Celtic Diary Tuesday July 28: Technically Very Good ?

In the pre internet days supporters looking for information on their teams European opponents, especially from behind what was then called the Iron Curtain, were told that the side was “technically very good ” .

These days, with global information , opinions and even videos at their fingertips, the press still use that line. Qarabag, are, we hear, technically very good, and in another bombshell we are told that they will be a much tougher opponent than Stjarnan.

Concentration is the key, mistakes will be punished, crowd will help etc…

And if thats not enough reason to rush out and buy the papers again, they have roped in john Collins to confirm all that:

“They are a good football team and they like to knock it about, and have a couple of Brazilians who are very good, very talented. Last year in the Europa League they did very well, they were in the same group as St Etienne and Inter Milan – we watched those games, they played very well. They are a good football team and we’re looking forward to them coming here, but at the end of the day it’s important we play well. I don’t think Celtic supporters are daft, they know there are a lot of good football teams out there, especially when you are in the Champions League, that means they are the champions of their country. They have got talent, but we’ve got lots of talent in the team. We know we’ll have to be focused for 90 minutes, total concentration, because at this level if you make a mistake you get punished.” 

 “There is no doubt it is a big step up from the last opponents, technically they are much better, tactically as well, probably physically they are in better condition as well. But we’ve watched them, we know all about them, we know their strengths and weaknesses and we know we’ll have to play well to win the game. We always love playing here at Celtic Park, there is always a great atmosphere, and the home support gets behind the players and drives us forward, so we are looking forward to another great occasion at Celtic Park. We are constantly learning and developing and analysing performances, that’s what we do. Win or lose we study our performances and see how we can get better. But of course we learned last season, we knew it was always going to be difficult once you get to the Champions League you are playing against champions, and there is always quality in the opposition and if you lose concentration one little slip and the ball can end up in the back of your net. The message is there for the players, we’ve shown them lots of video and we’ve got to be at it on Wednesday night. As a group of players and a coaching staff we are way ahead of where we were this time last year, we were knew to the players and the player were new to us, but we’ve had 12 months working together, so we’re in a much better position.”  

Collins, of course, can be forgiven, indeed praised, for giving nothing away in terms of how Celtic will approach the game, or pinpointing specific strengths of the Qarabag players. Except what everyone else is saying, in that they have a couple of Brazilians, who must be good because they are Brazilians.

He’s keeping his cards close to his chest, and merely repeating what the press want to hear.

But, for the life of me, i cannot work out what this phrase “technically very good ” means, apart from it being a fall back comment when the reporter hasn’t seen the team in question, and probably couldn’t name another Azeri side. In fact, they probably don’t even know where Azerbaijan is.

Just up from Syria and Iraq, a little past Ukraine and along a bit from  Turkey. Exactly why it’s still called the European champions League is a little confusing.

But not as confusing as the phrase “technically very good.”

technically

Is it that their technique is very good? You know as a football team they do all the things that a football team should do ? We can only assume that they , for example always remember to field eleven players all wearing the same shirts and only the goalkeeper is allowed to handle the ball.

Or, is it (2) above, they are simply very good ?

Not as far as we can see. having had some real info back from the east.

Far and away the best information about Qarabag, soon to be followed by a guide to Baku, came on this site yesterday. From someone who has seen them in the flesh. And who knows a bit about football.

Nowhere does he say that they are “technically very good ”

But he does describe their style of play, mention a couple of their strong points, and a couple of possible weaknesses.

Something the professional hacks couldn’t be arsed even trying to find out.

It’s the same with Aberdeen, off to Kazakhstan this week for their Europa league game.

Two clubs, aiming to raise the profile of Scottish football by reaching the group stages of European competition, and the press all but ignore them, except to say they are up against decent sides who are technically very good.

When their high heid yins gather round the table to discuss falling circulation and advertising revenues, perhaps they could look a little closer to home for the reasons, and perhaps have a look at some of their writers, who it has to be said, are technically very good.

Although the Herald , at least , deserves some praise for reporting that Afran Ismayilov will miss the game because he forgot to apply for a visa.

 “Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to apply for my visa for the game in Scotland, so I won’t be playing in the first leg. I believe the team can do well without me and I hope to make an impact in the second leg

“In recent years, we have played and beaten some famous teams.

“Celtic are a good team who have a big name in European football, so everyone knows it will be a hard game for us, especially in Scotland.

“But I believe this team is capable of great things and we can qualify.” 

Capapble of great things ? It appears they aren’t even capable of sorting out the basics.

More interesting were the comments of Richard Almeida, one of their Brazilians. He said;

“Our opponent likes to play good football. We have watched them.

“But so do we. This will be two interesting games with teams of similar styles and ability.

“However, I think it will be Qarabag who goes through to the next round of the Champions League.” 

If they do play a similar style to Celtic, as all the information seems to point to, we are in for a tough game. simply because we don’t like teams who press us in the way we press them.

Maybe Ronny will spring a surprise and start with Ciftci and Griffiths…..there’s every reason to suspect both will feature, possibly at the same time during the game.

The game isn’t on television, as is the norm for this stage of the competition, and the BBC were quick to jump on the bandwagon about slow ticket sales. Well, when i say jump on the bandwagon, they were actually driving it.

Last week, manager Ronny Deila called for a 60,000 capacity crowd to“strike fear” into the Azerbaijan opponents.

Around 35,000 tickets have been sold for the Champions League qualifier.

This was yesterday, implying that the ground would only be a little over half full, and asking John Collins to comment;

“Of course we’d love it to be a full stadium – there’s nowhere like it in the world when it’s full,”

“No matter if it’s 40,000, 45,000, it will still be a fantastic atmosphere.”

“When you walk out at Celtic Park, down that tunnel on a European night you hear the roar and then you hear the singing throughout the game it drives players on.

“It gives you that momentum even when the game goes against you and sometimes it can spook the opponents.

“If we can get a goal and you hear the roar and the fans non-stop singing, that’s what we want. It’s up to us to get the fans excited early in the game, to get them singing and happy.”  

 It’s already, at 35,000, going to be one of the biggest crowds in Europe this week. And as crowds go, they’re technically very good.

Well, we can’t expect the BBC, or any other outlet to promote the game.

Not when there’s a resurgent Second Rangers in town, fresh from their 6-2 mauling of hibernian, who were European Cup semi finalists as recently as 1956. and they’re after their top man !

So are Aberdeen, by the way, who have entered into a bidding war with the Glasgow side, which hasn’t received as much attention.

Were you at the Rennes game on Saturday ?

I bet you’ll take sandwiches and a flask of tea with you next time:

Three quid for a big bag of crisps. It seems it’s not only the kit people who can’t negotiate properly, as the caterers seem to be unable to find someone who can provide affordable food and beverages.

 Unless they are all out to fleece us, of course, which cannot surely be the case.

Good news, now.

John Clark, a Celtic servant of fifty years service, will unveil the flag on Saturday.

 This picture, and comment,  sums him up as well as any;

I call him “Mr Legend” My new favorite pic.. Ha ha ha !! Celtic glasgow champion ho ho ho ho ho ho~~

Great move by the club, and well earned recognition for the quiet lion.

One of the great mysteries in Celtic’s history has finally been cleared up. Shay given was nowhere near that ball, and despite getting rave reviews for his performance, we now know why he left.

Celtic 2, Ajax 2, one of the best games played at Celtic Park in recent memory, topped up by the fantastic result in amsterdam in the second leg.

What is going on here ?