I would be very surprised and disappointed if Barcelona does not send Celtic packing.

The Glasgow side are the class of the Scottish Premier League, but that's not saying much. Hell, even Canadian players can play in the SPL!

Barça is vastly improved since the last time they met Celtic, and Celtic - well, Celtic have lost Larsson!!

Unless Barça is decimated by injuries they should win both home and away.

 

I think Sutton is 95% likely to miss the game, which is a huge boost for us if it happens. Controlling Juninho and Camara will be the job for the defensive guys, as they are the 2 guys in the Celtic team that will run at players and attack defenders. Another thing we don't want to do is play too deep, and let long balls drop into the box, as Hartson eats up things like that easily.

 

another thing,edmilson is still suspended so gerard should take the DM spot!!

 

Gerrard playing isn't a disadvantage at all in my opinion. He seems pretty good in the air which is important for Barca, especially against a team like Celtic. Barca should win comfortably enough though.

 

I think we will see a line-up like this:

               Larsson 
Ronaldinho                     Giuly

        Deco            Xavi
              Gerard

Gio                        Belletti
          Marquez   Puyol

               Valdes

And if Larsson doesn't score before 60 mins, then Eto'o will take his place.

 

i think that we need to get someone during the winter break for loan like what we did with davids we can't afford to lose any more players like what happened to motta against sevilla for example what if Gerard gets injured i know that GVB or Edmilson can play there but i like them to say in defence they are acutally good subs, i hope Gerard might be up to it and show the fans that he is capable of leading the midfield! a DM position is not an easy poistion it needs alot of talent... i hope Gerard is called is the next DM in barca, IF COCU JUST DIDN'T LEAVE!

 

I think we will see a line-up like this:

               Larsson 
Ronaldinho                     Giuly

        Deco            Xavi
              Gerard

Gio                        Belletti
          Marquez   Puyol

               Valdes

And if Larsson doesn't score before 60 mins, then Eto'o will take his place.

nice! goals will keep on coming all the time throught the match this is amazing but who knows what Rijkaard has on his mind i hope that he has a look at ur post i would say if edmilson is fit why not play him instead of Marquez put GVB in DM and put Sylvinho instead of GVB so i guess it would look the same but if any of the players that i just mentioned doesn't do well they will be substitued so i guess you could call it somehow like a rotation we need that because i guess if we have to stay in the CL, win la liga and the spanish cup (the treble :eekani: ) we need to keep on chaning players because they need some rest every now and then....

 

Edmilson is suspended

 

he is suspened because of 2 yellow cards right?

 

yes,he's suspended for 2 yellow cards!!

 

IMO eto'o will begin the match and if he doesn't score larsson will replace him!!

 

I would be very surprised and disappointed if Barcelona does not send Celtic packing.

The Glasgow side are the class of the Scottish Premier League, but that's not saying much. Hell, even Canadian players can play in the SPL!

Barça is vastly improved since the last time they met Celtic, and Celtic - well, Celtic have lost Larsson!!

Unless Barça is decimated by injuries they should win both home and away.

You guys are great

Celtic take sixteen home points out of eighteen in the last two champions league season they have competed in, (victories over Juventus, Porto, Rosenborg, Lyon, Anderlecht, and a draw against Bayern Munich), as well as being undefeated there in european football for over three years, but you still make statements such as they are just the class of the SPL. Celtic aren't by any means one of the superpowers of world football any more, but they are strong, and you really should give them a little respect. If they beat you on Tuesday night, you'll look silly after making these bold statements. Then again, if you win easily, then you have done nothing more than defeat an easy opponent who you should wipe aside since you are Barcalona, and they are a mickey mouse team from somewhere up north.

I watched the match last night against Seville ( a team Celtic defeated in Glasgow last year in Larssons farewell game quite comfortably ), and if the Barca who played in the first half turn up in Glasgow, you'll struggle.

 

You mean the Barca that dominated the half, creating 3 or 4 clear cut chances?

There was only one comment made, so it's not "you guys are great" it should be "you guy, are great". Don't assume everyone here thinks the same about Celtic.

 

i never underestimated celtic last season we were on a great run when we almost won all of the second half of la liga matches and we drew and lost and got kicked out of the CL everyone was optimistic and kept on saying that we will win both legs but something wrong happened and that's part of football when Saviola and Motta were sent off! so what i'm saying is that anything can happen in the football world it happens all the time that small teams beat big teams! but statically speaking and on the papers barca are the ones to beat Celtic this time home and away dont u think so?

 

You mean the Barca that dominated the half, creating 3 or 4 clear cut chances?.

The first half was hardly a display which I would class as one of shock and awe; even the English commentator made the comment that "Martin O'Neill will hardly be shaking in his boots about that first half Barca performance"

Barca didn't kick in to top gear till Guiily came off, then the passes started flowing...they looked good then

There was only one comment made, so it's not "you guys are great" it should be "you guy, are great". Don't assume everyone here thinks the same about Celtic.

Look down a post or two...."Baraca will win comforably though"...from Hugh C


They are certainly entitled to their opinion, as I am of Barca's first half performance..no?

 

It'll be a tough game against Celtic but I think this is a different Barcelona and I think we can win if we are clever and play the right type of football.

 

i never underestimated celtic last season we were on a great run when we almost won all of the second half of la liga matches and we drew and lost and got kicked out of the CL everyone was optimistic and kept on saying that we will win both legs but something wrong happened and that's part of football when Saviola and Motta were sent off! so what i'm saying is that anything can happen in the football world it happens all the time that small teams beat big teams! but statically speaking and on the papers barca are the ones to beat Celtic this time home and away dont u think so?

Barca at that time were excellent domesticaly, with Davidz playing like a tiger defending his cubs...you missed him badly in both matches...but Celtic were not at their strongest for those games either, with many injuries...and with Barca being the 'Bigger' team, should have had a squad to accomodate lowly Celtic at the campnou...it was eleven against eleven then, with a Barca home advantage...but as you say...that's part of football.

On paper, Juventus, with the likes of Del Piero, Nedved, Thuram, Buffon, Montero, should easily have dominated and punished Celtic home and away...didn't happen.
Porto, with Deco etal, came to Celtic Park, and were defeated...shouldn't have happened, but did.
Valencia with the great names that they had, straight from a period in which they got to two CL finals, should easily on paper have embarassed Celtic at Celtic Park...they didn't, only going thro' on penalties after losing 1-0 (Larsson missed one of those penalties).

Most supporters here are decent fans who want to talk football, and I have nothing but time for them, but the others who are condecending and arrogant towards the fans other 'smaller' leauges and 'smaller' clubs aren't acting like fans of a 'BIG' club

 

Never seen Jeff around on here before this and HughC is a RM fan so next time you make such a meal of small things check the persons you want in the spotlight. Thanks.

 

Never seen Jeff around on here before this and HughC is a RM fan so next time you make such a meal of small things check the persons you want in the spotlight. Thanks.

Jef has Barca on his list of clubs,(that's why I used his quote and addressed it to him) and I noticed HughC had RealM...that's why my final paragraph of the last post never mentioned Barca, but fans of a big club....so sorry for making a 'meal of things'...

...and when I wrote 'here' I ment xtratime, not just this thread

 

It's unbelievable how much i want us to spank Celtic..

You guys certainly love your club like mad but from what i've seen here in XT,you are a weird bunch and take no offence in that

I haven't seen fans of any other club in such a 24hour service of protecting their club's name even if nobody said something so bad.And also i have not seen fans who are so easy to feel "offended" and "unfairly treaten"

Is this general or it only applies to XT bhoys?

 

It's general. Fans of both sides of the Old Firm are paranoid as hell

 

It'll be a tough game against Celtic but I think this is a different Barcelona and I think we can win if we are clever and play the right type of football.

I think Barca can win both matches too...but I don't assume they will

They are not favourites for both the CL and La Liga for nothing..the people at the top who appreciate football (top managers and coaches throughout Europe) know that they have a great squad and good coach and have them down as the benchmark, but Barca and FR still need time to come to terms with the new setup, formations and tactics. After only two matches in the league I don't know if enough time has passed for them to hit top form...but when they do they will be superb

For example FR hasn't decided yet who will play thro the middle...Henke or Eto...playing either one on the left side (as he did in the first game of the season with Eto until Larsson was subbed) is denying Barca the services of a dedicated left winger; also the defence last night got into a little trouble at times...getting caught once or twice with indecisions between the goalkeeper and his central defenders...they also played against a team who played only one forward, with a mix up at times between who was to mark him...these things need time to get sorted..which will happen, but not in four, five games

 

The comments from Jeff and HughC were a bit arrogant, and there's no doubt Celtic will give Barca a tough game.
However, Barca have strengthened very well during the summer, and are better than last season.
I could see this game being a draw, as it's so close to call with Celtic being very hard to beat in Glasgow.

 

It's unbelievable how much i want us to spank Celtic..

You guys certainly love your club like mad but from what i've seen here in XT,you are a weird bunch and take no offence in that

I haven't seen fans of any other club in such a 24hour service of protecting their club's name even if nobody said something so bad.And also i have not seen fans who are so easy to feel "offended" and "unfairly treaten"

Is this general or it only applies to XT bhoys?

I understand you wish your team to win...that I can appreciate..but I don't think I am overly protecting my club name, or am acting particulary offended (of course you may not be meaning me), I'm just presenting my side of the debate from some here that Barca will easily defeat Celtic at Celtic Park.

Do Barca fans just read what the Milan fans are writing in forums all over Europe about what they are going to do to them in Italy, and just accept it without comment?

If I had written that Celtic will easily overpower Barca at Celtic Park...because that is what the form over the last three years at home and after last years games (not what I think but the stats suggest)...would you just let it pass without defending Barca? If Celtic fans accused you of being weird for standing up for your club, how would you react?

 

However, Barca have strengthened very well during the summer, and are better than last season.

After watching Real Madrid yesterday and given the Valencia score, Barca could well be champs again this year. Real looked very disorganised in defence, and Raul is lacking confidence. Owen will take time to settle...so things are looking good for this years Barca challenge in Europe and domestically