#Dr.Jennifer Melfi CSC
ryecatcher @ 09:31 on 13 December, 2013
I was in a state of shock after the 5-1 defeat at Dens Park (we missed a penalty as well) but the scoreline slightly flattered the homeside who had ex-Celt (one-time next Kenny Dalglish)Peter Mackie in their line-up but no doubt they deserved their win. This was followed up by a 3-1 home defeat to Fergie’s Aberdeen which prompted jokes about Celtic’s new phone number chnaging to 5131. That victory was much more comprehensive with a certain G. Strachan running rings round our midfield. As I recall it was that win that allowed the dandy dons to leapfrog us to go top of the league which they didn’t relinquish.
Ghuys
Buying a star striker would be good , however in terms of getting to the holy grail, last 16 who knows. If the skill factor in the rest of the team is mediocre then it it easy for the opposition just to focus on nullifying our one or two of our ball players.
Last year Hooper never got a sniff against Juve ……..
Our engine room need in match conditions to move the ball much quicker with fewer touches rather than play a rigid 4 across the pitch where we get man marked ……..
Interesting to see if we can get back to our recent good league form tomorrow and really take the game by the scruff of the neck …. Improve our touch and pace.
Only consolation the other evening was that in glimpses young Biton looked promising.
HH
Ekbhoy
Good post mate, constructive , and no slagging, others should pay heed.
M6 Bhoy……
Remember the Aberdeen game after the Dundee disaster too.
Was at Paradise on the Wednesday night after Dens on the Saturday.
Wee Strachan was brilliant that night…..Absolutely brilliant.
So good he got attacked by a drunken feckwit who jumped out from the Jungle.
Know what?….The Orcs were so bad then we didn’t even see them as rivals….bit like now.
EKBhoy
10:03 on 13 December, 2013
Ghuys
Buying a star striker would be good , however in terms of getting to the holy grail, last 16 who knows. If the skill factor in the rest of the team is mediocre then it it easy for the opposition just to focus on nullifying our one or two of our ball players.
Last year Hooper never got a sniff against Juve ……..
Agree with all that. I posted yesterday that we could spend £50M on players (or a player) and we’d still be in the same position – top of the SPFL and out of the Champs League.
We might still be in the Cup though…
EK bhoy
Hooper missed a sitter in Turin
Pfayr…..
Hooper getting rave reviews, now he’s fit,in a below average Norwich side.
I had my doubts about him down here but now I am doubting my doubts.
DoubtingThomasCSC
The criticism of NL from so called fans here, calling for him to be replaced is a disgrace. Any team could lose 6-1 to barca- any team on the planet. If NL says some of the team failed to follow instructions, failed to show character, I believe him. He isn’t perfect but he is good.
His record stands up to scrutiny alongside any tic manager bar Stein.
However, never before in Europe has the gulf been as large between the haves and have nots. Yet at times we manage to bridge the gap.
I think the reasons for people on the site giving NL a hard time are because:
1- 6-1. Football fans are fickle and short termist. And it hurts.
2- He has spoke out against the behaviour of our Men Behind The Wire element, enraging Men behind The Wire element. Men Behind The Wire element sympathisers are way over-represented on this site.
3- He criticised fans on this site (i’m pretty certain) for over the top criticism of James Forrest. Rightly so. People scream for young players, yet young Scottish players always get it tighter from the fans than foreign players.
4- He called Paul 67 a ‘pseudo intellectual’, (I’m pretty certain) not long after Karangi game, which has naturally led to a more negative editorial for NL (vanity tactics???-what the hell is that meant to imply? Guy is sweating blood for CFC, not pretending he is manager of an expansive total football side. Is he not allowed to test his players against the best rather than park the bus anti-football (which we know we can do)?). I believe this has led to the forum to being more negative to him.
5- The forum is infiltrated with some Rangers fans, no shock there.
Not saying this just to wind everyone up. Think it is actually true.
What do people want? To win CL? Should we never lose to a smaller team? Maybe barca should have sacked manager and sold Messi using the same logic after losing to us last year. Football – tiny margins- luck-referees- hostage to chance. Sometimes just superior teams.
Is it NL’s fault players didn’t look ‘up for it?’ When I’m at work I am self motivated – I don’t need geed up by a manager every day.
This forum helped chase the street -wise Strachan out. Looks like some of you are going for it again. You’ll regret it.
Pfayr
I think that was his point, cough cough.
e=mc2
Most of them are Huns worried about there AGM next week, just come to get off on slagging anything positive about Tims, bless um.
Surely there is too much deadwood to start buying in January,whoever identified Bangura ,Balde,Pukki and Boerrigter would you trust them?Russell was available and would not have been a risk.I cringe when I hear the phrase work in progress,that should apply to our young players not guys you pay 1to2 million for.
e=mc2
10:15 on 13 December, 2013
‘Is it NL’s fault players didn’t look ‘up for it?’’
#####
Perhaps not for an individual player, but when the majority are involved then yes it’s the manager’s responsibility.
#####
‘When I’m at work I am self motivated – I don’t need geed up by a manager every day.’
###
For most people being able to do their job properly requires a combination of skill, experience and diligence. For some lines of work eg sport, inspiration is also required for people to perform to their best. That can’t always be self generated.
E=mc2
Can’t say I have suspected any posters on here of being Huns, recently.
Name and shame please?
ohits Go Oscar
09:28 on 13 December, 2013
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 !
——————
You’re welcome mate, any time that you’re looking again give me a shout and I’ll see if I can help.
The grand weans didn’t break any seats or let off smoke bombs perchance? :-)
E=mc2…..
Sorry question meant for Tony Donnelly.
This is Karma, pure and simple, Cosmic payback.
The Green Brigade Banner balls-up.
The Fir Park Flare and chair fiasco.
6-1.
Nothing’s gone right since they decided to demolish the ole school…
Ryecatcher
Defender of the Huns on CQN, LOL
Kojo I agree with you and everyone else own here that says NFL needs help.
But that should have been a condition when he and his rookie team were offered it in the first place!.
Trying to convince Lenny now could be a tad more difficult.
Big sean
Ryecatcher
My opinions I post in here, my thoughts on who are Huns in here will get the odd mention, depending on there posts, the main thing IS they know who they are, and that’s all that matters to me, right HUNS?
Ryecatcher. Yes I remember that that Aberdeen game. Big peter dropped that cross for strachan to tap in. Sad night
Took me about an hour to get in that night
Dontbrattbakkinanger
10:30
It wasn’t the school. Lenny stepped on a crack in the pavement last Thursday.
soukous. I have to agree we do have a lot of deadwood at the club but I don’t think there will be any clubs prepared to take them off our hands so we need to wait until there contracts run out so we are loseing money on poor purchases. H.H.
Tonydonnelly,
You really are a carnaptious old bassa,but I would probably like and have a laugh with your company over a beer strangely enough.Have a few mates just like you and enjoy healthy ‘debates’ with them.
But come on now…..be specific….Name and shame?
tonydonnelly67
did you grab a granny at your party :-))
bognorbhoy. I think hes still hungover he thinks hes on the follow follow forum lol.H.H.
DBBIA
You’ve nailed it there methinks!
Uld_skool_CSC
Happy Friday Celts!
Joe Philips Haircut
That is exactly the reason why my nome de blog has changed from ‘…Supporting Neil Lennon 100%..’ to ‘…Supporting neil Lennon 99.9%…’
:-)
MWD
Bognorbhoy
Naaaaa, I got Lilian Gished ;)
Joe Filippis Haircut
He seems quite chipper
tonydonnelly67
10:07 on 13 December, 2013
Ekbhoy
Good post mate, constructive , and no slagging, others should pay heed.
…………………………………………..
You don’t do irony, Tony, do you?
Blogs are for people with differing opinions
Even people with poor grammar , appalling spelling and non existent punctuation
Never mind those with entrenched views
Open house…..when it’s not it be ones pointless
Joe the haircut
You right, my heeds like a tor biler this mornin ;(