Representing FC Spartak Moscow fans is Sem who reached out to me from the Spartak fan site fratria.org. I would like to thank him for contributing and sharing his views with us. Let him know what you think in the comments.
1)What do you think about your opponents in the group?
Honestly and a happy about the teams in our Group. Any team in Pot 1 was going to be tough and Barcelona are probably the best of them, but there was no real weak team. Benfica are a good team and had a strong year last time. They will give us a good game. No disrespect but I do not think Celtic will concern the other teams too much. They have not done anything in years and we have improved a lot from our last meeting.
2)How do you feel about getting Celtic from pot 4?
Personally I was delighted. There were easier teams to compete against but at least it was not the German Champions Borussia Dortmund. Plus it will give us a chance for revenge when you won fortunately on penalties last time we played.
3) Who is your star player and most likely to cause us concern?
We have some very talented players at Spartak now. You of course know of Aiden McGeady and
Emmanuel Emenike will score goals for us. We have high hopes for young Brazilian international Romulo to become the star player but currently that title would go to Welliton. He is our best player right now. He scores some great goals but more importantly he scores some bad goals. He is injured but hopefully will be back for the Champions League.
4) Who do you think is Celtics star/best player?
I do not know much about the current Celtic team, but I did not know much about them last time either. I am sure there are good players. Samaras was at the Euro’s but he is injured. Hooper scored a lot of goals for you last year, so he will be dangerous. Watching some Celtic highlights the big midfielder Wanyama looks strong and hard to get past. He will need to be good for you I think.
5) We sold you Aiden McGeady. Are you going to thank us or dislike us?
We will thank you, though we paid good money for him. Aiden is a very talented player and maybe even the most skillful on the team. I would like him to score more, but he creates chances for others. He will always be a first team player.
6) How do you predict the group will finish? first, second, third, fourth
I never like to predict but if I have to, I see Barcelona as first, Celtic as fourth and it would be between us and Benfica for second and third. You might think I am being hard on your team, but what have you done in the last five years since we met? Lost to Aalborg, Villareal, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Hambur, Braga, Utrecht and Sion as well. Not to mention Arsenal, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid. I think you can add Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow to that list soon as well.
7) Who will win the Celtic – Spartak games?
I would take a win at home and a draw, but would be disappointed if we do not get two wins. I hope you give us a good game, I just can’t see it happening.
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It sounds like this chap is taking a few things for granted, and I only hope that opposition players come to Celtic park with the same complacency.
Can we make sure the team see this?
Hope this guy chokes on his words!
Comments so far are as I would expect. That’s what happens when you don’t dine at the big table for a while.
The good thing is that a lot of teams are undervaluing our home record in the CL and I think with paradise packed out and rocking we can still take the majority of the points at home.
TBH, The guy is spot on, other than our past home record, what evidence is there to the contrary?
So Celtic have not done anything for 5 years,
And what have Spartak done exactly? they have not won their league for 11 years, knocked our of the Europa League qualifiers last year and been without a single trophy since 2003.
Looks like you are making giant strides Sem.
You’re last great European campaign was getting to the Europa League Quarter final and getting humped 10-2 over two legs by Porto.
Our last great European campaign was getting to the final of the same competition against the same opposition (managed my Mourinho) and getting beat 3-2 AET.
You have never been to a European Final in your entire history!
Celtic are going to tear you’re diddy team a new one at Parkhead.
Dear Sem,
Thank you for your honest assessment of the group.
The one variable that you may not be aware of is our manager Neil Lennon. To have a manager who is at one with the ethos of the club and who identifies, understands and respects our support can be a powerful weapon. We are very united at Celtic right now.
Spartak will be lucky to get anything from Celtic Park. Celtic will win and we will get a draw in Moscow.
If it is of any consolation your fans will be made very welcome by Celtic fans. You can walk into a bar en-route to the stadium and you will be met by genuine warmth and bonhomie.
Rather provocative comments but hey what I come to expect from Russian fans never seem interested In making friends. I expect them to bottle it at celtic park.
Sem,
Having watched the current Spartak side, they are a poor reflection on the team that we played a few years ago. I think you have way over estimated your chances. If Celtic get things right, they will take 4 points from Spartak.
cant disagree with the guy, we are a wee fish as far as europe goes. our defence and too a lesser degree midfield struggle against pace. every single team in europe has this, we dont. helsingborg had good pace but couldnt finish, bigger teams will not make this mistake. anything other than 4th for us is a major achievment, teams in europe do not fear us anymore and there is a reason for that, we are not at the required level to trouble them. we will be again but just not yet, i would say we only have 4-5 players who are champions league quality the other 3 teams have a minimum of 8-9!
Cheeky cunt he’ll get knocked out if he wanders down the gallowgate. Think these teams are in for a shock (maybe nrot barca ) Mon the hoops get intae these bams
GB, Aye, nae bother rocket, enjoy the ramsdens cup TAL
The sort of comments you’d expect from our opponents who’ve never seen us at the big stage for too long. Although I do think he’s being far too dismissive of us at home, he’s right on one thing…what HAVE we done in the last few years? However that was then, and this is now. This is a relatively new and young team, and they’ve done well to get here so far and help erase the failures if their predecessors before them. It was unacceptable for Celtic in the past to be in the mercy of Euro fodder such as Aalborg, sion, utrecht, Hapoel tel aviv etc.