It’s all about Ajax

898

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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  1. Evening

     

     

    Just read the post about Miki67 and seen the photo from CP last night. Truly touched – beautiful

     

     

     

    Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox

  2. Marrakesh Express on

    Bayern have many qualities but like Barca, workrate is top of the list. Its non stop movement, as if they’re playing with 14 players.

  3. Official Sevco site advertising stadium tours with Nacho Novo – relive that fantastic penalty in Florence, “receive” a Q&A session with him plus a signed [no info re who signs it] photograph as a “momento” of the occasion. Only £30.

  4. tommytwiststommyturns supporting Wee Oscar on

    Citeh – a collection of ridiculously overpaid individuals.

     

    Bayern – the best TEAM in Europe….and it shows!

     

     

    T4

  5. TBJ Praying for Oscar Knox on

    T4

     

     

    Makes a wee change from my fb persona :)

     

     

    CRC

     

     

    Steady on … ive got an image to protect here ;)

  6. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon, supporting WEE OSCAR..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    canamalar prays oscar can do it again

     

     

    21:13 on 2 October, 2013

     

     

    Hahahahahahaha…..irony, indeed

  7. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    praecepta

     

     

     

    21:10 on 2 October, 2013

     

     

     

    5live discussing Hart performance – some talk of Academic now.

     

     

    Who does he play for?

     

     

     

    Hamilton?

  8. Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma on

    Good Evening All,

     

     

    Especially those of you watching the most over-hyped and over paid teams from the greatest football league in the world.

     

     

    Meanwhile, down our way so to speak I see the bold Charlotte is revealing the share swap for Charlie Green whereby he gets cash in return for the shares he never bought.

     

     

    Effectively this is the club ( or the company ) paying for its own shares.

     

     

    I have still not looked at the accounts of you know who, but I am sure that they tell a story….. especially if you look into them deep enough especially that turnover figure for 13 months.

     

     

    As a side note I had cause to have a long chat with Vodafone today most of which was sparked by the call handler starting with ” If only Charlie Mulgrew’s header went in… then there would have been a different story!”

     

     

    and he continued

     

     

    ” Do you not think it was a mistake selling Kelvin Wilson back to us?”

     

     

    Once I had advised him that Van Dyk seemed and excellent buy and suggested that Billy Davis must be a hero after the recent defeat of Derby etc we continued on to business.

     

     

    However, before the call ended the guy said that he thought last night was a good game to watch and expressed the opinion that he did not think Barca were going to score as they seemed to have lost their rhythm… then of course came the sending off.

     

     

    However, he concluded that in his opinion we were a really good team and wished me the best of luck against Ajax saying he felt we could still get there.

     

     

    Conclusion?

     

     

    Good to talk to a proper football bloke.

  9. Olympiakos scorer just done a machine gun action to crowd. He would be jailed in Scotland…

  10. Naw, it’s just you don’t have a Q, when talking abooot fitba, and the P was for pissed (again) :-)

     

     

    Only kiddin Bhud, nice to meet your Auld Da, like BMCUWP he looks younger than you :-) that is both your Da’s

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    PS, I can me slipping into relegation territory by end of Predictor, I will refuse entry to the SPFL Championship though as I’ve not been liquidated – yet

  11. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon, supporting WEE OSCAR..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    Haven’t seen any Scotish MIBs in CL yet….wonder why

  12. Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 8m

     

    At the Pinsent Masons meeting on 29 April

     

    2013, directors wanted to follow the money

     

    regarding the purchase of Green’s property in

     

    France.

     

     

    Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 6m

     

    Tom Stocker advised that this was not part of

     

    the investigation and that they should stick

     

    to matters relating to Craig Whyte.

     

     

    Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 4m

     

    On that very same date Pinsent Masons

     

    stated that they would be unlikely to give a

     

    clean bill of health to Green/Ahmad as

     

    regards dealings which they/5088 may have

     

    had with Craig Whyte.

     

    .

  13. Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 1m

     

    17/5/2013 Messrs Green, Ahmad Whyte,

     

    Earley and others were invited to provide

     

    information to the Investigation but have not

     

    yet done so.

     

     

    Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 4s

     

    PM were instructed to conclude the report

     

    despite the lack of co-operation by all the

     

    main players. How can the accounts give

     

    comfort?

  14. channelislandcelt wee oscar has done it before and he'll do it again on

    82 villa….

     

     

    Who was forced into making his debut in final as a teenager following an early injury ?

  15. Googybhoy

     

     

    I was going to say Geoff. But he wrote about Heavy Metal in Sounds.

     

     

    Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox

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