Comments on: Celtic 2 – 3 Barcelona: Review (All Hail Boruc Edition)

By: Swf

Swf — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:46:55 +0000

well this is the barca we all have all been waiting to see, what really made my day on that night was not acually the win(though thats the main thing) but the spirit with which the players played the ball. Messi for example have not put so much spirit into the game for the past 3 liga games or so. but the celtic game was different, Ronnie even showed us that he is still a player ro reckon with. I just hope this win wont get into the head of the team just the way the Getafe game did. Long live Barca and fans

By: jake

jake — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 04:34:04 +0000

Ciaran, Isaiah is right. That is the best statement ever.

We played so brilliantly. I just wish the scoreline reflected that, but at least the team knows. Kevin, your right. Henry made that look so easy, and I didn’t notice how beautiful it was until I saw the replay. That is the kind of Henry we need. He has been saying how much better he is as a striker, and so have we. Now lets just hope Rijkaard knows.

Ronnie had a blinder. He seemed back to his best with that game, so here’s hoping that he keeps it up.

Abidal was amazing. He can read the play so well, loves the attack, but still manages to be back there defending. Can anyone remember how much we paid for him?

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 03:04:49 +0000

Well said, everyone. Celtic were just outclassed. The first goal was due to complacency, the second was Valdes. Zambrotta would indeed have shut things down. They also had more purpose and pace with the Eto’o/Henry/Messi front line.

Henry is the only player we have who could have scored that goal that he did. Eto’o has the pace, but not the shotmaking capabilities. That goal was flippin’ spectacular, and a LOT harder than Henry made it look. Messi or Ronaldinho could have made that same shot (heck, Messi did, actually), but the pace to get open, and the sudden stop.

I liked the front line of Ronaldinho/Henry/Messi for a while, but Ronaldinho needs the ball too much, which was why Messi wasn’t touching it as much. Notice how much more possession he had when Ronaldinho came off.

Most importantly, as Jenny said, this was the side we’ve all been waiting to see. The pace, the energy, the running off of the ball. Wow, what a match.

And after having watched that Benzema goal….he’d look pretty good in Blaugrana. He gets his shot off so quickly, like a certain French striker we have.

And man, Ronaldinho sure was back for this match. And looking very fit, too. He hasn’t had quadricep definition like that since ‘05. He’s clearly serious about playing his way back into the side.

And we’re off. Let’s hope that this performance supercharges the team, and gets them rolling. And let’s hope that Roma doesn’t tank as they did against Man U last year, and works some mojo in the Bernabeu.

By: Ciaran

Ciaran — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:21:16 +0000

We won the ball back practically every time while the ball was still in their half. That was key. Yaya is an animal and Iniesta proves that you dont have to be fantastic in the tackle to win a lot of balls

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:33:04 +0000

What a beautiful game! Isiah, Ohio rocks! But the yahoo just wouldn’t shut up, he could have been from anywhere and I still would have felt like kicking his teeth in! Now where was I? Oh yeah! Unbelievable and thrilling, there are simply not enough adjective to describe yesterday’s game! I don’t know how a 20 year-old Argentinean can excite me so completely, but he does! His play was absolutely magical! And Ronnie, how inspiring was his play? He was beautiful! Isiah, I agree with you 100% on the Eto’o sub, I was screaming at the TV. I thought for sure Eto’o would be in for Henry! I so wanted to see Ronnie, Eto’o and Messi up front. Deco looked so much better than he has in recent weeks. I thought the entire team was on fuego! I’m not concerned by the two Celtic goals, yes Valdes was off the line, but really, it was such a beautiful game to watch. Why look to criticize such a masterful display!

You know what the difference was in this game, the boys were there to play, and play they did! They played with heart, determination, and most of all intensity! It did cross my mind that Rijkaard was in the stands, and I wondered if that was the difference. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. I suppose we’ll know so enough.

By: Isaiah

Isaiah — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:44:23 +0000

“You can’t spell Yaya Toure without YAY.” Greatest statement perhaps ever.

By: Ciaran

Ciaran — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:39:12 +0000

Im not all that concerned about the goals we conceded. Zambrotta is a better rightback than Puyol, and that would have probably stopped both. McGeady turned Puyol inside out a few times. You cant spell Yaya Toure without YAY. Im glad his back. He is the best defensive midfield pairing in the world. Yup you heard me. Iniesta was quiet but effective, Deco was good and ambitious. Abidal played very well on the left (we should clone him and put him at rightback too). Messi was unbelievable and Ronnie was impressive. Henry was played as a striker which is always going to be fruitful.
I still dont understand Eidur’s role on the pitch. I feel sorry for him. On that subject, Benzema looked very good. Wink wink. Taking the subtle hints

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:41:10 +0000

Haha, that header by Barry Robson seemed to go in slow motion!

By: Isaiah

Isaiah — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:12:13 +0000

I don’t seem to have mentioned that Valdes was to blame for the second Celtic goal far more than the defense. Sure, the defense allowed a header in the box, but it wasn’t anything that should have worried Valdes, who had a pretty sloppy game, especially compared to his recent performances.

Not sure how that escaped the review…

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:09:26 +0000

You aren’t an idiot for sure. That wasn’t the first time Artur Boruc kept Celtic in a game. He won many games last year and this year (ie The save on the Saha penalty against Man U in last year’s CL). Credit to the Barca fans as they were class as well. Always gotta give credit to a side who brings tri-colors and banners that say “Our day will come” to games against the Huns!

Barcelona and Celtic
Més que un club!