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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ST
you`re not married to Viv Nicholson by any chance? Just wonderin, like
Whitedoghunch
I don’t move in circles that would be able to secure your request for the young lad.
Can u pass on my regards to the young fella however , hope he gets well soon.
Sorry to hear you are still stuck there.
Hope your stay is short and u are both back home soon.
Sorry I can’t help.
Hail Hail
Harald scored goals for fun. We spent good money on him. Henrik didn`t score many goals. He was cheap.
Gambleawarecsc
Goldstar. If I had the B@lls I would ask why we keep throwing money away on poor quality when we need to sustain top quality output
And if the cash was going to maintain a healthy balance sheet before investing in markets we can improve on I would leave
Celtic is not a business it’s to put bums on seats. What stars do we have now
As I said before I am a fan if the team on the park
Morning all, any tickets going for Sunday’s game? Looking for two I’m struggling. Cheers.
I’m getting increasingly concerned that we have been unable to tie up Sammi/Stokes/Ledley.
Hopefully things are happening behind the scenes that we are unaware of..
Always a crying Shame if we loose good players , particularly those who want to stay with us .
Hope this piece of brinksmanship doesn’t backfire on us!!!!
Bobby. Henke had scored over a hundred goals and played in a World Cup semi before he came to us and was rated as one of the top bargains in world football. C’mon. Pukki. Henrik. Give me peace
Bobby. No Gary is here doing a wee tour. Playing in Penrith Gaels tnite
Sydney Tim, First point is there is a wage structure at Celtic Park, were we to break it to entice what we hoped would be an exceptional striker it could have repercussions for overall squad morale. Secondly 7 million wouldn’t buy us a Hooper equivalent, there were plenty on here giving Hooper more stick then you are giving Pukki. I loved Hooper and wanted him to stay so did Lenny but Hooper wanted to go. In the first instance a player must want to play for us and must be able to adjust to the Scottish game. Give Pukki another 4 or 5 games before you write him off he may surprise you. I saw enough Tuesday night to convince me that he will be a decent player for us.
BobbyRussell
Henrik’s only come along every thirty years.
Cheap hopefuls are ten a penny.
Keep coming back to it.
It is almost two years asked for a big physically dominating line leader.
He is still waiting.
Ps my feelings on Roy Keane have improved after hearing that idiot Goram doesn’t like him!
My dad told me there’s a photo of Mark Hately in the Sun today wearing what suspiciously looks like Brown Brogues.
Could Mark be the saviour of Sevco???
Hahaha
BobbyRussell
And to ur cost he also scored them for fun after he left us.
Hand on heart. Do you honestly think that when he leaves us, Pukki will emulate Henrik and wind down his career with Barca and Man U?
Everyone looking forward to the big Glasgow derby then??
Sydney Tim. Fella thats the great thing about football we all have our opinions and who knows who is correct I guess it will be a bit of everyones opinion.I am happy the way things are going with Celtic and can still see room for improvement but nothing is perfect in this life.H.H.
Hi there Pop Pickers
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Jo. Very very true. That’s football. I try to explain to the Ozzies that we talk about football football and football Nothing really here to be exited about
Watched the Ajax game live on Spanish TV and I think their commentators’ opinions on Sammi echo my own. A difficult player to play against but he more often than not misses the moment to make the killer pass that his run has opened up. He creates loads of chances but then fails to look up at the vital moment or delivers a poor final ball. They thought he was played too wide on Tuesday. Fair enough comment. One that has merit but also can be debated
Sammi is a very good player, if he had the extra bit that he clearly lacks he’d be world class and would have left us a long time ago. He has put in great performances for Celtic and Greece in big games yet has failed to attract any bids from the usual Celtic-talent chasers (Cardiff, West Brom, Norwich, Southampton etc.). Barcelona in January? Just can’t see it when they have the pick of world class talent from anywhere in the world.
I’m delighted he is with us. I’d also be delighted for him if he ever gets the chance of a big move. His loyalty to Celtic could never be questioned.
All teams have wage structures and most teams pay players who score goals extra. That’s football. As long as we have this flat structure we will never entice a goal scorer to play for us
I you have the nack of scoring goals pay them extra
Henke was way out on salary of the rest of the team
jugalug johnstone
10:46 on 25 October, 2013
I would contact Celtic Park…..as late as Wednesday I received an e-mail offering me spare tickets for Firhill . I don’t know if they are being offered for general sale from the ticket office.
Looks like FF is our guarantee next season of no drop in the wage bill if we do not reach CL group ( assuming we win the title – see next on xfers).
That makes a difference in planning to keep the squad strength up. So apart from the fact players in demand are in charge of their own destiny, his departure has its benefits for the club and support.
Which brings me to timing of transfers.
Losing players in the winter window involves risk to the title. The question is how far in front in points might we be and will we be in Europe after Christmas?
Then what quality of player is available in the winter break? Finally can they go for free in the summer?
So lots to consider, although Scottish football taking the logical step and switching the season so seasons end around November looks beyond the thinking of those in charge. The benefits of that in terms of avoiding CL qualifying nailbiters would help Celtic.
I was up visiting TET the other week. Lots of olive groves but one tree was surrounded by barbed wire and guarded.
Apparently it was a genetically modified tree that Barcelona were funding the development of called a Striker tree.
But so far no striker has been grown on it. ;).
@67 Heaven…….kisses and cuddles mwahhhhh
When I saw Hooper in the stand the other night my first response was a deep dislike for him, but this subsided to be replaced with sadness and pity. Regardless of what I have heard or read about his ambitions to play for England I feel certain it was all about money. That’s were the sadness comes in. At CP he would earning over a million pounds a year – a kings ransom – and enjoying fantastically wonderful European nights: Ajax, Milano & Barca, but for the sake of a few quid he is in Norwich – a decent town – fighting relegation, and, if you really saw his thoughts on Tuesday, desperately upset he wasn’t on the park.
Hail hail
sydneytim
Do you want to meet up tomorrow night? I can get a train direct to Bondi Jct.
If Summa’s about he’s got my mobile number.
HH
My assessment of this years ” much weaker ” team.
Forster = improved;
Lustig =improved;
Ambrose = improved
van Djik = improved;
Izzi = improved.
Forrest = improved ( prospects anyway);
Brown = same/ improved;
Kayal = possibly improved;
Commons = same / improved;
Samaras = same /improved
Stokes = improved.
So, is a team minus Hooper and Wanyama stronger/weaker than the above?
JJ
mickbhoy1888
Many thanks mate will give it a try. HH
Incidentally, has something been said about Fraser Forster being transferred or is it just the normal, MSSM reaction to another excellent performance on Tuesday night??
JJ
Corkcelt
Not saying that Samaras would be an automatic choice at any of these clubs and there are probably many players Barca and Meeelan would sign before him..however in my opinion he is the only outfield player we have at the moment and on present form would be capable of getting a game for any the two of them.
As you know it is all about opinions and you only have to look back at last season where our CQN scouts were talking up Victor Wanyama so much that they had me convinced that the only way he would leave our club was to sign for one of the European giants
Lymmbhoy. U won’t be getting a train to bondi tomorrow. Trains are off:(
I will be meeting Michael Collins in city 1st then taxi. Sure I will contact summi on Facebook and he can message me. Where do u live?
mickbhoy1888
I have no idea why Moyes didn’t take a chance on Wanyama for £12m rather than sign that Belgian eejit for £30m+. Mulgrew didn’t give him a kick of the ball in the recent Scotland match. He was mince.
A few big clubs will regret not taking a punt on Victor. Thje boy is still young but he has all the attributes to be a superstar in the future.
LB
thanks for all the wishes bhoys I’m still optimistic of making the bench for the derby
sydneytim
Sylvania Waters
HH
Syd, cheers, you have answered the question, you know the existing employers buying policy, so you would be for the Joe Toff. Just like big FF will be.
WHITEDOGHUNCH
Good news,bud.
Enjoy some fine dining in Maryhill’s finest eateries.
But,after all that hospital food being chucked at you,don’t go robbing the foodbank collection!
Question on those who have been in the Nou Camp – where in the ground would you go if you had a choice? Will there be Celtic fans around the ground? Any problems before for those who have done it?
Having a look on the Barca FC site for tickets against us and looks like there are still tickets available all over the ground. If you follow this link and click through you will see a plan of the ground and then if you click on a section it gives you a picture of the view, the price and tickets available.
I have Spanish residency so think I can get a ticket as a Spaniard without a problem being flagged up by passport ID.
OOps the link – http://www.fcbarcelona.es/futbol/primer-equipo/archivo-partidos/2013-2014/liga-de-campeones/jornada-6-h/fc-barcelona_celtic
Tallybhoy-welcome back.
Lymmbhoy. Nice area. Do u have a boat. ? I am not far from you in mortdale 2 stops on train normally. Will contact summi
Goldstar. But if my company held my contract and sold me for the CEO personal profit it would be indeed corrupt
That’s where our club is. Run for the profit of our CEO
Just got Tickets for Still Game…..worth the 25 min wait .