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.
[calameo code=000390171853d2bfc4f69 lang=en page=38 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,519 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- ...
- 40
- »
djbee
21:53 on 24 October, 2013
Are Boca Juniors fae Ayrshire like?
Kilwinning Rankers gee me the boak
HH
MickTT, hope his manager has a word and he grows up a bit, as you say, a kid who made a mistake.
Who’s the MIB for the Glasgow Derby at the weekend?
Tony Stokes ran 11,346 metres on Tuesday night, impressive.
Doc
Thanks for that. It does seem to confirm that perception has a lot to do with our viewing of a player as a non-trier.
Distances covered for the two front men were:-
Stokes- 11346m
Pukki- 12286m
Now if that bloke is hiding, not trying or uninterested, then he is wasting a lot of energy in trying to hide :-)
In contrast look at that lazy bassa Forster who was being praised to the skies. He only covered 4889m
Just watched something very different there on beeb2.
Power to the pococks.
Family croft somewhere way up north. Ma da seven weans .
Animals by the dozen.
But no Lecky.
Utterly fascinating and what hard working people.
Thanks Delaneys. They can go on the reading list. Curiously (well for me at least) I have read little from Irish authors/playwrights. The Irish have a wonderful way with words.
doc is supporting oscar and mckenzie.
22:00 on 24 October, 2013
MickTT, hope his manager has a word and he grows up a bit, as you say, a kid who made a mistake.
Going to Google him, young immature and trying to endear himself to his support. I shall look into it, like anyone is interested.
HH
Doc – aye but it took him all of 95 minutes to run 11k. I could do it in half the time ;-)
Oh, and just in case…. ;-) ;-)
Sleep tight all, almost the Big Glasgow Derby Weekend.
I just checked the stats for all players. It seems that Pukki actually ran further than any other Celt with Tony Stokes in 2nd place.
Now, I am not claiming that he had a good game. Most of the running done by both was thankless closing down but it should give some critics an opportunity to examine their perceptions of his willingness to produce effort.
For ooooor latest granda
Nash & Crosby
Marrakesh Express
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4r_HWWQyCs
Good night all
SFTB
I’m probably coming into this late – but I wouldn’t take distance covered an a definitive reply to – what did he do?
Stokes – a la Zurawski (sp?) before liked to wander away ou to the wing where the pressure was less – plenty of running but no responsibility.
Pukki – if he’s doing that amount of running – he’s doing it in the wrong places at the wrong times because he was missing for large parts of that game on Tuesday.
Runnin’ aboot is not a benchmark I hope?
U
Ajax fans vid of the night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siLiKnO_1Cg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
SFTB, aye, you can use stats to suit an argument:-)
Pukki had a smashing game, hope he can kick on now.
Smiley Face included.
Jobo, yes you could.
MickTT, let me know what you find.
How do you donate to the Mini St. John Doyle fund?
HH
BGFC
Interestingly, it seems that the Ajax defence and midfield covered more distance than their Celtic counterparts but our front men both ran farther than Sigthorsson and he has more caps than Finbogasson for the Iceland team
Back page of tomorrow’s @thescotsman #scotpapers http://t.co/WGVNzwS4tV
John O’Neil
22:08 on 24 October, 2013
Thanks Delaneys. They can go on the reading list. Curiously (well for me at least) I have read little from Irish authors/playwrights. The Irish have a wonderful way with words.
________________
Very gracious concession, John.
Beniamino Gigli wasn’t a bad singer.
Fred Astaire was a half-decent dancer.
John O’Neil
Your welcome, was introduced to O’Casey and James Joyce by my English teacher at school in Glasgow. Both have a beautiful way with words.
Ajax goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen (24)
10 first team appearances since 2011
Not so young, but def trying to endear himself..
Oh well that was an interesting observation……!
HH
scullybhoy
20:13 on 24 October, 2013
I was so surprised to see that coward James Forrest take the penalty kick! He must have been bullied into doing it.
>>>>>>>>>>>
The bhoy grew taller after he burst the top corner. He took the pressure of taking the penalty and the nonsense before it…good post mate. HH
Uly
“I’m probably coming into this late – but I wouldn’t take distance covered an a definitive reply to – what did he do?”
The original debate was over whether he was swinging the lead, not trying and showing signs that something was wrong. From my vantage point it looked like he and Tony Stokes were bursting a gut to chase down the Ajax back 4 passing game. Neither of them did too much in linking attacks apart from Tony’s crucial winning of a penalty.
So, you’re right that distance covered is no indicator of how good a game you are having or whether your running is purposeful. However it does indicate that you are prepared to expend energy for the cause and that you cannot and should not be called a shirker.
My only contention was that I saw Pukki working hard. Others felt they saw body language signs that demonstrated a lack of commitment or effort. I failed to spot those signs and I think these stats can legitimately be used to measure quantitative effort but I am claiming nothing about the quality of football that Pukki or Stokes displayed.
Ah kin easily believe that Pukki, Runs Frantically aboot….a loater.
And
Ah think the reason ,fur that.. may be..
That
Pukki, is jist wan o’ they Guys..and Ah hiv met a Few..
‘
who ur..
Always..
A Day Late ..and a Dollah Short!
Some Guys , are jist always.. too Late tae Party.
Bad Timing?
Could Be..or. They May jist …
Hard Luck Guys, who are Always ..
A Day Late ..And a Dollah Short!
Wull Pukki, ever be able tae actually Partake in whit is Actually Going Oan,
in the game?
Search Me.. but, so far.
He appears tae me
Tae be,
One of they.. Unlucky? …Guys,
who
Ur
Always
A Day Late..and a Dollah Shoart!
Kojo
Still,Laughin
Doc @ 21.58
Thanks for the Eufa stats. http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/live/index.html?day=3&session=1&match=2011805#overall
Really liked the ‘Heatmap’ available for each player – Pukki covered greatest area as well as distance!
Sftb
Pukki, stokes. Pah.
You know what, ah worked oot some time ago whit the key to legend status at Celtic was, and loads a goals to boot. Noo, ah dinnae ken whit Mr Park and his scouting team are thinking aboot, cos it’s staring abody in the face.
Jimmy.
Aye. Only sign players ca’d Jimmy. No James, no jim, jist Jimmy.
Delaney
Mcmenemy
Quinn
Mcstay
Mcgrory
Johnstone.
See.
Add up thae goals and appearances. Legends.
Have we ever had a bad Jimmy?
If ye know yer history.
That’s whit whoever it was that said fitba is a simple gemme meant. He meant, jist sign Jimmies.
Never mind all this nonsense aboot Celtic. Nicholas Witchell, the BBC Royal correspondent is on the news telling us important things about the Royals!
One of the best players from an opposing team I’ve ever seen and one of the best individual performances I’ve seen at Paradise by an opponent was by Rai ( Socrates brother) who hardly moved, but just sprayed passes all over the place. Totally controlled the game and PSG in 95 were the best opponents I’ve seen.
Jimmy hay
Saint Stivs
22:06 on 24 October, 2013
Just watched something very different there on beeb2.
Power to the pococks.
Family croft somewhere way up north. Ma da seven weans .
Animals by the dozen.
But no Lecky.
Sounds like a place not far from me in Govan.
Evening all,
Just in and knackered to be honest.
Charles Kickham
If The Rangers recruit Longmuir it will be a PR own goal in many ways.
He is not well respected these days by the other SFL club officials, nor by the other administrators as far as I am lead to believe.
Jimmy mcstay
pococks – ipox
somewhere = somewhere
animals = animals
no Lecky = they do have one of them
Longmuir for Sevco board according to the Scotsman, I can see Paul dusting off an old article to check he didn’t make that story up oh so long ago.
St stivs
Ah said McStay but must admit Jimmy Hay is a new one on me. Era?
Celtic fans named 3rd best in world, no other British club in top 10 – Sport Witness – http://t.co/wMdvcFPMDr
Much being made of distance covered.
I hate to say this but a long long time ago a certain James Baxter played for a team formerly known as Rangers.
He didn’t exactly cover lots of ground but his passing and vision tore us to shreds at times.
Then there was the great Bobby Murdoch who wasn’t the most mobile player in the Lions’ side. He said “Why run 20 yards with the ball, when I can pass it accurately faster.” Or some such phrase.
Then there was Lubo.
….and that’s why the Jimmy Bullard deal collapsed. He’d have ruined our record of legendary Jimmies:-)
Six in a row team I might be wrong,
You also missed jimmy boruc and Jimmy Larsson.
Lol