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
- ...
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- ...
- 22
- »
TET
FF £2m
izzy..£600k
Efe ..£1.5m
VVD..£2.5m
Lustig…free
Matthews..free
Mulgrew..free
Broonie..£4m
Sammy..£2m
Commons..£300k
Stokes..£1m
£14m…ish
Some of the post tonight have been illuminating.
bournesouprecipe
21:55 on 19 September, 2013
thomthethim
Puns till it Hertz
****
C’mon the Hertz.
Oops. Wrong site.
PFayr
Thanks.
The reason I ask is, my mate remarked last night when milan brought on Robinho and we brought on Derk, he had never heard of Derk.
I remember the game against Barca at home last season, they brought on 30 mill worth of subs.
For all we bitch and moan, we are doing no bad for a team from a pub league.
HH
….PFAyr, TET,
About as much as Balotelli’s left leg!
I exaggerate, but not by much.
Morrisey, time to put the lights out on that one.
What annoys me most re the MSM’s reporting of our CL endeavours is their constant wittering about our poor away record……
Little mention is made of our excellent home record …which for a team from pot3/4 ..with our resources …is incredible
I certainly see some of the posters in a new light.
Doc
You pulling the plug?
TET
Derk is actually a fairly experienced CL player …played all of Ajax CL games last season …inc scoring against Real Madrid
Just hame….wee bit pashed….love us…unlucky…still Tim’s….team better than last year under this manager…..
Kikinthenakas
BT, aye, more heat than light now.
Morrisey, still so many posters in the dark!
Doc@ 22:49
You can tell who loves the limelime.
TBJ
Is there a thread to that?
Hope Derk takes that scoring form into the next game, CL game that is.
Morrisey, a good gag falls down with a spelling mistake!:-)
Especially when under the spotlime:-))))))
Hope you give the bookies a bloody nose tomorrow PF
Doc
Aye, you wouldn’t be far away.
Now if we had had a striker on the pitch last night, who had a bit of pace and movement, we would have won the game no bother, but hey ho, we have millions in the bank >}
HH
Kikinthenakas, no like ye!
Team better?
Time will tell, I tend to think so too though.
If anyone is around the Gallowgate nice n early on Saturday, pop along to St Anne’s Pr, David Street in the morning, St Anne’s v St Blane’s , 10am KO. Should be a cracker
I ask a simple question about celtic tv and what do I get – nothing. You’re all a shower of internet bampots who couldn’t have a debate in a month of sundays – chandeliers pathetic. I’m off to look for somewhere I can find my equals.
night night bhoys
flouncecsc
Time for the new bhoys to get some proper game time now.Derk,Pukki,Biton and Rogic.
Sorry but I take a very dim view of these light puns !!
Doc is supporting Oscar and McKenzie. @ 22:54
Oh Gawd! This wine is even better than I thought. Thanks for enlightening me.
PF
I can understand my amigo not knowing of Derk, I had never heard of him before we signed him, nor had I heard of Pukki, or Biton, or big Virgil, but I reckon they will do good for us.
Enjoy the racing. coming home with a few bob will make it a really good day.
HH
Bada bing
All four should start on Saturday
Keep the CB pairing ….change as required thereafter
This is the best team since MON’s.
Lots of great Euro nights ahead.
Enjoy.
TET, a player like Balotelli wouldn’t even look at us regarding a potential transfer, he is out of our league, financially, for now.
If we moved to a league, European or whatever, where we could compete financially, I would not have Mario anywhere near our club, inconsistent Prima Dona on the pitch.
Nice guy though, according to reports, charitable type.
Morrisey, I take pleasure in shining a light in the dark corners.
TET
We stuffed them last time …at Hamilton
Tbh …the card was favourable ..we bet sensibly taking the favs although at short prices …TTTT dug out a 16-1 shot which we had on ew
And Che tipped the last winner up which we caught at 11-1..,
The card tomorrow is savage …..if we get a few winners we’ll win a mint ….chances are we’ll get humped
Eight races too …hopefully ill keep the sensible heid on and not take too much bevvy and go daft :-))
!!Bada Bing!! Hope all start, pace in abundance, and a need to impress at the new club, Rogic has quality, high hopes for me.
….PFAyr, I have to pull you up on that one, Che tipped a winner?!?!?
I know yer lurkin’
jackie mac @ 22:57
Sorry Jackie. I don’t subscribe to either service.
Although I was on Celtic TV last week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLopAwTqFoQ
Doc
I wouldn’t want mario either, but there are quality strikers that would jump at the chance to play for us.
Maybes Pukki will be that player, I have my doubts, but time will tell.
As many others have said, we need to get players in long before the start of the season, so the Jan window is the time, otherwise our qualification will hang in the balance like it did this season.
For sure we will sell again the next couple of windows, who knows who it will be next time, but any decent offer for any of our players, they will be gone.
Shame really, we are starting to build a decent squad, and bang, they are gone.
Problem of playing in sectarianland I suppose.
HH
TET, it’s the nature of the plan we are working to now, and it’s a sensible one too.
It works because we have a manager who can develop players quickly, not all of course, but develop sell, buy, develop sell, buy………
Each time moving up in quality, hopefully.
And of course keep a few gems, Adam Mathews, Joe Ledley, Scott Brown, Efe Ambrose, Emilio Izzaguire et al, build and develop.
Frustrating at times, we see players we know are quality and see others we don’t know at all come in, but trust the coaches to get it right.
That is how I see our plan.
And get out of Dodge.
I said last night I think we lack mental strength. We should have won last night but, didn’t!
If we hadn’t won in Moscow we’d be asking about a curse! :-) But there was a wee lack of real belief last night. How many saves did their keeper make versus Fraser?
Their manager was quoted as saying he believed they’d do it. I said after 80 this has the script of us losing. I really hope the bhoys watch this game and stet to believe.
Anyway Anthony Stokes has never been my cup of tea. I believe I posted on here that he thought he was Messi, but without the skill.
I want to go on record as saying I think Stokesy could become the real Number 10 we’ve craved. I’ve been delighted by his application since his return from injury.
Anton could become a real legend!
Doc
I would want Mario, but know we won’t ever get anyone of his quality as long as we are playing in jockland.
Maybes one day our weans will be watching the bhoys playing in a league where we are up against the best week in week out, I’m sure it will happen, the Spanish media are pushing for it, it’s in the papers nigh on every day, the competition here is non existant, and they are starting to struggle to convince their support to turn out for liga games.
HH
The Exiled Tim said:
Now if we had had a striker on the pitch last night, who had a bit of pace and movement, we would have won the game no bother
Seriously?
Do you really believe football is that simple?
Do this and we will definitely win. If we had done that we would have won the game. If we had bought Fletcher we would have won the league.
How many times have we heard these words of retrospective wisdom? Always retrospective.
I’m just amazed you are still living in a cave rather than living in a mansion in the Seychelles with all those millions you surely must have won over the years on Football bets.
:-)