The last minute goal fell Celtic’s way at the weekend but Wednesday’s opponents, Ajax, were on the receiving end of the sucker punch, losing to a last minute goal at home to Vitesse, just a week after a goalless draw at home to joint bottom Waalwijk. The Dutch champion’s only win in their last five games was at home to lower league opposition six days ago.
So what does this mean for Celtic? It means Ajax have found various ways not to approach the Celtic game. The last thing teams need ahead of a crucial game is an easy or flattering result, far better to show up your mistakes.
If Celtic take the lead, we might find Ajax confidence sinks rapidly, but they will approach the game full of focus, dangerous and with a point to prove.
It’s Christmas time…….
The Celtic FC Foundation (new name for Celtic Charity) Christmas Appeal has been launched. The 125 Anniversary activities have considerably reenergised the Celtic Movement in getting back to where is all started – looking after those in need.
The Christmas Appeal aims to provide 150 local families who would otherwise go without, a Christmas meal, with gifts for younger kids.
The Celtic support will be helping people through Glasgow East Women’s Aid, Spirit Aid, the Glasgow Simon Community, Loaves and Fishes, The Wayside Club, Glasgow City Mission and Lodging House Mission.
Details of how to help online, and in person, are available here.
Offensive Behaviour Act
Scottish Parliament Justice Committee convenor, Christine Grahame, has agreed to discuss an Early Review of the Act on the agenda for tomorrow’s Justice Committee meeting. Three members of the Committee are already committed to a Review, details on how to contact others on the committee – it has to be today, they meet tomorrow – are available here, on the Trust website.
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Order your CQN Annual here:
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DD
Enjoy ha. Lol
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.
Morrisey
Few pages ago, looking fot IT people
Get my email from Paul67 if your interested
Brnobhoy
Right guys and gals, off to bed. So I will wish all Timland a very good night, world wide, and hope winning captains has managed to harness that clydesdale horse. My money’s on the horse. Hahaha Night Night Timland.
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.
pjbhoynyc
Your story is so correct
I have been lucky enough to travel and work I lots of countries
And always I have a hoops top with me , I remember being on the top
Of the empire state building and being told we had sacked Lou Macari
I had a good 20 minute discussion with Tims I had never met , and when it
Ended the yanks with me were amazed that I could talk to guys I had never met
Spend time with them, shake hands and wish each othe well
And the fact I dint know them was alien to them
That’s what we’d are, and I have done and seen
This in at least 10 countries
Hailhail
Brnonhoy
iPad spelling was a bit off there :)
Lifted from a post on TSFM; PL, by negotiating the TV deal in China has raised more cash for sevco than Jim McColl and the other ragers men. FFS, don’t tell Morrissey.
I don’t think Lenny will play Derk ( much easier to spell than Boeriggter or whatever it is) on Wednesday night. I understand the Brattbak syndrome thoughts of some but think Neil will go with the tried and trusted. JF on the right, Sammy on the left. TS up front. Midfield is Commons, Kayal, Mulgrew and who? Ledley most likely. Back four pick themselves. Balde and Derk as impact subs late in the game.
Best of luck to Celtic and all of the bhoys and ghirls making the trip. Wish I was there.
Incidentally , I’m on Dailuaine tonight.
HH
Just a quick un before bed… as ever, if you don’t like, scroll by
Great doc on tv tonight on Andres Segovia “Song of the Guitar”. It’s difficult to over-estimate the impact he had on positioning the guitar as a popular instrument, even outside Spain – only the old black blues players could lay similar claim.
This one is a Catalan folk song, and it’s a gem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrdpmM-dI3g
This next one sounds a bit posh, cos he’s playin Bach – but this music belongs to all of us, have the baws to reclaim it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHBj-I83pRw
Morning Timland from a wet hun free mountain valley.
The Spanish weather forecasters are as bad as they come, no rain was forecast tonight, and the also forgot about the storm we had earlier, winds to beat the band, the pool is mocket, will need a few hours cleaning the morra.
Request.
An easy to use website builder required, must have a shopping cart, and be reasonably cheap, free is possible, but I know you get nothing for nada these days.
Must be idiot proof mind you, as moi is going to build it.
Any info will be gratefully received, as I have just spent the day uploading pics for the site, driving me round the feckin bend, but hopefully worth it at the end of the day.
HH
JQB
That was beautiful. I play guitar fairly badly but with a a desire to improve and seeing a player like that is quite inspiring.
HH
skyisalandfill,
I’ve been playin for forty years and have alternated between finding it inspiring, and being utterly depressed that I can’t come anywhere close to it. Nowadays I just enjoy it, and console myself with the hope that he’s probably got a wee todger
JQB
Yup me too. I have too many guitars and not the talent to do any of them any justice. Sad but true. My todger is huuuuuuuuge. Not
TET
What are you building? My brother can do most so what do you need ?
Hailhail
Brnobhoy
JQB
I can play the guitar so badly that I can murder Hotel Calafornia, Hey Joe and a few others.
Even if you know the songs, you will never know them when I play them, in saying that, I managed to teach my nephew to play them good, he can make the thing sing.
HH
skyisalandfill
hehehe
Aye, my wife is complaining bout the guitars, I’ve got four, and a fiddle, a keyboard, and a banjo for makin soup in.
I could survive in that room through a nuclear winter…. though am not sure what the difference is between that an a normal one
brnobhoy
Afore I go on, I am skint.
I want to build an online shop, something that I can sell my wares, I make leather belts, with writing on them, wristbands the same, I also have a range of hand made jewelry that I make.
It must have a shopping cart, so that I can link it to my pay pal, also has to be easy enough as so I can edit it, and add pics.
my mail addy is…. nohunshere@hotmail.com
I have a huge stock that is annoying Mrs TET, it’s sitting in the garage gathering dust, she want’s it gone, so do I if the truth be told.
HH
TET,
youngsters…. hough and spit
One day your teachin them, next they’re rattlin up the fretboard sayin “can ye do this”, and “was this popular in your day”.
Gits
Ah, I’m divorced and have nobody to say No! you don’t need another guitar. Got 9 plus a bass and a mandolin. Thinking about getting another. Freind has a The Paul mk 2 and sorely tempted. Had a look at a couple of Lowdens (I know) in Guitar Guitar when I was down for the Ajax game. Superb axes but loads of money.
Exiled tim. Hotel California is tough to plat. Cudos to you.
Have to go, the storm is getting up again, things are getting torn off their housings, it’s feckin bad btw, never seen a storm like it the time I have been here.
Sleep well Timland.
HH
play and is that how you spell Kudos?
skyisalandfill
That’s why you will never know what I am playing >}
HH
TET
I misread your post and had it down as a builder !
But anyway I work for an Internet company so I will see if any of my
Guys fancy a free project
I will keep you updated
Brnobhoy
Brnobhoy
skyisalandfill,
I looked at the pauls, but way beyond my budget.
You should seriously look at the Fender Strat American, a humbucker and two single coils. The range of tone is great, everything from clean telecaster, through strat, to a bit of meat from the humbucker. It won’t give you the heavy tone that a paul will, but it gets close, and a third of the price.
Slap it through some amp and effect simulator software on your pc and you won’t know the difference. You’ll need an external sound card though – UA25ex or equivalent.
Good Night All
HH
JQB
TET
If you are still around check this review of website builder s/w
http://website-creation-software-review.toptenreviews.com
It is an easy page which shows you needn’t pay a fortune to get what you want.
Perhaps I shouldn’t say so, bit it may blow you away.
Coat on.
pogmathonyahun aka laird of the smiles
22:37 on 4 November, 2013
Definitely last post, see you Bhoys in the Dam tomorrow I’ll be the fat bassa with CQN badge.
A wee bit of Frankie Miller to end the night :
The JJ Man
—————
Two of my favorites Frankie Miller and Jinky
Even the wife burst out laughing as he tormented the former Rangers.
burghbhoy
21:50 on 4 November, 2013
John Park accompanied Big Pete to China .
Maybe a few Chinese signing in January?
Anyone know anything about prominent players over there ?
——————————-
Wan Yung Tim and Bang Wan In are being watched.
Shamelessly stolen from the Huddleboard.
GORDON STRACHAN is CONVINCED Celtic will beat Ajax in Amsterdam.
The Hoops travel to Holland today for tomorrow’s vital Group H encounter.
And the Scotland boss said: “I think Celtic can win in Amsterdam and I think they can beat AC Milan in the next game too.
“That’s not just hoping, I definitely think they can win on Wednesday.
“They’re a better team than Ajax. The Ajax team will develop — I don’t think anybody’s had a shave in that team yet.
“When you look at them compared to the Juventus team Celtic played a year before, they were men.
“The Ajax team will develop in the next nine months, a year, into an exceptional team again. But at the moment I think Celtic have the strength and the know-how to definitely get a result there. And they can definitely beat AC Milan.”
And Strachan reckons Celtic playing in the Champions League offers a definite boost to the national team’s hopes. He added: “There’s no doubt about it. Celtic’s experience in the Champions League has helped Scottish international football, with Charlie Mulgrew and Scott Brown and James Forrest.
“It’s not an arrogance, it’s a confidence you feel. When you might have thought: ‘am I good enough?’, you start to think ‘Yes, I am good enough’.”
CELTIC’S wide boys intimidated Ajax in a Champions League battering in 2001.
Didier Agathe has backed the Bhoys’ current wing kings to do exactly the same in Amsterdam tomorrow.
The Hoops hero has fond memories of the night he and Bobby Petta scored and tormented Ajax in a 3-1 first-leg win.
That result put Martin O’Neill’s side into the Champions League for the first time — despite a 1-0 loss at Parkhead.
Some 12 years later, Agathe believes James Forrest and Derk Boerrigter could hold the key to Celtic’s chances.
He told SunSport: “Ajax found it hard to handle our width in the game over in Holland.
“Bobby scored the first, I scored the second and then put in the cross for Chris Sutton to get the third.
“We got a lot of success down the wings and I believe the same can happen on Wednesday.
“Forrest scored the penalty against Ajax in the first game but caused problems throughout. He has so much pace and is a calm finisher. I rate him highly.
“People are saying we play in the same position, but Martin O’Neill asked me to do a lot more defending than James does under Lenny! He can be a big player and I’d also like to see him run at the Ajax defence on the outside.
KING OF THE WING … Agathe stunned Ajax in 2001
“He’s very good at cutting inside but if he goes outside and crosses, Celtic can have success.
“It’s the same on the left. Boerrigter hasn’t played much because of injury, but he has a lot of pace and could be crucial.
“Celtic will maybe look to hit on the break and that’s where wingers like Forrest and Boerrigter will be so crucial.”
The Ajax side of 2001 wasn’t in the same class as the teams who conquered Europe in the 1970s and 1990s.
Yet Christian Chivu, Rafa van der Vaart and a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic all featured in that Ajax squad.
Agathe, 38, said: “It’s only when you look back at the line-ups now that you realise how many good players Ajax had. I met van der Vaart a few years later and we spoke. He was impressed by Celtic.
“Ajax had a team of internationals. But we started well and never looked back.
“That win was so crucial because it was the start of our success in Europe.
“We’d won the Treble in Scotland and showed we were the strongest team in the country.
“But playing Ajax was another step up. It was a hurdle we wanted to get over. Since then, Celtic have been the Champions League most seasons, so it was a historic victory.”
Neil Lennon was in the Celtic side that won in the Amsterdam ArenA in 2001.
Agathe — now running his own coaching academy in La Reunion — believes Celtic have the ideal boss in charge.
He said: “Lenny knows what it takes to succeed at this level.
“He knows how important European football is for the credibility of the club.
“His achievements last season were incredible. To reach the last 16 of the Champions League was impressive.
“It won’t be easy to do it again but another win over Ajax would give Celtic a great chance and I believe they will get the three points.”
DERK BOERRIGTER says he wants to show old club Ajax what they’re missing after recovering from his ankle injury.
The Dutch winger came on for the last 20 minutes of Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Dundee United after several months out.
Now Boerrigter admits he’s desperate to make an impact at the Amsterdam ArenA for tomorrow’s vital Champions League clash.
He said: “It was nice to play football again pain free. I felt no problems after the game. I’m obviously still short of match fitness.
“But I would be happy to play on the left or right wing if I get a chance.
“Did Ajax let me go too easily? Maybe, maybe not. But I welcome the opportunity Celtic have given me.
“A point would be okay, but we are looking for three. We still have to play AC Milan at home and we know we absolutely must beat them.”
EDWIN VAN DER SAR is a true goalkeeping giant.
Sir Alex Ferguson labelled the former Manchester United No1 the best of his generation.
But the Ajax legend believes that Celtic’s Fraser Forster stands tall among the current crop of European goalies.
Van der Sar was blown away by the Geordie’s towering display in the 2-1 win over Ajax last month — and also his SIZE.
Ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League return in Amsterdam, van der Sar tipped the Hoops star to go to the very top.
He said: “I’m really impressed with Fraser. He is definitely a difficult keeper to beat, good in all areas.
“I don’t think he has many weaknesses, technically, physically or mentally.
“So Forster is a key player for Celtic. I was down at pitch side when he came out for his warm-up in Glasgow, and I was really struck by his size.
“People look up to me, they are always saying I’m a big guy.
GIANT LEAP … Forster and Forrest celebrate win
“But Forster is something else. With his enormous frame, I found myself looking up to him.
“Of course, there is more to him than that. He is playing really well at the moment, especially in the big European games.
“This means he is getting quite a reputation. Forster has earned that with his all-round game.
“He will want to go to a higher level, a bigger league.
“I don’t think he should be worried about his ability to get there. He is more than good enough.
“I have played in Italy and England and he could definitely do well in either of those leagues — no problem.
“He could play in the very best leagues in Europe without any struggle.
“For him, it is probably easier for him to stick with where he is from, so maybe England would suit him better.
“I would not be surprised if Forster is attracting interest from other clubs, because he is a great talent.”
Van der Sar, 43, won the lot during a glittering career at the top level with Ajax, Juventus and Manchester United.
His 130 caps for Holland and two Champions League winners’ medals suggests he knows a thing or two about goalkeeping.
With Joe Hart axed by Manchester City after a series of costly blunders, van der Sar believes an England cap is now a certainty for Forster.
Neil Lennon has admitted it will be impossible to keep Forster and that increased profile won’t help his cause.
Van der Sar, now marketing director at Ajax, sympathises with the Hoops — but insists there is nothing they can do to stop him leaving.
Van der Sar added: “If Fraser goes on like this, he must have a chance to play for England in the next friendlies, with everything that is going on with Joe Hart.
“Everybone at Celtic knows Forster is ready for international football, because the Champions League is such a high level.
“Neil Lennon expects a big offer to come in for him and I can understand why he says that.
COMPETITION … Forster challenging for England place
“He will be hoping he gets a big transfer fee to make up for losing such an important player.
“That is the fate of Celtic and Ajax now. We are clubs who buy players in or produce them, then sell them on.
“I don’t think Forster cost them too much, they gambled a little on him, and that should pay off.
“Probably the player’s own ambition is beyond Celtic too.
“That is no disrespect to Celtic or Scottish football, but it is very similar to the situation we have here at Ajax and in Holland.”
Finding a way past Forster will be Ajax’s main mission in Amsterdam tomorrow, with Dutch coach Frank de Boer conceding it’s a must-win clash. Van der Sar insists Ajax were unlucky in the 2-1 loss to Celtic last month, but admits the return clash is a big test for the Dutch kids.
Van der Sar said: “The Celtic game is now huge for both teams. We both need a result if we are going to make progress in the Champions League.
“Of course, we were disappointed with the game in Glasgow, the result more than the performance.
“I think we played really well, we were full of confidence and kept the ball.
“We played the football we wanted to play. In the circumstances, in that stadium, that is quite difficult to do.
“Not a lot of teams have gone to Celtic Park and played with so much composure and possession — and very few have won.
“We had a few good chances and missed them. And a couple of very small mistakes from us cost us the game.”
Ajax were booed off after last Saturday’s shock 1-0 home loss to Vitesse as their poor run of form continued.
The summer exits of Christian Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld hit them hard, as have injuries to Bojan Krkic and Niklas Moisander.
But van der Sar called on the Ajax fans to give de Boer’s young side time to hit their stride.
He added: “You can say inexperience is part of the reason for some inconsistent results. But that is just part of the football at Ajax, we bring young players in.
“When I played here, we probably had a little bit more experience in the team.
“But it is always been the case at Ajax that big players will leave, go to bigger clubs in bigger leagues. That is the model of the club.
“I remember when I came into the team, Dennis Bergkamp and Wim Jonk left.
“We all wondered what we were going to do, how we could possibly cope.
“But then Jari Litmanen came in into the Bergkamp position, and two years later we were playing the best football in Europe.
“Our academy is still one of the strongest in the world, not just in Europe. All we need is a little bit of momentum for the first team.”
CHRISTIAN POULSEN is a father figure to Ajax’s batch of talented kids.
The Danish midfielder is adamant some tough parenting is now required to make them come of age.
At 33, Poulsen is expected to be the ONLY senior pro in the Ajax team against Celtic tomorrow.
But he insists age can’t be used as an excuse for his side’s form slump over the last month.
And he warned Frank de Boer’s rookies they have to grow up fast — or risk seeing their Champions League hopes die.
He said: “The Celtic game is one of the biggest of the season. Is it unfair to ask these younger players to step in and do the job? No.
“They have to show that they are ready — and many of them have shown they are ready.
“Of course, when you have so many players out, you can wonder if that’s the problem.
“I don’t think it is the problem, at least it wasn’t in the Vitesse defeat on Saturday.
“It’s not an excuse why we lost that game.
“The club spend a lot of money on a youth academy and they give them the chance to shine here.
“Of course our younger boys have to learn. We have some key players out. Niklas Moisander, Bojan Krkic, Nicolai Boilesen are missing, that’s three important players right away.
“But at Ajax, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. That’s just how it is.”
Ajax have earned two points from their last three Eredivisie games — and also lost to Celtic.
But Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Vitesse was a disappointment too far for the club’s raging fans.
They booed de Boer’s side off the pitch and there is now massive pressure on Ajax to beat the Hoops.
Poulsen admits their form is a concern — but believes the reaction of supporters at the weekend was over the top.
The experienced former Sevilla, Liverpool and Juventus midfielder said: “We are worried that we aren’t getting the wins at the moment. We wish we had many more points. We are definitely struggling a little bit.
“The young players didn’t play that badly against Vitesse.
“We had a lot of the ball, had some decisions against us — and we played against a quite good Vitesse team, remember.
“They are one of the top teams from the division, so they can always win big games. But I think the other guys are doing well. Just because we lost to Vitesse doesn’t mean everything’s going badly.”
Ajax skipper Siem de Jong labelled the Celtic match an ‘all or nothing’ clash for Ajax, and Poulsen agrees.
The Dane said: “We are showing that we can create chances and can play good football.
“But we are also lacking some luck. We are making a lot of half chances and not really taking them.
“Of course, if it happens every time, then it’s because we are not good enough to score the goals.
“If that happens, then it’s not luck. It’s something we have to work on.
“A big result in the Champions League on Wednesday would work wonders for us.
“It would be a good start, to beat Celtic and get the result our play deserves.”
COMPLETELY
OT I never cease to be entertained by the wit and comedy, some of it genius that is displayed by the community that is CQN.
I was wondering what the consensus would be if this question was posed:-
What percentage of CQNrs went to university ?
I left school when I was 15 from the Mungo (hence Mungolian bhoy)
Celtic to ‘be positive’ against Ajax, says Lennon
Neil Lennon has called on Celtic to be positive when they take on Ajax on Wednesday.
NEIL Lennon is convinced his Celtic side can create chances at the Amsterdam Arena in their “pivotal” Champions League clash on Wednesday.
Celtic moved above Ajax into third place in Group H when they beat the Dutch side 2-0 at Parkhead in their most recent European encounter.
Lennon believes his side have a good chance of repeating the win if they can match their other away performance in the group, which saw them concede two goals to AC Milan despite coming close to scoring an opener themselves.
Lennon said on Celtic’s official website: “The game in Amsterdam is pivotal.
“It’s a huge game and we started working on it – the team selection and the way we’ll play – as soon as Saturday’s game finished.
“If we can play like we did in Milan, then we’ve got a good chance.
“But you can never predict these games. Ajax are a class side, very fluid with the ball and they will create chances, but I think we can create chances too.
“We’ll have to be positive, and to get something out of the game would give us a great chance in the last two games.
“I think the atmosphere will be fantastic, but it’s the Champions League and I don’t think the players need any extra incentive to play there.”
Morning Celts
Heading off to Amsterdam shortly via M’chester, still on the lookout for Celtic end tickets, need two if possible.
Got my tickets for Jam in the dam tonight though ✊
V
Here we go again, were on the road again, were on the road again, were on the road to Amsterdam..
Stay safe bhoys and il see use in Amsterdam square for a party later 2day! Hail hail!
‘ ‘ here we go again ‘ ‘
‘ ‘ we’re on the road again ‘ ‘