Champions League 2012-13

Champions League groups:

Group A: Porto, Dynamo Kiev, Paris St Germain, Dinamo Zagreb

Group B: Arsenal, Schalke, Olympiakos, Montpellier

Group C: AC Milan, Zenit St Petersburg, Anderlecht, Malaga

Group D: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Ajax, Borussia Dortmund

Group E: Chelsea, Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, FC Nordsjaelland

Group F: Bayern Munich, Valencia, Lille, BATE Borisov

Group G: Barcelona, Benfica, Spartak Moscow, Celtic

Group H: Manchester United, Braga, Galatasaray, CFR Cluj

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Man U as ever land on their feet. Their neighbours will find it tough. Mcgeady goes back to Celtic who also have a tough group. As ever at this stage nothing to get terribly excited about unless you support one of the clubs.

Man City and Celtic's groups are the most interesting for me. I'm glad they are playing on different nights as I have little interest in the other groups.

Real Madrid v Man City on Tuesday is very appealing. Will McGeady enjoy the open spaces at the Nou Camp? A must win for Celtic you feel if they're to have any chance of qualification but I suspect they'd be more than happy with a Europa League spot.

He's not the most passionate of blokes is he...

http://ballsdot.wpengine.netdna-cdn....12/09/jose.gif

Enjoyed the game. I stuck with it even though the goals were going in at Montpellier. The ITV commentator had the George Hamilton curse when he thought the game was won when City went 1-2 up with a few minutes to go. He had been praising Joe Harte all night and of course.....

I wish these "cheer leaders" in the crowd with megaphones could be banned. Many teams on the continent seem to have them. Irritating. Give me a supporter with a bodhran any day!

Atmosphere at the Bernabeau sounded fabulous on the TV - had a real 'bounce' to it, a South Amercian feel. I hear this sort of nonsense on some of the Celtic Forums - The Green Brigade have organised themselves over the last 5-6 years at Celtic Park and brought colour, song, noise, displays and yet still some fans are whining about the tempo of the songs or the fact that they sing too many new songs and not enough of the traditional songs - Its laughable really the place would be a morgue without them. The atmosphere they create is infectious too, spreads around the ground in no time. Lansdowne Road already has fans with Bodhrans but the atmosphere is generally pi$$ poor (the SS apart and I think they use a megaphone!) these days, I think we just need to move with the times Owlsfan ;)

And just to bring it back on topic - the GB did a fab job on Tuesday night. Four years since the CL anthem had been heard at Celtic Park and the roar at the start of the game was electric. I was happy enough with a point against a Benfica side oozing with experience in the CL. Celtic only had Scott Brown out of 11 starting players with any CL experience. We are not the side that contained Larsson, Sutton, Hartson, Boruc, Nakamura etc. and many Celtic and Non Celtic fans appear to forget that.

We looked solid and largely in control but unfortunately had very little in terms of creativity and never really troubled their keeper. A draw was a fair result. We have players to come back from injury too (Ledley, Kayal, Hooper only played 30 minutes, dare I say it...Stokes). We will do well to finish 3rd in all honesty but I would be happy to get a couple of away points perhaps in Lisbon and/or Moscow which would continue the trend from qualifying and show a maturity or development that we have never had away in europe as long as I can remember.

I came home from work to see the score at 2-2 but no sign of McGeady for Spartak. Injured, suspended, on the bench, dropped, transferred or subbed? Nice winner by Samaras. That guy does my head in sometimes watching him but good header. Apparently Celtic's last away win in the CL was against the Hoops.

McGeady started in a more central role but was taken off around the 70-minute mark.

I feel the same about Samaras but he impressed me last night.

Celtic's last European (CL?) away win was against the Hoops, as in Shamrock Rovers? When was that?

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Celtic's last European (CL?) away win was against the Hoops, as in Shamrock Rovers? When was that?

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1986 0-1. Rovers also lost the away leg 2-0.

They've had three pretty impressive away wins in the Champions League this season, including the two qualifying rounds. That should give them a lot of confidence. They'll need every bit of it going into their next game at the Nou Camp.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

I feel the same about Samaras but he impressed me last night.

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I thought he was horrendous yesterday, with the exception of the goal and a bit of real quality for the Hooper goal that was disallowed.

Samaras generally plays well when I see him, and has the odd game where he is just unplayable. I only saw the last 20 minutes last night but he looked on form, though he was a bit brainless at times in the final minutes, which is to be expected.

I'm a big fan of Samaras for Greece and Celtic, he did well last night in his first start since getting injured for Greece. He has settled into the same role now for both club and country, out wide on the left. I wonder who worked that out first.
I'd have him in the same role for us in a flash, but I don't see why Doyle can't do that role, should we play with the lone striker.

I don't know which game to watch tonight, maybe it will come down to a toss up between Ajax v RM or Man City v Borussia D

I really want to see Borussia play at full tilt after their disappointing campaign last season. I just find it so hard to be excited about a Manchester City game though. They have this way of playing expansive football without being remotely pleasing on the eye.

Dortmund looked a very good team tonight, a transformation from their insipid CL performances last year.

Brilliant goal from Ronaldo for RM's third.

Sickened after that result last night. I thoroughly enjoyed Dortmund carving up City at will. Joe Hart is some keeper all the same.
How Lewandowski missed that sitter...?

I tipped Dortmund last year for at least a final berth. Boy was I wrong.
However... dare I dream this year.

Dortmund were not just good, they were class and came close to playing the EPL Champions off the Park. With the amount of money Mancini has had to spend his team should be winning these games. Instead it looked like 1st division against 3rd. Got me even more worried about next Friday. I hope Hummel's injury is nothing trivial. Great to watch though the quick movement while Man City's team of billionaires lumped it like us but they still got a draw. Can we do the same?

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Originally Posted by geysir

I'm a big fan of Samaras for Greece and Celtic, he did well last night in his first start since getting injured for Greece. He has settled into the same role now for both club and country, out wide on the left. I wonder who worked that out first.
I'd have him in the same role for us in a flash, but I don't see why Doyle can't do that role, should we play with the lone striker.

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I have had to eat my words with Gorgeous George to a fair degree. After a good few years of whatching a very frustrating and often clueless looking Samaras causing smoke to filter out through my ears at Celtic he has actually start to look the part for us, particularly in Europe.

Fantastic goal against Spartak (and a good cross for the first) but actually a fairly average performance those instances apart. He has strength and quite remarkable pace for someone who looks so languid. When he picks the ball up wide he is very direct an drives forward on the diagonal in to the box. I take the point about Doyle playing that role for Ireland but does he have the pace? I dont think so to be honest.

Samaras played out Left to start with against Hearts at the weekend. He hadnt been too successful and was moved in to the centre where he grabbed his goal from.

Wow, you really have to sympathise with Celtic, even though the last goal was completely of their own making. I'm surprised to see they only had 28% of the possession in the game - it seemed like a lot more, though they were battered in the final period.

Immense defensive display from Celtic. For all but the likes of Real Madrid that's the best a visiting team can hope for at the Camp Nou. Always felt Barca would nick it in the end, but delighted with the effort of the players and manager especially. Does Neil Lennon have any sort of a profile in Ireland? Turning into a good looking manager.

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Wow, you really have to sympathise with Celtic, even though the last goal was completely of their own making. I'm surprised to see they only had 28% of the possession in the game - it seemed like a lot more, though they were battered in the final period.

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According to the Telegraph it was 82/18%. As for the final goal, not sure which defender it was but he was so busy keeping his arms down by his side he couldn't jump properly and the ball went over his head. It was real backs to the wall stuff by then and players weren't being closed down. Exhaustion perhaps mind you they kept Messi reasonably quiet by his standards. It is amazing how the top teams do manage to score in the last few minutes. Shame.

Fabulously disciplined performance from Celtic and we even looked dangerous on the counter attack. Just exhaustion I think in the end. 2nd half Barca were relentless but they were not carving us open at will. The keeper had a stomer as did the defence and midfield. BBC had stats as 28%/72%. - Id be inclined to believe it was closer to 80/20 though based on the on screen graphics during the game. Wanyama had a stormer as did Ambrose. I tihnk it was just down to physical and mental exhaustion in the end. Heartbreaking stuff. 94th minute though.....ffs

Manchester City are dreadful. Ajax have torn them apart for the entire half, despite being caught on the counter attack for City's one shot.

Thoroughly enjoyed that. City are woeful.

Anyone see Dortmund and Real?

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Originally Posted by Junior

Fabulously disciplined performance from Celtic and we even looked dangerous on the counter attack. Just exhaustion I think in the end. 2nd half Barca were relentless but they were not carving us open at will. The keeper had a stomer as did the defence and midfield. BBC had stats as 28%/72%. - Id be inclined to believe it was closer to 80/20 though based on the on screen graphics during the game. Wanyama had a stormer as did Ambrose. I tihnk it was just down to physical and mental exhaustion in the end. Heartbreaking stuff. 94th minute though.....ffs

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They were very unlucky, not least because Samaras had to go off before half time. In an ideal world he would have stayed on and Brown (who can only seem to last about an hour with his dodgy hips) would have been the first sub. As it was, using all three subs by around 75 mins left them with nearly 20 mins (inc injury time) to hold out. If they could have brought on someone like Rogne or Matthews with fresh legs at the back they might have been able to come away with the draw. Credit should go to Lennon for observing how other teams had outwitted Barca in Europe (two defensive lines, counter attacks where the ball can be held up, and making the most of their weakness in the air at set pieces), he set the Celtic team out in the best way possible and nearly caused a massive shock, the British (mainly English) press and was full of stuff about how Celtic were undertaking damage limitation, and that if they could escape a 5-6 goal hiding it would be great - but Lennon's team far exceeded those expectations.

Bernd Schuster being very critical of Celtic.
Selective memory...
m.rte.ie/sport/touch/soccer/champions-league/2012/1026/343233-schuster-celtic-shouldnt-be-in-champions-league/

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Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

They were very unlucky, not least because Samaras had to go off before half time. In an ideal world he would have stayed on and Brown (who can only seem to last about an hour with his dodgy hips) would have been the first sub. As it was, using all three subs by around 75 mins left them with nearly 20 mins (inc injury time) to hold out. If they could have brought on someone like Rogne or Matthews with fresh legs at the back they might have been able to come away with the draw. Credit should go to Lennon for observing how other teams had outwitted Barca in Europe (two defensive lines, counter attacks where the ball can be held up, and making the most of their weakness in the air at set pieces), he set the Celtic team out in the best way possible and nearly caused a massive shock, the British (mainly English) press and was full of stuff about how Celtic were undertaking damage limitation, and that if they could escape a 5-6 goal hiding it would be great - but Lennon's team far exceeded those expectations.

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Yeah it was effectively a 4-4-2 with Sammy and Hooper up top which was brave but once Sammy went off, It was more 4-5-1 with Brown ( who as you say cannot seem to last 90 these days due to his hips) supporting Hooper. It just didn't work as well.

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Bernd Schuster being very critical of Celtic.
Selective memory...
m.rte.ie/sport/touch/soccer/champions-league/2012/1026/343233-schuster-celtic-shouldnt-be-in-champions-league/

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The ramblings of a failed coach says Lennon
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20102973

I like this -

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Originally Posted by Neil Lennon

"I was sitting there 60 minutes into the game thinking 'God, what is Bernd Schuster thinking of our performance here, I better change it',"

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Schuster reminds me of Rico whining after UCD sneaking another point from his Barca-like Cork team back in the day.

Irish wit eh.

I love when Barca get hit with results like this and there's ramblings of "not fair"!

Loving Group D. I just wish I could watch all of Dortmund's games and at least make up for my bravado of last year when I said they would **** it!

I'm glad you keep reminding us about your Dortmund tip for last years CL when they played like a bunch of pussies, saves me the task of reminding you.

Dortmund are 2-1 up at half time at the Bernabeu. Serious team.

Not bad from the Dortmund boys, they just might make Bonnie's day yet.
I was more watching the Ajax game though, I really like their midfielder Poulsen, he's at the heart of everything they do.

Was playing a match tonight so missed all the matches bar the results.

Heard Mancini was acting the pr1ck as well...?

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Was playing a match tonight so missed all the matches bar the results.

Heard Mancini was acting the pr1ck as well...?

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Actually he was very magnanimous in defeat. Only blamed two of the six officials for cheating his team out of a win.

Enjoyed the TV3 coverage of it.

Presenter - "Well now we're going to take a look at Roberto Mancini's reaction post match. We would advise that if you have any young children, maybe send them out of the room; there is some inappropriate language."
Cuts to Mancini shouting the ref - "It was a goal. It was a goal."
Presenter - "Again, we apologise for the inappropriate language there."

Looked a bad decision to rule out the goal to me, but City's woes are their own making by and large. Amazing how bad they've been.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Enjoyed the TV3 coverage of it.

Presenter - "Well now we're going to take a look at Roberto Mancini's reaction post match. We would advise that if you have any young children, maybe send them out of the room; there is some inappropriate language."
Cuts to Mancini shouting the ref - "It was a goal. It was a goal."
Presenter - "Again, we apologise for the inappropriate language there."

Looked a bad decision to rule out the goal to me, but City's woes are their own making by and large. Amazing how bad they've been.

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Definitely offside, but he moved so fast the official arguably just guessed. Still the right call.

Didn't see the TV3 coverage but that is fantastic.

There was another player shouting something as well; maybe he was effing and blinding, but I heard nothing anyway. Certainly nothing compared to Aldo against the Mexicans, which is what I'd been expecting!

I've still only seen stills of it but it's offside for me. Charlie is right though it seems so marginal that the linesman just guessed.

To be honest normally I would have sympathy for a team who are hard done by generally but as Stu says City shouldn't be in this position. The draw last night should've been okay for them to qualify based on the initial group draw but they've been wojus beyond belief.
In fact, Dortmund should've beaten them in their first game anyway. They should have capitalized on the luck they got in that game but they didn't.

Can't say I'll miss them.

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Originally Posted by geysir

I'm glad you keep reminding us about your Dortmund tip for last years CL when they played like a bunch of pussies, saves me the task of reminding you.

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Of course. The evidence is there for all to see. :-)

City did well in the 2nd half and in one sense they did do enough to win the game.
I thought the City player receiving the pass was marginally level and onside for that fraction of time, i.e. after having a look at the slow motion replay,
In real time, Balotelli looked like he just tumbled over in the last piece of action.

http://videa.hu/videok/hirek-politik...yBLmd4UUTtWfcE

With Ajax's first goal I never imagined that he could get the ball into the net from that angle.

Second time lucky for Celtic. Not a bitten nail in sight either.