For years we’ve analysed Celtic performances, wins and losses, in the rarefied Champions League environment with a recurring theme: more often than not at this level, mistakes, not great play, determines the outcome.
Last night’s top match, Juventus v Real Madrid, was no different. Real lost two goals, one from a penalty after a reckless challenge inside the box by Varane, another when the same player turned his back on the ball to watch Llorente, instead of attacking a 40 yard cross. The worst mistake came from Juventus. Instead of clearing the ball long, a defender put teammate Caceres under pressure, who could have put his laces through the ball and conceded possession 50 yards downfield, but chose to attempted to reach his keeper with a back-pass, which found Christiano Ronaldo instead.
The ‘schoolboy error’ metaphor is way overused in the game, but is never more apt than when watching the Champions League. Perhaps a bountiful source of individuals with rock-solid Superiority Complexes.
These are two of the most professional teams in the game. Their market knowledge, sports science, mental strength and tactical awareness will be as good as anyone in the game, but still this result was determined by a wayward and pointless back-pass, an equally pointless penalty box lunge and forgetting that crosses into the box take priority over watching your man.
Celtic know this well. We make fewer mistakes in Champions League games than we do in domestic football, while our recent wins benefited from opposition mistakes (penalty against Ajax, penalty against Spartak, Xavi kung-fu kick missing the ball, Spartak player red carded). Scott Brown’s off the ball indiscretion, which cost us a point, and Nir Biton’s ‘challenge’ are notable exceptions.
Ajax think they are the better team – which gives Celtic a great advantage. They think they can overwhelm us tonight, that they failed to make the most of their chances at Celtic Park and that we benefited from a couple of fortunate moments. This is a reasonable assessment based on last month’s game but know better as we’ve been watching re-runs of this script for years. Celtic’s win had nothing to do with fortune or missed chances, it came about as planned – deny the opposition space in dangerous areas, clear your lines and exploit their mistakes.
The Champions League is not about your best 89 minutes play, it’s about your worst minute, just ask a few sore-feeling footballers in Turin this morning. If Celtic avoid unenforced errors and wait patiently to exploit those a self-assured Ajax will make (no one does self-assured like Dutch footballers), they have nothing to fear. Keep 11 players on the field, don’t give away penalties (evidence elsewhere last night suggests unscrupulous players dive inside the box) or free kicks around the box, block shots from outside the box, and most of all…. clear your lines.
Do this, and our clever players will ensure that the result will take care of itself.
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Paul67 et al
We played very well against AC Milanda for a good seventy five minutes or so but lacked the nous to turn that into a decent result. We have gained quite a bit of experience at this level under Neil, with some damn fine away performances. Another one tonight and we could be looking at as big a game at Celtic Park as any we have played lately. Clean sheet and we get three points.
Malorbhoy – I am your agent I am the only one who talks to you :-)
Agree with Paul67’s assertions today but luck is also a big factor in these games. We’ve had our share of good
(red card for Spartak player in Moscow; soft penalty at home to Spartak, deflected goal at home to Ajax in most recent game)
and bad
(deflected goal for Milan at San Siro, us hitting the bar in the same game at 0-0, etc)
so let’s hope we get the rub of the green tonight. Our record against Dutch opposition is excellent and we’ve won in Amsterdam in our last two competitive matches there.
Come on Celtic – right into them
………………………….Forster…………………………..
Lustig……..Ambrose……….Van Dijk……..Izzaguirre
Forrest……Ledley….Kayal….Mulgrew….Samaras
…………………………..Pukki………………………………..
Some unknown rag has published pics of Celtic fans apparently “Goading”the Ajax fans,with banners and flags.One of the banners is a bit off”F— the Ajax on it.Palestinian flag also mentioned.Our MSM will have it plastered shortly.Can do without this as it could bring danger to other fans attending.Some people just dont have a brain.Hope all our fans stay safe,and can enjoy tonight celebrating a great result.A draw would fit that bill.
COYBIG.
Ole Bill Oddie’s fair ruffled a few feathers.
Paul,
“The Champions League is not about your best 89 minutes play, it’s about your worst minute”
100% correct or – as Jock Stein once said – in Europe you’re only as good as your worst player.
Without tempting fate for tonight and the rest of the CL that’s where we’ve been far better in recent years since WGS.
We may not have had the star players of the Larsson Sutton , Lubo mould but our average and weaker players are far more aware and basically stronger than in the past.
Dontbrattbakkinanger
13:25 on
6 November, 2013
Have we ever had an English referee for any of our games in Europe?
—————–
Not allowed – as I understand it a referee can’t officiate in a game involving a team from a football association which neighbours his county of origin
Champion league hattrick..?
It’s an omen , I tell thee.
Carry on Nurse on C4
ooooeeerrrrmissuscsc
TLWIO -so a Spanish referee couldn’t referee a French game?
Germany has borders with lots of countries.
So does Switzerland.
You would have to sit at UEFA HQ with a big Risk board in front of you and divvy up the refs.
It’s gonna be 10 in a row.
Edited Justice committee debate regarding early review of Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012
ALSO Read Justice committee agenda – PDF includes reports and correspondence between various parties
http://thecelticnetwork.com/2013/11/06/justice-committee-edited-video-01112013-pdf/
Hope the bhoys in the Dam have their phone apps switched off………..
Great article from Paul.
Ajax go into this match feeling hard done by after their visit to Glasgow.
Paul is correct in saying the Dutch are a bit of an arrogant bunch, let’s hope that plays into our hands and they think they are a better team than us.
Sammi will be a key player for us and a great out ball, let’s use the big Greek gazelles pace in behind this mob. I hope we can hit them the sucker punch like our last victory there, Agathe leaving Chivu for dead was one of my favourite European goals.
Come on you Bhoys in Green.
I have more confidence in our goalie and defence as a unit, than I have been in many years. Offensively we are our poorest in many years, but more than capable of nicking a goal.0-1 tonight then for the Bhoys!
A few thousand in Dam Square now,i fear there are too many Ajax halfwits,coupled with useless polis not to be any trouble.I hope i am wrong.
BSR
Ole Bill Oddie’s fair ruffled a few feathers.
That’s just a nasty rumour…
!!Bada Bing!!
Far too many people for the Ajax cowards. The biggest risk of trouble will be near or around the stadium. After the match too but they will hunt in packs and attack people in the big streets.
Absolute vermin. If they want to scrap they should meet like minded people in a park or something and get on with it.
LB
Just to let you all know those terrible twins Johann and tiny Tim are forcing alcohol down my throat
yorkbhoy .remember chris r from O’NEILS just spotted him in the sq on webcam.sent him text and it’s him.”how sad am i sitting watching”
Delaneys dunky:
Any stats to back up your claim?
“Offensively we are our poorest in many years”
=================Forster====================
Lustig=====Ambrose====Van Dijk=====Izaguirre
==========Kayal===Mulgrew===Ledley==========
==================Commons===================
====Forrest======================Samaras====
BB
As long as the Bhoys stick together, I pray they will be safe. I fought off blade carrying Ajax fans in 2001 at the Central Station after the game. They are lunatics!
Fav Uncle
yorkbhoy .remember chris r from O’NEILS just spotted him in the sq on webcam.sent him text and it’s him.”how sad am i sitting watching”
Can’t get the webcam to work at work.. Hopefully he will really enjoy the day..
Malorbhoy -hold onto your ole guilder.
Bada Bing
Why the requirement to have the phone apps off?
Genuine question.
HH
ASonOfDan
Hope your Dad gets good news!
Said a wee prayer for him.
bankiebhoy1
Is it the cost?
Honest Mistake
No, I don’t bother with stats. I go with what my eyes see. I go back to the Biggins, Payton days to remember a more impotent strike force, than we have today.
Think we will take ajax to the cleaners with an all round sparkling performance.
bankiebhoy1-If you keep your mobile data (apps etc) on,your allowance gets swallowed up very quickly if you are abroad.Heard some stories of people paying £400-500 bills after a holiday for Facebook etc.
I reckon we will score in a flash
Delaneys Dunky
This Andy Payton
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/1993-08-25%3A+Arbroath+1-9+Celtic%2C+League+Cup+-+Pictures
Livibhoy-I wasn’t meaning Dam Square in particular,but the cowardly ambush mobs mate.
!!Bada Bing!!
Correct.
It’s always usually worse if you beat eejits like this mob.
LB
TSOAL
Aye, that Andy. :))
He was just never a favourite player of mine.
asonofdan
07:46 on 6 November, 2013
Morning,
If you have a minute a wee prayer for my father would be appreciated who is waiting on test results. Initial findings were not good.
Oh and Happy Birthday Celtic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Consider it done,bud. Give him my best wishes,please.