When teams, including Celtic, get it wrong in Europe

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Let’s be clear, Morton are not a good football team, nor are Hibernian, but the former’s 0-3 win at Easter Road last night demonstrates the uncertainty principle of any game. Turn up with less than 100% hunger and you will find yourself out of the cup.

Celtic cannot afford to field anything less than their top team a week on Sunday in the Scottish Cup quarter final. Morton are a better team now than they were three years ago when they last won at Celtic Park – and we’re everyone’s favourite soft spot.

I watched Manchester City win comfortably away to Dynamo Kiev last night. It finished 1-3 but 1-5 would have been a more accurate reflection on the chances made. The result and performances didn’t reflect the relative merits of each team.  Dynamo are not that bad, City not that good.

City are horrible away from home this season. They have scored 13 goals in 12 away league games, winning only five. More curious is that they also won 1-3 away to Sevilla and 2-4 away to Borussia Monchengladbach. That’s 10 goals in 4 (in total) Champions League away games, not far shy of their 13 goals in 12 Premier League games, most of which were against inferior opponents.

Here’s the thing, Dynamo, Borussia, Sevilla all fancied their chances against City. They pushed high up-field and were shredded as a consequence. Premier League teams don’t make that mistake.

Cup competitions are different from the league, success is all about getting to the next round, and to do that you need to pose a threat, but all three of City’s opponents failed to comprehend the consequences of pressing forward.

All I could think of was our efforts in Molde and Malmo. We took both games to our opponents and were skelped as a result. Away to Ajax we defended deeply and gained a credible draw, at home the open spaces of Celtic Park behind us were exploited by Ajax to our cost.

Dynamo, Borussia, Sevilla and Celtic didn’t know when it would have been wiser to prioritise defending their own 18 yard box.  It’s a big lesson, one which has been evident since Warsaw.

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  1. TeT

     

     

    I watch SS at Getafe. Think he could still be a player for us.

     

    My two sons are Deportiva La Coruna and Real Sociedad 2nd team fans. We all love La Liga fitba. Great Sunday night fights in ma hoose over Spanish matches. :)

  2. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    ERNIE LYNCH on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 10:18 PM

     

    MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 10:13 PM

     

     

    It’s a silly question.

     

    ============================================================

     

    And I`m afraid to say that was a silly answer.

     

     

    Some doctors do work for virtually nothing.

     

    Medecins san frontières.

     

    Fidels medics.

     

    Selfless self sacrifice.

     

     

    No point in taking this further , but I must say this.

     

    I wonder if the ,what I would consider to be ,strange reaction on C.Q.N.to this dispute is related , at least in part, to the fact that the govt. is a Tory one.

     

     

    I`m reminded of “Yes,Minister “.

     

    The hospital with no doctors and no patients.

  3. Saint Stivs says SACK THE BOARD on

    MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 9:15 PM

     

    ERNIE LYNCH on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 9:08 PM

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I`ll say it again.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ” I don`t refer to things I have little or no knowledge of. ”

     

     

     

     

    =======================================================================

     

     

     

     

     

     

    By any rational measure a doctor who emigrates after being educated here is doing far more damage to the NHS than a doctor who goes on strike.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Tell that to the 4,000 patients whose operations have had to be postponed.

     

     

     

     

    That`ll make them feel better.

     

     

    ————————–##

     

     

    if a migrant doctor has to do 4000 operations, no wonder they are going on strike.

     

     

    thats some shift

  4. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    garygillespieshamstring on 25th February 2016 9:16 pm

     

     

    Fundraising idea

     

    Participants guess how many times The Great Warbo will say respect, respectfully or that people are being disrespectful to him between now and the end of the season.

     

     

    Closest takes all the money. :)

     

    – ————

     

    With the greatest of respect, that’s disrespectful……

  5. DD

     

    Most of the people here are Real fans, a smattering of Barca and Granada, one Bilbao and one Atletico that I know of, but the great thing I like is when El Clasico is on, they mingle in the bar, drink copious amounts and they congrat each other when the game is over, never a hint of bother, they have to wake up and live with each other the next again day, it’s magic so it is.

     

    HH

     

    …………………………….

     

    The higher they build up the hun, the further he has to fall, just ask the fat gardner.

  6. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    SAINT STIVS SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 10:37 PM

     

     

    :-)

     

     

    Affoot , lads.

  7. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    The last thing Alec Ferguson was told in the 4 nil cup final was to block big Billys run at corners. Watch the game Bhoys and u will see Fergie hold his head as big Billy plants it!!!!!

     

     

     

    H H

  8. garygillespieshamstring on

    Glasstwothirdsfull

     

     

    Guilty as charged.

     

     

    Was going to just use initials instead of your full moniker but I thought if I typed GTF, that might also be disrespectful. :)

  9. Saint Stivs says SACK THE BOARD on

    celtic 4 rangers 0

     

     

    1969,

     

     

    fergie head on hands,

     

     

    ugly huns riot,

     

     

    brilliant commentary

     

     

    “the jet propelled lennox”

     

     

    “rangers another blunder, connelly makes it 3-0”

     

     

    “chalmers made it 4 nil”

     

     

    “the police had to move in and clear the crowd”

     

     

    “celtic mastered the rangers”

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4ai7kp_8cg

  10. Stevie Wonder

     

    Premonition about the collapse of the Evil Empire

     

     

    “Sir Duped”

     

     

    The Onlooker

  11. Forgot to add the lyrics

     

     

    Sir Duped

     

     

    “you can feel its all over,

     

    You can feel its all over peepul”

     

     

     

    Getting a re release in 2016 : )

     

    The Onlooker

  12. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    JUDE2005 IS NEIL LENNON \O/ on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 10:42 PM

     

    The last thing Alec Ferguson was told in the 4 nil cup final was to block big Billys run at corners. Watch the game Bhoys and u will see Fergie hold his head as big Billy plants it!!!!!

     

     

    ==========================================================================

     

    Maybe.

     

    Perhaps Ferguson was told to guard the near post because we can see John Greig pointing to the post where.I assume Ferguson should have been .

     

     

    Another cracker is the 2-1 cup final win over the hun in June` 71.

     

    Harry Hood scores from the penalty and then turns round and gives the Vicky to one of the huns. I would imagine in response to something which was said.

  13. 21Nov2006-HH ,I think we’ve enough for a double album,but it will be one of those Top of the Pops copies,you used to get at The Barras :))

  14. More apt Stevland Judkins songs:-

     

     

    I believe (when I’m liquidated- it will be forever)

     

    I gave up Quality for quantity (true title)

     

    I go sailing (but not with Bill Struth)

     

    I’m New (and so’s my club)

     

    If it’s magic (it must be my hat)

     

    Kiss my Holo De Ye

     

    Monkey Talk

     

    Pinnochio’s Evolution (the Chairman’s song)

     

    Queen in the Black (no thanks to our tax paying policy)

  15. thomthethim for Oscar OK on 25th February 2016 7:04 pm

     

     

    Tontine Tim,

     

     

    I remember Joe Mercer’s comment.

     

     

    He was interviewed on the Wembley pitch, immediately after the game.

     

     

    The interviewer told him, ” bye the way, Celtic have won the Scòttish Cup”.

     

     

    JM replied, ” if they had been playing here, they would have won this one, too”.

     

     

    *I was out of the country at the time but was led to believe that Jock was interviewed on Grandstand just after the game was over. Seemingly David Coleman said “4-0 Jock was it as easy as that”, to which the Big Mhan replied “aye David it was as easy as that”.

  16. Ye Know when Sandys girl sang that Lea Maalfrid song in the early 80’s

     

    Iv’e yet to hear any Scottish singer hit such perfect notes.

     

    And them there eyes……..Thank you Mr and Mrs Orr.

     

    Just Thinkin.

     

     

     

     

    H.H.

  17. Saint Stivs says SACK THE BOARD on

    Celtic 2-0 Rangers Scottish Cup Quarter Final 1997

     

     

    I sometimes forget that Paul McStay played with Di Canio & Cadete.

     

     

    this is a brilliant half hour watch, hun thuggery, and we should have had 5 penalties in the game.

     

     

    Paul, Paulo and Tosh, and Phil, and Peter , all brilliant,

     

     

    oh how Paul should have been there in 1998 when we stopped the 10.

     

     

    oh how Tommy Burns, and his Celtic team deserved to stop them at 8.

     

     

    its a good watch, try not to lose your temper,

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gekuxLpzwXs&ebc=ANyPxKo6QfCDcDnRnQOpsUs7DPQCmvN55-hXQs2TReEi854_r5MU3oMCqnTcXDvgKHXXQak06_qZJVQG7BK0jrYf0K4LWd7ezA

  18. I was at that 4-0 game in 1969, was just a young fella, my Da wrote to the sfa for tickets, they arrived the day before the game, he complained and got his money back, the power of the cabal knows no bounds :-)

  19. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    JUDE2005 IS NEIL LENNON \O/ on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 11:20 PM

     

    Willie henderson told me that story!!!

     

    =======================================================

     

     

    Well you tell him he`s wrang.

     

    :-)

     

     

    That`s virtually the whole game I posted earlier.

     

    Have a look.

  20. Good evening one and all.

     

     

    If anyone knows the current whereabouts of any of the folk mentioned below would you politely encourage them to email their Week 1 pick for Last Man Standing to cqnpredictor@gmail.com . Still room to squeeze a few more entrants in – now at 104….

     

     

    Sponsored by Cheetah, Norfolk Enchants, Green Eyed Ghirl, EddieinKirkmichael, Angelgabriel, Bigshuggy, Nakasami, Nakasami2, Sipsini, Elharto, Bada Bing, EKs Holy Goalie, Cosy Corner Bhoy, Paddybhoy1888, Blantyre Tim, Graffitionthewall

  21. Saint Stivs

     

     

    I remember first year Saint Thomas Aquinas. A guidance lesson. We were all asked what we wanted to do when we left school. Doctor, Fireman, Mechanic were the main answers. My mate sitting next to me stated to the teacher that he wanted to play for Celtic. Tosh McKinlay lived the dream.

  22. Saint Stivs says SACK THE BOARD on

    DELANEYS DUNKY on 25TH FEBRUARY 2016 11:38 PM

     

    Saint Stivs

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I remember first year Saint Thomas Aquinas. A guidance lesson. We were all asked what we wanted to do when we left school. Doctor, Fireman, Mechanic were the main answers. My mate sitting next to me stated to the teacher that he wanted to play for Celtic. Tosh McKinlay lived the dream.

     

     

    —————-

     

    i applied for the position of

     

     

    handsome hun finder general.

     

     

    still here, i think it might be a job for life

     

     

    “have you found a handsome hun ?”

     

     

    no

     

     

    no

  23. @Jude..RE.. Wee Wullie…Non related story…

     

    When I played under Ralph Brand when he was managing Darlington.

     

    We had the usual 15min warm up…then game…then the dreaded shuttles.

     

    Anyways last man standing was me ..So Ralph takes the recovery time

     

    And says to me ..Jeez the only guy I know with a pulse recovery that fast is willie hendo.

     

    Says me (at 20)Ye Kiddin my faither drinks wae Jinky.

     

    God Bless Dad 1 year ago yesterday.

     

    H.H.

  24. @Bobby ..ooft thank you

     

    Spent three months learnin that……..in the wrong key..

     

     

     

     

     

     

    H.H.

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