Two honourable defeats, away to Milan and at home to Barcelona, confirm that Celtic can compete at this level, but the two points which only just eluded us could prove crucial in determining qualification for the knock out stage. Barcelona and Milan are in the driving seat.
Two home wins, against Ajax and Milan, could change all this. If Celtic can achieve this, Ajax could still be on four points after playing (and beating) Celtic in Amsterdam, but will be odds against to reach six points with a visit to Milan and a home game against Barcelona to come. Milan bloodied Barcelona’s nose last season, but are not certain to take anything against the Catalans this time, although the outrageous decision which gifted them a draw last night suggests we cannot take anything for granted.
It’s possible that Milan could finish with seven points, which is not an unsurmountable target for Celtic. For now, we can ignore all the ‘what ifs’, the only thing that matters is facing Ajax at Celtic Park in three weeks. This is our cup final.
It has been said repeatedly since last night, but deserves repetition, Georgios Samaras’ performance was nothing short of incredible and stands comparison with any individual Celtic performance in Europe over the last 20 years.
Efe Ambrose and Virgil van Dijk looked more every bit as secure as Efe and Kelvin a year ago. Efe can be particularly pleased with the way he recovered his form after shading last season.
Some months ago I heard a numpty on Radio 5 Live describe Fraser Forster as a ‘Match of the Day goalkeeper’, the implication being that he was more show than substance. Yet again Fraser demonstrated that he is by far the best goalkeeper in Britain. I couldn’t care less who in England is aware of this fact. I hear he released Neymar from his pocket late last night.
Adam Matthews and Mikal Lustig are a terrific right-side partnership but from the opening seconds they were taxed to the limit last night. The more they play at this level the better they’ll get.
Despite deserving more from Milan last night Ajax are in a state of flux at the moment. They will not travel to Glasgow with anything approaching confidence but it will still require out best performance of the season to overcome them.
Bring it on.
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Canamalar
A german and serbian club meet -i make that 15 countries -get my point
Gene’s a Bhoy’s name
19:50 on
2 October, 2013
Canamalar
Germany has eight neighbouring countries –
And they have a claim on 6 of them.
Barcamunich, a la Guardiola.
Big Cup Winners
Agreed. As I said before, I thought the German referee in Milan was good, he didn’t blow his whistle every time an AC Milan player went down looking for a cheap free kick.
Sftb
He probably has slaughtered Brown in private. However NL took the denial stance in front of the microphones even after seeing it clearly on TV. He should have held his hands up. Then again he’s only doing what Fergie and Wenger would have done I suppose.
Sat down to watch the game tonight …..STV…..adverts started as soon as the team’s appeared on the park….no CL anthem / display…… Only in Scotland
Valentinesday
Now, that was a great show.
Cheers
HH PC67
Marrakesh Express @ 19.32 hrs.
A bit over the top IMO. In the days of Jock or Big Billy, Scott Brown’s petulant kick would never have warranted any card far less a red. ( If they had cards ) This is a changed game, but Scott Brown should be aware of this. I am not condoning his fly kick ( If you can even call it that ) but I repeat Fabregas and Neymar did their great club a disservice.
All managers will protect their players in the media, but you can be sure that in private he will be told. That is the correct way for an “offence” of this magnitude.
Did you ever hear Fergie castigate his players in public.?
As for some comments a la Jonny I respect your opinion, however Charlie Mulgrew’s miss of a sitter also cost us. Maybe more so than Scott Brown as even with ten men we were not overawed.
Corkbhoy @ 19.23 hrs. Just switch off no need for Boycotts. This is not yet a dictatorship.
Final thought compare FF to Joe Hart tonight.
KTF, there is loads to be proud of and perhaps more importantly plenty still to play for.
HH, Always in Celtic.
Jo Wiley playing playing female based crap would be pop music is rubbidge.
IMO
Oh hang on….. Del a Soul!!!
Gene’s ..@ 20.01
In that case, no problem, Willie Eyes in the Back of his Head Collum can referee the match.
Last night’s show from FF, combined with Hart’s boob tonight, must have added a couple of mill to the big goalie’s value. England calling.
And she is back to playing playing female based crap would be pop music………..
Good Grief.
I wonder what pardew thought of FF’s performance last night
Lost all the contacts off my mobile the other day. Anyone who knows me, can you send me a wee text with your name on it and I will update my contacts list.
Cheers,
Ulcyr
Amazing Yaya Toure strolls through EPL games but looks honking tonight, can hardly trap a ball.
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon, supporting WEE OSCAR..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
20:04 on
2 October, 2013
Sat down to watch the game tonight …..STV…..adverts started as soon as the team’s appeared on the park….no CL anthem / display…… Only in Scotland
If you have sky then watch ITV London 973 instead
CQN Predictor (week 7)
Position Lst Week Team Manager Week 5 Sept Pts Total Pts
1 (1) Gohome Yahuns stevenagebhoy 51 219 344
2 (2) Koln Hoops Kolncelt 42 201 333
3 (3) Bayern Bru Twists n turns 54 219 330
4 (11) Mcdowells Bhoys mcdowellcelt 54 220 319
5 (5) Kikinthenakas Kikinthenakas 41 208 314
6 (6) Celtic Under Ninety Team Paddy Turner 40 189 311
7 (10) Kiwinning Dangers BMCUWP 44 199 310
8 (4) Giffnock Old Bhoys gscbhoy 35 191 309
9 (9) Chocolate Bhoys McFudge 41 178 307
10 (17) Nitrams 11 ncmjc 52 195 307
11 (26) 7-1 4-2 6-2 Travelbhoy 54 194 306
12 (31) Dougies Donkeys DougC 54 196 304
13 (13) Kayal33 Kayal33 40 199 302
14 (24) Set Phasers to Malky Jeez_I_thought_blinker_was_pants 48 205 301
15 (8) Del Monte Shamrock jammabhoy 33 170 299
16 (21) Jessica Rabbit Mrs CRC 43 179 297
17 (12) Hillend Rockies Slabhoy 34 179 297
18 (15) Norfolk Enchants Sponsored by Cheetah 38 191 297
19 (14) celtic1888 Murdoch, Auld and Hay 34 192 295
20 (19) Maybe Next Year…………… Penfold 39 175 294
21 (16) Looney Tunes Celticrollercoaster 36 186 292
22 (28) ColleensBhoys Leftclicktic 41 187 292
23 (7) Were on the one road Colts Cowiebhoy 25 164 291
24 (20) epl overated hmack 36 185 290
25 (34) Green and Whiteley Murdoch, McGrain and Larsson 42 163 290
26 (35) FC Pasch(ing) praecepta 41 199 289
27 (38) Rodfather Rovers Row Z 44 177 289
28 (37) ruggyvogue c.s.c. voguepunter 41 183 288
29 (18) Setting Free the Bears Setting Free the Bears 33 204 288
30 (50) The Dukes of Montrose Celtic Mac 56 201 288
31 (33) Hurdles Huddlers bognorbhoyle 38 182 287
32 (48) lubosleftpeg castlebhoy 53 187 287
33 (43) The Exiled Tim The Exiled Tim 46 202 287
34 (22) Billys Boots Lionsroar67 33 189 287
35 (25) Minx 1888 Minx 1888 33 181 286
36 (30) Angola CSC thecelt45 35 164 285
37 (23) Thom’s Sellick Thommybhoy 32 177 285
38 (40) The NoNames Kingoh 41 188 284
39 (53) Frank’s Frantic Eleven Celtic Soul Brother 54 207 283
40 (56) Acacia Milan Doubting Thomas 56 191 282
41 (29) celtic 67 Deccyrollercoaster 30 177 280
42 (27) iPaddys Plodders iPaddyMcCourt 28 168 280
43 (46) Hopeful Hoops Bobby Evans Superstar 39 172 279
44 (51) Donny Gaels Bradbhoy 49 169 279
45 (39) Meiklehill Rovers Mayanman 34 181 278
46 (36) Evergreen The Lurker 30 169 277
47 (52) Athenry bhoys stpatricksbhoy 47 194 277
48 (45) Imran’s Maw Dick Byrne 36 178 277
49 (57) thebhoyfromoz thebhoyfromoz 49 176 275
50 (44) MARCELONACELTIC F C Mhark67 33 167 274
51 (32) micktic 3mick3 24 149 273
52 (42) EK Green & White Army Kelvinbhoy 31 165 272
53 (47) Dim Sam’s Tims Dim Sam 36 186 272
54 (41) Hail Hail Rain or Shine FC Jobo Baldie 28 162 271
55 (59) Lennys Lions The Lizard King 51 193 270
56 (55) Rossini Sammi the Hun Skelper 39 181 266
57 (49) Somerset Harp Gherrybhoy57 31 179 264
58 (54) Death or Wamba? Ard Ri 30 158 258
59 (60) Heaven Albert Kidd 41 167 257
60 (62) Bannockburn Bhoys Doc is Neil Lennon 45 174 255
61 (58) Celtic rose Caityrollercoaster 33 145 252
62 (61) Weißbier X Pogmathonyahun 41 151 252
63 (66) Googys Globetrotters Googy Bhoy 47 154 250
64 (63) Lennys Bhoys Lennybhoy 36 157 242
65 (67) Bada Bing Bada Bing 37 127 239
66 (64) Dan City Dan 31 144 235
67 (65) Diamonds B-Boy 29 133 232
68 (68) Jonny the Tim Jonny the Tim 25 161 225
69 (69) Glasgow Brazilian Mouldy67 35 153 223
70 (72) Roughrigg Brushers GG 28 117 222
71 (71) Gordybhoy Rovers Gordy Bhoy 64 26 157 221
72 (70) Belfast Celtic cliftonville celt 23 108 218
73 (75) RalphWaldoEllison X1 RalphWaldoEllison 35 130 211
74 (73) Dreamchester Athletic Blantyre Tim 24 101 209
75 (77) Sipsini Sipsini 36 109 192
76 (74) Jinky’s Giants Johnbud78 0 80 184
77 (78) Patrick Missal Patrick27 30 88 182
78 (80) Berocca Juniors The Pips XI 46 83 170
79 (76) Dark Horse FC Stephen Black 0 88 168
80 (79) Port Brigade Saint Stivs 35 112 163
81 (81) Real Ale Madrid The Token Tim 25 114 114
67 Heaven
Sat down to watch the game tonight …..STV…..adverts started as soon as the team’s appeared on the park….no CL anthem / display…… Only in Scotland
And in England…
67Heaven, they dont play zadok on itv in case the huns go postal. It has that effect on the, at least it does when my phone goes off.
Their coverage (or lack of coverage) of the cl anthem and Celtic tifo last night was rank amateur.
Bayern doing to City what Barca did to us…….pressuring them to giving the ball back, or misplacing passes.
Common factor? Pep.
Ronaldo with his 55th goal in 100 European games
Robert tressell – lovely feeling (have you read any Isabel Allende? – great fiction about south america\chile/dictatorships!)
Bayern pummelling Man City here
Stole from elsewhere :o)
Bayern Munich v Bayern Success
ITV have to cram a lot of adverts in over the football programme, they have 90 mins when they can’t show any so they cram them in at the start and half time. It’s not an anti Celtic bias as they famously missed action from English cup matches when the adverts kicked in.
Man City for all their many millions aren’t in Bayern’s class.
prestonpans bhoys
20:12 on 2 October, 2013
Absolutely, but you can’t record it on 973 ….was at the game and wanted to see the anthem / display again also…LOL
That Navas isn’t a patch on Silva
Yotkbhoy
They should cut the panel chat and keep the atmosphere
Some thoughts on last night and how we move on
– I thought the team were great , and competed to the utmost of their abilities. Nobody gave less than100%, and it is unfair to highlight any individual errors . Sadly, I think the second goal against Milan, may be more important than any error last night.
– We have a big challenge to get our new players into a position where they can make a contribution to the Ajax game. That contribution may be in the starting 11, or it may be forcing an improved performance from a guy who holds the jersey and wants to keep it.
– with international games on the horizon, it is vital we give Pukki, Balde, Biton and Boerrighter a run on Saturday. Same applies to Forrest and Mcgeogh. Get them fit.
– We also need to be realistic about our failings.
In the last three transfer windows , we have signed approximately 12 players. Only two of them were considered good enough to start last night, and, that isn’t good enough.
So how do we beat Ajax at home, draw away, beat Milan at home and draw in Barca.
The answer for me is in preparation, and that starts tomorrow at training.
If we lose our next 3 or 4 domestic matches, because we try out new systems or bed in new players, which get us results in a Europe, I will take it now
jackie mac
18:25 on 2 October, 2013
hrvatski tim – never thought I’d say it – well done the mail
———————-
Mail’s football coverage is normally quite good.
Dobrodosli Snake
Gene..,
I get what you are hinting at but its no even hard to arrange a ref from a non neighbouring country its simply lazy, then again I think 67caps was also alluding to UEFA using the strategy to further their favs
Agguero much more dirty tackle than Brown’s. Gets a yellow.
Aguero studs the bayern player -yellow card
Thomthetim
Very similar to last night. However the team getting pinned back tonight cost about £150m.
Gene
They should cut the panel chat and keep the atmosphere
I 100% agree, I very rarely listen to ex footballers telling me what I have seen… apart from WGS
love it hrvatski
Canamalar
Now say that game was the final -officials from 15 countries coudn’t get the gig.