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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The Green Brigade’s George Ryan banner from a distance:
https://twitter.com/bhoy4life/status/392909664675168256/photo/1
Police say a handful of Ajax fans were caught up, in among rioting Chelsea fans in Glasgow
City go one down.
http://news.stv.tv/west-central/245048-irish-republican-terror-arrests-suspects-detained-at-helen-street/
1-1
Apple have responded to feedback about Maps on the iPhone by asking that all complaints
are directed to their Buchanan St store in Berlin.
HMRC gets a leg up for its appeal from The Inner House of the Court of Session:
http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/2013CSIH84.html
Contrast the polis’s tactics in not arresting rioting Ajax fans with their kettling of wee bhoys at the Gallowgate-
is this due to
a) a fear of getting battered by big Dutch guys,
or b) not being told to arrest more Dutchies by the SNP
Good evening friends.
This time last night Ladbrokes were offering odds of 11/1 against us reaching the last 16. 24 hours later and we’re 13/2. At this rate by the time we play Milan we’ll be seriously odds on!
Unrelated but anyway, anyone know anywhere in City Centre other than the Apple store that might repair iPods. Think the actual connection socket on the bottom is damaged – the iPod plays through earphones but doesn’t play through my docking system. And the docking system works with other players. Worried it might be a small fortune.
Jobo
Wee Jamsie set to be referred to as Big Man.
Awright CSC
TICK TOCK :))
Lord Haggerty@AngelaHaggerty39m
Has the Court of Session Today Made a Decision Which Will Win HMRC the Big Tax Case? http://wp.me/p1Adbc-16Z via @Paulmcc12
Malorbhoy
Glad you never lost the list….at least I know who I was drinking and eating with….what with all the blog names and drink!
See we do reply to your posts!
Jobo
Wee place near Motherwell train station fixed my bhoys iPod £20. Know it’s not the toon but will try n find and post on your FB page
City 2-1
Jobo
Have u ever played the iPod through this docking system?
Jobo
iRepair
http://www.irepairglasgow.com
10 Muir St, Motherwell
01698 269000
more info
TBB
Joe Harper
Tony Green
Jimmy Smith.
When my team got gubbed it was by the very best. Wee Joe scored 3 that day.
On coaching I think that natural talent can be improved. My lad, who could have been professional if he had had his brothers engine and his sister’s attitude had a team mate whom he grew up with not so gifted.
This lad was no where as technically gifted as mine but he was improving game on game but frustrated that he was not getting to a better level.
I was only a spectator but I recall telling him after a game that one of his best attributes was his broad lower girth (ok I said fat arse in the local vernacular ) but I told him he would be more effective if he concentrated on using this talent to hold up play and playing in his team mates.
Whether he listened to me or others matters not, but he did start to do as suggested and instead of being subbed or being a sub, he was a regular starter enjoying his game.
I enjoyed his development. So yes the right coaching or advice can help.
I did not need it.. The ball just bounced off me into the net because I knew instictively where it was going to drop. :)
Forrest 1-0 Celtic v Ajax Plus Crowd Singing Just Can’t Get Enough
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG1V1gAs08I
Crystal Palace have confirmed that manager Ian Holloway has left the club by mutual consent following a dismal start to their Premier League season.
Jobo balde
I phone repairs
Ferson communications tradeston fix everything,mostly while you wait google the address
Hebcelt
That pass worked a treat as it meant I didn’t have to wait in the long queues to get into the park.
Thanks to st martins bhoy for tickets last night.my cousin and his son loved it.
Jobo
A few shops. On argyle st at finnieston do repairs. The price varies.
Malirbhoy.
You missed out your female companions and the fighting men from south armagh.
Good evening
Well done Mallorbhoy for making a note of everyones names at the Grey Brigade outing. Did you know that one in six men are gay. Had a brilliant time yesterday from the moment Oldtim and bt recognised me on the street on my way to dump my bags at the hotel. Brilliant to meet so many cqnrs and friends, including Carlisle celts lovely young nurse friends. Thanks to Bt and his delightful missus for the lift in the brand new Volvo to the game. Also to Glasgowdave for putting me in touch with Channel Island Celt and his mates. We eventually met up in The Corinthians, where I had to use all my natural charm to get past the doormen. Ledley, Van Dyke and Hooper were there but I was too shy/ pashed to speak to them. Almost got thrown out for singing rebel(ish) songs and had a whale of a time. As I type, I am sitting in the Roseburn Bar in Edinburgh and my liver needs a rest, but off to Lisboa at early o clock tomorrow for a few days r n r. Will do the pilgrimage of course.
PS
Being a celt is so good.
HH to all
Jobo
Ferson repairs
67 tradeston st
A thanks also to other bhoys who offered tickets also..
Skyisalandfill
Enjoy your trip to Lisbon….see you soon for the next daft kerry oan….one in six are gay….3 of them went up to oldtims room early on in the proceedings….wonder which one has his boxers on the wrong way round!
Kikinthenakas
Fourth best home park advantage in CL group games across all clubs?
What a stunning stat.
HH!
skyisalandfill c’mon wee oscar – have a great time and remember the tissues!
Kickinthenakas. i can assure you it was all done the best possible taste.
Will do minx :-)
Police Superintendent in charge last night stated there was ‘minor disorder’. Remember when the police and government called a summit because Fat Sally and Neil squared up.
Joke of a country…
Sure it’s been mentioned but well done the wee ballbhoy last night who couldn’t walk any slower to get the ball for the Ajax players at the corner near the death.
It was right in front of me and he actually had another ball under his seat.
Was great to see considering their carry on at the Pen.
Play4dg
asonofdan
Home CL stats….WOW!
Quite surprised to hear Scottish reporter on Sky sports – never heard this guy before – interviewing De Boer post match ” are you disappointed the best team lost to-night’s match”
” I can’t believe Charlie Mulgrew has improved his game so much” English commentator on TV3. Interesting comments particularly from the Scottish bloke.
A great performance from Celtic when one considers the defections and the players the club lost in summer transfers. Good to see Izzy back in form and Fraser Forster now not far off world class. Anyone know what Virgil was booked for, I was sure ref was going to deal with the Ajax keeper for unsporting conduct before the penalty kick.
Efe would not be Efe unless he gave the fans heart failure at least once during a game by arsing around with the football instead of clearing his lines. Fine performance by Efe otherwise.
hankray
VDD makes Efe look like a CB.
Love the % statistics getting posted………..having possession counts for hee haw if you don’t squeeze points from it.
Due to financial operating constraints it will take time to press the margins to get to where Barca are at the moment but we are getting there.
A good solid performance all round…….we rode our luck on occasion…….butyou need some at this level…….Biton was naive but will learn……..we took the points which is the crux of the matter.
Orc in the boozer lost over a grand (for a fiver) because his accumulator included an Ajax win……..they just can’t help themselves LOL
Enjoy the day after the night before Tims.
hankray – what winkers, celtic deserved to win, the game went our way and we won, we could have won the others but we didn’t.Why is it when celtic win in Europe, everybody apart from Jamie Redknapp find it difficult to say ‘well done, well played’.
This has been going on for years – remember when Blackburn thought they’d brush us aside – ha !
Lots of predators at the match last night and I don’t mean Ajax fans. EPL managers.
In my time watching Celtic I’d probably say that the best centre halves that I’ve seen were Elliot and Reiper. If Efe and Virgil maintain their current form they may well enter my hall of fame.
Ps also very pleasant to see so many folk aff these pages last night.
Malorbhoy
You are a gent sir!