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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gerry123
Just as well, because we wouldn’t get a tenner for him.
PeterScarff
20:29 on
7 March, 2013
Danny La Rue was Irish and was a big fan-dancer.
There-corrected for you…….
ROW Z – Let Celtic Flourish By The Cleansing Of The ‘Den!
just checked, seems SKY do show that lot, I thought it was ESPN. Apologies. However SKY can go and get reamed. Their deal is very poor, we have reaised the profile this season. Others will take it up, BT , Al Jazeera perhaps?
I think Ambrose has had a decent start to his Celtic career but he’d be found out big time darn sarf. Just like Boumsong was.
Only my opinion of course.
row z – let celtic flourish by the cleansing of the ‘den!
That the feelers getting put out to see the reaction.
From reading on here and elsewhere the new huns will struggle staying alive if they don’t get up as soon as.
£20 million in the bank..p**h.
Even if they did have it would only sustain their existence for a couple of
seasons max.
The msm will probably run with the story in overdrive at the weekend if your source is reliable.
Nothing would surprise me anymore what the rancid cabal can do to manipulate the outcome of any dealings.
Sadly…:-(((
….. a team sponsored by adidas playing at the top level of european
football, a state of the art stadium and one of the wealthiest clubs
in the world with a turnover of a gazillion quid.
Someone mentioned a pub in Scarborough that had an oo mural on the window, was there in the summer with the weans. Standing outside eating ice cream and noticed it, looked in the window and surprise surprise, a place even I wouldn’t have a pint in.
the SKy scare stories are all part of the plan. Thye know the SPL board is a busted flush so they will be easy to bully. The current state of Hertz and Dunfermline just adds to the potion.
THETIMRIEPER
Well,when you put it like that,we’d be mad not to have them back!
I’ve got to be honest,I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the match whenever I’ve watched them this season.
Mind,it was just the once-against Dundee United…..
eldiegobhoy
20:32 on 7 March, 2013
I think Ambrose has had a decent start to his Celtic career but he’d be found out big time darn sarf. Just like Boumsong was.
Only my opinion of course.
……………..
Got to disagree there. He has come back from the African Nations Cup as a winner playing at right back. Voted into the best eleven.
Came back from that and has performed well in the SPL. Scori f a couple. May be is better at right back where he gets more time.
I think he can be a player for us.
Any way how is the sun on the Loch.
Was up a few weeks ago for my Mums birthday. Just an overnight stay at the Dumbain Farm. Lovely. Had a few pints in the DogHouse with family.
Afternoon all,
I see my home town has come in for quite a battering today. A bit unfair, I have to say.
I used to go watch games in Crumlin (the Submarine Bar) where they would have to close the doors an hour before kick off because the 1000+ capacity had been reached. I have had to go search for another bar to watch the game man a times because I was too late. The Submarine was fantastic…for games against the hun they would have a rebel band playing the party tunes. Great atmosphere.
I agree that RTE and the Irish MSM are totally infatuated by the EPL (I wonder how many jollies they go on to the see those games) and have derided Celtic and their own national league.
I think there are many reasons for the lack of, for the want of a better term, southern Irish support. The media is the obvious, but Celtic FC have to accept some blame too. There was a time that they would take their days off as a team to Ireland…golfing and the like ie seen to have a connection to the country.
I really do believe that Celtic FC/Plc have ignored the Irish for a long time, probably because they assume they will always be there for the club. The recent TV “Next Star” programme is the way to go. Play some friendlies against not just the big Euro clubs but also teams from the national league.
For what its worth, I have not supported any other team than Celtic for the last 30 years. I have zero interest in the over-rated and cash bloated EPL, nor are Celtic my ‘2nd’ team. I couldn’t even tell you who is leading the EPL. The only info I get about the EPL and games being played is from CQN…ironic, isn’t it?
Hail Hail
sipsini
The ‘slant’ to the club was ‘you saw the goodies on offer as part of reconstruction (here’s what you could have won) but might now not be possible because sky want ‘old firm’ now and might walk away………
so other league constructs being considered to keep sky on board….
told the club found this ‘amusing’……..
hh
For me, a game in Ireland would be a brilliant idea. I’m Scottish born and bred but Irish in spirit. I admire the masses of Irish fans that follow us everywhere. I would like to think I would have their dedication to the cause if I lived across the Irish Sea.
Anything that celebrates the Irish bond to the club and our glorious history littered by revered Irishmen is great.
Without the Irish and Brother Walfrid in particular their would be no Celtic.
God bless all here on this hallowed site.
Efe is in his first season with us.
Amongst those equally derided in their first season with us were Forster, Lustig, Matthews (dismissed as a project), Wilson, Wanyama (in his first 3 months with us when he was woeful in his debut and ineffective in the Killie 3:3 game) Scott Brown (headless chicken), Ledley (project), McCourt (project), Samaras (coward) and Twardzik (too light).
Amongst those praised in their first season were Juarez and Naylor.
Thank God we do not select the team by fan vote.
Maybe we should all contact Ian Livingston – the CEO of the BT Group and a Celtic Plc director since 2007.
In fact I think I will, and ask him his views on televising future Celtic matches.
HH!!
djbee
20:36 on
7 March, 2013
Someone mentioned a pub in Scarborough that had an oo mural on the window, was there in the summer with the weans. Standing outside eating ice cream and noticed it, looked in the window and surprise surprise, a place even I wouldn’t have a pint in.
There is also a sevco social club there, but much to the disappointment of thems, it’s full of glasgow ex-pats of the criminal fraternity. Not the well behaved model citizens of sevco land
Bobby,
Danny ,a Cork man through and through , loved the Celtic . I used to look after him when he was playing up here when I worked for Turnbull and Hedge. Great guy
I hate the ‘plastic paddy’ thing. brings up all sorts of republican feelings in me.
setting free the bears
20:41 on
7 March, 2013
Small point ….but, don’t think ANYONE doubted Wanyama from his first game….
Spurs have what we lack. Pace and movement.
Until we find that, we will merely be a “solid ” team.
googybhoy
I think he’s a bombscare at times but we’ll not dwell on it.
Glad you had a good stay recently. Weather’s been good of late but some rain today and very windy tonight.
Take care.
thomthethim
20:45 on 7 March, 2013
Fully agree….Spurs are very direct / entertaining…. Inter just missed a sitter
Dublinbhoy
I love Dublin – is man whose ancestry is Donegal and Athlone (and Lanarkshire) allowed to? But it can be surprisingly indifferent to the Celts all the same
Hail! Hail!!
Jimbo
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
Fortunately, sanity not one of my strong points.
Was good viewing for the neutral :-)
googybhoy ♥ Celtic
Any way how is the sun on the Loch.
Was up a few weeks ago for my Mums birthday. Just an overnight stay at the Dumbain Farm. Lovely. Had a few pints in the DogHouse with family.
*you trying tae upset me, record snow falls over.
BTW Lenny when he signed Efe it was as a midfielder, mibbees he”s VW’s replacement
I have heard a few people say “plastic paddy” here in Manchester and everyone of them have been racist scum.
I’m on it now ! Plastic paddy is an effort by the haters to denigrate the contibution of Irish people (from all backgrounds) to popular culture and undermine their positive contribution to the recipient countries in the diaspora, a diaspora which took place as a result of individual situations like the Great famine but mainly due to the the denial of democracy to the Dublin government 100’s of years ago !
ANYWAY, WE’RE ALL FRIENDS NOW.
PETERSCARFF 2044
Sincere apologies-it was a lame attempt at humour.
I knew of his Irish background-his real name is a clue!-and he deserved better than the above from me.
HH
david prowse 20 30
glad to hear that mate
tontine tim
20:48 on 7 March, 2013
I think so.
Walked over to my Mums to pick the car up and passed your old house on Shannon Crescent. Not changed.
only plastic pommes like kojo/tsd use such derogatory terms………..
hh
Spurs fans singing to inter… “are you Arsenal in disguise?”
Ouch.
Impressive team now. Very pacy and direct. Hugely reliant on Bale however, who looks like the Welsh Ronaldo.
Been called a Fenian b******, a Tally b****** and an Eyetie b****** – but never a ‘plastic tally’ until tonight.
The things you learn on this blog – it’s quite an education!
HH!!
Ha ha
Got all mixed up with previous post, cant make up my
mind if im mad or not.
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers
20:20 on 7 March, 2013
So Sky are telling the clubs that there’s no deal without the newhuns?
>>>>>>>>>
If the hunchbacks get thems way,
could you oblige with a re-post of said information as I’ll be done wae sky.hh
jimbo67
20:47 on
7 March, 2013
Dublinbhoy
I love Dublin – is man whose ancestry is Donegal and Athlone (and Lanarkshire) allowed to? But it can be surprisingly indifferent to the Celts all the same
Hail! Hail!!
Jimbo
Especially the Garda.
HH
No offence taken Bobby. He was a right hard man and I mean really hard. As a gay in those days from his background you had to be.
SIPSINI
Certainly will-I’ll have first hand knowledge of whether it still works in around a fortnight.
Binned mine at the end of February.