Trending
Celtic News Now
Celtic Quick News on News Now
Celtic Quick News
You are at:»»Tactical victory for Lennon over The Bore

Tactical victory for Lennon over The Bore

1519
By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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]

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

1,519 Comments
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 31
  6. 32
  7. 33
  8. 34
  9. 35
  10. 36
  11. 37
  12. 38
  13. 39
  14. 40

  2. THE EXILED TIM on

    John O’Neil

     

     

    Just down the road from where I live, there have been quite a few houses knocked down, as they are illegal builds, 99% brit owned, and I posted on an ex pat site that imo, they should have done their research before buying, and the hate that was directed my way was hunnish.

     

     

    I was accused of everything under the sun, fair enjoyed winding them up mind you >}

     

     

    HH

  3. John O'Neil on

    Doc, I recall George Galloway wanting Nick Griffin to be banned from Question Time. What a hideously totalitarian idea. Of course, Griffin made a fool of himself that night. I miss George’s radio show. Now that was entertainment.

  5. John O'Neil on

    Exiled, I await a verbal thrashing from your good self should a songs debate arise again! You have already whacked me a few times. Those ex pats will be sore.

  9. sipsini on

    Never thought I would say it… Hat doffed to John major re: his statement on the exorbitant rises on fuel bills.

     

    I watch people top up their credit on their electricity and gas in the local co- op and know they are paying exorbitant tariffs.

     

    The poor and people on low income are being drained to pay for the greed of the minority.

  10. jimtim on

    Just watched the ajax game again there. My word we dont half allow players lurking on the edge of the 18 yard box , room and time to get a shot away . This for me is a worry , and a fault i hope has been spotted by neil and his staff and gets worked on . But still a good working performance from the team , although we still lack a few players of qualty .

  12. THE EXILED TIM on

    John O’Neil

     

     

    Ah the good old songs debate, but first it will be the poppy debate, within the next week or so no doubts.

     

     

    We are all probably so deeply entrenched re those debates, and no amount of verbals will change them.

     

     

    Let The People Sing, and feck them >}

     

     

    As for the ex pats, without sounding a tad ott, they are thicker than yer average hun, they are so easy to wind up, just mention anything that is a tad leftish, and they fly off the handle, it’s shooting fish in a bathtub, there is no sport when they are that stupid.

     

     

    HH

  14. John O'Neil on

    Doc, you mentioned Voltaire.

     

    The last person to namecheck him to me was a homosexual, Catholic and southern gentleman from the US. He was with his partner. His intelligence was breathtaking. Equally his inherent balance about issues such as faith and conservatism was admirable. He is a Democrat in US terms but would be a Tory supporter in the UK. Here was a homosexual who understood Catholic and conservative thought – despite the possible temptation to condemn the church. Those guys were ferociously impressive. Were I gay, I might not be so balanced about certain issues. I should stress that he was far from sycophantic to the church. It was quite weird to confirm to him that I didn’t support homosexual marriage.

  19. sipsini on

    Tet,

     

     

    It’s not leftish…it’s just being brought up to be unselfish.

     

     

    How are you after your blowout with acgr. Met up at bmcuwp nite… Good ghuy.

  21. pigalle on

    Fred C. Dobbs

     

     

    I watched the Ajax thing, weird but somehow ok at the same time.

     

     

    I may lie down now.

     

     

    That footage was braw BTW.

  23. John O'Neil on

    Pigalle, those Ajax guys were impressive. Celtic supporters surpassed them though. Definitely time for sleep.

  24. Kojo on

    My dear,dear,dear,friend.. The Singing Detective

     

     

    HIya ,Pal..

     

     

    Nice tae Greet n Meet.

     

     

    Na.. Ah hivnae gien up..oan . Pukki.

     

     

    It is faur too Soon.

     

     

    Ah wiz oanly Musing.

     

     

    He is not settling.. That is whit Ah am Hearin’

     

     

    He is Home Sick.

     

     

    Takes a wee while, tae get over Hame and Hearth..

     

     

    Ye know when Ah first Arrived in Montreal.. Ah wiz Homesick.

     

     

    And it took..over Two Years Afore Ah goat over it.

     

     

    By the Way..Ah wiznae Homesick fur .. Glesca..where Ah hid jist come fae tae Canada.

     

     

    Ah wiz homesick fur.. London.

     

     

    Ah hid jist come fae Glesca.. Tae Canada..as you may know..

     

     

    but, Ah never Did Like Living in Glesca..although ,Ah wiz there fur A Couple of Years.

     

     

    While Ah wiz there..

     

     

    Ah wiz Homesick fur.. London.

     

     

     

    Ah Missed London a loater.

     

     

    Ah wiz Homesick fur.. Santa Monica..

     

     

    When Ah first came tae Las Vegas.

     

     

    Although, Ah hid oanly Lived in Santa Monica fur a wee While..

     

     

    Ah hid always lived in Hollywid.. fur Years… when Ah wiz in California..

     

     

    Ah Moved tae Santa Monica, Later…

     

     

    But, Ah wiz never Homesick fur Hollywid..

     

     

    Howevahhhh…

     

     

    When Ah first Arrived there..

     

     

    Ah wiz Homesick.. fur..

     

     

    Montreal.

     

     

    So Ah am Vouchsafin’ fae Personal Experience.. When it comes tae Being ..Homesick.

     

     

    It’s a Bugger.

     

     

    Yep.. Poor Pukki..

     

     

    Noo he may be Homesick fur Finland.. or.. He may be Homesick fur Germany..

     

     

    Who Knows?

     

     

    But..like Ah Say.

     

     

    Homsicknes, is Hell.

     

     

    No everybuddy, realizes that Homesickness.. is a disease..

     

     

    But, the Swiss sure Did..

     

     

    and a Fella Named . Hofer… Diagnosed it …and Named it…as. Nostalgia..

     

     

    which He reckoned wiz Something like.. Neuralgia.. but, it’s no Sae Physical..

     

     

    Did ye also know that…

     

     

    Also.. While, Ah am oan the subject..

     

     

    That..

     

     

    A Loata Union Sodjers..

     

     

    Actually.. Went and DIED of Nostalgia..or… Homesickness, as it Known tae the Non Cognoscenti???

     

     

    Well..they did. by the Droves, during the American Civil War.

     

     

    Ye didnae know that..?

     

     

    Well,Ah kin assure ye. They did.

     

     

    the Original Meaning of Nostalgia.. wiz. Homesickness…or.. mebbe it wiz.. Vice Versa..

     

     

    Ah bet ye didnae Know THAT.

     

     

    Oh!..

     

     

    Ye did!

     

     

    Well, Ah am Impressed.

     

     

    NIce chattin’ wit ye.. as always

     

     

    but..

     

     

    Ah Gotta Leave. Steve.

     

     

     

    Seeya.

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin

     

     

     

    Kojo.

     

    Still,Laughin’

  27. THE EXILED TIM on

    sipsini

     

     

    I know I shouldn’t, but the devil in me can’t let it go, they deserve all that is coming to them, they sit in their ivory towers and bitch and moan about the Spanish and their customs, ffs, what are they doing here.

     

     

    Many came when things were hunky dory, now things are going to the dogs, all they do is moan, and they still moan about the problems in britland, they hate, and they hate with a passon the immigrants, the muslims, the black people, they hate anyone who is not of their ilk, and yet they can’t see the irony of their hate for the Spanish, as I said, thick as shit.

     

     

    Thankfully where I am, there are very few brits, and the ones who have not left, are in the main, on the same sort of wave length as myself.

     

     

    Didn’t manage more than a couple of beers with yer man, had to drive near 2 hours home, but rest assured we will make up for it in Barca in a few weeks.

     

     

    Sad to hear he was robbed, feckin scum, but scum are everywhere, tis a sad sign of the times we live in, I am more blessed living here, the sticks have there advantages, and the dugs certainly help in that respect.

     

     

    HH

  33. The Singing Detective Demands The Resignation Of Campbell Ogilvie on

    My Dear Kojo….

     

     

    Doubt If Pukki Is Suffering From Home Sickness….

     

     

    Since He Comes To Us After A Season In Germany….

     

     

    With Lone Spells Elsewhere….

     

     

    More To The Point…..

     

     

    There Was An Article In One Of The Rags A Couple Of Weeks Ago…..

     

     

    Where He Emphasised How Well He Is Settling In At Celtic….

     

     

    And Scotland In General….

     

     

    Naturally….It Will Come As Something Of A Surprise To Him…..

     

     

    That He Should Encounter Such Language Difficulties Within The Squad..

     

     

    As He Will Find Himself More Articulate In The English Language….

     

     

    Than Our Native-Born Players…

  36. Kojo on

    Pigalle

     

     

    Serious Answer.. tae a Serious Question.

     

     

    No.

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin

     

     

    Good Night ,Pal.

  37. CultsBhoy loves being 1st forever & ever on

    I’d say Pukki will be as good as Stokes. Both clever players with no pace

  38. ACGR Supporting Big Nan’s Reveal the Masonic Judge Petition on

    Canamalar / Morrissey, now that resolution 12 is on the table can you give a final number on the shareholders that helped get it there.

     

     

    It seems to have picked up much much more momentum in the past few weeks since landing on the AGM agenda.

     

     

    Looking forward to my day out in fun city on the 15th and Doc’s two day party.

     

     

     

    HH to you both and all others here who were instrumental in getting this crafted.

  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 31
  6. 32
  7. 33
  8. 34
  9. 35
  10. 36
  11. 37
  12. 38
  13. 39
  14. 40