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]
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big nan
16:33 on 19 September, 2013
I prefer to call them crime watch uk scum and that rattles the cage :))
Paul67 et al
The problem of getting close to a result is the disappointment of losing towards the end of the game, something Celtic have done over and over many times over the years. And losing the first game does not help. Still let us see if we can get some points on the board before we play AC Milan at home.
Billy No’Well@billynowell25m
@Pmacgiollabhain David Low financial advisor during the McCann takeover talks to @billynowell http://billynowell.com/2013/09/19/desert-island-tims-with-david-low/ …
Hankray
Its no surprise we always get a better press outside Scotland. I harped on last night about Tanner on Sky. He couldnt help himself getting sly digs in and asking Collins loaded questions. and yet other Sky pundits/anchormen like Jeff Stelling and Jamie Redknapp gush with praise towards Celtic. You wont hear statements like ‘this is the best atmosphere anywhere in Europe'(describing CP on a CL night)from our own msm, or indeed Sky currant buns.
Just tune in to Stv tonight and watch Blue-tie McKays smirking boat race. But then again I should know fine well that its only a cheap shot at grabbing some glory to ease the extreme hurt.
Or maybe I’m paranoid.
hh
Paul67 et al
Not usually one to correct myself but should have read;
“….something Celtic have done over and over to other teams over the years”
Imagine there was a family of career criminals who regularly escaped jail by paying fines of lesser amount than the value of the swag they stole.
Imagine that they lobbied politicians to weaken laws and regulations aimed at curbing their crimes or bringing their activities into the sphere of criminality.
Imagine them funding private armies to break strikes, profiteering from wars, and inventing and planting stories to start ward to further profits.
Well, it is still happening. Like father, like son, like faceless anonymous corporate offspring
JP Morgan
last night our back 4 were outstanding, no other word for it, adam Mathews will be worth 10 million if he continues to play the way he did last night, top notch performance in the best competition on earth
hen1rik
:))
I bow to your skills sir :))
Have been following David Low on twitter and been hugely impressed.
He even tries to gives deluded ones some pointers and highlights their futile efforts with serious financial questions.
Star Wars pirate Darth Vadaaaaarrrrr
Afternoon all
Just waiting to dock at Dover. 45 minutes late as choppy waters. Like the game this could be a sickening finish
In the stadium I couldnt see us losing as I thought they were mediocre for most of the match- but after Stokes’ free lick hit the bar I knew we’d not win- some great play but we always seemed to take one touch too many or make an extra pass . Wish we were playing them in a fortnight.
Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox
Hi there Celts.
I guess the mood with us all is frustration after a game which was there to take was not.I thought big FF had his best game this season,Matthews and Lustig look to be forming an understanding and I think you young Matthews is benefitting form the experience of Danny Mc Grain.Efe and Virgil looked solid and as though they have been playing together for ages.Efe looked composed on the ball when foraging forward.
I feel Scott Brown is maturing and improving with each performance,Izzi was unfortunate at the goal but had a good night all in as did Kc even tho I felt had a quiet one.Tony up front was unfortunate with the free kick but his suitability to the lone striker role is questionable.Sammy,well he was Sammy,unlucky with his shot,leaving the left side to Izzi at times,but his contribution to the team is there.
I take a note of caution tho Paul when looking for clues of Celtics plans.I agree we do look more comfortable as Neils team and way of playing matures and improves,my note of caution is concerning Lennoxtown and our youth coming thro and and that youth being able to put on a Celtic shirt at this level and compete.I would like to see more of the youth proving themselves in the first team.
I am in the football fans purgotory, in that I love the new buys like Virgil and Pukki and what they bring to our team,but I also at the same time feel this denotes a failure at Lennoxtown,in that the difference in that we should have youngs Celts forging through,asking questions of Neil bout a place in the team?
I ask what these plans/models will bring 4 or 5 years down the line.more buy low and sell high,more big transfers out.I would like to see a plan/model that stems from Lennnoxtown to our first team and with true ambition and the aim of lifting this cup(the one they died of envy with) again.I am not criticising our corporate governance at all,thats great,but i still think there is nowt better than having a fan of the club playing for it.
Always in Celtic
Ole CQN’aaarrrr Dontbrattbackinagaaaaaarrrr
setting free the bears supports Celtic’s best fighter- Wee Oscar Knox
Seen this comment on another site
“$920 million fine will hurt, but, jailing a few people would be more effective. I’m afraid I’m with Voltaire in circumstances like this, even if Admiral Byng got a raw deal”.
“From time to time, it is necessary to shoot one, to encourage the others.”
leftclicktic oscar in our thoughts 16:22 on 19 September, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKm5xQyD2vE
I have loved Billy No’Well’s Desert Island Tims. Almost all the guests have had great stories to tell, although some of their choices of songs have been a bit cack. The best so far in terms of songs has been from this guy:
http://billynowell.com/2013/08/22/desert-island-tims-with-morrissey-the-23rd/
mncelt
This was not a game that Lenny would have been looking to take points.
==============
—————–
I beg to differ:) You see him last night? He didn’t want 1 point, he wanted 3.
I agree no panic.
HH
Scene in Babbitty bowsters to ole Blantyre TIM
‘You’re baaaarrrrred!’
So , what are CQNers` views on team selection for Saturday? Do we utilise our squad or go for our stronest eleven?
JJ
jimbo67 @ 16:46
Three minutes in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj8KanqU3IA
BBC Scotland Sport news headlines
Rangers “reward ” for knocking out Ramsdens Cup holders Queen of the South is a semi final away tie to Stenhousemuir
Laugh, Thought my pants would never dry
So , see all the CQNers` views on team selections. Do we think NL takes note? ;)
HH
Only thing worser than CQN team selections is CQN music selections ;)
bmcd48
Thank you for that :)))))))))))))))))
hurtin hurtin dtupid huns
Waaahhhaaahhhhaaaahhhhaaaa.
till later all
Another public petition calling for tansparency runs into a brick wall with Scotland’s top judge refusing to attend the PPC!
http://petercherbi.blogspot.com/2013/09/as-scotlands-top-judge-battles-on.html
Interesting.
Stenny v sevconian in ole ramsdens.
El Classico.
Morrisey
Of course he doesn`t…….but he did select the team I posted the day before the match 0:-)
DBBIA
…….and the only thing worser than CQN music selections is CQN Australian Political Party selections 0:-)
Dontbrattbakkinanger @ 17:01
ba dum tsh
http://www.hark.com/clips/gwxgvcwfqx-short-drum-roll-with-cymbal-crash
Jungle Jim @ 17:11
Back of the net!
Jimbo67
The Celtic fans at the game last night were awesome.
You could hear them loud & clear throughout, even after we went behind they were the dominant noise in the stadium.
rollonrolloff CSC
Stenny away is a bit of a trek.
Fingers crossed they get the ole bus fixed in time.
Please tell me Sevco and Stennie are not playing the same night as we entertain Barcelona? If so, we can only hope the CL game is rescheduled for 12.45 KO so that we can all enjoy the Challenge Cup tie at 7.45PM.
JJ
PS What exactly is The Challenge Cup?
There’s a bit on sevcomedia about the rainbow laces that players are asked to ware, those hun c***s are really stuck in the past they are total bigots and knuckle dragging scumbags, it’s the way they are brought up to hate hate hate thank god I’m not one of them I think I would just kill myself. Horrible club supported be horrible people
To Err is human!
To Aarr is pirate!
Better chance of the ole bus being OK than the “young” coach.
To er is hesitant.
no bobby does it petta
12:58 on 19 September, 2013
Would be interested to hear the views of a goalkeeping coach on FF’s save of the free kick which led to their 2nd goal.
Could/should he have punched or palmed it in the other direction, rather than claw it back into play, and into the danger area.
The latter seemed the impossible oprion, but he managed it.
It was a great effort but I think the wee grimace and holding his back was way if an apology……still helluva unlucky
Us Tims are in a very good place at the moment- not a great place. A great place would have been discussing how we managed to beat Milan last night- a very good place is being unhappy that we went to Milan and didnt beat them. If we make the EL this season, which is difficult because of the quality of CL group we are in, we have a good chance of going far in that competition.
HH
Read somewhere that the Fish Supper cup final could be played at the Hallowed Ground if Sevco get to the final.
Don’t know if this is just fantasy – BUT for me, there is no way we should even consider it.