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).
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Doug and Dinsdale Piranha’s ‘acumen and no-frills approach’ involves nailing any dissenters to the nearest coffee table.
Gruff
All this talk of goats, just remember:
What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly
(Jamaican proverb)
Hope that helps.
No problem
That was billy goat beard mc murdos kid that wrote that pash.
Just found out that Goats don’t shave
dena29
11:19 on 20 September, 2013
Big Nan
petition signed I dont have a twitter account can you tell me how to post on facebook and I will share it (if thats possible) I’m not technically good but will follow instructions where possible
HH
………………………
Go to the petitions site again here: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/GettingInvolved/Petitions/judgesmasonregister
And there is a box above the five most recent supporter names which asks people to share the petition “Help promote this petition through the following websites.”
Then there are buttons for Twitter, Facebook, Linkdn, e-mail which would allow you to click on Facebook and share the parliament link with your Facebook friends.
Same for twitter. The friends get the link from the parliament and it is not even necessary to post a message. Just the click of a finger.
I would click but have been suspended for 30 days. I think Hugh Dallas chaired the panel that considered my spamming to potential supporters (the one to Grand Lodge may have been a step too far)
Speaking of Grand Lodge, I was given a guided tour by the Grand Secretary, C Martin McGibbon, a few years back. He was a big bluff sort of guy and seemed O’K for a Rangers supporting Mason, but he told me that he disliked the perception in Scotland that the Craft were anti-RC.
He told me of his recent trip to the USA wher Masons openly proclaimed their membership by such things as bumper stickers (honk if you are a fellow Mason). “Imagine me having such a sticker in my home town of Glasgow” he said!
High on a hill
Was a lonely goatherd
Ho-de-lay-ho-de-lay
Ho-de-lay-hi-hoo
Sipsini – I can almost hear young McMurdo crying over the fact that he couldn’t say the wealth of Blue Pitch was ‘off the radar’ and cursing Jingle jangle for tainting the phrase.
Couple of birthday’s today.
One of the best headers of a ball I’ve had the pleasure to watch and ole heid the ba’ himself…………..me!
Happy birthday Henrik – It was an absolute joy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WzLJTtI1fQ
Teuchter ár lá
Indeed we have some good defenders and midfielders. But goalscorers for all that pressure against juve last year we were short of goal scorers. We only had one on Gary hooper and he was sold for over 5m and replaced with 2.9m pukki
So if we don’t sell players for about 15m our club is in danger. Tosh tosh
We have done great work at back but without a goal scorer we will struggle at top level
Would be nice if Paul admitted our poor goalscorer policy
Many happy returns to ole Teuchter.
Hey chaps. Wonder if any one can help me a get a sausage to the video of Petrov scoring the header against the defunct ones, celbrating in front of them and then getting sconed by the coke cup!
I managed to find the goal but not the aftermath.
Cheers
TTTT
Today we will drink one in your honour to remove that nasty memory forever. ;-)
HH
Thanks everyone. (mutters under breath)
Bognorboy thanks, I will keep pushing. HH
sydneytim
12:00 on 20 September, 2013Indeed we have some good defenders and midfielders. But goalscorers for all that pressure against juve last year we were short of goal scorers. We only had one on Gary hooper and he was sold for over 5m and replaced with 2.9m pukkiSo if we don’t sell players for about 15m our club is in danger. Tosh toshWe have done great work at back but without a goal scorer we will struggle at top levelWould be nice if Paul admitted our poor goalscorer policy
Ah know what your saying, but how much did we buy Hooper for…
HH
weeminger.
The hun sites are beginning to open their eyes to the kid mc murdo and the p**h stained leggat.
FF and hunmedia are at war with each other on which one of them talks the most nonsense…
Good ammo and entertaining. HH
Old Sydneytim
First defeat of the season, an Hez right in there, doom an gloom, sad attention seeker. Anyway onwards an upwards.
sipsini
12:06 on 20 September, 2013weeminger.The hun sites are beginning to open their eyes to the kid mc murdo and the p**h stained leggat.
P**h stained…. is there a story there..?
HH
Dbbia
Cheers!….It’s also the birthday of ole Alexander the great – but amongst the many things he accomplished, he never won the golden boot, or scored in Seville :-)
Teuchter ár lá
Has Poundland been raided by the cops?
Top 5 Celtic players?
Mine:
Jinky, George Connelly, Bobby Murdoch, Bobby Lennox and Henrik.
Next 5:
Kenny Dalglish, Danny McGrain, Tommy Gemmell, Lubo, Paul McStay.
For what it’s worth!
HH!!
Tomtheleedstim/micktt.
>>>>>>>>>>
RANGERS are being investigated by the Procurator Fiscal after allegations of fraud.
The bombshell news follows information and evidence of alleged wrongdoing which I can reveal was handed to the Serious Fraud Office in London this week.
They have no jurisdiction in Scotland, but senior figures in the Serious Fraud Office were sufficiently impressed by the nature of the evidence and details in the complaint that they immediately contacted the Procurator Fiscal’s office in Glasgow.
Now the Fiscal has called for a full police probe into these extremely serious and wide ranging allegations and senior officers will now interview the Rangers executive directors who were responsible for the share issue last December, plus certain transactions which took place earlier this year in the aftermath of the Imran Ahmad, Charles Green and Brian Stockbridge launched IPO which saw Rangers quoted on the Stock Exchange.
The IPO raised £22.5M which financial director Stockbridge, the only one of that trio who is still on the board, has admitted is now all gone.
I understand that the Procurator Fiscal-ordered-investigation will focus on certain transactions which came in the wake of that £22.5M being raised, transactions which helped drain that huge cash injection and reduce it to zero in a matter of months.
The news that the Rangers books could be seized by the police with financial director Stockbridge, former chief executive Charles Green and ex commercial director Imran Ahmad facing a grilling, possibly under caution, will undermine the current board’s bid to stay in place.
For the police probe into these serious allegations will almost certainly still be under way when the current crop of directors, including financial director Stockbridge, are forced to offer themselves to the shareholders for election at the Annual General Meeting which must now take place no later than October 31st.
Leggats blog this morning.HH
Micktt. But hooper was a goal scorer before we bought him
Tony. Great performance Thursday morning. But no need for blatant PL propaganda
We have sold our only goal scorer and not replaced him and we have all that money in the bank and we must sell to survive in June
sipsini – thanks mate. Excellent!
tonydonnelly67
Are you a regular in the oasis? Not been in it for ages.
Sydneytim
I yer right, an we shoulda held on to Larson, same same old with you, it’s all about PL and the board, that’s it no more attention from me now go away, PLEASE.
new article posted.
‘Sell to survive’ what, exactly?
Sips I
Yes I am
Sipsini
SydneyTim
12:19 on 20 September, 2013
Micktt. But hooper was a goal scorer before we bought him
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
so….we’ll just have to wait an see, but what i’ve heard/seen of Pukki he’s no Harald!!
.
So Aberdeen don’t do the Huddle..They do the Cuddle..wtf..
Lets All Do the Cuddle..Ha..
Summa of TheBosieCSC
For the history buffs. A FOUNDING FATHER , and the Celtic Graves Society.
I was passed a brochure for the commemoration couple of weeks ago of one
JOSEPH FRANCIS MCGRORY (or McGroary). 1865-1937.
B, In Cowcaddens Street , Milton Glasgow
D. Mountcharles , Co Donegal.
If you get a chance to purchase the brochure, its a wonderfully enlightening read. Costs £2.50.
Joseph parents were from Donegal, and his story is just so engaging.
A pupil of St Aloysius, a Solicitor, invited to be on the commitee for this new “Celtic” club.
His family story will be similar for hundreds of thousands of us descendants
If you want to order email, cant recommend it enough.
info@celticgraves.com
Tickled pink 15:30 newbury
Lads,
please post your Week 7 naps here !
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : Week 6 results & standings
Rockon Neil Lennon was the solitary winner last week (Tac de Boistron @11/2) and he gallops to the top of the table…
+£16.00 Rockon Neil Lennon (3)
+£11.50 Bada Bing (2)
+£ 8.50 16 roads (2)
+£ 6.00 bonbhoy (2)
+£ 3.00 fleagle1888 (1)
+£ 3.00 valentinesday (2)
+£ 2.50 What is the Stars (1)
-£ 1.50 MHARK67 (1)
-£ 1.80 voguepunter (1)
-£ 2.25 Che (1)
-£ 2.50 BULL67 (1)
-£ 2.50 twists n turns (1)
-£ 3.00 BMCUWP (1)
-£ 3.50 PF Ayr (1)
-£ 4.19 Burgas Hoops (1)
-£ 4.20 Sponsored by Cheetah (1)
-£ 6.00 El Madrigal
-£ 6.00 gordybhoy64
-£ 6.00 green T
-£ 6.00 Kilbowie Kelt
-£ 6.00 leftclicktic
-£ 6.00 Magnificentseven
-£ 6.00 pedrocaravanachio67
-£ 6.00 petec
-£ 6.00 Som mes que un club
-£ 6.00 tommytwiststommyturns
-£ 6.00 unionbearBhind
*No selection (wk 6) : El Madrigal, Magnificentseven, pedrocaravanachio67
*Non-Runners :
Cheers, fleagle1888