The dust has settled on what has been, up until Tuesday, a very successful European campaign. Given that a lot of us fans feel disappointed about the Juventus game, I would say it’s possibly a good indicator of how far we have come.
To begin with, I have to say I am disappointed with some of our fans. As the 3rd goal went in, some fans stood up and slammed their seats and left muttering about how much of a disgrace the team were. For me, if the team are such a disgrace, then don’t go along to watch them. I say watch instead of support as that isn’t supporting anyone.
The likliehood is that some, not all, will be glory hunters who only went along so that they can look back in several years and say they were at a last 16 match at Celtic Park. I have no ideas where these guys are now but I suspect they won’t be back at Celtic Park for a wee while and wont be there for the games against the so called smaller clubs.
For me, you support the team and then if you have something to complain about, do it after the game but how leaving early can possibly benefit the team is beyond me.
Anyway, on to the game itself, at the start of this season, a lot of folk never expected us to qualify for the group stages never mind qualify for the last sixteen.
When you look at the match stats, we had far more attempts on target but failed to score. Juventus had 4 shots on target and scored 3 goals. They were a clinical team. Shortly after the game, I tweeted that I felt we were beaten by a more ruthless and experienced team.
We certainly did not disgrace ourselves. If anything, you could say it’s a complete role reversal of some matches that we play against some SPL opponents where the opposition leave with a 3-0 defeat and wonder how that happened ?
Part of me says that if one team scored 3 and the other didn’t score, then the score deserves to be 3-0. The other part of me is aware that there’s a bit more to a football game than just the final score. As daft as it seems for a 3-0 loss, there are some positives to be taken from the match.
We showed that we can create chances and above all, we showed a very disciplined performance. How many reading this could take constant pushing, shoving, grappling and being wrestled without reacting or ‘lamping’ their opponent.
They were also what you might call a pretty “fly” football team when it came to defending against us. It’s not really a secret that our main threat in these European games come from corners and set pieces. Recently, Neil Lennon has said that he will be seeking clarification from UEFA over what is and isn’t allowed, within the rules, to defend corners.
Given the fact that some referees will given a penalty kick when a defender obstructs an opponent and Tuesday’s referee didn’t, it would appear that the guys who are paid a massive amount of money to enforce the rules don’t even know what they are.
Although, the more paranoid among us might even suggest that there was corruption and that the referee had been paid to ensure that Juventus qualified I would have to question that as I have no ideas who would do this and what their motivation would be.
I would suggest that the referee was very poor. Perhaps some of the worse refereeing at Celtic Park since we were unfortunate enough to have the man sacked for circulating bigoted emails, Hugh Dallas.
Corruption within Italian football has been there before and given that the referee had not been giving us any of the ‘big’ decisions, I can see why it may lead to some fans to think there could be something more dark and sinister than incompetence.
I have no ideas on how the ref normally handles similar situations but from reading an article on Celtic Quick News, there is a suggestion that Juventus had researched the referee and they build their game plan, or at least the defensive part of it accordingly.
Neil Lennon was quoted as saying he might just ask our defenders to defend in the same manner. As much as I know this wouldn’t happen, I would love to see us do that for a few games. Have I lost my mind when I say this? Perhaps, but it would be interesting to see how differently a Scottish referee interprets the same events.
Really, the game is gone and there’s nothing that any of us can do about it now. Moving on, my hope is that the players who are still around next season along with the manager are able to learn from it. With the spine of the team the same plus a bit more creativity, maybe we could get to the same stage again or even go one better?
Think back to Neil Lennon’s first foray into European football – knocked out at the qualifiers. To a decent Europa League campaign to qualifying for the last sixteen of the Champions League. If that’s his rate of progression then I am happy with that.
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It speaks volumes for the bhoys that an experienced European giant comes to Celtic Park and plays counter attacking football against us. Regardless of the wrestling at set pieces, Juve are masters at defending. They never lost their shape, constantly 2 banks of four sitting just in front of the 18 yard line. Clinical finishing up front. We had chances but most were hit directly at Buffon. A defeat is a defeat and 3-0 certainly flattered Juve. The Bhoys can take a lot of heart from this game. It will be exactly the same in Turin. Win lose or draw, we do it together.
Well said Joe (and Steven in the original blog).
Juventus were obviously worried enough to take these measures against us. Our young team are developing quickly and when they have more experience behind them, we will see even further progress.
However, there are plenty in our support who need to learn as well. They, of course, never make mistakes, do they? Keep behind the team. As the man said, we are in this together. Hail, hail!
I read the CQN article that you mentioned, and I’d now like to know if Juventus managed to find out the name of the referee more than 48 hours before the game?
Is it really possible that they studied the referees performances, found his weaknesses, devised their cheating at corners and whole game strategies, and travelled to Glasgow all within 48 hours.
It’s not like they don’t have any previous when it comes to greasing people’s palms.
The referee was announced on Sunday, did Juve have instant access to dvd’s of all the possible referees that they could then study to determine their tactics for a game on Tuesday night?
Something doesn’t add up…
Got to agree about the glory hunters. It’s same people who didn’t renew their ST cos there were no games against the Huns. BUT I have to say going to parkhead these days is becoming more of a hassle than anything. I always leave the game around 84 mins regardless of who we are playing because if I don’t I’m around an hour longer for a journey that normally takes me 15 mins.
The ticket prices (for non ST holders) are a disgrace. Who wants to pay £29 to see Celtic play st. Mirren for the 5th time in 7 months? Then if we want a bovril and a pie ur talking around £5.50. Then we’re treated like children by not allowing us to have a drink – I mean how drunk can someone get in 90 mins??? IMO going to the football has become too boring and middle class (at parkhead anyway). I much prefer away games where it feels like a day out and everyone stands and sings.
I really hope we get safe standing areas at parkhead as this will be motivation for more people to go. Oh and while I’m ranting, why won’t Glasgow build a proper subway system like every other big city in the world!!!
I thought Celtic played really well last tuesday. At times I thought we moved the ball very well and played fast attacking football which was good to watch. Yes, we should have been more clinical and individual errors cost us dear but at times we were good.
I agree some of the supporters are a disgrace. Were these guys around during the early 90s? I went more then than I am able to now and can assure you it was a different game, especially with the fraudsters winning everything.
I remember when almost everyone stayed till the end. It amazes me that anyone will spend 20 minutes queueing up for a pie then leave with 10 minutes to go. You are only there for 2 hours. Or are Celtic’s supporters all surgeons on their way to save lives every week. Where do all these people have to rush off to?
For me personally I’d rather be sitting in the house or pub than sitting in traffic for an hour!
Labelling fellow Celtic fans “a disgrace” for leaving a match early is a disgrace, in my opinion. I always leave early to avoid sitting in traffic for an hour. And I was around in the early 90’s. I have been around since the early 60’s.
I also agree with KevinBarry – the price of tickets for non ST holders is ridiculous. I understand ST holders should get preferential rates but the difference for the Juve game was £12, or 32.4% if you prefer. Bang out of order.
In the game, we would only have got 1 penalty if the ref was stronger. Juve are not daft and would have altered tack. Who knows how the game would have played out after that. Would they have sacrificed something in mid or attack to bolster their defence? With similar pressure in the box in Turin, we may get that pen. If it is early in the game…you know where I am going with this. C’Mon the hoops…..Incidently, I always stay the 90mins, and it gets on my tits folk leaving. It’s a distraction, and must be for the team. Park further away and walk if you want to beat traffic!
I’ve been to two Celtic matches in Scotland, Scottish Cup QF vs. Dundee United at Hampden and vs. Livingston at Parkhead (Henrik broke his jaw early on). Late January and early February in ’03. It was tits cold outside(I’m from Arizona) and I stayed the entire 90 minutes plus stoppage time. I then walked back to the city center to the hotel I was staying at.
Now, you may say that since I was there on vacation that of course I’d stay the entire time. But really, I’d stay no matter what because I love Celtic. In the States everyone makes fun of LA Dodgers fans(baseball) because they always leave in the 8th inning. It saddens me that Celtic have these “fairweather”/”bandwagon” fans. I thought football/soccer fans were supposed to be the best of any sport.
I’m pretty sure I stayed the full 90 mins on my first two games too but I’ve been to too many Celtic games to even count and its up to me whether I want to leave with 6 mins to go or not – it doesn’t mean I love Celtic any more or any less than anyone else. I went to see Barcelona a couple of years ago while on holiday and stayed the full 90 mins but it doesn’t mean I love them more than Celtic. It was just because I didn’t have things I needed to do or places I had to be!
i agree with most callers and think back to 2010 and the progresswe have made since the darkdays of mowbray, keep up the good work- mon the hoops
I agree 100% with everything you said steven we claim to be (the best fans in the world) well then let’s show it for 90 min don’t fuck off in a huff because we were getting beat off one of the best teams in the world. Also i have seen Lennon getting abuse on twitter from so called fans about the result it’s a disgrace celtic have not been in sure a good position in my life time but certain fans are still no happy! Some of them should Get a life
I can understand why some people would want to leave early. People can say “I want to beat traffic” but we all know that’s a Bullshit answer. The real reason people left was because it was possibly the worst defeat we’ve ever had at parkhead in terms of the context obviously. (It was our most high profile game in the CL and we were all over them) its understandable to an extent. We all had so much confidence that we would get a result.
It’s like Megan Fox asking you out on a date, your so exited you go get a hair cut, shave yer nads, hit the gym, buy some new cologne then you get to the date, its going well, she asks you back to her place, you get in bed then she shouts a camaraderie crew in to show the whole world how small your penis is. It would be devostating. I see peoples point in how it looks bad on our high profile fans hype and how it could effect the team. But in all honesty, it doesn’t make them less of a fan for being heart broken.
Put it this way mate, a stayed the full time to celebrate after the barca game. It was hard enough trying to get near the car never mind get driving. Am sure I got my son home at about 23.35, then had to get him up for school again in morning. It’s no really too good for the wee man! A stayed the full game after the spartak game cos a went with my mate then we were just going back to the pub after so nae problem there. But when I leave its defo to be the traffic. Other Celtic fans can slag me for it if they want but am the fanny that pays a fortune every year to watch my team while the vast majority of them sit in the hoose watching first row sports. So if I wanty leave early then I will.
Ps that’s no the wee mans first midweek game. I’ve never stayed the full time at any other euro game or Huns game.