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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Jungle Jim @ 10:38
It’s a reference to the Simpsons’ episode, where Homer and Flanders get married in Vegas. The Elvis reverend asks Homer, “Do you take this casino waitress who you met 30 mins ago, and barely know, to be your long legged wife?”. Homer staggers for a minute, looks at the reverend, and says “What did you just call me?”
No one ever gets that one! My fault – it’s even worse as a failure when done face to face :))
Fortunes Favour Mibbes
10:25 on 8 March, 2013
____________________________________________
for the last – 32 years – On my way home from work I have bought
a DR. Over the last few years when it became clear that the establishment
were operating their – Save Rangers At ALL Cost’s – campaign, I started to
call the – DR Hotline – as I had been phoning into SSB over the years as well
to protest about that particular situation. Although, unlike most of the posters on
here, I saw Celtic’s problem as being – within the bored / board room.
The Celtic hierarchies erse-dragging type of defense for their hapless manager BTM,
who was woefully out of his depth was, feckin annoying to say the least.
Fast forward to today and – still the same – faceless wonders / toothless tigers – constitute the Celtic board / bored. FMM
Don’t be surprised if the deal has already been done to – fast track the huns back
into the SPL – with the full backing of oor board on oor behalf !!!
They might speak for some Celtic supporters but they don’t speak for me !!!
That’s why – I’ll not be going to hand over my money to the Cellic to endorse the Thatcher/Type’s in the boardroom.
I buy the DR still today and yes, I phone-in to it as well more or less – repeating what I
say on here. Now here’s the thing…why should I stop buying a paper to make a point
whilst, the board / bored are rolling about the bed with the SAME paper ?
If, the Celtic hierarchy grow a pair and – ban the media – I’ll back them.
Until then…Apathy is the bosss. imo
Friends Forever In Celtic – CSC
lionroars67
I’m not sure ,but something has to change.
We are waiting for someone to come up with a plan of attack or a plan to get out of this currupt set-up.
I cant imagine Fergus McCann meekly accepting the staus quo when such cheating on a such massive scale has been exposed.
Fortunes Favour Mibbes
I’ll catch ye later my Amigo – have to go oot
God Bless n Take Care
Hhhhhhhhhoooooowwwwwwwwwlllllllllll :o)
Finbar,
It’s all in the repetitive catch phrase.
Yer pal who luvs ye a loater, in wasss africa, tails awaggin, off oot, thumbsup.
Nice to see you, to see you ….
Shut that door
Ntalassieloo,
Now I know what planet you’re from, I find your posts not quite so soporific as before – although, still as irritating as an accidental numbing of the arm during sleep.
lessons from europe………if we get 10m for hoops wev,e robbed somebody……think vic showed he,s the bogs bollix…..so will be bought in the summer…….and big foster is a 50/50 i think to stay…..we desperatly need a little bit more quality in the last third of the pitch……commons was dead weight in the second leg…….and hooper just a little bit lacking at champions league level……..team needs just a touch more guile……not far away. foster would be the biggest loss i think.
Auldheid I’d suggest first on the agenda must be one governing body.
Let’s sweep away this Byzantine labyrinth of rules and regulations.
Next should be the imposition of the 3-0 rule for nulled fixtures.
Plus an insistence that clubs follow the example of the well run outfits that Paul67 pointed out. I’d put Ross County in that bracket.
All disciplinary business and investigations to be conducted in the open.
BTW I forecast on here 2 weeks ago that the games’ governors would be writing new severance terms and conditions into their fat contracts.
Auldheid thanks.
I have been trying, unskilfully, to get an answer from a high-up at UEFA whose email address I found. I picked him because he had referenced Rangers in very recent quotes so I thought he might be interested and informed.
If you are familiar with Yann Martel’s What is Stephen Harper Reading? project, you will know how I feel so far.
Stephen Harper, when he became prime minister of Canada, said he simply didn’t have time for reading. The author of the Life of Pi was appalled and vowed to send Mr Harper books that would “expand his stillness” in the few hours’ stillness his busy life might afford each week.
Every other Monday between April 2007 and February 2011, Mr Harper received a book and a letter explaining what Yann Martel had in mind when choosing that particular work. When last I checked, Mr Harper had given no thanks, no response, not even any acknowledgement.
FFM I don’t suffer that affliction since I took up yoga many yeqrs ago.
I was told it would also keep headaches at bay but alas, you keep popping up.
KevJ @ 10:43,
For when you get back….(you’re more out than George Michael !)..
…Ahh forget it :)) It just dawned on me that you’re “off oot” to buy a copy of your two favourite rags [heid in hands/ despair smilie]. Paying to be lied to is not an investment you can compare to funding the football club you love.
With regards to “what happens next?” , alarm bells rang for me when it appeared that any credible SFA opposition failed to manifest itself in the form of putting up an alternative candidate to Ogilvie.
We seem to have gone from SFL clubs allegedly calling for a vote of confidence on Regan to everyone sitting on their hands. What happened there then?
Ntalassiesloo @ 10:54
You choose NOW to give me cause to celebrate your cerebral angst. Although I thought you would come up with a reposte that might even raise a corner of the lip – but alas, Ntass, it didnae happen. It was even less interesting than an unexpected numbing of the arm. Haste ye back to Planet Ne Boo Boo.
How should CFC respond to the LNS findings?
Quite simple really!
Find a Bob Kelly/Fergus McCann clone who will stand up for the club and fight tooth and nail for justice! Someone not afraid to rub them up the ‘wrong’ way and tell them to their faces that they are corrupt and compromised, both individually and collectively!
Does such a person exist? Get Snoop Dog in I say!
Mind you, old Bob would probably turn in his grave at the very thought – as would Fergus, although he is still very much alive!
HH!!
Tim Malone Will Tell
11:00 on
8 March, 2013
With regards to “what happens next?” , alarm bells rang for me when it appeared that any credible SFA opposition failed to manifest itself in the form of putting up an alternative candidate to Ogilvie.
We seem to have gone from SFL clubs allegedly calling for a vote of confidence on Regan to everyone sitting on their hands. What happened there then?
We were waiting on Auldheids moaners (sorry Auldheid) its a joke BTW
kevjungle – 1champion flag on the jungle roof / 9 more to go
I buy the DR still today and yes, I phone-in to it as well more or less – repeating what I
say on here. Now here’s the thing…why should I stop buying a paper to make a point
—————-
You shouldn’t. It’s perfect for you.
Tallbhoy I’d take up the cudgels. No tiptoeing or skirting round the edges.
Straight in and let them know I’m going for the jugular. They’d scatter.
Then a mopping up operation, followed by a quick interrogation. They’d chatter.
Down on them like a steam hammer. they’d Shatter.
There’ll be lots of files out there taken by former employees as insurance. We could coax them out.
FFM if you must rework my name I’d prefer Ntassoollissima. Even if you can’t say it you can cut and paste it.
Elvis has left the building
Steven Pressley has been appointed as Coventry manager
I think buying the odd DR, as a collector’s item of the future, might be worth a punt.
Fortunes Favour Mibbes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOCaYEV3jDc
FFM
makes more sense now. I am a big fan of Homer but didn`t like The. No, I did like it but it Odyssey
Afternoon bhoys from a sunny hun free mountain valley.
Last week Timmy was put firmly in his place.
In fact all of scottish football was put in it’s place, the message was loud and clear, the game is run for one club, and one club only.
And not a single dissenting voice.
Well, what now, I want no part of it, just my choice, if Celtic are not willing to stand up to the cheating and the corruption, I am not willing to fund their cowardice.
The sfa have in effect admitted to being complicit in stealing well over 100 million in the past decade from Celtic, that mi amigos is a serious crime, and our PLC are taking it like a meek little lamb, we have been humiliated in public, we are being mocked by the msm, and we are bending over taking it….shamefull.
I will always support Celtic, but I will no longer fund the PLC, if the PLC grow some balls, I will happily continue to fund them………until then.
I want the suits to prove me wrong, I want the suits to show some courage.
FFM
Makes more sense now. I am a big fan of The Simpsons, particularly Homer but didn`t like The Odyssey. No, I did like it but it is nothing like the series and Marg and the other characters are missing.
JJ
Ntalassieloo,
Yet again you over-rate your own abilities. You choose the superlative for your nom de guerre, but in the feminine sense. You shouldn’t even have gone as far as the comparative. Give me more :))
Jungle Jim
I take it the Illiad was so bad you forgot about it?
The Exiled Tim
Celtic’s statement was a dissenting voice, ask Charles Green.
Neil Lennon’s comments at his press conference before the St Mirren game was a dissenting voice.
Let’s hope for more, but it’s not fair to say there was no dissenting voice.
http://www.openculture.com/2012/12/17_animations_of_classic_literary_works.html
Classics made easy…………………………………..
TET
I understand your feelings and probably share them. At the same time, a part of me finds it difficult to believe it really is as simple as it seems. ie £47 million does not give a sporting advantage so a small fine is sufficient punishment.
Season Ticket time will be very interesting.
Cheerio,
JJ
PS I hope the “cheerio” does not get me accused of being a multiple poster.
My strategy would be to tackle the thing as part of a problem in society at large. Disregard and contempt for the law.
For which we are all footing the bill for decades unless we act together against them.
A no holds barred attack on everyone involved. Drag them through the mud.
FFM it’s a girl’s name ya big jessie.
Petec @ 11:17,
Love that. Rap (is that still what you young folk call it? :)) ) can’t help but be honest!
Love this from one of our own !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IPvXhm6gqg
Clinko is one of the names of a multiple poster on here.
These are halcyon days to be a Biblical Christian http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOCaYEV3jDc.
BMCUWP&FFM
How insincere was I towards my Son’s Mum at his conception?
Away to do my situps.
Ntassoolla @ 11:29
Are you changing your approach to giving away personal information now?? You on the pull?? I’m washing my hair tonight, hen.
Ntassoolla
11:27 on
8 March, 2013
My strategy would be to tackle the thing as part of a problem in society at large. Disregard and contempt for the law.
For which we are all footing the bill for decades unless we act together against them.
A no holds barred attack on everyone involved. Drag them through the mud.
What if the preseiding judge is LNS or a judge only a hand away from LNS
Ntalassieloo,
Would that be the bestest, mostest impressivest sitty ups a burd can possibly ever, EVER do?