Trending
Celtic News Now
Celtic Quick News on News Now
Celtic Quick News
You are at:»»Clues of Celtic plans are not hard to find

Clues of Celtic plans are not hard to find

825
By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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]

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

825 Comments
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 14
  6. 15
  7. 16
  8. 17
  9. 18
  10. 19
  11. 20
  12. 21
  13. 22

  4. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS forza Oscar and Mackenzie on

    VOGUEPUNTER

     

     

    Got duff info from CP Hospitality when I first phoned them.

     

     

    KD Bar aint bloody open!

     

     

    Expect an e-mail offering options for the initial meet-the rest of it is as was-around lunchtime today.

     

     

    I think somebody tipped them off,and they decided there might be too many shafters and howlers for one room,tbh….

  5. VP KO'd by fearless Oscar Knox on

    Petec

     

    Howdy mhate ….I’ve actually gained height…corn on foot makes me 3mm higher .

  11. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Corkcelt

     

     

    23-27

     

     

    It’s not their country …however it’s attitudes like yours that allow them to maintain

     

     

    Clearly it’s not your country …you’re not really in a position to comment

     

     

    Tom McLaughlin

     

     

    Acquiescence is consent ….you know what it’s like living in the West of Scotland…..their falsehoods and lies must be challenged…

  13. jimbo67 on

    Morning all

     

     

    Just back from Milan

     

     

    After the Hootenanny I am going on the wagon.

     

     

    Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox

  15. petec - Oscar BraveO - God Bless. on

    jimbo67

     

     

    05:10 on 20 September, 2013

     

     

    Morning all

     

     

    Just back from Milan

     

     

    After the Hootenanny I am going on the wagon.

     

     

    Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox

     

    ____________________________________

     

     

    Great effort from the Bhoys, as ever, even better effort by the FAITHful support.

     

     

    I am getting you a few wee Whisky’s next week.

     

     

    HH

  16. jimbo67 on

    Petec

     

     

     

    Great trip, pleasure to be part of the support.

     

     

    Looking forward to seeing you again.

     

    especially as whisky promised!

     

     

    And now to bed

     

     

     

    Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox

  18. praecepta on

    Hope Lenny’s got a chauffeur arranged:

     

     

    Ajax Amsterdam have lost a court bid to overturn a ban on their supporters attending Sunday’s game at fellow Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, the club said on Thursday.

     

    Ajax, together with two supporters groupings, wanted their fans to be allowed to travel to the Philips Stadium by coach but a court in Den Bosch upheld a ban imposed by the city of Eindhoven.

     

    Special trains that would usually have carried supporters from Amsterdam to Eindhoven have been cancelled because of work on the line. The bus alternative was rejected by Eindhoven mayor Rob van Gijzel for fears of supporter violence.

     

     

     

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2425433/Ajax-fans-lost-court-bid-overturn-ban-supporters-attending-match-PSV.html#ixzz2fP5m5InS

     

     

    Can’tSleepCSC!

  19. praecepta on

    Gerard Pique has warned Celtic that Barcelona have learned their lesson from last season’s 2-1 defeat at Parkhead and are ready to blow a huge hole in their Champions League hopes next month.

     

     

    Neil Lennon’s side are under pressure to take something from the October 1 visit of the Catalan giants after losing 2-0 to AC Milan in the Group H opener at the San Siro on Tuesday evening.

     

     

    The Scottish champions will take inspiration from last year’s historic win over the La Liga superstars, when goals from Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt paved their way to the last 16.

     

     

    However, having been caught out by a set-piece and a long kick-out by Fraser Forster during that momentous encounter, Pique vowed his team won’t be making the same mistakes twice.

     

     

    Speaking exclusively to Sportsmail after his goal and a majestic Lionel Messi hat-trick put Ajax to the sword this week, the World Cup-winning Spaniard insisted the Celtic defeat had taught his squad how to handle the thunderous atmosphere that lies in wait for them and secure the victory that will put them firmly in the Group H driving seat.

     

    ‘I think it was actually a great experience for us last year,’ said Pique.

     

     

    ‘We now know just how difficult it is to play at Celtic Park. The atmosphere is really powerful and the supporters help Celtic a lot.

     

    ‘We played a good game there last year. We controlled the match most of the time and kept the ball, but they went up the park two times and scored twice. We have to learn from that experience and I think we can use that to have a good game there this time round.’

     

     

    Pique, 26, started on the bench last November, replacing Marc Bartra with 19 minutes to go, but smiled broadly when asked to recall the Parkhead atmosphere and urged his club’s fans to experience it while they can.

     

     

    ‘I think it is brilliant,’ said the central defender.

     

    ‘It is one of the best atmospheres in Europe by far. I really do think Barcelona fans must make the effort to go there one day to see it for themselves because it is a great experience.’

     

     

    Pique is desperate for the Catalans to get themselves through the section as quickly as possible and that means travelling to Scotland with the sole intention of collecting maximum points.

     

     

    Pique could be joined by Carles Puyol at the heart of the Barcelona rearguard for the trip to Celtic Park, with the club captain now back in training following knee surgery in the summer.

     

     

    More…

     

     

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2426133/Gerard-Pique-Barcelona-wont-lose-Celtic-Champions-League.html#ixzz2fP8LIjdr

  20. TBJ Praying for Oscar Knox on

    Good morning champions

     

     

    As much as I want to see all our new signings and tom rogic get games in…. I dont think we should start with derk .. nir .. tom … pukki and amido on saturday.

  24. TBJ Praying for Oscar Knox on

    Desertbhoy

     

     

    I think pukki should start.. with derk and either nir or tom.

     

     

    Give the one who doesn’t start the last 30 mins

  25. desertbhoy on

    ..other me… Hot and humid you say?

     

     

    ..me… Par for the course.

     

     

    ..other me… When does it cool down?

  27. desertbhoy on

    Tbj.. Ah, there is life.. Yes agree.. Tom too come on later. Have to see full 90 frm pukki and derk.. 60 frm nir

  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 14
  6. 15
  7. 16
  8. 17
  9. 18
  10. 19
  11. 20
  12. 21
  13. 22