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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SFTB
Think it’s the UEFA site rather than you!
There were cumulative ‘distance covered’ stats for group games to date – think last night’s might have been ‘selective’ tracking of the 2 goal scorers.
OPTA might have a more comprehensive breakdown. Think they produce pdf downloads for CL games but not sure how quickly they publish them.
Only reason I found the section was – I was curious how many goals we had conceded after the 60mins mark (prompted by P67’s article) in CL games and qualifiers these past 2 seasons. Tend to think that the longer these games go – the more our concentration levels tend to dip. Case in point being the AC Milan game – we had our chances early on and didn’t take them – IMO after 60mins we should have beefed-up midfield/ defence and settled for a draw.
Hope you find what you’re looking for.
Doc
I am proving particularly stupid today but I cannot find the distance covered stats from that link.
From the previous link I see wee James (lazy bassa that he was alleged to be) covered over13000 metres and Beram, in less time, managed over 12000m but I cannot find this stat for other than those two.
Auldhead, a couple of wee questions i hope you dont mind me asking
1. At this juncture would Dave King be barred from holding a directorship in South Africa? irrespective of the 41 convictions etc,
2 The judicial opinion on BRTH’s post at 09.36 on 22 oct. does this highlight SFA collusion with Rangers(il)? Also is this part of the ‘its all craigs fault’ strategy pursued by both SFA and Ril which ultimately highlights that the governance at the SFA was only matched by Caig whytes ambitious and radical tax policy-that of not payin
Great work re resolution.i Think our board are highly competent and able but this is one issue that is important not only to our support,for now and for the future.I hope the resolution is carried as i have an incline that if shareholders demand a review it will ensure our club pursue the SFA.
In my view it is on the one hand modern corporate and company governance with all its transparency against that of the blazer(eh thats the way its always been done)
Thanks in advance as i lurk and read forum at night
Always in Celtic
An T
Dontbrat…
Re Bayern’s regional status 1964
The Bundeslega (sp) wasn’t formed until 1963 so as an historical fact all German teams were till that point based within a regional structure.
Not many people know that!!!
Twists and Turns
The mention of the dead clubs game against Unirea. I read the Record’s report of that game and the players marks out of 10. Even though they had got gubbed 4-1(?) the record had every hun player better than the opposition…
[IMG]http://i41.tinypic.com/2ce1z06.jpg[/IMG]
caption competition anyone ?
http://i41.tinypic.com/2ce1z06.jpg
oops
Tontine Tim @ 14:16
Lot’s of different opinions of the MOTM and all valid but for me it was the Ref, he was like a breath of fresh air to what we are used to.
Posted on this very topic early this morning and agree totally. How many of us would honestly have expected that penalty to be awarded in the SPL by the likes of Gollum, Maddie, Callum david Murray, etc.?
And did you see that warm-up by the Officials in front of the North Stand? Entertaining and weird, but if that’s what it takes to referee properly I wish it was imposed on our guys in Bonnie Scotland.
justafan
Bayern were not in the Bundesliga for the first 2 seasons of its existence.They joined the top league in 65/66 and won their first championship in 69.
!!Bada Bing! @15:35,
Wah gwan ~ literary evolution Wycombe styleee.
Really disappointed to hear about the Ajax supporters behaviour, especially the problems inside the ground.
The Dutch in general are a cultured well educated lot…
Sure they can be pretty blunt to our way of thinking ~ if only God the gift would gie us ~ would not be penned by a dutchman.
However got to say a few years ago we used to watch the Celtic games in the Lyric Bar in Soho.
Before one game an Ajax ultra came in to watch a game had searched out the place especially (SPL match) he was very tall and skinheaded ~ he liked Celtic and had gone to watch us over Europe.
Spoke to the guy bought him a Beer etc etc but his violent attitude, right wing politics, disrespectful (though not to us) demeanour led me to think, why on earth would these guys choose Celtic.
Obviously quite a few of them ~ shame
Hail Hail
Rangers fan jailed for posting sectarian threats to Neil Lennon on Facebook
http://news.stv.tv/stirling-central/245012-william-kilpatrick-jailed-for-threatening-facebook-posts-about-neil-lennon/
justafan/79caps – every day is a gymnasium day on ole CelticSchnellZeitung.
Any non twitter pics of last nights tifo?Thanks in advance
Lennybhoy thanks for everything you done re Georges memory and his family and keeping us all informed of what went on.Thanks
Always in Celtic
An T
Ajax are facing Uefa sanctions after fans ripped out and threw seats during their team’s 2-1 loss at Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Uefa say the Dutch champions are charged with “crowd disturbances and throwing of objects” and the disciplinary case will be judged on 21 November.
Marti
Last night, oh what a night. I have been storing up these wee memories for my grandkids. I always thought that my memories from the early 70’s would be the ones that would stick out as I grew older.
Seville put paid to that thought and as our history grows I now find myself with a brain full of memories that seem to overlap and I find it difficult to separate which night was which.
The goals will always be there though, Dixie scoring against Basle in the EC quarter finale was my earliest memory. I remember my older brother Tony and myself were behind the goal at the Celtic end the goal seemed to come from nowhere one min it was in their half then up pops Dixie and madness ensued. Both of us going mental, jumping around and cuddling everyone we could, just a crazy feeling and being only 12 it seemed in a lot of ways surreal, I’d never experienced those feelings ever in my life.
That atmosphere will live with me forever, as will the shared joy of the occasion.
I have always been close to my brother, only 11 months between us, but that night cemented a bond between us that is still there and can’t be broken. I have 3 sister’s and 1 younger brother but nothing can touch the bond we have for each other. For years we went to games together and were inseparable but as time and years past we lived our own lives. Sometimes going to games was the only time we’d meet up and the first 5mins of any conversation was how’s the wife, kids ect then it was Celtic.
I was working in Orkney last year and missed the Barca game, Tony watched the game on TV and as the finale whistle blew I phoned him from my digs and we talked about the game none stop for nearly 2hrs, the conversation only came to end when his wife insisted came in from her work. I swear I can hear a sigh as I get out my car when going to visit him after a game. I’ll hear one later today as I’m off to visit him tonight to watch last night’s game again.
Since 2002 there have been so many great night’s at Celtic Park that it’s hard to pick a favourite, if you’d only attended 1 out of the many since then you would be sure that the atmosphere on that particular night couldn’t be beaten, that’s how special Celtic Park is on these night’s. Just read the quotes from fans, media, players ect and every single one says, no one does it better, no where beats Celtic Park on European night’s.
Over the last 30years or so my hero’s have come and gone, Dixie, Kenny, Danny, Paul, Henrik and a multitude of others who have entertained and enthralled us on these great occasions. New ones are emerging and I look forward to seeing those that are unaware of their destiny to pull on that famous hooped jersey on a European night.
My 2 grandsons are to young to know what a night like last night is like, I want to be there with them on their first visit to Celtic Park on a European night, hopefully that wont be to long in the future. It’s night’s like last night that cement Celtic into the very fabric of our being.
I look forward to my grandson asking if I’ve ever experienced anything like this before, I’ll laugh and simply smile and say you aint seen nothing yet.
“Hand-wringers”
Some folk are sooo 20th Century.
Back in the house after another great trip watching the bhoys. Many highlights from the game, but the look on the face of hugh dallas at glasgow airport yesterday morning, when he walked straight into the celtic fans arriving in glasgow will last for a long time. Now that was magic! GBNL ps well done to all on the tribute to St John Doyle
Paul67:-The Fir Hill for thrills match is on Sunday 27/10/13
It starts @ 12:45pm & It’s also live on Sky Sports
Ones called Ronald Ones called Frank one missed a penalty
the other is a Crank.
Good result last night, but it’s only halftime over said two legs
fixture. Hopefully with the grace of our Lord we get a positive
result in the Dam which will also have some say if we have
Some European footy to look forward too after the Festive Season
& Also help our co-efficiency as well, here’s hoping and good
luck to the Hoops.
I noticed that the Board are advising all shareholders to vote
against Cams number twelve resolution about honest integrity,
morality and bringing the game into disrepute. The Board are
saying that what’s in place @ present is sufficient enough to
deal with any other scandals which may arise in future.
Aye right, so being lenient, and allowing matters to be swept
under the carpet is the answer, in my opinion, no chance.
They have to be more diligent and stricter when dealing
with such matters or as the cliche states if not then the
game becomes a bogey, filled with money laundering
and crime. It not acceptable to turn blind eyes to such
matters, and play the three monkeys of 1) see no evil
2) speak no evil & 3) hear no evil
I know the devil is in the details here, but by being lenient
towards said matter then what sort of message does
that send out to every other Club in the Land. This matter
needs serious consideration by our Custodians not
advising everyone to vote against a legitimate proposal.
There is also mention by PL to hike the Season Cards
back up to the price of Season 2012/2013 & This is
after PL stating that this Season sales are Encouraging
which means a slight rise on last Season. There is also
mention of their key performance indicators monitoring
our home match attendance figures and Season Cards
nowadays being a financial luxury wait I’m confused here
so how come by hiking up the price of Season Cards
next Season will help the Hoops KPI Targets in future
It all sound counter productive to me just keep them the
same as this Season (2013/2014) it’s a no brainer.
After all we are living in a time of Austerity and the Energy
Companies are deciding to add on another 8% + to our
Fuel Bills how thoughtful of them just before winter comes
in properly and now our Custodians are wanting to hike
up the Season Cards next Season, are you serious about
this. It needs to be capped simple as, the same as those
Energy Company’s OTT price hikes end of.
By the way, the Hoops up and coming AGM is being held
on Friday the 15th of November 2013 @ 10:30 a/m @ CP
All shareholders are welcome to come along and voice
our mentioned concerns about voicing our opinions on
integrity/morality/disrepute and of course future planned
price hikes onto ones Season Card. Hail Hail Everyone.
SandmanI refuse to accept that an adaptation of a monkees song can in any way be offensive.
The only problem lyric for the hand-wringers is the insertion of the word ‘Orange’ in reference to aforementioned subject’s suspected membership.
The ‘Orange’ of course refers to the Orange Lodge.
The Orange Lodge are as much a religious organisation as the Ku klux Klan; they are but a glorified round table, thick with bigoted wee intellectual dwarfs propensing toward some half-arsed pseudo religious bent when all and sundry recognise them for what they are –
a risible organisation of venemous rabble founded on irrational hatred of an ideology which shapes their conspiracy fantasies of latent persecution and subjugation.
An ‘Orange Bastard’ is but a synonym for ‘Bigoted Bastard’ or ‘Supremast Bastard’.
It is as ‘sectarian’ as calling Mickey Mouse a ‘Disney Bastard’.
Only in Scotland. Truly the nation’s sinister, pathetic, shame.
————————-
Yawn ………….Really?? Is that what orange means? Thanks for clearing that up. Feel free to shout it in front of children and a television audience as loud as you can.
Good Afternoon all and just a mention to all the CQN’rs I met yesterday
First of all Thomtheleedstims brother who I met coming up on the train
Skyisalandfil
Glasgow Dave
Mr&Mrs BT
Lennybhoy
Jobo Balde
BanjoCeltic
Kikinthenackas
Hebcelt
Desertbhoy
Jungle Jim
Angel Gabriel
Son of Angel Gabriel
Caddizy and his Son
Celticrollercoaster
Corkcelt and his Pal
CelticFish
DougC
Hamilton Tim and Minx1888
EDB
And second last but no lease Old Tim who’s invite up to his room will remain forever secret
And finally Johann Murdoch and his Son for organising the Brilliant Meal and transporting me to Paradise
Hope I have not forgotten anyone as I was running out of ink
And a Big Hail Hail to the Famous Glasgow Celtic more than just a team
Marti Sandino
Hearing circa 300 damaged seats!
UEFA have charged Ajax over crowd
disturbance during Tuesday’s Champions
League defeat to Celtic at Parkhead.
Ajax’s case will be heard by a UEFA
disciplinary panel on November 21.
EmeraldBee, 15:56
He’ll be feeling very hard done by – nine months for a FB post.
He should have just jumped onto the pitch and attacked Neil Lennon and he’d be a free man.
Hail Hail one and all.
Newbie poster here, been reading CQN for long enough, felt that the time was now right to start sticking my tuppence worth in.
Thought that we defended very well from the front back last night against a very slick moving team that had more than enough ability to hurt us. Pukki never stopped chasing and closing down. VVD and Efe (barring that one moment of near madness) looked the real deal at this level…how long have we been crying out for such a pairing? And for a midfield shorn of at least two first choice picks (Brown and Commons) I thought we limited them to an awful lot of sideways passing. Roll on the return on the 6th, where I truly believe we will put Ajax away.
One word on the fans last night…My son and I met a group of Ajax fans in the Tolbooth pre match and enjoyed some great banter with them. One of them told me that this was the most friendly welcome they had received in any European away tie. After the match there was a fair contingent of Ajax fans back at our hotel and we all sat together watching the highlights (poor though they were) on ITV sharing a few beers and laughs. It’s just a pity that a small minority seemed hellbent on causing trouble before and during the match.
Granite city bhoy
I still cannae believe the Ajax goalkeeper ran to his fans prior to the penalty and was not booked. Never seen that in my life.
A coincidence it all kicked off moments after his arm waving antics?
Ajax are a manky club with an even mankier support.
granite city bhoy
Welcome, are you a hun? :0)
great game last night, best atmosphere this season for me personally. walked down sauchiehall st on way to match, saw the ajax fans behaviour outside lauders – looked a rowdy bunch, met a mate for pint in george square and saw the crowds of ajax fans/(looked like casuals to me) walking off to the stadium, again looked like a crowd after trouble. continued their appalling behaviour in the stadium also. however was it just me that interpreted it wrong or did they applaud us after we done the proznan.
ASonOfDan
Even stranger when you consider the ref contemplated warning Forster about taking his time over a goal kick in the 2nd half???
Granite city bhoy
lol!
Ajax defender Daley Blind claims Celtic did
not deserve their 2-1 UEFA Champions
League Group H win on Tuesday night.
Blind says the Dutch side, who lost to goals
from James Forrest and Beram Kayal, should
have left Celtic Park with at least a point.
Christian Poulsen hit the post for Ajax in the
first half and Thulani Serero missed two
great chances before Lasse Schone
eventually found the net in added time.
Blind said: “We played a lot of moments of
good football and came out to create
chances. But Celtic scored two goals that
were not really deserved at that moment in
the game.
“They are a physical team and we had a
little bit of a problem with that. But if you
look at the chances, I think for sure we
deserved one point here.
“Maybe if we had taken our chances we
might have even won.”
ASonOfDan
Not even in a past life…or future incarnation!!! lol
Granite city bhoy
o.g.rafferty
The fact is that is actually true. Depressing wee country at times.
SFTB, Praecepta is right, it’s the UEFA site not you.
The stats you are looking for are usually there, can’t see them either, the PDF files down the right have had that info in the past, not there today.
Worth a try.
“hand-wringers” is a favoured term of the surname-first name squad.
Afternoon everybody.
Forrest or Fischer? Wee James had more influence than the highly rated Ajax man. Do we underestimate our own talent? Efe has got to be interesting other clubs. I only heard about the young Celtic’s 4-1 victory this afternoon. Wonderful. Had some Dutch guests to serve today. They were told yesterday that they would only receive breakfast if Celtic won. Lovely people.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS forza Oscar and Mackenzie @ 16:10
Buyer pays the commission.
I’m just glad I found the tickets on time.
Jonny the Tim supporting wee Oscar @ 15:45
Don’t admit on-line to committing OBAF crimes!
It was nice to meet so many CQNers last night in real life. Thanks to P67 from creating and maintain a great Celtic blog that attracts so many good Celtic men.
A tribute from The Green Brigade to George Ryan.
https://twitter.com/Morrissey23rd/status/393032220509626368/photo/1
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1385030_563395157077115_1101563975_n.jpg
OptaCeltic @OptaCeltic
Efe Ambrose (77%) and Virgil van Dijk (76%)
have Celtic’s best pass completion in this
seasons Champions League.
gallowgate mad squad
16:07 on 23 October, 2013
Yawn ………….Really?? Is that what orange means? Thanks for clearing that up. Feel free to shout it in front of children and a television audience as loud as you can.
==============================
I used to, and would again, but the apologists for the Hun Way would suffer terrible anxiety…