I’m at the stage of thinking, “If we sort out that, and do a bit of this, take our chances and ride our luck, we might just…….” Typical optimism before an away European tie. We’ll know soon enough how we compare to Ajax.
We didn’t sink without trace in our visit to the Amsterdam ArenA two years ago, but it was an anaemic performance from Celtic, who failed to pass well or create anything of note. There wasn’t an effective game plan to hustle Ajax.
Hustle Ajax is exactly what we did in 2001. Martin O’Neill wilted when he discovered he’d need to eliminate Ajax to reach the Champions League group stage, but by kick-off he’d done his work. Ajax would prove what a good team they were at Celtic Park a week later, but by then it was too late. Celtic used the cloak of unfancied underdogs to punch through a barrier in their European development.
If you were an Ajax scout, reporting on how to play Celtic, you would be brimming with confidence ahead of tonight, but this has been Celtic at their worst. We can play better.
Ronny’s taken a bit of stick recently, not without good reason, as simple tasks which most teams achieve, like defending a set-piece, have seen Celtic fail repeatedly. But again, this is not the whole picture. He’ll turn it around, just as he did last year. Nowhere better than away to the top seed tonight.
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HH
COYBIG
My first ever top ten!
With hope in your heart..
Cmon Celtic
Made the first 11.
Hail Hail.
Top 10 maybe ….. HH
Hope all the Bhoys stay safe out there in Amsterdam.
I am looking forward to see Ronnys team selection I have a feeling that there may be a couple of surprises.H.H.
We have to start by doing the simple things well. Tracking runners and clearing the danger when required. Passing and moving. Retaining possession and giving the man with the ball options.
Kicking off with the top seeds away gets the most difficult game out of the way early. I’d take a draw to get us started.
Win lose or draw, just give it your best shot Bhoys.
Hail Hail.
Hi Paul
I go into this game with very little expectation.
This current Celtic team have a vulnerable look about them , and are still suffering from their self inflicted hangover of the CL qualifiers. If talk of team urest is in any way accurate, then this also will not help.
I was there the night Didier ran riot, and was not very confident prior to that game either
So I’ll go for a 2-0 victory to the hoops tonight
HH
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 17TH SEPTEMBER 2015 12:26 PM
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/neither-ajax-nor-celtic-will-be-overconfident/comment-page-12/#comments
Oh I absolutely agree with you, but some in here just use it as another negative to beat the club up with, as for me? The Hun that could out slag or out debate me haven’t been born yet as far as my travels have taken me, and I’ve been around, water off a ducks back.
Lurking Huns GIRFUYs
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/neither-ajax-nor-celtic-will-be-overconfident/comment-page-12/#comment-2679512
Hi Paul67,
You are quite right, Ajax would have done their homework and would like what they’ve seen.
Think a Celtic performance might surprise them, if Scott can get in amongst them and lead from the front, we could take something from this game.
Ajax 1:2 Celtic
Hail Hail
It has probably been covered already but here goes with my take on the so called “smellygate” scandal.
First compare and contrast the media frenzy over a dubious letter published anonymously online accusing Celtic supporters of being malodorous with the deafening silence over the Charlotte fakes. No worries about unchecked facts or the provenance of the documents when it comes to Celtic supporters and their personal hygiene but downright refuse to investigate allegations of financial impropriety over Govan way.
The second point is the relish with which some of our own picked up on the story and used it as a stick to beat Celtic with. Any negative story is lapped up, while positive stories are derided as “board propaganda ” or attempts to “deny and deflect”.
Some who post on here will never be happy with how Celtic operate but why do they insist on doing the Scottish media’s job for them when it comes to putting Celtic down.
.
Not been on since weekend .. Read on last page..
To download Adblocker Premium..
Downloaded Adblocker browser for iDevices..
Feckin Hell 10 times worse..
Can’t scroll past Adverts then Had to Login Again 3 Times..
Ah well I Suppose it Help with the “Unique Users” Stats.. Not long to We get the 500 Million Oblique Users..【ツ】
Summa
Winning Captains…from last blog
It’s a bit worrying to find out Danny Wilson was on any kind of list Celtic had.
From Yesterday
Mick McCarthy had his debut in a European tie, Bremen or Dortmund comes to mind.
.
On thing about Ronny.. He is better at setting up a Defensive Team than other way around..
Can see Us Starting with Cifcti again and Maybe bringing on Griff at a Late stage scoreline depending..
Thought he should have done this Malmö away so would be Quite happy for Cifcti to Do His Sammi away in Europe Role..
Hey He might even Score..【ツ】
Summa of SammiCSC
Looking for a Celtic Bar in or around the Loch Lomond/Balloch area to watch the game tonight if any one can help?
HH
Butsybhoy ..
your getting good at the podium chasing.
HH
TONYDONNELLY67 on 17TH SEPTEMBER 2015 12:46 PM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 17TH SEPTEMBER 2015 12:26 PM
Oh I absolutely agree with you, but some in here just use it as another negative to beat the club up with, as for me? The Hun that could out slag or out debate me haven’t been born yet as far as my travels have taken me, and I’ve been around, water off a ducks back.
Lurking Huns GIRFUYs
==============================================================
Keep the Faith,my fellow Tim.
We have to guard against the guys with ulterior motives.
They have the potential to damage our beloved Club,our beloved culture.
You know,mate.I used to be the go-to guy to defend our Club from the majority huns with whom I studied.
I find it inconceivable that I have to defend our Celtic from the jibes of our fellow Celtic supporters.
Celtic.
No factions.No divisions.No ulterior motives.
Just Celtic.
That`s the team for me.
And mine.
Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
Amen.
Hope the Latin ain`t offensive.
Based on assuming Ajax wont be chucking long balls in to our box, but will attack us on the deck at speed – I will go;
Gordon
Janko
Lustig
Simunovic
Izaguirre
Brown
Biton
Johanson
(as a midfield bank of 3 not a 2 then 1)
Commons
Forrest
Griff.
A concern is the complete lack of any support for the full backs – but Biton or Brown playing with the support of Johanson will allow them to move wider when needed.
Will need the lungs of Brown or Johanson to push forward when appropriate – taking turns if necessary.
OWEN
Excellent comparison,mate.
The second point is the relish with which some of our own picked up on the story and used it as a stick to beat Celtic with. Any negative story is lapped up, while positive stories are derided as “board propaganda ” or attempts to “deny and deflect”.
============
Owen
I think the issue was the Supporters Liason Officer refusing to give a simple yes or no to the question asked of him. Instead of a stick to beat Celtic with…. I think *everyone* is hoping this story disappears asap.
This should have been dealt with discretely but sending letters to supporters because they sit in the vicinity is humiliating and makes it a story. In the age of social media it beggars belief but it could all be clarified by a simple denial, which has not been forthcoming…
HH
Scanned the rags in Morrisons, 7 lifted and charged for the hun fraud case.The DR decided to major on one of the minor players in this pantomime,Imran Ahmed.Not Charles Green,not Craig Whyte.It couldn’t possibly to do with Ahmed’s assertion,that religious bigotry was rife inside Ibrox ? Or alleging a very unhealthy alliance between the huns and Police Scotland? Could it ?
EYES WIDE OPEN. Lustig at centre back would be a risk as he is carrying an injury and could break down at anytime.I think we will go with Boyata and I hope he improves. I honestly think a great result tonight would be a draw we are poor in Europe why that should be I do not know .H.H.
—————————Leigh
————————–Commons
——–Brown——–Johansen———–Biton
Izzy——————————————————–Janko
—————-Blackett—–Boyata——Lustig
——————————Gordon
It would probably do us some good to have Lustig next to inexperienced players. Two narrow banks of four is probably my preferred formation. None of our wingers are playing well enough to merit a start. I’d use Forrest as an impact sub.
—————————-Leigh
————————Commons
Johansen—-Rogic———-Biton—-Brown
Izzy———-Boyata———-Lustig—-Janko
—————————-Gordon
Quite optimistic. Ajax are no better than us.
Attack!
Talk of a crisis is ridiculous. That said, the players owe our magnificent travelling support and the rest of us.
Blackett has a lot to prove to be a first choice LB ,in a game like this IMO.Izzy a convenient whipping boy for some.
Paul67
I think this one goes into the ‘being hopeful of getting a result. Still we usually perform better when we have been written. Difficult one for Ronnie tonight does he go with the new boy and hope his presence tightens things up or decide it is too soon for him. Personally I would give him the shout and see what he is made off.
Is it really that long ago that Ajax game! I remember watching it in Santa Ponsa on holiday
Juventus showed the way to do it against Man City. I know we dont have anywhere near the resources they have but tactically they were spot on. Two up front when they were on the break with the same two tracking back most of the game.
HH
In Scotland it is said that Celtic fail in Europe because the league we play in is not competitive enough.In England they are now saying their failure in Europe is because their league is too competitive.
I give up.
Eriic Murphy
The Doghouse in Balloch is usually ok.
Not sure if showing the game though.
01389 607300 phone
On the Main Road.
Paul67
Hope we do get a result, all those who travel over to play Ajax and put up with their scum fans deserve at the very least a positive result and performance.
Stay safe anyone who is out there.
Can’t see anything other than another poor performance and a 2-0 / 3-0 defeat.
Delighted to be proved wrong.
traditionalist88 on 17th September 2015 1:14 pm
No letters were sent.
Probably best for our supporters to leave the Palestine flags at home for this one.
For tonight i would go with:
Gordon
Lustig Boyata Simunovic Izzy
Bitton Brown
Forrest Johansen Commons
Griffiths
Lustig has to play at right back and not centre half as he rarely completes 90 mins.
Simunovic has to play, not keen on Boyata but it’s either him or Efe!
Don’t expect Commons to Start but GMS has been poor for weeks now, so he deserves a chance.
Griffiths is our best hope of a goal so he must start.
Not confident, but hope we can start to turn the corner with a decent performance, we have to start somewhere.