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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Some cracking patter on twitter tonight #tourwithNacho
canamalar
I rest in the knowledge that banning refs from neighbouring countries will not happen.
However what about banning refs with surname as first name -that might work
Also the Man City fans showing nothing like the passion that we had last night.
how the sweet whatsit did FF get down to make that left hand on the ground plam away against neydive last night – best celtic save I’ve ever seen though I’m sure there’s better I’ve never seen.
TBJ,
As expressed to you last night
A True Celtic Mhan ( or Bhoy as you like), glad you have got some grateful thanks from not only Miki’s family, but also the CQN one,
Hail hail fellow Celt
Stringer Bell
For the most part I found his comments quite incredible ……
Broonie is a significantly better player than he ever was ….
I noticed the ref was Barca fan in the first 5 mins. Twice he gave fouls against us at a corner and a free kick
Gene..,
That’ll work :o)
http://t.co/wva2qI6KkZ
Here is a short quiz
How much are you hated by the Daily Mail?
Was at the game in north stand lower basically in line with SB incident.
Most saw the initial foul and looked to ref so missed the subsequent kick.
I said SB must have done something else and, sure enough, the inevitable was confirmed as we trudged along Gallowgate.
His kick was was unforgivable in its context;
Team Captain;
Ballotelli incident;
Previously lucky to avoid red in this group;
Barca not looking likely to score
In addition to Brown, my overall feeling of frustration was fed by NL’s bizarre decision to hook Lustig and bring Forrest on. We were 0-0. We had 10 v 11 against the best passing team in the world. Look where Fabregas came from to score. No guarantees, of course, but Mikel far more likely to have been there than Forrest.
Cannot comprehend why a defender was sacrificed in the context of what was the uphill task (at that stage) to even get a point.
Lennons tactical naïveté continues to concern
TBJ
Thank you.
Hail Hail!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldx_KLuxEYQ
TBJ – just brilliant!
probably in a minority of 1 here but what did Viv (Miki’s wife) mean at the end of her post by the initials TGLFW?
Jobo
Dexter, you must have been very close to TBJ, CRC and myself, we are all in 107, and close to incident
Hail Hail
2-0….man city are pants
2 nil Bayern.
Which is nice ;-)
Guy asking Ralston why the SFA didnt get involved in the sevco mess? I can tell them in 2 words. Campbell Ogilvie ya pair of Fudds!!!
2-0. Hart not particularly good but defence dire.
That Bayern goal, we did not defend like that with only 10 men! Then again, we have FF even if we did.
Dexter
We can add pelligrini to the niaive tactician list
D D
Did you bet wee Tarts 7/1 winner tonight??
If Neville refers one more time to “Manchesity” I will scweam and scweam and scweam!
2 nil Bayern, wow that was awful defending by Clichy, goes to sleep, ball watches, then when the striker runs on to the ball Clichy doesn’t even attempt to make some token challenge.
Cowiebhoy,
I was in 107 too. Row K
Clichy had an izzie moment
3-0
Dexter
The Balotelli incident is far from conclusive ….the consensus seems to be that Balotelli conned the ref
last nights foul was outrageous
3-0. Too easy. Hart poor yet again.
cowiebhoy
20:57 on 2 October, 2013
Dexter, you must have been very close to TBJ, CRC and myself, we are all in 107, and close to incident
Hail Hail
Yep. 107 too
Hart fudddd
Matthews went to right back and Forrest went right mid. There was no change at all to formation.
So what are you talking about?
Oh! Hart loses another pash goal.
Hart beaten at his near post ….another poor effort
Man City are big girls pants
Bayern 3-0
Give me Rab Douglas over Joe Hart any day.
Robben scores with his right foot! Joe Hart, ex England keeper?
Wee European Cup quiz question if anyone is interested.
Who was the Aston Villa manager when they won the European Cup?
Jobo
Me nono the answer to TGLFW
Cowiebhoy
I swear I didn’t touch neymar
PCS
107 L 7
Given my dislike of England, I hope Roy Hodgson continues not picking the best English keeper.
#joehartbeateneasilyagain
Bayern Head and Shoulders above Joe Hart’s City.
Munich fans sing ” Football’ s Coming Home”.
Class.