Photo: Vagelis Georgariou biglens.co.uk
We’ve often discussed that the difference between success and failure at Champions League level more often than comes down to which team makes mistakes. In the group stages Celtic were 31st out of 32 teams for the amount of possession they had, and for the number of chances they created, but they were immaculately drilled and progressed while more creative teams failed.
Cluj had less possession and chances than Celtic but also know the route to effective football, finishing on 10 points and being denied qualification for the knock out stage on goal difference.
Against Juventus, home and away, things changed. Defenders twice jumped for balls they couldn’t reach, instead of turning and standing their ground. Twice players were dispossessed inside their own half instead of getting rid of the ball early. These moments led to four of Juventus’ five goals and decided the tie. By contrast, Celtic enjoyed the bulk of possession and chances, home and away, against the Italian champions.
What are the lessons have been learned in our Champions League games?
Xavi has learned not to try to control a clearance from Fraser Forster at chest height. Spartak’s Insaurralde will know to keep his eye on the ball while clearing the ball when last man while Suchy will know not to clatter into strikers inside his own box.
No Celtic player made a single mistake inside his own half in either of the home games against Barcelona and Spartak and as a result, both games were won.
Our players’ normal mode of play, week-in-week-out, is the intercept passes, not cautiously move to a covering position. They also hold onto the ball and take a moment before releasing, activities which don’t often lead to a goal being conceded within seconds, but Champions League football is stunningly different than the domestic variety.
The most important lesson from our Champions League campaign is that Celtic are one of the most effective teams in Europe. We can create goals and defend successfully against the best on the Continent. We will look back on this campaign as the one which put us back on the map, and we’ll look back on the Juventus games as an important stage in our development.
The strategy is working; same again please.
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quonno
We played at fir park earlier in the season with a saturday 3pm ko,this was the first time it had occured for a number of years.
HH
ROW Z – Let Celtic Flourish By The Cleansing Of The ‘Den!
I didn`t think SKY had an SFL deal? SPL yes.
row z – let celtic flourish by the cleansing of the ‘den!
19:51 on 7 March, 2013
Not going to happen
RowZ That was always my fear. However I think the SPL must know it would be a bridge too far. On the back of the Nimmo decision, I would expect a total Boycott if they tried to fast track the unmentionables.
!!bada bing!,
Thomond Park capacity, 26,500.
quonno
19:38 on
7 March, 2013
I walked into that pub many years ago… and walked out again!
Over the last 50 years how many top Irish-born players have starred for Celtic?
Packie Bonner.
Roy Keane – a very short-lived swansong when he was past his best.
Robbie Keane – a six month loan deal.
Up until a few years ago Celtic’s scouting network in Ireland was almost non-existent, and has only recently taken on a new impetus largely due to the fact that we have an Irish manager.
HH!!
corkcelt
19:34 on
7 March, 2013
I don’t disagree at all saltires. The EPL with its saturation coverage has captured the bulk of the Irish Support and yes with the vast majority here Celtic is their “second” Club. Guys like me and plenty of others are doing our very best to promote Celtic, I have organised a number of trips bringing an average of 40/50 lads to Celtic Park. Most of them EPL fans who wanted to go for the craic, proud to say that a solid few became sold on Celtic and are now committed fans. A competitive game over here would give a huge boost to those of us trying to promote Celtic here and help take back ground lost to the EPL.
——–
Yes- some of the best Celts I have ever met are from Dublin & Cork and most guys will name some from every other County who are solid Celts. I sat in front of a guy from Cork at the game last night. His wife was sitting about 4 rows behind him. We were all in 214 with the Juve fans who stood and applauded the Celtic fans for their astonishing and sustained support on 70 mins. The Juve fan sitting beside me said it was ” fantastic sound” his wife/partner said “beautiful fans” as she continued filming them. The Juve fans were genuinely excited about what our bhoys see doing in 210/211/111 and adjacent sections and I saw them in a different light from the last time I met them in early 80’s
Anyway, my point is that I doubt that Bhoy from Cork and his missus consider Celts to be their 2nd team. It would be nice to know they were inspired by your evangelical mission in the Rebel County.
HH
Don`t know if this has already been mentioned ( From BBC site):
” London Welsh have been deducted five points and fined £15,000 for fielding ineligible player Tyson Keats. ”
Considering they only had 22 points, 5 is significant and places them bottom of their League.
JJ
I am certainly not going to cry over it and I am not one for banning but it is a very sad day when the phrase “plastic paddy” gets a pass on a Celtic site.
Black burning shame on those that use it.
jmccormack
the proposal is to have one body going forward. The 12 12 18. My point is Sky are active in the discussion even though they are not a member of either SPL or SFL. SKY are not accepting the 12 12 18 with zombies fc in 18.
Good source. I’m merely passing on for wider understanding at this point. Threats of full withdrawal are being made by sky. Demands for ‘old firm’ football to be returned or they’re oot.
hh
quonno,
I have been on the Kop when they sang the Sash. But that was a lifetime ago. You’ll find plenty of Liverpool supporters who have a soft spot for Celtic, just like plenty of Evertonians, such as Wayne Rooney. Sectarianism in Liverpool is a thing of the past, thank God.
we done good
T3-Thanks,worth a thought.
ROW Z-Wouldn’t surprise me,don’t think Celtic PLC would be too upset either.
Spurs v inter might be good. On English itv. Strange camera angle, very low.
Surely B.T would become an interested party if sky pull out..isnt one of our new directors from bt?? Not blantye tim ofcourse
Interesting to read comments re Dublin and Celtic. Any time I’ve been in Dublin I’ve never had too much difficulty in finding the Celtic match if we are playing though tends to be on the wee telly. Also recall being over to that city the weekend Ireland beat Italy and one of my two mates- who is from Lisburn – took a surprising amount of stick for wearing the Hoops. Not banter either. When I was in Sydney I recall being in PJ O’Briens watching an EPL game and being asked whom I supported I replied Celtic to which I received in all seriousness a further question “Ah but who do you really support” obviously meaning Man U or Liverpool.
But also when I was in Australia I met an awful lot of Celtic fans who were originally from Dublin and in Seville I travelled from Madrid in the company of one of the Dublin supporters clubs on the bullet train. We sometimes overestimate our support in Ireland – even in the north- but there are in my experience plenty of Irish people who support us.
Jimbo
It would need to be a top league of over 30 teams for sevco to make it. Suck it up sky.
Bale scores again Spurs 1-0 v Inter ITV now
setting free the bears
Sadly a regular occurrence on here now from certain posters…
taggsybhoy , you around ?
Top drawer site this, always worth a read
http://www.tictactic.co.uk/
Tallybhoy,
Over the last 50 years, how many top Irish-born players have starred for Ireland?
Embdee think..
G.Bale is your thinking Welshmen’s Henrik!
Always wonder why Spurs are so highly regarded in the media in England. They get so much air time and press coverage.
They are regarded as a big team by the London press at least. They have a crowd capacity of 36, 000. They have not win the league in 50 years and won the Uefa cup three times.
As I write this they gone one nil up against Inter.
Zonal Marking Celtic Style 2013 Stats:
14 games
52 corners conceded
0 goals conceded
Quite amazing footage of the celtic fans just as Juve score the second goal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6OUw3rCprA&feature=player_embedded
Bale booked for diving.
Never???
So Sky are telling the clubs that there’s no deal without the newhuns?
Magic.
Tell them to GTF and take their bullying tactics elsewhere.
Cancel SKY,keep your box.
Isolate it it TOTALLY from any power or signal the day before the cut-off date.
Switch it back on three days later,do NOT connect a phone line to it.
Anytime you see a warning on screen-eg,Insert Viewing Card,isolate it immediately.
Chap I knew……. had it for bunce for 18 months doing this till he fell asleep one night wi it switched on.
see you people running down efe ambrose don’t worry liverpool or any other club won’t be asking you for your opinion about ambrose or any other players
I’d be happy with sky doing one. CFC might be less bothered since amounts are marginal but the other SPL clubs see it as a main revenue stream.
hh
Spurs destroying inter. 2-0 20mins gone
I’m sure Sky, BT, SPL, SFA would love to have SevCo bumped up a league or two.
The simple fact is, the vast majority of SPL clubs fans won’t accept it. There would be a mass boycott of SB’s, as was threatened last summer when they tried it on then.
They will try their hardest but it won’t be allowed to happen. The fans will save the Scottish game once again.
If Sky break existing contract,Celtic could set up their own TV Deal,no show without punch.
notthebus
20:12 on
He always has a good tactical breakdown of the games enjoyed reading that, I thought Juve’s defender Barzaghli was the man of the two matches ” They shall not pass”
I suppose sky cant afford to ignore 5 billion fan base.
Danny La Rue was Irish and was a big fan.