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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corkcelt,
I think your idea of it being an away game for Celtic would be more practical, as long as Celtic’s travelling expenses were also deducted.
Perhaps a one off game, included in Ireland’s The Gathering initiative, may tempt a few over to the country, although there doesn’t appear to be much interest for that on CQN.
However, I share TET’s doubts about the Irish people’s practical interest in Celtic.
That ship has long since sailed.
EPL saturation, amongst other things, has reduced Celtic to a passing interest amongst the uncommitted.
Philbhoy.
The first European team we played against in a European Tie, was Valencia,in1962 a fair cities cup tie in which Celtic were beaten 2-4 in Spain, and drew 2-2 at Celtic Park.
And another thing, if you buy The Sun even taking their latest pooh mixing guff into consideration, you are beyond the help of tablets and the medical profession.
Don’t post after going to the pub, don’t post after going to the pub…..
Ntassoolla
Why the wind up about Donegal then??
http://www.facebook.com/brian.m.laughlin.58/posts/149049025258769
ntassoolla
18:39 on 7 March, 2013
I read constant denigration of Scotland and things Scottish here. Yet speak of Ireland in anything other than the hagiographic and some CQNers are crying for their mammies.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
your point..?? ………..since Celtic is a Scottish Club with very strong / proud Irish roots ….. Just a pity that the Scots hate everything about Celtic, because of our Irish roots …..get off your high horse…..
Ntassoola.- Do you just post to upset fellow Celts? Strange fellow.
david prowse
19:07 on
7 March, 2013
thomthethim
Ahhhhhh!!!!! Dang! The last time i was over i flew from Derry into Prestwick!
Grrrrr. Public flogging in Annagry car park next Sunday after mass for me!
*******
Fingers will be pointed in your direction and children will be warned as what can happen to them if they don’t eat their brocolli.
Josie Joe will be on red alert for your first sighting.
Corkcelt-Good idea worth investigating,but Dublin is hellish expensive and Celtic not as big there as some people think.Any other stadiums /cities which could host it?
btw, i am proud when i see celtic fans throughout the world, dont care if your black, white or yellow, dont care what religion you choose to follow, your sexuality or socio-economic situation, dont care if your rich or poor. am amazed that someone in just about very part of the world will have a strong attachment to celtic and will follow her.
wherever and whatever you are, if your a celtic fans/ supporter etc… you are welcome all are welcome,
i draw the line at zombies
hail hail
ntassoolla
17:10 on 7 March, 2013
No corkcelt.
I know certain elements would like Celtic to move “back home” to Dublin.
Not me.
Support an Irish club in Dublin if that’s what you’re after.
Not a Scottish club in Glasgow.
——————-
Agree 100%
As far as I’m aware there is practically no historical link with Dublin and Celtic.
The men who forged Celtic were from farther North. I’m willing to bet that the the vast majority of our fans will have origins in the nine counties of Ulster.
Of course there is a fine link into Connaught and no more so than to Brother Walfrid and our recently departed Sean Fallon – my mother’s family were all around Doocastle, Tobbercurry and Balymote.
My dad’s family came from Armagh and Down.
A honourable few will be from South of the Boyne
We are a Scottish club with proud Irish roots. However, our appeal in Ireland outside our traditional heartlands of Ulster and Connaught is more romantic than factual.
I remember trying to watch Vigo play Celtic back in 2002/3 in Dublin – Liverpool were playing that night – bar after bar showing Liverpool. I eventually watched the first half on a side screen in a Blanchardstown bar with another guy. Meantime the vast majority – over 100- were watching ‘The Reds’ on all the big screens….
Scunnered – I drove into the city centre to watch the 2nd half with my mate in The Harp Bar on O’Connell Street. Which is like an oasis in a sea of Manure, Pool, Arsenal, Everton and Chelski. Do they like Celts? Of course they do -but mainly ( not exclusively) as their ‘Scottish team’ -miles behind their EPL favourites.
Celtic playing the odd friendly in Dublin for a day out is fine – but anyone who still has romantic notions of Dublin being a hotbed of Celtic fans is going to be very disappointed.
We would sell out Croke Park as there would be a huge interest.
But so would the aforementioned EPL clubs
I’m sure many bhoys from ‘the Pale’ will disagree- but I repeat we are strongest in the North and North West of Ireland.
It’s where most of us originated!
HH
In terms of supporting local economy I reckon my idea could be a win win situation. Yes Dublin would benefit for one week-end but if it worked there would be increased numbers of Irish coming to Glasgow for 20 week-ends a year. I know the EPl toyed with the idea of playing games in various destinations world-wide and it hasn’t got off the ground. I don’t know if its dead in the water or if its still on the agenda. Overall Its about marketing the game and bringing additional revenue into the SPL. It happens in many Sports, we all know the SPl is going through hard times surely its time to think outside the box and come up with some different suggestions.
thomthethim
He’s on the look out already i’m hearing!!!!!
Need to lay low for a few weeks!!!
Aye ! Cheating Italians…
And Corrupt Match Officials….
The Game At Parkhead Was Totally Transformed…
From The Very Outset….
By Biased Officiating…..
Denied Clear Penalty After 3Min….
When Hooper Was Bundled Into The Net As The Corner Kick Came Over….
Then The First Goal Should Have Been Chalked Off For The Foul On Ambrose…
So Rather Than Having An Earl Advantage….
We Were Left Chasing The Game…..
Leaving Gaps Down Our Flanks For The Counterattacking Italians….
I Have To Agree With Natty-Soolla….
Regarding The Constant Attacks On Scotland…And All Things Scottish….
By Our ‘Plastic Paddy’ Contingent…..
But Jings..! Crivvens..! Help M’Boab..!
Noo We’re Gettin’ It Fae Oor ‘Plastic Tally’ Brigade….
Whit A Liberty…..Virginia..!
!!bada bing!
Thomond Park in Limerick is a fine stadium, where Limerick City are playing their home games this season.
You may remember that there was an attractive pre season competition , involving us, due to be played there.
It wascacelled, because the FAI would not grant their permission, so the promotor had to cancel.
The FAI wanted all games to be played at the Aviva, due to the heavy debt they are carrying.
The fees they charged for renting that stadium are prohibitive and they haven’t grasped the concept of the law of diminishing return.
Paul,
Just did a quick scan of UEFA stats from the CL this season, and from a random selection of players, noticed that distance covered in games per player listed the following stats are given/deducted:
Pirlo 133m/min
Iniesta 92/min
Messi 77/min
Mulgrew 125/min
Ronaldo 113/min
FF 53/min
Ozil 130/min
Khedira 131/min
Nasri 131/min
Xavi 106/min
Wanyama 123/min
Interesting that Pirlo who is considered as pedestrian has by far the highest distance covered, even including considerably younger players, and contrary to what most people would believe, Charlie Mulgrew covers more ground than VW 125:123.
Of Celtic players listed, CM covers the greatest distance (Scott Brown is not listed).
I would be interested to know which players were tested for doping in each game, and believe that it should be published along with the stats for each game (for transparency).
Juve were technically miles better than Celtic, but for a ‘pedestrian’ to be outrunning everybody else has to raise a few eyebrows.
ItsnotaboutthebikeCSC
For me the CL lesson learned is that mistakes will be punished at this level.
Ball watching and poor control even on the half way line can lose you a goal. We need to be sharp physically and mentally.
timbhoy in spain
That link is deed chief!
A 33 yr old pedestrian at that…
thomthethim
19:12 on
7 March, 2013
Even over fifty years ago the Dublin papers regularly reported on the doings of English clubs with nary a mention of Celtic.
It’s to do with RTE and the national press. They don’t give a hoot about Celtic. It’s all Liverpool & Manure for them as the Lenister folk emigrated to Liverpool not Glasgow. Ulster folk went to Scotland. And they do not give one flyer for Ulster folk up there in the corridors of Montrose. In fact i would go as far as to say, as others have already on here today stated, that they hate us.
All you have to do is watch Bill O Herlihy sneer at the mere mention of Celtic. I enjoy Dunphy, always sticks up for us.
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.
Apparently Celtic are having a Saturday 3.00pm are kick off at Dingwall.
Is this something new for an away league match .
thomthethim-I do remember the proposed tournament,what is the capacity in Limerick?
Dublin- West Britain.
David Prowse
19:34 on
7 March, 2013
Agree with your point in general.
However have heard Sash getting big licks in Liverpool.
Better still, there was and may still be a pub in Scarborough that had a mural of The Walk
on its window.
Only kidding Dubs:-)
I was in Dublin approx 7 years ago, happened to be a game v them (remember them??), was a tough job finding a pub to watch it in. Eventually asked a bartender in a hotel if he’d put it on. Zurawski 1-0 at ibrox, keane played.
had a decent night in Tyneside Irish Centre last night (apart from the score) . Performance from us was good but I felt Juve always had the edge, great to see the support in full GIRUY mode and making plenty of noise.
My biggest observation over the two legs , apart from the mistakes we made, was the way the Juve players constantly outmuscled our boys, Victor and Kelvin apart, all over the pitch. We need to look at dynamic ,upper body strength as an area to improve. I am sure the fitness coaches are aware of this we just need better “bodies” to begin with perhaps.
I don’t know why you are only kidding, Peter Scarff.
Dublin did not support Irish resistance through most of the centuries of occupation.
They would NOT be natural CELTIC supporters.
Thomond Park has a capacity of 26,500. It would suit me to a tee to have Celtic play there as its only a 50 minute drive from where I live. I only suggested Dublin because of the Stadia there and it would be easier for travelling fans to access.
Sometimes I dispair with the anti-Irish posters here who beat us with the taunts that the bulk of Irish Soccer Fans support the EPL. Nobody knows that better then us we are trying to fight against that, we need ye’re support not ye’re taunts.
Suddenly Europa Cup takes on some significance in England. Would that be because they have three teams in it?
saly “Thurz parts of Scottish Football we could do withoot” …….. Yes, sally, and that’s why we’re doing without the zombies…….and it’s like a breath of fresh air
corkcelt
19:46 on 7 March, 2013
Well said.
Celtic should not take their Irish support for granted. They need to nurture it and encourage it.
hearing tonight from an SFL source that SKY are heavily engaged in the league reconstruction discussions with a strong agenda about Zombies fc being fast tracked to top league using threats of contract withdrawal if it doesn’t happen…………
good source.
HH
quonno
You don’t have to go to Liverpool. Man City have supporters clubs linked with loyalists. As do most clubs in England. But they seem to have turned their attention now to the Muslim and the Arab. Those are the ‘New Irish’ Those loyalist clubs are now being infiltrated by Nasty Nick and the BNP and are chanelling their agression towards them .
Remember the match against Chelsea when the bar full of Hoops fans was attacked by Neo Nazi’s / Chesea Headhunters? Those loon’s have no idea what they are at. Running around with Union Jacks tattooed on there arms and Seig Heiling!
Sometimes all one can do is laugh, keep the head down and keep walking.
quonno,
I can believe that.
I was in Dublin in the summer of 1966 and 1967 and there was little interest, even in the aftermath of Lisbon.
There was a wee flurry of interest during Brady’s tenure, as RTE covered a lot of our games.
After Brady left, so too did RTE.
That, to me, sums up the influence of television.
Even in Donegal, the interest has lessened, post O’Neill.
Very few watching in pubs, perhaps due to alternative ways of viewing.
The boom times for support was when many Irish families returned to Ireland in the Seventies and brought their love for the club home.
Their/ our children haven’t all carried qon that love…..though I’m happy to say that my own have.
Jackeens……
They had a competition on the radio a few years back, can’t remember which one, but a Dub based one, and the comp was who gave the best defenition of what a Culchie was.
There was some crackers, but the best one imo, it didny win, was
A Culchie is a Dubs boss.
Funny bunch are the Dubs, only a few weeks ago, while in Dublin, had an argument with a Lpool supporter, they really think they are the bogs dollix, reckoned Celtic would struggle in the championship, deary me, they have very short memories, he didn’t even realise we were in the last 16 of the CL.