So Good We Should Have Been Wearing Suits….
After a conversation yesterday concerning the olden days when men wore suits, flat caps and had handle bar mustachios- its unfortunate that they are still sported by some at CP- our performance harked back to that era. An era when we would take on the best by playing pure fitbaw. None of this brutal, physical power play pesh for this group of bhoys, ball on the deck, pass, pass, move and pass.
So how does last night rank alongside other great nights we have had a CP? Better than Juventus? Yes, they had already qualified, rested a few players and took a typical Italian attitude to the game in those circumstances. Porto? Good result, good performance but never reached the footballing utopia of last night. Anderlect? We should have been humping them, as we were a far better side. Barca? Great night but we were outplayed for spells against them; result was more satisfying than the performance.
Last night was up there with our performance against Lyon. A game that was pivotal in the make up of the group. A game against the technically better team who fancied themselves to finish 2nd quite easily in the group. A team who thought they would just turn up and we would roll over. The end result was the same, European aristocrats getting papped back on their plane with their tail firmly between their legs.
The eagles of Lisboa showed towards the end of the 1st half that they are a good team. A team that had the quality to go and win at old Trafford and Anfield. They looked like a Portuguese team. All teams from that country have the same make up. They have a wee long haired midfielder, usually kept oot of his eyes with a hair band, directing traffic in the middle of the park, strikers with pace and slight builds, a smattering of sooth Americans working their ticket, centre halves that look cumbersome and the usual jester of a goalie.
Oh and they like a dive, to play-act and generally are cheating b*stards. As per se the ref fell for this and gave the usual inconstant and bizarre European ref performance.
We had no right to get a result like the one we did last night. We had no right to over turn a competent European team with our inexperienced, young and missing 4 1st team picks- 2 who were bought for the CL- but if anything we are a bloody honest side and we are now seeing a team hopefully developing into a great side.
While developing we will have set backs all young teams do, and there is nothing to stop Benfica giving us a terrible shooing in Lisboa. But somehow I don’t think a terrible shooing is in this team make up. We never got one at Old Trafford and while Benfica are still favourites to win in two weeks they haven’t scored in the CL yet and oor Arfur, Mick and Gary are keeping clean sheets for fun in Europe.
We all thought that when MON left that the monopoly of CL scalps and fortress CP left with him. We all never thought we would scale the heights again after the downsizing of the squad and the reducing of quality. But what we never factored for was individual brilliance and sheer bloody mindedness from the coaching staff and players some term as journeymen others as no Celtic class.
What right has Kenny Miller to be causing havoc to the Benfica backline? What right does he have to be a pest and a nark to all in sundry by out jumping, hassling and giving experienced backline problems. What right does he have to have such a nonchalant celebration in front of the old jungle after one of the best goals I have ever seen at CP? What right does Evander Sno have to be not fazed by a European night at CP and end up looking like he was enjoying it? What right has Gary Caldwell and Big Mick to be shutting oot team in Europe when we, well some thought, that they would struggle to keep oot St Mirren?
I tell you, they have the bloody right due to hard work, both on and off the park, and ability, yes sir hold the back page our team has ability. Seems a long way since Poland and the USA. Our fringe players are now doing a job and are good enough to come in and compete at the topper most level. See did I call Shaun, Magic and Sno fringe players there? They are 1st team players, in a 1st team squad and with our workload now looking like it will extend to after xmas then they will be utilised and are 1st team players.
The comparison between MON team and GS team can only be drawn when oor CL campaign is over. We used to say they canny be compared due to the money spent etc but GS side is getting the knack of winning when playing badly just like a certain Ulsterman’s team used to and we have a constancy that we have been used to over the last couple of years.
We canny get carried away, well we can where is the final being played? as if we fail now to finish 2nd we will have collapsed like a cheap tent on the Ochil’s in a gale and last night result will be worth a box full of Fairpak Christmas vouchers. But let live in the moment eh?
The crowd last night was magnificent. I for one have a go but when we are good we are good. There is not a better arena in Europe on a CL night than in Glesga’s east end. It surely has now the reputation in Europe that the Camp Nou, San Siro and the likes have in Europe. Players must want to come and play there on these special occasions. Hell even the bloke in front of me was singing last night, he usually takes notes in a wee pad and doesn’t swear when shouting abuse. 5 years and I think that is the 1st time I have seen him smile never mind bloody sing.
But on Saturday we will have a come down. The expectations of humping a rejuvenated Motherwell side 136-0 will take over and the slightest mistake will be meet with howls. Hopefully we can give this team a break eh? After a night like last night and a performance, not seen since probably the early 80’s in Europe, we know that there will be a hangover. A bit disjointed, slack maybe more route one but if it gets another 3 points then it’s worth it.
On the way home on wag said “That wiz so guid I forgot to shout abuse at Telfer, will need tae make up for it on Saturday”
Fantastic Expectations indeed.
Hail Hail
So how does last night rank alongside other great nights we have had a CP? Better than Juventus? Yes, they had already qualified, rested a few players and took a typical Italian attitude to the game in those circumstances. Porto? Good result, good performance but never reached the footballing utopia of last night. Anderlect? We should have been humping them, as we were a far better side. Barca? Great night but we were outplayed for spells against them; result was more satisfying than the performance.
Last night was up there with our performance against Lyon. A game that was pivotal in the make up of the group. A game against the technically better team who fancied themselves to finish 2nd quite easily in the group. A team who thought they would just turn up and we would roll over. The end result was the same, European aristocrats getting papped back on their plane with their tail firmly between their legs.
The eagles of Lisboa showed towards the end of the 1st half that they are a good team. A team that had the quality to go and win at old Trafford and Anfield. They looked like a Portuguese team. All teams from that country have the same make up. They have a wee long haired midfielder, usually kept oot of his eyes with a hair band, directing traffic in the middle of the park, strikers with pace and slight builds, a smattering of sooth Americans working their ticket, centre halves that look cumbersome and the usual jester of a goalie.
Oh and they like a dive, to play-act and generally are cheating b*stards. As per se the ref fell for this and gave the usual inconstant and bizarre European ref performance.
We had no right to get a result like the one we did last night. We had no right to over turn a competent European team with our inexperienced, young and missing 4 1st team picks- 2 who were bought for the CL- but if anything we are a bloody honest side and we are now seeing a team hopefully developing into a great side.
While developing we will have set backs all young teams do, and there is nothing to stop Benfica giving us a terrible shooing in Lisboa. But somehow I don’t think a terrible shooing is in this team make up. We never got one at Old Trafford and while Benfica are still favourites to win in two weeks they haven’t scored in the CL yet and oor Arfur, Mick and Gary are keeping clean sheets for fun in Europe.
We all thought that when MON left that the monopoly of CL scalps and fortress CP left with him. We all never thought we would scale the heights again after the downsizing of the squad and the reducing of quality. But what we never factored for was individual brilliance and sheer bloody mindedness from the coaching staff and players some term as journeymen others as no Celtic class.
What right has Kenny Miller to be causing havoc to the Benfica backline? What right does he have to be a pest and a nark to all in sundry by out jumping, hassling and giving experienced backline problems. What right does he have to have such a nonchalant celebration in front of the old jungle after one of the best goals I have ever seen at CP? What right does Evander Sno have to be not fazed by a European night at CP and end up looking like he was enjoying it? What right has Gary Caldwell and Big Mick to be shutting oot team in Europe when we, well some thought, that they would struggle to keep oot St Mirren?
I tell you, they have the bloody right due to hard work, both on and off the park, and ability, yes sir hold the back page our team has ability. Seems a long way since Poland and the USA. Our fringe players are now doing a job and are good enough to come in and compete at the topper most level. See did I call Shaun, Magic and Sno fringe players there? They are 1st team players, in a 1st team squad and with our workload now looking like it will extend to after xmas then they will be utilised and are 1st team players.
The comparison between MON team and GS team can only be drawn when oor CL campaign is over. We used to say they canny be compared due to the money spent etc but GS side is getting the knack of winning when playing badly just like a certain Ulsterman’s team used to and we have a constancy that we have been used to over the last couple of years.
We canny get carried away, well we can where is the final being played? as if we fail now to finish 2nd we will have collapsed like a cheap tent on the Ochil’s in a gale and last night result will be worth a box full of Fairpak Christmas vouchers. But let live in the moment eh?
The crowd last night was magnificent. I for one have a go but when we are good we are good. There is not a better arena in Europe on a CL night than in Glesga’s east end. It surely has now the reputation in Europe that the Camp Nou, San Siro and the likes have in Europe. Players must want to come and play there on these special occasions. Hell even the bloke in front of me was singing last night, he usually takes notes in a wee pad and doesn’t swear when shouting abuse. 5 years and I think that is the 1st time I have seen him smile never mind bloody sing.
But on Saturday we will have a come down. The expectations of humping a rejuvenated Motherwell side 136-0 will take over and the slightest mistake will be meet with howls. Hopefully we can give this team a break eh? After a night like last night and a performance, not seen since probably the early 80’s in Europe, we know that there will be a hangover. A bit disjointed, slack maybe more route one but if it gets another 3 points then it’s worth it.
On the way home on wag said “That wiz so guid I forgot to shout abuse at Telfer, will need tae make up for it on Saturday”
Fantastic Expectations indeed.
Hail Hail
posted by Keving at Wednesday, October 18, 2006
6 Comments:
Great article Kevin. Actually since you have had the blog revamped all your articles have become much better written. Are you getting someone else to do it for you?! :)
Last night was magnificent, truly magnificent. The joy’s of being a Celtic fan eh?! It’s what European games at CP are all about. Great atmosphere, sublime football, an over confident opposition and some dodgy refereeing, to boot. Ye canny beat it, man!!
I though Naka was top class last night too. Always available and some of his tricks were phenomenal. His little back heel in the first half and his Ronaldinhioesque trick at the corner flag at the end of the game. Breath taking! He really seems to relish the European stage. Honestly, if he played like that every week he would be at Barca or AC Milan.
The fans were great last night but walking down the never ending stairs at full time, there were two guys in front of me moaning about someone’s “defensive positioning”. Our best result in years and these two are still looking for something or someone to moan about.
In a nasal tone “I mean one of these days a team are really going to punish us because of it. I shake my head at Strachan for picking him. It’s unforgivable”
I don’t know who they were talking about but I’d hazard a guess at The Telfmiester, who I thought barring getting beat for pace once or twice had a really good game.
Ah well they can moan till the cows come home while the rest of us celebrate another famous result at CP.
“There’s only one Gordon Strachan , one Gordon Strachan......”
I liked that comment about YOUR tent in the Ochils but the comment that does indeed sum up our finest evening at Celtic Park since that Lyon match is `that`s fitbaw`
Hail! Hail!
Five weeks to the Man U game if you`re going for a made to measure suit!
Never mind Livorno, they haven`t a leghorn to stand on. The Newcastle game is on ch 5 if you don`t want to damage your TV.
It`s on to Motherwell and the atmosphere will be much different. It`s a pity that big JVoH is not available but I`m sure that we`ll get there in the end.
Come on the `tic!
The Newcastle game was quite good and they looked okay at times. No doubt the BBC Scotland people were rejoicing. I didn`t miss that!
Much more important is Motherwell tomorrow. Come on the Bhoys!
Sometimes you wonder if you`re actually seeing what`s going on. Just about every foul committed by Motherwell was played on and every tackle by a Celt was penalised. Assault was allowed! Well done to the team for keeping calm.
As expected the game was an anticlimax and one or two changes may have helped but Gordon Strachan did allude to the importance to work on possible plays with different personnel before they get on the field.
That`s the first 11 matches out of the way and it would be nice to do as well in the next 11. A big lead at this time of the season can be difficult to handle but our Bhoys can handle it!
Did you hear JJ praise Hearts after the game? That`s two opponents he praises. :-)
I find that I`m going to CQN less and less. It`s still interesting but there are more contributors on this site. :-)
I see that Setanta will keep us waiting until Sunday this week allowing Hearts to catch us up before we play. Maybe some of the injuries will get better.
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