Celtic were overflowing with fine performances last night but mostly this was a tactical victory. Ajax dominated possession against Milan and enjoyed lots at the Camp Nou, so Neil Lennon knew what to expect.
Despite playing at home against our lowest-ranked opponent, we never chased the game, allowed Ajax time on the ball, and waited for the opportunity. We had the intelligence across the field to outsmart Ajax, with agility (Forrest), combativeness (Mulgrew, Kayal) and experience in the box (Stokes) to get the job done. We also have perhaps the best keeper in the competition. Shhh.
At some point before the return game in Amsterdam, The Bore may consider that his team deserved to lose, just as Nir Biton deserved his red card. Lunging into tackles inside the box is a recipe for defeat. Take the ball or you take your opponents leg. The noises from Ajax after the game suggested some bewilderment at the defeat; a well-worn track for teams to leave Celtic Park after Champions League games.
I hope de Boer carries that sense of entitlement into the next game, if he does, he’ll have learned nothing and his team will lose again.
Celtic’s area for remedial action is also clear. Over three Champions League games they have not conceded in the first 75 minutes but conceded four times after that point. This is not a complaint, it’s hard to maintain the levels of concentration, not to mention the physical effort, late in a game, but the stats suggest that, at this level, we wilt before our opponents.
The Dutch are known as progressive and tolerant people but the behaviour of Ajax fans (I hear from the moment they arrived at Schiphol Airport) was deplorable, without question the most violent European fans in all my time watching Celtic.
Football hooliganism is nothing like it was in the 70s and 80s but it is on the rise across Europe. Remain ever-vigilant.
On a more prosaic fan issue…. We were not at a pantomime last night. The moment between Nir Biton lunging forward with his studs up and the referee producing a red card was filled by a “Oooh” from many in the home support.
As soon as I heard this I knew the card would be red. Biton may have gone without the sound effects, but we don’t need to authorise the ref to make a big decision.
All this and the Big Glasgow Derby coming up!!
Between now and Sunday you are going to hear lots about the collection on behalf of the Greater Maryhill Foodbank, taking place before the Thistle-Celtic game on Saturday. What a great cause to be a part of.
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Estadio
How the he’ll are you.
I have missed your genius ramblings on here.
TT
BT
After that lot, I can live wi that. Cheers. :)
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.
A friend of mine was at Celtic Park last night giving it laldy, – he’s at Old Trafford tonight
– and not impressed.
John O’Neil
Another two reasons to dislike Alan Green . Thanks!
Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox
Having watched the game again just now……
It seems obvious to me that we have a disconnect between the way we attack and the strikers we have at our disposal.
We rarely if ever go through the middle with slide rule passes. All of,our attacks come down the wings with crosses coming in 9 times out of ten from our full backs.
We don’t have strikers who attack the ball in the 6 yard box. In Pukki and a Stokes we have clever players who want to play off the shoulder.
We either need to change our strikers towards target men or find a creative central midfielder who can cut open a defence with a through ball. Oh for a Lubo or a Paul Mcstay.
You are welcome Jimbo. Always happy to help. He never thought Henrik could succeed in England. He used to be scathing about Ibrahhimovic.
Man U are dull. Dull.
Alan Green? An opinionated fud.
Hail! Hail!
Canamalar
No need to be so arrogant or abrupt.
I stand by what I typed.
I suppose SAF was taking pish aswell as me.
It is a miracle how Celtic prosper under the influence of a self made man ,who has amassed Billions ,and guided our club to serial appearances in the CL ,whilst out greatest rivals have gone into liquidation trying to compete with us.
You come across as always wanting to have a square go with somebody.
Learn some manners.
TT
justafan
20:49 on 23 October, 2013
Sipsini
Glasgow
?
>>>>>>>>>
Cheers for that :)
Giggs moaning about diving. Juve losing due to giving away a pen.
What next mourinou moaning about simulation too?
TT
Agree ToTally…………..
we have………………….Gravitas, Credibility, Acumen……………
…that mob can keep their contrived ersatz ‘dignity’
……a quick look acrooss the city to The Krays……..and their motley Krew……………well,
…………………Hell Mend Thum.
HH.
From official site
Stylish Celts see off Ajax in UEFA Youth League
By: Laura Brannan on 22 Oct, 2013 16:00
UEFA Youth League
Almondvale, Livingston
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
CELTIC 4
(Thomson 31, Lindsay 34, Henderson 43, Kidd 66 pen)
AJAX 1
(Findlay og 50)
CELTIC Under-19s produced an outstanding performance to beat Ajax 4-1 in the UEFA Youth League as they picked up their first three points of the tournament in style.
Joe Thomson and Jamie Lindsay struck two goals in three minutes before a slack defensive clearance by Ajax was turned in by Liam Henderson just before half-time. Stuart Findlay´s own goal shortly after the break brought Ajax back into proceedings but Lewis Kidd´s penalty killed it as a contest and secured the three points Celtic more than deserved.
Stevie Frail and John Kennedy retained the same starting XI which had narrowly lost to Barcelona in the last UEFA Youth League tie earlier in the month.
And similar to that match, the young Hoops began positively and confidently, immediately piling on the pressure with Thomson and Connor McManus both having efforts in the opening minutes.
The game began to settle but after the clocked ticked past the 21st minute Celtic upped the pressure. Paul McMullan did excellently to control Henderson´s pass with his head and break away from Terry Lartey Sanniez.
The right back tracked back quickly, though, and made the crucial clearance before McMullan unleashed an effort. From the resulting corner, Findlay struck through the crowded box but McManus wasn’t able to turn it in at the near post.
Celtic were looking stronger with every attack and McMullan then came close to breaking the deadlock on 27 minutes. Denny Johnstone´s curling effort was palmed clear by goalkeeper Xavier Mous, but the striker pounced on the rebound and squared it to McMullan, who couldn’t keep his shot on target.
The hard work paid off just after the half-hour mark, though, when Thomson opened the scoring for the Hoops. Eoghan O´Connell stormed out of defence and threaded a ball through to the winger. And he coolly slotted home his third goal in as many games, handing Celtic a well-deserved lead.
But that was only the start of the goals flurry as just three minutes later Celtic doubled their advantage. McMullan switched play to Lindsay on the right who then bulleted an effort on target. Thomson bundled the ball into the back of the net, although it was already over the line and Lindsay was credited with the goal.
And the young Hoops extended their lead to 3-0 on the 43rd minute. A poor clearance by Anwar El Ghazi hit off Henderson who was doing well to put pressure on him. The ball spun past the motionless Mous in the Ajax goal.
Celtic were dealt a blow on 50 minutes when Findlay turned the ball into his own net from an attempted clearance, and almost immediately the Dutch youngsters came close to finding a second. Queensy Menig tried to chip Max Oberschmidt but he sent it just past the post and Celtic were able to take control of the game again.
Johnstone made a fantastic run to the byline just before the half-hour mark and cut the ball back for Thomson, but a well-timed interception by Leroy Owusu broke up the attack. And the midfielder was denied a brace minutes later when his effort was ruled offside.
A foul on Henderson on 66 minutes then saw the referee, Antti Munukka, point to the spot and Kidd coolly converted the penalty to extend the Hoops´ lead to 4-1.
Ajax pushed forward in the closing stages of the match but still weren’t able to cause Oberschmidt any problems and the Hoops saw out the well-deserved victory. A 6-2 win for Barcelona in Italy sees Celtic remain third in the table but they´ve closed the gap on AC Milan to three points.
CELTIC (4-3-3): Oberschmidt; Kidd, O´Connell (Kelleher 46), Findlay, McIlduff; Lindsay, McManus, Henderson; Thomson (McLaren 80), McMullan; Johnstone (Donnelly 90+1)
Subs not used: Hart, Wardrop, Boyd, Donnelly, C. Miller
AJAX (4-4-2): Mous; Larty Sanniez, van Bruggen, Mirani, Owusu; Van de Boomen (El Mahdioui 77), Vissers, Warmerdam; El Ghazi (Acolatse 61), Becker, Menig (Cakmak 61)
Subs not used: Giroothuizen, Anderson, Sno, Noordhoff
Man of the match: Joe Thomson
Benfica are in deep De Boer. Losing at home.
TT,
Is that the self made billionaire who is part of the corruption of the Irish Govt and one of the main reasons for the current state of the Irish economy ?
Russia has dropped piracy charges against 30
Greenpeace activists, replacing them with
hooliganism charges, according to officials.
The new charge has a maximum penalty of
seven years rather than 15. Greenpeace says
it is still “wildly disproportionate”.
Auldheid
20:36 on 23 October, 2013
balhambhoy
19:43 on 23 October, 2013
I thought the Aberdeen Asset Mgt case went the right way right through which makes the Rangers judgment all the more perverse, wasn’t this judgment just about whether the Company or the employees themselves had to cough up. Obviously the fact that 3 serious judges reaffirmed the sham nature of the arrangements will be power to HMRC’s elbow in the Rangers case though. It will be decades before we find out what made those original two Scottish layers come to such a ludicrous and contrived judgment for Rangers/MIH but shenanigans would be my bet
++++++++++++++++++++++++
You are spot on but the AAM judgement is what created Rangers acceptance of the wee tax bill and it will not be decades before we find out what caused the ludicrous and contrived judgements of LNS.
Two words. Campbell Ogilvie (or more accurately his silence before LNS.)
=======================
I do not like having to respond to my own posts but this is VERY important.
I had a look at the Scottish Law Thoughts blog on Aberdeen Asset Management and Paul McConville’s blog at
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2013/10/23/has-the-court-of-session-today-made-a-decision-which-will-win-hmrc-the-big-tax-case/comment-page-1/#comment-126481
and have responded as follows on there.
Paul
Glad to see some cottoning in to the relationship and impact of the AAM case to the big tax case.
The fact is it is the AMM judgement that caused Rangers to accept that they were in the wrong on the wee tax case. That and the fact they hid payments to Moore, De Boer and Flo and the side letter accompanying them from HMRC – WHEN ASKED. (SDM lied on this in his response to the Hugh Adams claim that EBTS had been used prior to 2000 btw and the documentation proving this is out there on Murray headed company paper)
The latter information if presented to the UTT would give them all the indication of Rangers motives on loan EBTs.
Motives that render the LNS decision untenable but that LNS could only arrive as if his commissioning by the SPL led him away from the difference between loan ebts and share option EBTs as is the case.
The SPL could not have made the distinction because the information that would have allowed them to was withheld by D&P. Indeed LNS found them guilty of such withholding.
The one person who could have set LNS straight was Campbell Ogilvie but because the LNS commission only looked at loan ebts from Nov 2000 and not share option ebts from 1 July 1998 (as in original SPL notice of investigation of 5 March 2012) the said Mr Ogilvie was able to provide testimony to LNS on loan ebts, but not share option ebts, that whilst the truth, was not the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
That Campbell Ogilvie knew the difference is supported by a letter signed by him on 3 September 1999 that whilst it does not name the beneficiary , the timing and amounts suggest it can only relate to Craig Moore.
If it was then Campbell Ogilivie has questions to answer in terms of his testimony to LNS and his role in the granting of a UEFA licence in 2011 since he knew the bill was due, why it was due and why and how the SFA presented the issue to UEFA as bill not being overdue.
John O’Neil
Not watching United- a team I haven’t enjoyed watching in quite a few years. Green would have said of Pele that it was all very well scoring 1000 goals but could he have really cut it on a wet Tuesday night in November at the Britannia. Irish by birth perhaps but the acme of Little Englander.
Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox
Oh, and honestly who cares what ferguson says, except other people who want to know how to cheat and get away with it
Thanks gg. Ajax’s player Queensy Menig sounds like a midfield powerhouse. Perhaps not.
performances of pot 4 teams:-
Sociedad lost 2 currently down 1:0 and 1 for 5 against scored
Copenhagen lost 2 drew 1 for 1 against 8
Anderlecht lost3 scored 0 against 10
Plzen lost 3 scored 2 against 10
Steau lost 2 drew 1 scored 1 against 8
Napoli won 2 lost 1 scored 4 against 4
Vienna drew 1 lost 2 scored 0 against 4
Celtic won 1 lost 2 for 2 against 4
Unless Sociedad equalise or score twice, then only Napoli and ourselves have won matches from pot 4 . Two have failed to score. Four have conceded twice as many goals as us thus far.
We continually surpass expectations at this level. One day we might experience what many other CL teams experience, a right drubbing. Then the complainers will have room to wax righteous.
I think Man U have been dull for two years. The year they allowed City to nick it & last year.
Have v good players of course and a team ethic but little spark and creativity.
Got back home about 4.30pm after a wonderful trip, memories that will live for a lifetime. Celtic is such a special thing, what makes it so special for me are Celtic people. I was privileged along with my pal Mick to attend the Grey Brigade dinner in the Amore yesterday where I renewed acquaintances and met some new CQN’ers. To one and all thank you for your company and thank you for making us feel so welcome. If I may can I say a special word to my pal kikinthenakas, he took 2 stray Irishmen under his wing and has been so good to us. P. you are a real good ghuy and I am proud to call you a friend. The general Celtic support at the game was awesome. After the penalty coming up to half time, every supporter throughout the ground were on their feet roaring & singing it was a sight to behold. Just love ye ghuys Hail Hail
“One Queensy Menig, there’s only one…”. There certainly is only one. The parents have a lot to answer for. Anyway, good luck Queensy. Avoid anybody called Fagin and you will be fine son.
Sipsini
No prob.
And you’re from?
Dubaibhoy-I seen DD and his entourage going in to the game last night.
Canamalar
In your head it will be.
TT
ianbhoy929
21:19 on 23 October, 2013
Alan Green? An opinionated fud.
Charles Green? A bigger opinionated fud.
Justafan
They have lacked flare since Ronaldo left them.
TT
It is childish to laugth at the Ajax youth player names. It is not the goalie’s fault that he is a moose. The striker Cakmak sounds a dodgy prospect also.
corkcelt 21:32:
It was great to meet you too mate, Kickinthenakas not a bad Lhad…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Copenhagen just scored and spoiled my stats.
…arseholes………………..
every opinion has one……………..
;)
a moff.
HH.
tt,
Corrupt and it makes a healthy living eh, who’d want to give that up eh
So fight for the status quo defend it till the dying breath
The reality is DD was a major influence in the corruption on the Irish economy which has resulted in the current climate in Erie economy, and you say we should trust him, come on, sober up ffs.
SFTB- Excellent analysis and agree with your comments.
Pot H was the proverbial group of death (for us) a disaster when it was drawn.
Not now, we are up there and more with Milan and Ajax in the hunt for 2nd place.
justafan
21:32 on 23 October, 2013
Sipsini
No prob.
And you’re from?
>>>>>>>>>
Think we have crossed wires here. I fancied taking my son and daughter to see still game on stage.
Was asking where I could source tickets from? Re your earlier post.
Sorry if I wasn’t clear in posting you.HH
I also agree with Setting free. It is remarkable that we have never had a hammering in this competition. Almost every club has had one. FC Porto have been beaten 5-0 and 4-0. Not us.
SFTB – great post. I always hope we avoid a doing against teams like Barca. It could happen yet, but we have been remarkable in the CL under NL and Strachan before him.
And we are playing for the most part as if we belong at this level, more so now than under strachan or maybe even O’Neill IMO.
corkcelt
Had my youngest with me, he’ll remember last night forever.
Just like I can remember our win over Madrid in the 70’s.
The support, team and Celtic park on the European nights are magic, and somehow combined (again) to beat another of the planets iconic football clubs.