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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A very short and curt email on its it way to sky.
Any tips on how to tell the mini rasps that kids channels have gone to heaven?
Plastic Paddy is a derogatory term for a person with tenuous Irish Links, who portray themselves as Irish. I think I might have been called a Plastic Paddy on here once which at the time I thought was very funny.
I think Mrs DJBEE has a plastic tally at the back of her underwear drawer.
Plastic Tally- Brilliant:-)
Bale suspended for 2nd leg ,booked again for diving
googybhoy ♥ Celtic
20:52 on 7 March, 2013
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.
*I know I always take a wee drive up there when I’m over, we moved up there 60 year ago next year It’s been well maintained
PETER SCARFF
Cheers,bud.
I expect serving in the navy would have toughened him up a bit too. He’d have had know how to look after himself,for sure
Not easy being gay then,as you say. It still isn’t,in a lot of cultures.
jimbo67
Dublin is, obviously, my home town but I have lived nearly half my life away from Ireland. I like going back but to anyone I have met on my travels who have expressed an interest in visiting Ireland I always tell them to only spend a couple of days in Dublin and take the rest of the time to see the rest of the country. Dublin is like any other big(ish) city but it is not representative of Ireland and the Irish.
And yes, the Dubs have bought in to the EPL crap big time but then again Dublin does have a Celtic shop…no other club has a dedicated shop in Ireland that I am aware of.
Someone mentioned getting stick for wearing a Celtic shirt for an Ireland game. I have always worn my Hoops when I went to international games…as have thousands of others. No one ever made a comment on it.
Hail Hail
Little Known Fact( Oan Here.)
Any Celtic Player who does not Play Well..
Is Subject tae Criticism.
And, deservedly so.
Noo..
Again, this is a Little Known Fact( Oan Here,of course.)
If the same Player Does.. Subsequently, Plays well..
Then..
There is Nae Criticism.
It is as Simple as That,folk.. easy tae understaun..
Right?
Nae Player is Above Criticism.
We must always stee and Preparel oorsels.
NEVAH… tae Fall in Luv… wi’… Any Player.
Actually, Ah hiv NOT the Slightest Difficulty in Following .. THAT. particular Advice..
Ah Happen tae like Lassies..
Kojo
Still… Laugnin’
67 Heaven
You misunderestimate the judgementalism of Celtic websites. Check out the comments from his debut. Against St. Johnstone. We were told clearly he will never make a CB.
Vic was not selected for the first 3 league matches and one Euro match after he was signed. He debuted at CB in a 1:0 defeat and he looked very ill at ease. He was dropped for the next 2 Euro ties and the next 4 SPL matches and League cup tie. He did not start for us after the 21st August debut until our home draw with Udinese on 29th September. He was immediately dropped again and only appeared in the 2nd half of our 3:3 draw with Killie (believe me, no one there or on the blog thought Vic was influential in turning that match around). He was dropped again for the next Euro match and started only one of the next 3 SPL matches.
His Celtic career kicked on only from November onwards, 3 months after he was signed, just as I said. It may not have been as lengthy a period of judgemental dismissal but you will find many descriptions of him as a project in that August to November period in 2011.
DJBEE 20.59 Not sure what you are telling us there pal, but I wouldn’t let the Mrs.know what you posted.
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream
Re Scarborough: I used to love going there at the (Glasgow) fair when I was a kid . Was considering a wee nostalgic trip at Easter, but your review earlier knocked that on the head.
Danny La Rue? This blog is nothing if not eclectic. Still I learned something new about him tonight.
Jimbo
Row z
Unless we have another Kojo sock puppet there is another user of that phrase now.
notthebus
20:18 on 7 March, 2013
Quite amazing footage of the celtic fans just as Juve score the second goal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6OUw3rCprA&feature=player_embedded
its enough to make my heart go…………ooooooooh oooh oooh!
bloody knock out!
Just heard a newco advertisement on Clyde where they claim to be “Scotland’s most successful club” – if compaints are received the ASA will investigate and can censor or fine an advertiser for making misleading claims. Here is the link. Go to it!
http://www.asa.org.uk/Consumers/How-to-complain.aspx
Row Z
You jist called me..and May friend..
Plastic Pommes.
What do you base that silly accusation oan..?
Ah wid Like you to
Fully explain why you have done so.
Kojo
Still. Laughin’
You do learn something new on here all the time. I mean was Danny La Rue Gay?
Danny le Rue was born in Cork not far from where I lived as a lad growing up. His real name was daniel Patrick Carroll.
Re Efe Ambrose: every single aspect of his game would lead you to the conclusion that he should play in midfield for us.
Wilfred Bramble – old man Steptoe – was also Irish and also gay.
Dublinbhoy
It was my pal who got stick in Dublin for wearing the Hoops. The kind of thing that sticks in the mind as it was so jarrIng.
Hail ! Hail!
Jimbo
think descriptions should always be alliteral like:
kid on kurd
phoney frog
fake fin
rum ruski
or
zombie zombie
(apologies to any national or race alluded to)
except zombies who are deid anyway!
hh
tallybhoy
21:12 on 7 March, 2013
Wilfred Bramble – old man Steptoe – was also Irish and also gay.
………………
Dirty old man.
:>}
jimbo67
I’m sorry to hear about your friend. Disgraceful…and I bet the idiot was an ardent ‘republican’ who supports Liverpool, Man U etc.
You cant account for stupidity.
Hail Hail
kojo
you can always ask…………….
hh
Big Cup Winners
Ah am gled that You Noticed that..as Well.
Efe’s Place is in the Mid Field.
Ah hiv Said from his First Appearance in a Celtic Shirt..
That..
Efe, wiz a Heaven sent.. Mid Fielder..
That is his Natural Position. It is Sticking oot.. like Jimmy Durante’s ..
Adam’s Apple. Which is No as Obvious as his Nose.. but, it sticks oot, neverthless.
Kojo
Still Laughin’
ITV commentators say zonal marking is rubbish. That’s me told then.
jimbo67,
Maybe it was a St.Pat’s fan mistaking it for a Shamrock Rvrs. top!!
Dublinbhoy
The big fella could look after himself – there are nitwits everywhere and it was such a great night otherwise. Even if half the pubs were on strike.
Hail! Hail!
Jimbo
SuperSutton
Thanks for your continuing updates on the subject but just a question to you. How would Chris Sutton have fared against ZM in your view?
A mate of mine was filling petrol at a Station outside Dundalk, when a middle-aged man berated him for wearing the Hoops, saying something like ” We don’t want any of that around here”. Believe it or not the plonker was wearing a Liverpool top or jacket. My mate was not in the best of form it was about an hour after Skippy had done a number on us for Murderwell. Suffice to say the Liverpool aficionado picked the wrong guy to pick a row with.
Row Z
See.. Ye hivnae goat a Sensible answer.
Mebbe that’s because ..
Ye Hivnae Goat Wan.
Ye are jist using a Pejoritive.. fur…well.
Nae Sensible Reason..other than tae Hurt Kojo and The Singing Detective’s Feelings.
Ye are jist No nice.
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
Thomthetim
Whatever the reason the eejit wasn’t a Hun that is for sure!
Jimbo
inter taking a right kickin’
Mickey’s a mouse, Donald’s a duck, Pluto’s a dog. What’s Goofy?
Read on F/Book that SevcoFC are advertising on RC saying that they are Scotland’s mose successful club.
They are not being challenged on it and are allowed to get away with it.
Absolutely shameful.
SPF
Getting fed up with this St Mungo’s clique ! There surely must be a Holy Cross diaspora out there? Let’s hear it folks – class of 72 anyone?
corkcelt
I flew back from Seville with a crowd of Cork men and a greater bunch of Hoops men you could not meet. Had a great time and we drank the plane dry.
Dublin I have worn Celtic top every time I visit and in Wicklow family originally from Carnew and never had a bad word said to me, although they are certainly on the whole fans of english football.
Big cup winners I am already booked for a long weekend in Scarborough through the Easter holiday 5-8 April never been before and now regretting going after reading about the orcs connection.
HH