Can we purge all negative overtones today, make sure we start tomorrow with a clean sheet? Injuries and suspensions are part of the game, we accept them and plan how to win important games.
Celtic are at their best when they are up against it, when everyone knows that nothing short of a herculean effort is required. This is the case tomorrow. The requirement is straightforward enough: win your personal battle, inhibit one of the best teams we will play this season, take control of midfield and find spaces in the Ajax defence to exploit.
We have more than enough players bursting to set about this task.
Ajax had a taxing game on Saturday, scoring late to secure a draw away to top of the table Twente. Although fourth, they are one of six teams no more than two points off the pace in what is currently one of Europe’s tightest leagues, but there is a fragility about Ajax.
The game against Twente was their first away match after a run of four home games, three of which were won comfortably, while they were denied a win against Milan by a ridiculous penalty in added time. Their away form, however, has been less than impressive; they are still waiting for their first win away from the Amsterdam ArenA this season. As a result, they travel to Celtic Park with the same trepidation they travelled to Groningen, Heerenveen, Twente, AZ, Barca and PSV, a series of games which returned three draws and three defeats.
Dutch media have also been reminding them of a quirky record to maintain. While Celtic eliminated Ajax the last twice the teams met in European Cup/Champions League duty, the Dutch avoided defeat on both games at Celtic Park. For us, this is a meaningless fact, but it is an added burden of expectation on Ajax.
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Right off for the fast Train to G1, if I don’t get a chance to look in before 08:00 I look forward to meeting some of you later.
To the rest of you have a great day and night and I hope your team wins.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Good morning friends from a dry and lightly clouded East Kilbride.
Nae mair sleeps, woo-hoo!
Another rollercoaster day lies ahead. 7 points from 4 games could well be enough to qualify in 2nd place. 3 of them tonight would be just fantastic.
Jobo
Morning all
That’s it am up, get these two organised for school big lurch can look after himself, but the wee one still needs me…. feels wanted.!
Hopeful for tonight, the blonde bombshells first game, 38…! She’s all excited, I’m looking forward to her thoughts on it. I really hope we do it tonight, looking for Kayal to step up to the plate and put in a performance, to be fair to him I’m never to hard on him, due to the circumstances surrounding his injury. With the assailant getting a big cuddle from his manager on being substituted….
Ayrshire is Green and White.
HH
Heard one of those new fangled forecaster guys there suggesting it could be 13 degrees and mostly dry tonight. Which would certainly help the journey from city centre to The Park.
Off for my bus to work…
Hello this is WEE BGFC. My prediction.
Celtic 4-0 Ajax
Celtic 2-Ajax 1. 1-1 Draw in Amsterdam. You heard it here first.
CQN Cocktails:
“The Billionaire”
“The Zombie”
“Valentine’s Delight”
Got family up from London for first ever game, they are staying in Central Hotel & meeting my 90yr old parents for pre match meal today, along with myself & my son. Just heard there was a lot of trouble at Central station area overnite & Bar in Sauchiehall St by Ajax fans. Now concerned re pre match arrangements.
To all going via city centre today/night, stay safe. Let’s do this mob on the pitch. Mon the hoops.
Hx2
mm
’90 year old parents’
You are blessed
HH
Our problem is up front, and I find it hard to see us scoring tonight.
I actually consider Celtic to be an improved team on last year, but whereas last year we took our fleeting chances when they came around, this year we carve out more opportunities only to finish half-arsedly.
(Hopefully, page 13 is as good a place as any to tuck away my pessimism)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Forster :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fisher :::::::::::::::: Ambrose ::::::::::::::::: Van Dijk :::::::::::: Izaguirre
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Ledley ::::::::::::::::::: Mulgrew ::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::: Forrest ::::::::::::::::::::::: Pukki :::::::::::::::::::: Stokes ::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Samaras :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
……..early start for this worker bee………………….depressingly, my first totally dark drive of the year into work………..
roll on march……….
(If we get a draw the night, this bhoy will be celebrating.)
‘mon the Hoops.
HH
Morning,
Mon The Sons of Dan!
midfield maestro
There will be a huge police presence at your meeting point. The rest of us will have to be on our toes. This mob love trouble.
u-o-g
Think if Lustig fit he plays.
Huge hole in that midfield maybe. Know we need goals but think another genuine midfielder wanted in there at expense of either Pukki or Stokes.
Good morning CQNers,
The loss of Kris Common’s creativity was a devastating blow to the already limited permutations available to NL tonight, for that reason I’d like to see him give Van Dijk the opportunity to bring the ball out of defence and provide an attacking platform.
C’mon the hoops.
My daughter is about to have a baby any time in the next couple of days. She was born the same week we beat Ajax 2-1 away in 82. Lucky coincidence I hope.
hh
justafan
07:29 on 22 October, 2013
Thank you, i hope they have passed me & my brother their good genes!
Morning fellow tims,
Going to ask to get away early today.here’s hoping.HH
justafan
Stokes has to play, just has to. Otherwise, wave goodbye to goals.
Pukki has shown he is can track back and play a physical game. Rogic/Biton are way too inexperienced, and Kayal would set off too many nervous twitches in the North Stand.
I’m pretty confident Pukki will start behind the striker, where he plays for Finland.
Great opportunity tonight to assess our comparatively new central defence.
A work in progress.
Lots of hope for a result,but not great expectation.
With any luck,European football next year.
Morning Bhoys
A date with destiny awaits us all and I for one cannot wait.
Marrakech Express…..As I was saying , destiny !!!!!
Hope all goes well for your daughter.
Hail hail
Good Morning.
I believe a happy birthday to Paul McStay is in order so Happy Birthday to the Maestro!
Looking forward to tonight with sons 1 and 3… even my meetings in Glasgow today have a Celtic angle.
Hopefully we get a win tonight– about time we got a goal from one of our big Centre Backs from a corner so……… yes you have guessed……. Ambrose to score anytime…… or Van Dyk… or even Charlie…..
early finish today.will be in usual haunts..
it’s good to talk..
BT
Time for some points on the board Bhoys
Hail Hail
Best wishes to the Ryan Family at the game tonight — George will be in my thoughts.
Brilliant effort by all of those who organised that
u-o-g
See the logic. I hope Pukki can impress there…hasn’t shown too much this far.
Still, 2-0 to the green & whites!
BRTH …..
I will second that
Happy Birthday Paul McStay !
What a player, what a man, what a Celt !
HH
If the stories From last might are true re Ajax Casuals I trust that today’s fanzone in Merchant Square will be adequately policed.
Stokes or Pukki to start with, not both. We’ll need 3 in the midfield to stop being overrun. Ledley’s fitness a concern, does he start knowing he will need to come off, or does he come off the bench in the 2nd half. Decisions, decisions.
GIven the manager’s usual cautious approach, and given he tends to go with his ‘big game players’ even when they are just returning from injury
—————–Forster——————
Lustig Ambrose Van Dijk Izaguirre
——-Kayal Mulgrew Ledley——–
Forrest——-Pukki———-Samaras
Stokes to come on in the last 30 minutes when its a bit more stretched and he has more space to work in. Balde to come on if we are losing and look to plan B.
Last minute visit. Bag packed, phone almost charged, in 10 mins corkcelt will be on the rocky road to Dublin, on first stage of journey to Paradise. See ye later.HH
Morning cqn COYBIG !!Huge game tonight whoever plays for us..need 100%from them all if we are to get some points on the board,a win could be a huge psychological boost for the return game in the Dam and beyond..lets do it!hope your day goes quick guys hh
Indeed, a big hoopy birthday to the original midfield maestro, oh how we could do with Paul in the middle of the park tonight, pin point passes all over the park. Hail hail midfield maestro.
Midfield maestro hope you all have a great night.
Really looking forward to the game tonight! Not letting scotrail and their “signalling problems” or those rude horrible passengers dampen the spirits!
Oldtim -aka master baker! thank you!! Hopefully see you later
Morning all. Very dull and overcast, but mild too.
Has that Rowan Vine been arrested yet for GBH on the pitch and incitement to violence on social network.
very cheesey minx..
or did you have your cake and eat it? o)
Spare ticket here lads.. Will be in Glasgow at half 2. Any takers gimme a shout
up_over_goal-agree,though Rogic and Biton should have had much more game time before now.No point in trying to develop guys if they don’t get a chance to play.The same situation this season with Tony Watt ,who should have played much more last season.Short of a striker in the qualifiers,yet Watt not quoted as he didn’t have the experience we were told.Biton is ahead of Kayal for me now,as far as a first team jersey goes.
Minx1888
What problems on the rail net work do you speak of, I am coming up from Carlisle on the train this morning and meeting Old Tim and ‘Hunners of new CQN.rs Today ,and if I am reading the blog right your good self and your Betrothed ‘ Is that how you spell it Ha Ha
Old Tim /Lennybhoy
Meet you in the Blane Valley just after 1300 if Sir Richards train is running to time