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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FFM
Oh,trust me-those opportunities are commonplace these days.
STEINREIGNEDSUPREME
MY BLOODY VALENTINE? Enjoy,smashing band in my youth.
Did you borrow your Dad’s record collection?
Have a good ‘un,mate!
Having spent the last week out of the country (there were loads of tims on the flight back from Amsterdam last night – they were a credit to us all as normal) I have had some time to step back and consider where we are.
Firstly and perhaps most disturbingly, whenever a Celtic manager or Celtic player does well the first thing our media does is have them leaving Celtic. It happens with monotenous regularity. And we fall for it every time. I will come back to Hooper and Waynyama later. But NL recognises he has one of the best and most important jobs in world football. I saw someone say he would go to Man City. C’mon – get real.
Then I see PL in the press. How is it that PL only ever speaks to the press to tell us that we are going to sell players. And how is it all he ever does is manage our expectations downward. Oh there are the usual promises that we will buy in quality etc. Quite frankly I stopped believing him some time ago – he has lied to us so often.
So Celtic are flogging their best players – quell suprise. We will then have quite a few million in the bank – which I am sure we will be told will be to protect us from the economic environment and to provide a warchest for the huns inevitable return.
And where is PL on the LNS debacle. Celtic put out a weak statement which basically pleads with us as a support to keep giving them money. Thats it? The game in Scotland is effectively rigged, sporting integrity torn to shreds and PL’s public utterrings are to tell us we are selling our best players.
Let me make a prediction for you all.
Celtic will sell their best players and wont even try to replace them. We will fail in CL qualification next year as a result. But far worse than that – Celtic will try and charge the same prices for season tickets next year and that, coupled with the acceptance of cheating, will decimate ST sales next season.
You will all be gnashing your teeth and undoubtedly blaming supporters who quite frankly have had enough of being shafted.
NEGANON2
I’ve spoken to a fair number of Celtic fans in the last week,and the LNS verdict might be the one which tips them over the edge.
Even more than what you say about the board-and it is difficult to argue with much of it.
Problem is,should such a scenario come to pass,then the club would probably HAVE to sell our best players and not replace them,in order that we have a cash reserve to cover against lack of income!
Chicken and egg,or a self-fulfilling prophecy…….
Rocket alert!!
BMCUW,
You should be spending more time chasing after they single burds rather than electric high-level locomotives sprinting out of Central Station at closing time :) (Am sure I spent a whole evening waiting on such a thing at Dizzy Corner back in the 80s, but she was from Neilston :)))
NegAnon2 Let me make a prediction for you all.
Whats the winning lottery numbers for tonight?
Fortunes Favour Mibbes
08:48 on 8 March, 2013
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No offence taken my Amigo :o)))
Hhhhhhhhhhhhooooooowwwwwwwwwlllllll
But, I’m going to have to put you straight aboot
oor Neil – ur Neil – everybuddy Neil…..
You say that the Juve manager was the 1st mgr
in Neil’s career to give him a run for his money ?
Hmmmmm Sycophancy ?
As I recall……
Kenny Sheils – LCF ?….
…and at CP this season – 1st Killie win at CP in 50 odd years ?
Paulo Sergio – SCSF ?
TFPLG – Twice at ibrokes last season ?
Danny Lennon – LCSF ?
Steve Lomas – Twice this season….
…Sorry to point the above out and, regretfully it had to be ‘you’ on the
other end !!!
Oh, and btw….this season isny over yet !!!
Plus the fact….” Joe, Beram, Vic, Efe, even Izzy, Charlie and so on.”……none of whom deserved pass-marks on Wednesday. imo
Furthermore…
….my verdict on the players that you mention specifically….
Joe = Mr Invisible
Beram = Allways injured and whinges like a big girls blouse
Vic = Our best midfielder and our best Centre Half – what to do ?
Efe = There is a CH in there but, Neil continues to be WGS and play Efe in MF ?
Izzy= One season wonder. imo Never be the smame player again. But stays in team ?
Charlie= Excellent in midfield – bomb-scare indefence. imo
Anyway…Ghreat to talk my Amigo :o))))
Take care n God Bless
Off oot
FFM
Nowadays,I look as though the speeding locos I’ve been chasing had been stationary……
Neg Anon2..good post..however with regards to “So Celtic are flogging their best players”
I believe certain players WANT to leave ..the club is not pushing them out the door.HH
Where would be without those he see the game and in fact all things Celtic so clearly, they should start their own newspaper, oh wait a minute…
For goodness sake someone take his crayons aff him and let him oot!
NegAnon2
I think Lenny will be staying (it was me that mentioned the Man C rumour), but I also think the players will be too. I keep seeing meeja led comments about several going. Don’t see any of them leaving.
I’m not in disagreement with you about the board – they know they’ll make more money by retaining the bulk of this team for next season.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS 09:05 on 8 March, 2013
“MY BLOODY VALENTINE? Enjoy,smashing band in my youth.
“Did you borrow your Dad’s record collection?”
Ha Ha. He’s a Slim Whitman man…
They were a smashing band in my 20s and still are – lite years ahead of their time. The new album is out – it’s only been a 23-year wait.
I will require earplugs for the gig though. They are loud.
STEINREIGNEDSUPREME
23 years?
That makes The Blue Nile seem prolific.
I’ll probably buy it-I think it was your good self who recommended WOLF HALL (which I had,but hadn’t yet read) and tat was a belter……
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
08:59 on 8 March, 2013
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Now ! Now!
You should never make threats that ye canny back up.
With you and I it’s a case of – never the twain shall meet.
What to do ?
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
09:16 on
8 March, 2013
FFM
Nowadays,I look as though the speeding locos I’ve been chasing had been stationary……
Unfortunately seen a few Celtic centre halfs with the same problem
KevJ @ 09:16
That wasn’t tactics, that was player motivation and/or CL fatigue which is quite natural if you consider the normal sane human mind :)) Apols, just yanking yer chain. Think my point applies though. I’ve never seen any other manager match Lenny for tactics until the Juve games. And, I agree, I’ll probably always be sycophantic re Lenny – it’s a natural reaction to protect one of the best Celtic managers in my lifetime against what he’s had to put up with (am not saying this to re-enforce my point against yours, purely just to defend my sychophancy, which others will probably now quote out of context!)
Oooooops
Dropped an aitch there-all those years of living in London……
tat=that
Doh!
BMCUW @ 09:16
Now that made me laugh for the first time in a wee while. Nonsense of course. If I had a sister, I’d be shotgunning you both to the Altar, but instead you’ll have to make do with my hairy bollocks of a brother :))
KEV
You aren’t that stupid. I would never resort to violence over mere words,to suggest otherwise is disingenious at best.
Call me a grass on here again,and I will take you to the cleaners on here again.
That is what I meant,and fine you know it.
If we had won the CP game 3_-1 we would still have been oot
FFM
My Mum will be so proud………
Neganon2
Gonny no dae that? Ma phone started bleeding. Think it cut its sim card.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS 09:23 on 8 March, 2013
If you liked Loveless you will be into it. To be honest they could have released this album at least 20 years ago (apparently it was recorded then but Kevin Shields didn’t think it was good enough to put out).
In terms of sound, it’s a case of ‘if it’s not broken don’t fix it’ – but they are brilliant at what they do.
So for that reason and that reason alone … I’m in.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
09:29 on 8 March, 2013
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The Cleaners ?
Well…I’ve been taken to many places in my time on here
but, that would be a new one.
STOP PRESS .STOP PRESS.
JUST WATCHED 10 CELTIC SUPPORTERS being frogmarched naked through york on their way to glasgow.my wife made 20 rolls with
bacon which they refused and would not take a wee hauf of malt to sustain them.they were taken aff the 16.40 flight to milan for finger pointing which caused a 2 hour delay.
i asked if they spotted the chap in seat 22a and one wag said “yes i think he went to a posh school near EMBRA.”he was only one not joining in the singing of WHO ATE ALL THE PIES.
PS they are all aff drink for lent and would not eat bacon because it’s friday.
Players want to play in the cash rich EPL, players have agents who they believe will get them to the EPL
The EPL has an excellent marketing strategy for promoting the EPL, it works so well even CQN is dominated by it, posters talk of EPL clubs and the players ad nausea for my liking
PL is reflecting the reality, nothing else, his job is to make sure Celtic are as strong financially as they can be as we face the financial inequities of the EPL hurricane from down south
Neil talked of players moving before PL, after our inevitable elimination after the first leg humping, it was the appropriate time to talk stock of what had been achieved and to look forward, both Neil and PL did so, i heard PL praise Neil and the squad as well as answer questions presumably based on what Neil had said after the match, i did no see PL make a statement, he answered questions
If you do not want to go to see Celtic at Celtic park because of the LNS verdict, sorry your logic escapes me
NegAnon2
09:06 on 8 March, 2013
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That post is now framed above my fireplace :o)))
Brilliant M8
But, you know that some of the kleeks will try to
tar you as a – troll now :o)))
HH
Fortunes Favour Mibbes
09:25 on 8 March, 2013
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Ye know I’m only jesting ?
I know what yer like when ye start :o)))
God Bless
HHhhhhhhooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwlllllllll
Normally just a lurker but can i ask a question…Are all these posters the same person i.e KOJO……KILBOWIE KELT, SINGING DETECTIVE, KEV JUNGLE, SUMMA OF SAMMY, BIG JOE ON A BOAT,DUSHANBE BHILLY BHOY, PETEC etc??? Im sure there is more as well.
KevJungle is a bit like the Lenny he sees. One tactic fills all.
Every negative result or performance is highlighted to back his point but all the positives are ignored. He is clearly a half stadium empty guy as opposed to stadium half full.
If we cut ground capacity and by doing so filled it what could he moan about? Not that I’d advocate that to shut him up on his repeatedly boring point, but it is tempting.
The idea that only sees what is going on and the rest are blind is another annoying tactic, dismissing an opposite view because he sees things we do not based on no more information or perhaps even less than supports the opposite view.
The best thing about Celtic winning and playing well, apart from the sheer enjoyment of watching good football is that Kev stays oot.
Two men behind bars
One saw mud
The other stars.
finbar67
Kilbowie Kelt will be apoplectic.:O)
finbar67
09:42 on 8 March, 2013
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Some fholk say to me – “Kev…yer some man to be the wan man !”
I’ve always wondered what they were oan aboot ? :o)
HH
Auldheid
09:43 on 8 March, 2013
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Tsk, tsk !
Ye see…I only try to offer some sort of balance
to all the happy-clapping that goes on :o)))
Simples
HH
finbar67
Kilbowie Kelt is one of most respected posters Mate!!
KevJungle – 1Champion flag on the Jungle roof / 9 more to go….
09:46 on
8 March, 2013
finbar67
09:42 on 8 March, 2013
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Some fholk say to me – “Kev…yer some man to be the wan man !”
I’ve always wondered what they were oan aboot ? :o)
===================================================
See the some fholk……would it happen to be Keevins,he must be amazed
at your perseverance to ‘Free’ him? hh
finbar67
Kilbowie Celt is very much his own mhan, and very much worth a read. KevJ is fairly mental but not a multiple poster, I’m very sure of that. Petec is another one who is his own mhan, and one whom I’ve had the pleasure to meet more than once. The rest, I’ve no idea.
Some posters get right up my tits (eg Anal Stools who I’m starting to enjoy insult exhanges with), but it’s bad enough group-attacking one poster, let alone group-attacking an anonymous group of possible ego-swapping-schizzo posters. My advice? I have none. They always win in the end…..<:O Best to be your own person, and in the Celtic Way, fight for the underdog, unless it's KevBungle, who talks mince in a lovable kind of way. If in doubt, follow SFTB's lead.