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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A horse… lol!
A Newcastle United fan who attacked a
police horse after his team lost to
Sunderland has been jailed for a year.
Barry Rogerson, 45, was charged after
trouble flared following Newcastle’s 3-0
home defeat in April. Newcastle crown
court heard that during a period of
sustained disorder Rogerson had remained
close to a mounted police line in the city.
He began to clap in a horse’s face before
squaring up to one of the animals and
punching it in the head.
That Ajax goal keeper, his antics were ridiculous, thought so at the time, on seeing the highlights… he looked about 18, a daft boy. On JF, that was one of the best penalties I’ve seen, and the bottle and nerve to take it, second to none.
And Scullyboy, coming from one of the most sarcastic people I know, me, he was being sarcastic….
HH
Seen it onTV earlier and it he deserved the jail…punching a horse: horrible
The Spirit Of Arthur Lee
21:16 on
24 October, 2013
Roll on Poppygate
nothing inflammatory there then :-)
ASonOfDan
It was like a scene out of Blazing Sadles
asonofdan
21:19 on 24 October, 2013
A horse… lol!
So that explains the long face.
Asonofdan
Have often felt like doing that to some of the nags I have backed. :))
Thought those horses were trained in unarmed combat???
Ahhhh Scullybhoys post regarding James Forrest
Damn you for committing the internet cardinal sin of not putting a wee smiley at the end of your post
aye he had neigh chance in court….
You would have thought he would have Hoof it after punching the Nag
Good evening friends. Everyone well I hope?
Not laughing at horse getting hit just at the nugget who ended up with a year in jail and a 6 year banning order.
In Scotland right enough for punching a Celtic manager you get a slap on the wrist and a Facebook following…
ACGR Supporting Big Nan’s Reveal the Masonic Judge Petition 21:06:
Got your e-mail mate, cheers and good luck getting things sorted out over by.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
mickbhoy
“Damn you for committing the internet cardinal sin of not putting a wee smiley at the end of your post”
Ach! sure that explains everything!
Your consistent refusal to use emoticons has led to all of your posts being interpreted as misanthropic, miseralibist and exploitative when, all along, you were merely sending yourself up sarcastically.
You are now elected to the post of Chief Happy Clapper.
MickTT, I commented on the Ajax Goalie at the time, now his acts may not have directly led to the behaviour of the Ajax hooligans, but he didn’t help.
Running over to them and whooping it up after the penalty award, didn’t see it since on any replays.
asonofdan
21:30 on 24 October, 2013
Not laughing at horse getting hit just at the nugget who ended up with a year in jail and a 6 year banning order.In Scotland right enough for punching a Celtic manager you get a slap on the wrist and a Facebook following…
That is a sad fact….
HH
Oops, forgot my smiley :-)
ASonOfDan
21:19 on 24 October, 2013
Thankfully there were no monkeys in the vicinity
HH
gsu
Timbhoy2. The Celtic pub in Rothesay is the Galatea. Close to the castle across from the court. Great pub. After the game wee Jimmy plays guitar and organises a sing song. Cheers.
The benefit of liking prawn cocktail crips, which hardly anyone likes, is that you are always guaranteed a packet even from a 28 pack
setting free the bears supports Celtic’s best fighter- Wee Oscar Knox 21:34:
That was funny…;)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Settingfree,
Are you about? I appreciate you taking the time to write last night. For sake of blog harmony, I won’t challenge every point you made about Stalinists etc. Some were most notable for their contradictory nature. My only point now is about Sean O’Casey: I am ignorant in my knowledge of his work and his life. My post was not about him as such. Anyway. .. Perhaps you could recommend one of his works? Knowing you portray me as a right wing zealot, I should say that my artistic interests are not dictated to by an artist’s politics. Regards to you.
Morrissey, that video is terrific.
Tired after work. I notice Setting free is about!
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
15:28 on 24 October, 2013
Thank you for your advice however Traditionalist 88 jumped in with both feet after I had agreed at 11:25 with a post made by tiny tim at 10:39. Tiny Tim’s post was more or less defending the position of Dermot Desmond in the progression of the club. I made a tongue in cheek observation that the more republican and socialist minded contributors on this blog would rather have like minded persons in charge instead of the said Mr Desmond. However it appears that I have committed the internet cardinal sin of not putting a wee smiley after my post. He then decided to make a generalisation that I hated all fellow Celtic supporters hence the reason for my replies to him. It may be the case that I dislike certain internet posters (you know who you are)and I will engage with them in any manner I see fit but he is far wide of the mark to state that I hate fellow Celtic supporters.
I see nothing in the clubs social mission statement that says we all have to palsy walsy with those we engage with in cyber space and we all have to love thy fellow Celtic supporter.But be rest assured should I happen to bump into Traditionalist88 or anyone else when they happen to attend a game a wee kiss and a wee cuddle awaits promise.
Anyway ahm aff oot as I am far too sober to be sitting aboot the hoose and posting anything further tonight
Living wage?
essentialCelticCSC…
How much bonus did the staff get this month?
djbee – I couldn’t have written a better story in my wildest dreams – a mosque, ahhhh
Celtic supporters named 3rd best in the world after (Boca Juniors and Borussia Dortmund) by French magazine So Foot. No other British club appear in the top 10.
Only 3rd?
John O’Neil
Try Juno and the Paycock. First read it 30 years ago. Shadow of a Gunman and The Stars and Plough are worth a read too.
Are Boca Juniors fae Ayrshire like?
doc is supporting oscar and mckenzie.
21:33 on 24 October, 2013
MickTT, I commented on the Ajax Goalie at the time, now his acts may not have directly led to the behaviour of the Ajax hooligans, but he didn’t help.Running over to them and whooping it up after the penalty award, didn’t see it since on any replays.
Yep he was a fool, couldn’t believe what I was seeing at the game, but on watching highlights couldn’t believe how young he looked. Young fool
HH
Estorilbhoy Thank you very much.4 0 to the hoops
That would be Boaker Juniors if it was Ayrshire.
Ghuys time for me to go…
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
jackie mac
21:45 on
24 October, 2013
djbee – I couldn’t have written a better story in my wildest dreams – a mosque, ahhhh
……………………………….. The reality for the Hun is stranger than any fiction….day after day of absolute bliss…..braw…
Corkceltic You are one cheeky chap ,I was going to print sweary words , but anyway F–K 0–
SFTB, the distance covered stats you were looking for are on this page, left hand side, you have to look at each player individually, I knew I had seen it here somewhere.
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/live/index.html?day=3&session=1&match=2011805#overall