This. One cant really expect Barca to get 18 points in the group-stage. No real difference between getting 18 or 15 pts. Or even 13. Lets not freak out! I am more upset about Chelsea winning TBH.
So, with two rounds left: Barca 9 Celtic 7 Benfica 4 Spartak 3 -> looks good imo. Can't think it should be all wins in CL, no matter how good you are.
This was one we could afford to lose (sadly we played a bit like that), I am sure we will advance from this group (mathematically Benifica could reach 10 points and we could stay there) and we will win this group (tougher with only 2 points over Celtic at the moment), we simply don't have the same luxury to rest players (and avoid the darn flight to Moscow) that we could have had with a win or even a draw. Better than a loss in La Liga
I will tell uo who I htink the blame has to go on Song who is just crap, an Arsenal reject like him couldn;t play for the Barca B team Xavi whose wonderful party trick allowed the ball to go thrpugh like that Sanchez for his crappy performance Villa for not keeping the ball down twice although his last shot was on target but good ole Pique got in the way. Biscuits for being suspended and allowing Song to play Anybody else I miss
The loss is no big deal in terms of the group. But these British teams who can bunker down continue to be our Achilles heel.
Celtic don't have Rangers to get all riled up about, so this was their Big Match of their anniversary year. They played like it was a final, and we played like we could afford to lose it. Which we could. Props to Celtic. Same tactics as in the Camp Nou. The only difference was our lack of pace in pinging the ball around (and maybe the pitch/weather conditions) that didn't pry open enough spaces. Plus, the GK Forester had a blinder.
I admit, I thought Celtic would be toast in this group and I'm pleasantly surprised by how well they are doing. Would be great to see them advance... as runners up to us, of course. Overall today we were just too ponderous, walking around with the ball instead of trying to gamble with a rush. Usually it works, today it didn't. When you walk, with the ball and you shoot too high and don't threaten as much as you should... At the end of the match There's a Celtic win And the sweet Messi goal Doesn't matter Walk on, without the lead Walk on, through the rain For your team is tired And Song blowwww-owwws Walk on Walk on With Pep in your hearts And you'll never walk, in a gooaaall I'll stop.
That result has been coming for a while, we couldn't go on making defensive howlers and still win forever. At least it happened in a match in which it won't make a difference to the outcome of the group for us. Now that we have got the defeat out of our system lets go and beat Mallorca.
In case anyone missed my lyrical ode to Celtic's 18 y.o. goal scorer Tony Watt, the real song is David Watts by The Jam:
IMO this is spot on and you can't add Song to this as well http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...iss-if-they-left-in-the-january-window/page/2
We really just don't learn, do we? Once again a British team plays the usual British style and somehow gets a win through all the luck in the world. Happens almost every time now which is infuriating. I don't really think we'll win the Champions League this year, I'd rather have us focus on winning the league anyways to be honest. Congrats to Celtic, but we really need to learn from these experiences. This is frustrating to watch.
Winning la liga should be the main priority this season. Anything on top of that would be a bonus. The champions league is particularly strong this year. Numerous teams are capable of winning it imho, ranging from those who would be described as the favourites, Barca, LPB, Bayern, Man Utd, Chelsea to those that rank as dark horses, PSG, Juve, Dortmund. And teams such as Malaga, Porto and Schalke are not exactly mugs either.
The list is: Cuenca Puyol Dos Santos Alexis Sanchez Affelay Whatever you want to say about the others, I would never let Puyol go. His leadership would have been crucial on a day like today in a hostile environment where the team is putting in a lackluster performance.