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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Even with 10 men, we are a class better than Man City for all their money.
Fraser….get your England boots ready….
TBJ – I wish I’d known to look out for that at h/t. You’ve shown a touch of real class there, ole son. Proud of you for that and really glad to see that Miki’s family appreciated the lovely gesture.
T4
With Bayern and PSG both 3 up I’ve switched over to give all of my energies to the remaining team on tonight’s wee treble, Bayer Leverkusen (currently 1 – 1 with Real Sociadad)
Working with a man city fan -he was kind to me this morning -i’ll find it difficult to say anything positive tomorrow but i’ll try.
Pitch looked good?
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 10m
Despite Charles having ownership of over 5
million shares at 1p each, not 1 had been
paid for until a forced deduction from final
salary.
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 4m
Why did the board sanction a £600k pay off
and not go down the misconduct route
despite privately sharing so many reasons to
do so?
Should have been 4
Is it just me or do Bayern look like they’re still in 2nd gear?
asonofdan
21:02 on 2 October, 2013
Matthews went to right back and Forrest went right mid. There was no change at all to formation.
So what are you talking about?
————
I’m talking about one fewer defensive player in the 10.
Look at re-run of goal- Matthews gets sucked in centrally leaving no-one at right back.
I hate to see these wee teams getting pumped at home in the CL….
Bayern bullies!!
T4
Dobbers on RS tonight were suggesting that Man City were set for a decent run in the CL
Clueless
The Comfortable Collective
21:03 on
2 October, 2013
Ron Saunders
Ron saunders
Crc
Beat me to it
Idiot pundit Danny Mills on BBC text commentary says Bayern’ s 2nd goal came from a long hopeful ball. Mueller signalled to Dante then made a run and received an inch-perfect pass.
Jaysus if we were 3 down to Bayern at Paradise this place would be full of prats telling us that it was lack of coaching by Lenny and the fact we didn’t bid for Fingbasson.
Got a lot of City mates and none of them fancied it tonight. They really find it hard to move out the shadow of Utd.
Disturbing video on the go now of Ajax hooligans attacking Milan fans on underground last night.
Riot at the fanzone when they come to town.
So, what’s the average wage at City?
Sheiking in their boots…
Myself and CRC, are usually in rows CC & AA, we are moved for the Champions League, I was in R, CRC was in P, Jinky is down nearer K, we had a wee CQN huddle in passageway at halftime
hail Hail
Ron Saunders
The Miki tribute
Now that is why CQN is special
Well done TBJ, you’re no a bad lhad sometimes :-)
HH
CRC
The abu dhabi suits must know they got the wrong spanish manager
Crikey….City Are worse than sevco
Man City look very soft …they’re getting an absolute doing here
If Alaba had scored there, it was goal of the century stuff
5live discussing Hart performance – some talk of Academic now.
Who does he play for?
corkcelt
21:07 on 2 October, 2013
They would be blaming the poor standard of Scottish football.
Sky cannot say the same about the EPL. It is their monster after all.
Cowiebhoy
21:08 on
2 October, 2013
Row Q. You using the Bannockburn alphabet, where there is no need to use a Q? :-)
HH
CRC
Googybhoy
Not as big as big jock’s shadow
Man City have been battered and don’t even have the excuse of 10 men.
corkcelt
21:07 on 2 October, 2013
Jaysus if we were 3 down to Bayern at Paradise this place would be full of prats telling us that it was lack of coaching by Lenny and the fact we didn’t bid for Fingbasson
very well said
There’s heartbreaking footage now on Sky 401 of 11 guys being publicly humiliated
Ron Saunders – nope although I’d have put money on ot being him.
He chucked it in the February of that season.
methinks Citeh should just abandon current strategy
go for the shpeculate to accumulate model
spend hunners of shekels and avoid all this parsimony induced pain
champagnesupanovaFC
I wonder what the MSM would say if we were getting totally outclassed and pumped 3-0 at home in the Champions League with 20 minutes to go!
City are rubbish.
Of to update the CQN Predictors CL Qualifier, scores for the first legs will be up later.
Just need Man C to score one to get ten points.