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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!!bada bing!!
22:36 on 24 October, 2013,
It makes me proud to be celtic man to read that. HH
Doc is supporting Oscar and McKenzie.
22:43 on 24 October, 2013
Stats are interesting only to a point.
Somebody once produced a pie chart with Barcelona’s possession time compared to ours in last season’s 2-1 win at CP.
It was countered by another pie chart showing the number of times the ball nestled in each net.
I can’t lay my hands on them as I believe Super Swally ate them ;-)
Running stats only important if the boss told them to run and close down. If he did & they did then it worked!
Sftb
I stated earlier I forgot the smiley.
I’m now in the m1888 squad..o (
Bada Bing. I posted that story at 21.50 but was unable to include the link.
The list was compiled by a French magazine called So Foot.
Justafan – Longmuir’s birthday message appeared in Sevco’s programme back in December. It is for real.
crc
Can you just kick the right leg until I am sure the left has recovered?
bt
Is that the sarcasm smiley? :-)
ernie lynch
10:55 on 24 October, 2013
‘Dermot personally persuaded Mon to come to Celtic.’
Instead of Guus Hiddink?
* I was in Cuba the summer of 2000, arrived back on the Saturday and the next day after Mass I met this big Tim I knew, what have you heard wee mhan he asked me. So I told him that I had been in a sports bar in Havana and on the Spanish CNN there was a wee story about Guus, now I don’t speak Spanish but what a got out of it was he was getting the sugar lump fae Seville and was going tae us.
Hmm he said what I’m hearing is that DD wants MON and he’s on his way tae Parkheid.
Wisnae that happy walking down the road as I figured that he would turn us intae Leicester O’Celtic, however later on I was thinking, don’t care now as long as he turns us intae a winning team.
Which he did but not alone, but along with the help of Brian Quinn and DD.
As for Fergus, I love the wee mhan but he did stop us signing Henke’s wee pal who eventually went tae the deid team. IMHO opinion if we had they would never have got their tainted NIAR.
‘GG, brilliant stat, and as SFTB and you say, they are useful, to an extent, but the game can be entirely different. I put them up because they can be interesting, and informative.
Pukki ran a lot, that says he worked hard, the heat map shows he worked in effect areas.
It doesn’t show whether it was entirely effective, only watching a game can, but useful as a tool never the less.
Managers use them, so why shouldn’t we have a wee look.
Adds to the debate.
I have submitted my support for Resolution 12 of the AGM via eproxy through the investorcentre website.
Good luck.
ulysses mcghee is praying for Oscar
23:04 on 24 October, 2013
Coaches you say. The only coaching we got in ML6 in the not so good old days was a thorough kicking from the older bigger bullies down the park.
justafan
23:15 on 24 October, 2013
Running stats only important if the boss told them to run and close down. If he did & they did then it worked!
-–———————————–
He did, they did, it did:-)
OmaCelt – 2-1 Building Stone @ 23:23
Good man. Thanks!
Lets hope Canamalar’s resolution leads to better governance of Scottish football.
Ok Eddie. I am no longer puzzled. Good night all.
Young fella on QT, well said son.
Owen Jones, worth listening to.
John O’Neil
23:27 on
Sorry John, it’s that red red wine that does it
Peter Hitchens on the other hand…..
Doc, Owen droned on about the working class. He only inspires boredom.
My Dear Friend…..Kojo@22:24
Surely You Are Not Likening Pukki….
Tae The Legendary Reggie Blinker….
Who Was Acquired For Us By The Undercover Hun , Jock Brown….
In A Swap For Paolo Di Canio….?
Pukki WILL COME GOOD………..!
He Might Never Become Our Marksman…..
But He Will Pull The Strings In Our Attack
When He Has Clever Players To Play Off..
When Does Tony Watt Return…?
Wee Oscar Update (been a while)
We had the privilege thanks to our CQN and Celtic friends to be able to send a very generous cheque across to the family to allow them to continue the support for the Wee mhan recently, without having to worry about day to day bills etc.
The family has asked me to pass on their thanks and appreciation for this and were stunned by the generousity of CQN. They are overwhelmed (but not surprised) by the continued support of their extended family.
Wee Oscar is good at the minute but due to have chemo again this week, which will knock him back a bit (but this is necessary to remove the cancer). The family are also exploring avenues on neuroblastoma treatment in London to see whether Wee Oscar is compatible and strong enough to undergo this treatment, once the cancer has been removed for a second time.
The Wee Celtic Warrior continues to battle on :-))))))
HH
CRC
:¬)))
O Dear.
#fearless wee oscar is on a celticrollercoaster
22:54 on 24 October, 2013
Contact Lennybhoy @ lennybhoycfc@gmail.com
—————————–
Thanks pal, just emailed him. Lovely idea.
HH
BGFC
John, in your opinion.
In mine he had a voice, it said, hope:-)
TET/ ACGR
Been on the ‘razzle’ – alleged business meeting – got your emails re: Barca (party/ sleep-over) and will reply in the morning.
H!H!
CRC, good to hear the Knox family had time together, hopefully next weeks chemo goes well.
Brilliant news. :)#fearless wee oscar is on a celticrollercoaster
23:35 on 24 October, 2013
Wee Oscar Update (been a while)
We had the privilege thanks to our CQN and Celtic friends to be able to send a very generous cheque across to the family to allow them to continue the support for the Wee mhan recently, without having to worry about day to day bills etc.
The family has asked me to pass on their thanks and appreciation for this and were stunned by the generousity of CQN. They are overwhelmed (but not surprised) by the continued support of their extended family.
Wee Oscar is good at the minute but due to have chemo again this week, which will knock him back a bit (but this is necessary to remove the cancer). The family are also exploring avenues on neuroblastoma treatment in London to see whether Wee Oscar is compatible and strong enough to undergo this treatment, once the cancer has been removed for a second time.
The Wee Celtic Warrior continues to battle on :-))))))
HH
CRC
Fair enough Doc. If he gives you hope then who am I to quash that.
Singing Detective, Jock Brown was subject to a vicious press campaign. I am ashamed to say that I participated in the condemnation of Brown.
John, for a wee debate, short on time, the richest 300 people in the USA have more wealth than the poorest 85,000,000, that is wrong, again, an opinion.
Now, I am just a voter, but social justice is the highest priority on my agenda.
John, no need for quashing, good to debate though.
KK…..You Are As Boring….
As A Mile Of Linoleum……
On A Wet Monday Morning…
In Cambuslang….
Oh ! ;-)
CRC,
Thanks for the update on the wee giant.
He is an example to all of us.
Fearless
Thanks for that update on Oscar. What a guy!! Prayers and thots with the Knox family. Hope all goes well next week with his chemo.
TSD,
What ARE you raving about ?
:¬)))))))
Loving Phil’s latest SFA internal investigation article..
Wonder when Alex salmond will call for a full government probe into the entire governing bodies affairs from top to bottom ?
The people are demanding complete transparency and cleanse of possible corruption in our game
Re stats
After we beat Barca WGS was asked about possession Barca 80% Celtic 20%….wee man said “aye but whit a 20%” Class….
Kikinthenakas
Doc, too late for political debate. Hail hail.
Singing detective, you certainly receive a lot of vitriol. Keep posting. Alternative views are necessary here. The alternative is banality.
eddieinkirkmichael
22:14 on 24 October, 2013
Ajax fans vid of the night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siLiKnO_1Cg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
=========================
At 09:38 –
Wim Jansen’s been at a few parties, hasn’t he?
http://imgur.com/lOa0wk2