Celtic passed the ball well throughout last night’s game. The players were confident enough to take a touch under pressure, which was key to the performance and a step beyond the more rudimentary show in the Camp Nou last season. In this respect, it was a better performance than the win in Moscow, and was an improvement on even the home game against Milan in 2004.
Countless screeds were written about Efe Ambrose after his mistake against Juventus, which seemed to affect the rest of his season, but the Nigerian international looked every inch a Champions League player. His composure and driving runs were crucial in determining Celtic’s effectiveness.
All played well but if we are going to push for highlights the right flank was exceptional. How proud of Adam Matthews were you after his full-speed dribble through the Milan half? At Euro 2012 I remember some respected observers wrote that Mikael Lustig was the weakest link in the Sweden team. If the Spanish international manager watched last night’s performance he would surely lobby for the introduction of national team transfers.
These two were scouted and brought to the club for a combined total of around £1m. Since arriving they have both grown into players who can excel at the San Siro. The clues of what is happening at Celtic are not hard to find.
Charlie Mulgrew has to endure the mantle of ‘utility player’ and in the absence of Joe Ledley and Beram Kayal partnered Scott Brown in central midfield, his fourth best position. Not that there was any sign of this. Brown and Mulgrew’s intelligent movement made possible all that passing and control.
Despite the great performance Milan came away with the points and a great chance to progress. They gave Stokes, Samaras and Commons little opportunity all night. The chances which Samaras, Stokes and Brown had were ultimately all defended well. Stokes free kick which rebounded off the crossbar would have changed the result but it was far from an easy chance.
Going forward we would do well to remember the importance of winning free kicks around the edge of the box. Teemu Pukki looked to have lost possession but used his strength well to win the infringement which resulted in Stokes free kick. Mario Balotelli needed little encouragement to tumble all night and he did so effectively five minutes from time.
Make sure we win free kicks 24 yards out and don’t concede them.
An away defeat against the second seed in the first game is probably a better result than the 0-0 home draw we achieved against Benfica last season, but Milan have an important 3 points in the bag in what looks like an interesting fight for second place.
Celtic are the team who can most improve their chances of qualification on match day 2. Another win against Barcelona at Celtic Park would give us an excellent chance of progressing but the journey up from pot 4 is incredibly difficult.
Is it a worry that we conceded late goals after the players were showing signs of lethargy? Lethargy is a well-documented part of the game, one which is often crucial in determining success in Champions League football and which we can learn to exploit.
1254125 at The Great Scottish Run.
On Sunday 6 October there is a 10k and Half Marathon. If that is beyond you. There are family events taking place the day before. This is your club, remind the world of what really counts and get involved in 1254125.
The first thing you need to do is sign up for the Great Scottish Run, or here for one of the family events.
Once you’ve done that, you can register for the 1254125 campaign here.
Then you can create a donations page here. Click Start Fundraising, search for Celtic Charity, setup your My Donate account).
Email me and let me know if you are having trouble signing up or need any more help, celticquicknews@gmail.com.
To read the new issue of CQN Magazine click here (don’t try to read the graphic below).
[calameo code=000390171853d2bfc4f69 lang=en page=4 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
825 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- ...
- 22
- »
…Watt?
Is tony watt on gardening leave or just planting his bulbs for the spring?
Or maybe Joe LEDley.
A long and pleasnt conversation with an old Man Utd supporting acquaintance of mine last week, led me to check out some stats.
The debate was over the respective merits of Jock Stein and Sir Alex, both greats by any measure. The debate was occasioned by the anniversary of Jocks’s death last week. My case was based on Jock’s own towering achievements, achieved without ever having financial superiority over main rivals at any time, and Sir Alex’s own comments that Jock was the best manager of all time
The stats are interesting.
Jock had a lifetime achievement win ratio of 63.48%, Sir Alex 58.14 %
Jock’s win ratio with Hibs was 62% , Sir Alex’s with Aberdeen 59.26%
Jock had a win ratio with Scotland of 42.62 % and when Sir Alex took over the same players after Jock’s tragic death the win ratio was 30%
The other key was that Jock got instant results . His success at Celtic was instantaneous, however his results at Dunfermline were also instant. When Jock was appointed, the team were only two points above last place and mired in a battle against relegation. The team had not won in four months, but then won their first six matches managed by Jock .
To build upon this initial success, He signed Willie Cunningham and Tommy McDonald from Leicester City.Dunfermline became a powerful force and Jock guided them to their first Scottish Cup victory in 1961, winning 2–0 in a replayed Final against Celtic. This was his first season as manager.
Sir Alex by comparison , built great teams, quickly at St Mirren and slowly at Man Utd. He inherited a very good Aberdeen team, and made them even better
Two managerial genius’, but for me Jock is the greatest
Tony ******* Watt
“Is it cold in our shadow…”
Lateralthinkingcsc
The trick here is to stop paying the electricity bill, keep the old bulb (the one that disnae work) in the chandelier, and tell everybody that the old bulb is working again. If a neighbour or a relative says that the bulb disnae seem to be working very well, set the rottweiler on them until they see the light and apologise.
Works everytime.
;o)
Headtheball might have just shaded it………………………
How many Sevconians does it take to change lightbulb?
answer – none
They prefer to be kept in the dark.
Evening all,
I’m sure last nights game has already been spoken about to death and by the time poor old me has time to reflect after a 12 hour shift at work people are bored with hearing opinions, but anyway..
I thought Celtic were outstanding last night – as good an away performance in the CL as I can remember for quite a few years.
Ambrose and Brown were the two stand outs for me – outstanding.
Anthony Stokes not very far behind them, only he wasnt just as involved no fault of his own. He excelled in every aspect of his game that has been the reason last night was his first bow in the competition.
He was very intelligent.
He chose his runs and when to chase well, he retained the ball, never gave it away cheaply, didnt try silly things, showed good skill and I cant remember him being caught offside..
Matthews was excellent, Mulgrew decent.
Lustig and Izaguiire good.
Negatives were I thought Samaras was too lazy and put us and his team mates under pressure as a result – ill accept there is a chance Lennon told him he didnt need to track back and offer Izaguirre protection although im not convinced and Commons just wasnt at the races for whatever reason.
I am going to put losing the game down to tired minds.
Its a very difficult thing to be able to turn the concentration decibels so far up instantaneously when they just dont have to every or any weekend, so in that respect it would have been understandable if the players had poured everything in by the time 80 minutes came around.
In the same respect as a deep sea diver knows how long to keep their breathe in as he rises to the surface – most people would use it up too early and panic for the last few metres.
Under Strachan, whilst the football wasnt great – we were fitter than everyone we played, bar none.
I’d like to see us try getting back to that level – increased physical fitness leads to increased mental fitness.
Although that may cause even more muscular sprains and strains and our track record since parting ways with Gregory Dupont as well as moving to Lennoxtown has been dire.
Jobo, you’ve most certainly “Lightened” up the Blog
Try the Switcheroo noo
Hail hail
Ever posted something you regret….
Bazzabhoy
Will do sir.
Having to miss the game Saturday , sodding work !
Mick taking Burghbhoy junior with ma ticket.
Tablet and QC , some combo!
Jobo Baldie
Just look on it as an enlightening experience……..
Caused a surge there jobo.
Anyone having difficulty accessing TSFM site? Not worky for me….
HH
San Siro to Stenhousemuir
Palacio67
You being re-Fused entry
Jobo
It’s helped us all flex our brains and get switched on without having the impedance or reluctance
I like a midfielder who can put his photon the ball.
HH
BGFC
bournesouprecipe
Don’t think that actually matters to a lot of them. The priority is winning, winning anything, to salve their deflated egos.
BSR
Admit it your jealous cos we never beat stem house manure
thre’s a lot of real bright lights and sparks on tonight.
San Giro set to host showpiece final.
Jobo…..
should you no be circuit
trainin’?
If they do win the ramsden’s it will be pawned by monday
bankiebhoy1
Lay off the guy he’s gona blow a fuse if this keeps up.
In my youth, one of Hollywood’s brightest stars was Jeff Chandelier.
A luminary, in fact.
How many times have you won the Ramsdens? – Timmy, the equivalent of boasting about accidents in your trousers.
Jobo Baldie
21:03 on
19 September, 2013
Ever posted something you regret….
Yep mostly on Friday night’s when I’m on here completely pashed………
Karagandy 1-0 up
Things you never thought you would type Part 67.
Let’s just leave it al ohm
Just a mho
Was away on biz last days and didnae see or Sky+ the game. I hear the mighty hoops played well and were very unlucky not to get a point. Question, I know players need time to settle but how did Boerritger play? to be honest not impressed so far yet with him…..
Prestonpans
I love faraday as well
Cowiebhoy in support of Fearless Oscar & Family
21:11 on
19 September, 2013
Palacio67
You being re-Fused entry
—————–
Just up against a bit of Resistance…..
HH
A living room somewhere
– in East Kilbride
I also like a bright-spark midfielder who can put his photon the ball like Paul Lambda (OK, stretching it a bit there), but too many are just not on the same wavelength, people like Glen Lumens.
HH
BGFC
‘O’LevelPhysicsCSC