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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Kilbowie, Fred may have been a fine dancer but writing matters more to this poster. James Brown was probably superior to Fred. What moves James had in his prime.
eddieinkirkmichael 10.14 That was some video.
twists n turns
If it elevates them to this status, let us have Jimmy Forest and Jimmy Pukki by deed poll tomorrow.
BRTH – were the rumours of such an appointment not vociferously denied by Longmuir while he was doing everything to get Sevco bumped up the divisions? Like Jabba, he was on their payroll while being employed elsewhere. Conflict of interest? Don’t be silly Timmy.
Was there not sunny jimmy young.
Or am I totally mixed up.
EmeraldBee, yes he did, lots of interesting stuff on there.
SFTB, the analysis shows the pattern of the game I think, our defence and midfield were condensed, therefore restricting the space, therefore distance they could run, our forward line had much more space, therefore more distance, vice versa for Ajax, to an extent of course, not an exact correlation, but a good indication.
St stivs
Ta. Haha…how could I miss those two. Criminal.
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Student’s unions and university admin still stopping me from contacting Scots law students.
Off to bed now see if you can manage a few more before the morning.
H.H.
John O’Neil,
George Bernard Shaw put it better than anybody… ‘ The English forced their language on us.
WE showed them how to use it’.
‘GG, the analysis also shows where on the park players were on the ball, percentage of completed passes, and lots of other relevant info, I only posted about the distance run as SFTB was looking for the info, as well as the other stats.
Interesting stuff.
Deniabhoy
Yes I believe they were.
However, of greater significance is that at the reconstruction meeting he and Ballantyne had to be smuggled out of the building as the rest of the SFL were on the verge of lynching him once it became known that his payments and expenses had only ever been disclosed to, and approved by Ballantyne.
I am lead to believe that when such matters became widely known to the rest of the SFL chairmen they were…. somewhat agricultural in their condemnation and expressions of disapproval.
Corkcelt, was that the Ajax video? That was quite a spectacle. Ajax have a fascinating Jewish heritage. It was pleasing to read that you enjoyed your visit to Glasgow.
twists n turns
For future reference :))
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Celtic_F.C._players&from=H
Petec where are yooooooouuuuuuuuuuu :))
Good night all
corkcelt
22:37 on
I enjoyed it and showed that they aren’t all mindless hooligans.
John O’Neil
22:43 on
?
Leftclicktic
Cheers. Couple there I’ve never heard of, but obviously they were brilliant:-))
Can Celtic win three times in a row in Amsterdam? Why not? Dundee Utd won four games in a row against Barcelona.
El Classico this weekend. British viewers will miss the first fifteen minutes due to broadcasting regulations.
John O’Neil
22:43 on
Jewish for me is some way off being Zionist Israeli
Phil MacGiollaBhain@Pmacgiollabhain2m
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/a-hidden-bonus/
You lost me Eddie. No idea what you mean. Sorry.
Big Georges Fan Club – Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar
22:16 on 24 October, 2013
How do you donate to the Mini St. John Doyle fund?
HH
BGFC
————————————
Contact Lennybhoy @ lennybhoycfc@gmail.com
HH
CRC
So who will be our first striker to score a CL goal?
HH
CRC
If Tony stokes ran 11k in 90 minutes would we no be better with Mo Farah.
Doc is supporting Oscar and McKenzie.
22:43 on 24 October, 2013
Have you got any data on how many times Cowiebhoy sung Sammi’s name?
HH
CRC
Bada Bing, third best!?!?’? Insulting.
Remember Longmuir making it clear that the deid club never died:
Congratulations from the SFL
On behalf of everyone at the Scottish Football League I would like to add my sincere congratulations to Rangers on Achieving this magnificant milestone in the club’s history.
Rangers have brought great honour and distinction to Scottish football throughout these 140 years and the club has risen to every challenge it has faced. … There is something rather poignant that after 140 years the club is once again a member of the organisation it helped found in 1890 and we are honoured and proud to have Rangers in the league.
To everyone involved in the club and its remarkable and loyal fans Happy Anniversary.
David Longmuir
Chief Executive
BT Don’t want anyone called Mo playing for us.
Corkcelt
Forgot the smiley.
Schoolbhoy error. .
CowieBhoy is still denigrating the Greek ghod.
Bada Bing, only joking, well done to Boca and Dortmund, I would love to face Dortmund in the CL soon, what a party.
deniab…
Is that for real?
Doc.
Re agm think best give ksc a miss as closes at 3.
The following Friday internet bampotts make a re appearance so would be good to get a cqn gathering.
Kilbowie Kelt
22:41 on
24 October, 2013
John O’Neil,
George Bernard Shaw put it better than anybody… ‘ The English forced their language on us.
WE showed them how to use it’.
……………………………………………………..
Braw!
GG
From earlier
The ML3 Aul’ toon bhoys (Home of some decent footballers as the Grants will testify to) were taken down the park in their beginning – and amongst other things – the coach would get them all together, whilst the ball was at his feet, then kick it across the park. The next thing he said was…
“There’s nothing faster on a football field than the ball…’
That’s why the Aul’ toon bhoys play passing football…
U
BT, London Road CSCit is then.
Any further arrangement will be made then.
I might not make the next week, working in Germany.
I see LennyBhoy and a few getting together on the 16th, sorry, can’t make it.
The AGM after party might still be going on though:-)
Hi guys, early shout out but I’m looking for 2 tickets together for the Milan game. My daughter wants to take my oldest grandson to his first Euro game. I posted a day or so ago about how I wanted to be there with him. Even though I wont be able to sit with him just going and coming back with him will be enough.
CRC
I thought James Forrest was our first striker to score a CL goal this season. Well, CQN had us down as playing 4:2:4 every time Sammi and James were picked.
BT, Burghbhoy and GG
Nobody is arguing that running a great distance is a great thing in itself.
We just produced the stats to show that, contrary to the accusations leveled, Pukki was putting in a shift.
It may not have been a productive shift but it was a shift. That was all I was trying to say in his defence.
I agree that a Rai, Prosinecki, Baxter and the older model Bobby Murdoch could do great things with less than 5 k covered in a game but you could not have a team of 11 such players.
Evening SFTB
Hope you are well and looking forward to kicking you on Sat at 5s when you play as a forward on the wings? :-)
HH
CRC
John O’Neil
22:52 on
sorry John, getting tabs mixed up, that was meant for twitter to someone else