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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the long wait is over
..After a consensus is made, the name of the appointed referee remains confidential up to two days before the match for the purpose of minimizing public influence.”
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How long did Juve know who our respective ref was, such that their coach had enough time to watch his previous games and was able to formulate a way to deal with our height at corners/set pieces (by illegal means)in a manner that would not result in on-field punishment?
Shoorly it took more than 2 days for all of the ref’s games to be viewed on video and coached to his team.
Platini, anyone? (Allegedly)
Kojo – I would be ok with Amido playing up front. I think I was going with the team that I think Neil will pick. The concern with Amido is his lack of experience in the CL, and Neil always goes for experience in these games.
Another option is to play Sammi up front on his own, with Kayal in the middle and Charlie wide left. Kayal has looked solid in his last couple of games and wouldn’t let us down.
Whatever we go with it promises to be a very nervous 90 mins for me. As you said earlier, it’s all about putting away the rare opportunities that come your way at this level. At the other end, I’m confident our defense can cope with the Ajax front line.
Germany has a border with Holland…but Germans and Hollanders (kase fressers) absolutely hate each other …wonder how the ref will play this one …hope he plays it …braw… going for a well deserved win for the Celtic…hail hail
I share concerns on here that we lack a penalty box striker who can do the business (at this level) but hope that my fears are proved groundless tonight :-)
COYBIG
HH
Gerry
LiviBhoy – God bless wee Oscar
15:37 on
6 November, 2013
Great news for BBJ but have I read correctly he has resigned as Wales assistant coach?
Cue the calls for John to be our striking coach.
Well he’s no firin’ blanks……:}
Delaney’s Dunky
Hiya, Pal.. Nice thae Greet ye ,tae.
We must win tonight..in spite of whit anybuddy else says.
Ajax,is there fur the Takin’.
But, It all Boils doon tae..
Whit Team selection ,that Neil , pits oot, the night..
Playing, Sammi.. up Front…as the Lone striker ,wid be a Pure waste..
Ah hiv a Feelin that Neil , might dae that..or.. hiv Sammi n Stokesy ,as a
Strike Partnership.. which,Also, wid be A waste..
as They do not Meld ,very well…
In Ma Opinion..
Yep.
It all boils doon tae whit kind of A Set-Up.. that Neil ..
Decides oan.. the Night..
as…
It is always is.
Right?
Kojo
Still,Laughin
Käserollers
Braw
Gerry
Hope that den of iniquity gets hit by a tsunami as soon as the last Celtic supporter leaves.
Livibhoy
That is precisely why that won’t happen….cos theyr COWARDS !!
Get into this mob Celtic,they are there for the taking tonight !
Happy Birthday Celtic!!
UTLR
Georgie on the left, our new Bobby Petta.
Turkeybhoy
13:55 on 6 November, 2013
Wonder if the reporters initials will be AC
If we win tonight and Barca beat AC Milan, we only need to beat AC Milan at home to qualify for the last 16. Sounds pretty straightforward when you write it down like that
Phil MacGiollaBhain@Pmacgiollabhain1h
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ejh_hb15Fc …
Please watch this…
———–
You will feel good after it I promise :))
Hope their blood-diamond,narcotic,prostitution funded stadium gets turned upside down.
!!Bada Bing!!
Hahahahaha
Kwality
LB
Mncelt.
Ma Trouble ,pal.. is that..
Ah am an awfy….. Determined ,Determined,Bugger!
Ah INSIST.. that Amido.. is a Gem in the Making..
]
And he wull prove me right…
Howevahhhhhhhhhh…
it wid be a great help ,of course..
it the Powers that be..and members of the Celtic Team..
Wid .. Realize..
that.. Amido.. Needs the Ball.,.
Passed ,along the Grun..
Directly, tae his FEET.. NOT.. fired intae the Air..in his General Location… n.. who knows where that Ba wull end up.?
This kid is..
‘
Great.. with the Ba at… his Feet..
Once, he gets up steam.. He is A Hard Man tae Handle fur the opposing defense..
Ah hiv Noticed this..oan the few occasions. when he DOES.. receive the ball .. Direct.. alang the Grun…..and tae his FEET..
Why. the Celtic movers and Shakers hivnae noticed that ..as well..
Defies Logic..
In Ma Opinion… That is..
Gie the Kid the Ba’.. the right way.. fur .. Goodness.. sake!
Grrrrr…….. it is so aggravatin.. tae me.. that Neil disnae..
Tell his Guys,whit is the Correct wey tae Gie Amido the Ba..
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
BadaBing..
..singingdicksick… josies not been working last couple of times.
Asonofdan.. prayers said for your da.
Just looked at the Dam Square webcam. We would gain more ” friends” in Scotland if we draped a few green and white saltires among the tricolours.
More fans of other teams connecting to us would assist us in getting them onside against Scottish Football corruption and matters like the Offensive Behaviour Bill.
JJ
Leftclick
Thanks for posting that video.
Wonderful, heartwarming story.
You can bet your life they didn’t ambush anyone when ze Germans rolled into town during the 40’s.
desertbhoy- thank the Lord mate :) HH
Doc
No worries.
Next time as you say.
HH
Jungle Jim
Celtic fans could wear kilts, tartan trousers and see you Jimmy wigs and still not be accepted in this country.
People pay their money to go to these games and can take what they like.
LB
You are right there, 16 Roads. All seems well in the square at the moment, saw a few lads kicking a ball around and the ball bounces over near a few cops. One of the cops retrieves the ball and throws it back to the lads. They would have been kettled for that up in the Barras. Anyhow I really hope all our support get back safely and hopefully our Bhoys dig out a result on the pitch. Win, Lose or Draw its great to be a Tim.
Anyone have any links to live webcams from the red light district in the Dam. Wonder if any of our lads are doing the huddle down there.
Early Celtic team news from Amsterdam indicates that Steve Guppy is unlikely to feature tonight.
Leftclick
What a great video. Awesome.
Just seen on ssn that Bobby Lennox to have triple heart bypass – prayers for a successful op and a full recovery
heartofalionCSC
Corkcelt
16.25
I saw that too, the cops returning the lads’ ball. Nice touch.
Got me thinking that they better not put it through the window of that big posh Town Hall-y thing behind them. Imagine the rucus of 3000 Tims all running away at once.
Jungle Jim
You actually believe that?
Celtic fans have waved green saltires, blue saltires, worn kilts and all the rest and if anything the hatred(not just from newco fans) has gotten worse in the last 10-15 years.
A bigot is a bigot and will hate us anyway for what we are and where we came from.
HH
CaltonTongues#TeamOscar
I know where you drink…..
There has been a couple of times I have missed the last train home from Glasgow and wished I knew the number for your taxi driver mate.
yorkbhoy @ 14:26
I’m sad too. I spotted a guy a vaguely know from West Lothian and an old neighbour who I do know. He gave a guy money and was handed something small. Did I witness a drug deal!?
Auldheid @ 15:17
;)
lucky fitba socks…… check
let the people sing vid …… check
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&feature=related&v=zhkdy0AOpaM
Sortedcsc
Gene’s a Bhoy’s name
Bypasses are pretty routine these days, although scary for the patient.
We should still pray that the Buzz Bomb has a quick recovery.
corkcelt
16:32 on 6 November, 2013
Anyone have any links to live webcams from the red light district in the Dam.
Please this is not that sort of blog.;>{}
“Shanti Maguire!……… Come in, yer tea’s ready!”
morrissey the 23rd,
I’ve a few mates with taxis, if yer stuck, call in or if you can get my mobile number no problem.
Come on the Celts Tonight.
I am sure we will be putting on a show for everyone to witness.
A team put together at such minimal cost.
Tonight will be a tough game because they finished above Man City last season and this is their biggest game of the season, no doubts about that.
I hope to see a sensational Celtic counter attacking performance.
Believe!!!!
http://hdtv.webcam.nl/dam/
The Cam in The Dam