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06 Nov 2013 23:49:37
Ps Ed . prepare for the msm onslought about the trouble caused by our fans, I might be wrong, but me thinks they will have a field day . {Ed007's Note - Simplest solution is not to read them. We all know they are still hurting over their favourite paymasters going down the cludgie.}
06 Nov 2013 23:24:08
P!sh poor performance from midfield to strikers and manager! Back 5 were magnificent! Mulgrew mooched about and was there or there abouts, kayal got going in the second half. Samaras, Forrest ( as usual!) and Commons were rotten and stokes had no service! This brings me to the manager. Why take kayal off when he was coming into the game? Why persist with Samaras, commons and Forrest? Why take off stokes, who was devoid of service from afore mentioned? You have a striker who has two wingers and a guy playing behind him who are supposed to supply him with passes were he might score from, but didn't do this. So what does NL do? Takes off the striker! Total joke! I've heard guys on here talking about NL having favourites and I dismissed it, but now I know he has.
Briggs
Couldn`t agree more more Briggs, thought Stokes was only fully fit player out of the front 4, we all no he needs someone [playing up top along side him.
Bad performance, but why the Forrest hate again, tell me why does Stokes have a bad game because as you put it he had no service? Forrest who like stokes hardly saw the ball has a nightmare? Forrest for me looked bright on the very few occasions he got supply. The biggest miss last night was a creative CM, no one can score without any service
Dannybhoy
06 Nov 2013 23:23:02
We are bottom of the group on (de-)merit and in all honesty will probably stay bottom after 6 games.
A wake up call perhaps to the Board for selling our best players (Forster and VVD will probably be next) and replacing them with sub standard journeymen;
to the manager whose blind faith in Samaras and Forrest leaves us short and very exposed and finally to supporters that the proud European reputation is over. Obviously I am angry, but we are slipping fast.
All season we have lacked goals and have been inconsistent from game to game where we NEVER keep a clean sheet against ANY opposition.
We know we have very little flair or creative players, but most of the guys did not even have the basics!
Ball control, passing, shooting and set-plays were all of a very poor standard - and this was not a one-off.
Van Diijk, Ambrose and especially Lustig were by far our best players and that tells it's own story.
The attitude and application from the KO was half hearted and although Ajax are technically excellent, they have no stand-out stars like other CL teams.
The difference was the the way they played the game the way it should be played - The way Celtic teams have always tried to play since I was a boy.
Ask yourself this also:- When was the last time you actually left a game and enjoyed how we played the game or dominated with style and a few goals?
In a league with no main rival I think our standards are definitely dropping at all levels of the club.
Finally a word for our Captain who's absence through sheer folly also contributed to our lack of drive and commitment in such an important night for Celtic.
Jungle Jim
I agree to a certain extent, but if no service is provided, you can't blame the forward player. We were pi5h poor tonight and blaming Forrest only is out of order. Players were played when not fit, a gamble that never paid off. {Ed007's Note - I don't think it's fair to single out any player in particular. Forster, Ambrose, Lustig and van Dijk were the only pass marks IMO. For whatever reason the rest of the team were very average.}
Have to agree with almost everything you say JJ, really felt positive before game but looked like 3 or 4 players were less than 70% fit. This seems to be a bit of a flaw in Lennys management, think sometimes he's just loyal to his favorite players. Might be we`ve not got the strength in depth to step up but we really should`ve been giving squad players more game time. can't believe with Brown missing he left a natural CM Ledley on bench in favour of teachers pet Mulgrew. Totally agree with you on best players, 3 defenders, tells its own story
I mentioned Samaras AND Forrest and could have went on but the midfield and forward line had been mentioned by other posters and I only mentioned those two because Samaras makes a nervy Izzaguire's job more difficult and Forrest was wandering around looking at the bench for clues for 25 minutes.
Sorry Ed am no a happy Tim and just noticed they wonkers on SLY are headlining 15 Celtic fans arrested when it should have been hauf the team and the management!
JJ {Ed007's Note - A whole 15!!! Has the UN been alerted to this? Relax, the truth will come out, just like it did in Vigo.}
Spot on Jim.
My cousin put it to me that we have a champions league defense, a europa league midfield, and an SPL attack.
Last game I was relatively certain of scoring a goal was last season.
The tactical display in the first half was the pits. We settled for (or aimed for) 20% possession in Europe under Strachan in away games. It might have been a viable game plan then, but after 22/24 attempts who can doubt that the Celtic way is best. What would Jock have said at half time ('I quit'?)
rabbie
06 Nov 2013 23:22:33
Forster
Lustig Ambrose Vvd Mulgrew
Mcgeoch. Brown. Kayal. Ledley.
Commons. Stokes.
Bench .
Zaluska
James f. Izzy. Sammy. Pukki. Borrichter. Fisher. Balde.
My starting eleven for the weekend . I normally don't mind a dropped point before or after cl games but the fans deserve a performance after that tonight. I await the backlash lol gnight
06 Nov 2013 23:15:03
From a layman, Coaching our team, No 1 try making a throw in go to 1 of our players, 2 pass to a team mate instead of walking into opposition player, 3 stop humping it, 4 don't play unfit players (big fan but commons looked well off the pace) 5 don't commit 3/4 players in their final 3rd when they are obv trying to entice you in there only to cut you open, 6 why wait till we a goal down to pick up the pace, 7 if opposition dominating game back off and hit on counter, I sure there more and I not a pro. Come on guys learn from this, Ajax are not a top side we must be able to find weakneses and exploit them better.
06 Nov 2013 22:44:34
Just finished watching that gutless and heartless display from us tonight. Wholly unacceptable on any level and only Van Dijk and Lustig are exempt from criticism. We look clueless and lack belief. We have no ambition away in Europe and look happy just to be there. No wonder we get patronised by Europes elite. We are simply no threat to them.
Watching us away in Europe over the last ten years with one exception is an unedifying spectacle. At least we used to look dangerous and were unlucky on a few occasions, bad refereeing decisions too. However, be under no illusion this is a poor Ajax team who were there for the taking. What did we create in the last 20 mins when we vitally required a goal? Absolutely nothing. Who's to blame for this? The board for being seemingly happy to take the champions league money and simply make up the numbers at Europes top table? Lennon? Our manager seems unable to inspire the team when we need him the most and has no plan B away from home when we inevitably fall behind.
The thousands who travel to watch us simply better than what is currently on offer. The prosaic performance served up tonight is completely unacceptable and is a very slamming indictment on the still plumetting state of Scottish football if that's the best the country's champions can offer.
Very poor and hard to take.
Brilliant post couldn't agree more. Was going to post very similar but no need to you've summed it up about right, you should pass your post onto the CFC board, i'm sure it sums up every CFC supporters thoughts. p.s when talking so much sense put a name to your posts.Stevie
Sorry Stevie I realised I wasn't logged on after posting and sent my name in to our beleaguered Ed shortly after. Thanks mate
06 Nov 2013 23:14:09
Well said jimdhoc you have a name now . A small blunder they're ed? lol . Stevie {Ed007's Note - It wasn't my fault lol.}
The board have been conning us from the moment they sold our best players. they are happy just reaching the cl which we were lucky to do against mediocre teams.i would get rid of samaras and esp Forrest 4 games a season doesn't merit a Celtic strip.bring in quality.the board don't listen.ajw
07 Nov 2013 00:08:45
I don't Ed, I get my info from Celtic rumours now, and this site, I'm off to bed speak again tomorrow, cheers . {Ed007's Note - Night mate, take care.}
06 Nov 2013 22:21:04
I'm not going to linger on the game tonight, we all saw it.What worries me more is the difference in the styles of the two teams. Ajax had a very young team out there, more so in the CL, but outplayed and out thought us all night.Their touch and movement was excellent all over the pitch.This must lead to the question of just what do we do in training?
This is not the first time this has happened to us, and not just by the top class teams either.So many of these teams never change their shape unless injuries or suspension force it, and even then it is a last resort.Is this why so many teams look so comfortable on the ball against us? Right now we seem to take up to four touches before we think what we will do with the ball.
Sammi, Forrest and Commons were our out ball players.Three players you might have trusted to do the basics, control the ball and move us forward. Sadly we had three empty shirts out there.When you throw Stokes in to the mix you really feel for the players who earned their wages.Kayal done okay, that feckin shot apart.Charlie worked hard and was above average and Forster was pretty comfortable.But for me the whole back four were the only plus point.
Lustig ran his guts out and fought for everything.Izzy had zero support from Sammi and was hard worked but stuck at it. Efie was excellent and Virgil maybe better. The killer is, as in Milan, we could have gotten a result.Pre game Lenny claimed some players should go and show what they have.Well he watched the same game as us.
GJ sorry I only read your first paragraph. (The rest probs makes sense anyway.)
But it's probably all that I or anybody else possibly needs to read!
The Dutch, Germans and possibly the Belgians to an extent have took a proper "time out" to re evaluate from grassroots to top tier football.
I'm murder for time, but I would guess they have lost 6/7yrs on restructure to maybe be ahead of the game by another 8/10yrs?!
I coach kids 7s leading to 11s and its a raw debate, we go to classes and seminars, the SFA and SYFA are blinkered in their approach to the game in scotland (and from what I can make out, England's FA aswell)
Anyway it showed.
Bigbadjohn
I agree with you about Ajax, to say they are sh*t is sh*t. They pass the ball better and can keep possession. Yes, they lack a goalscorer and experience maybe but they will improve if they are kept together.
Virgil aside, I just find the summer signings beyond frustrating and do not understand it. The balance sheet looks a lovely wee picture, beautiful but can it play Centre Forward?
Virgil, you have no idea how pleased I am about him. We sort that back at the expense of the front, is that how it works now?
We lacked confidence and belief, when Sammy's head is down like that - get him off! He's nae use when that attitude kicks in. Stokes was isolated and thought Forrest could have taken his chances better. 2 goals in the Champions League groups stages - a penalty and a deflection.
06 Nov 2013 22:20:04
Surely now the board will spend good money on a proven goal scorer in January. Top marks to Kayal and Lustic. I sometimes feel that Forrest is a selfish player. Rather than pass the ball he tries to score when another player is in a better position to do so. Julieghirl
Simply can`t see any spending in Jan, if out of Europe. Board won`t see any reason to and we do not tend to plan ahead, except to buy "potential" that rarely sees the first team. Sorry to sound so cynical but we have seen it all before, sadly far too often.
chasaboy
I agree with julieghirl, money has to be spent, but for me it has to be on a new manager.The guy, i'm sorry to say has absolutely no tactical ability whatsoever.The number of times I've tried to workout what way we are supposed to be playing has me completely stumped.As for tonight, where does one start, any manager who gives the captaincy to samaras leaves a lot be desired, the guy can't even motivate himself let alone the team and how he merited 90 minutes is quite baffling as was his blue eyed boy forrest, anyway everything else regarding tonight has already been said in earlier posts (new manager please and soon)jimbhoy.
06 Nov 2013 22:11:24
Evening Ed007, poor performance, for me the lack of technical ability from midfield to the so called strikers beggars belief at times ( most times ) did'nt get taken to any heights so it lessons the come down, In years gone by teams scoring one would'nt have caused as much concern because we would score two or more, you can't tell me the board and scouts don't see these problems too, the january window is now a major for me if we want to win the scottish cup, cm and striker please santa . {Ed007's Note - It was a very poor performance mate.}
06 Nov 2013 22:44:07
Simply put and corret as usuall Ed .
06 Nov 2013 22:04:39
Hi guys
Views on tactics tonight lennon said he would press the ball well I must have been watching a diffrent game thought we sat back and let them attack at every every opportunity. Why no change things early in the 2nd half before we go a goal down. Only my opinion but got what we deserved nothing.
Morgan
06 Nov 2013 21:58:07
Must beat Milan and then take a point off of Barca to stay in with a shout of qualification for the Last 16. Got to hope Barca win in Amsterdam and then Ajax and Milan draw at the San Siro on Matchday 6.
I fear Champions League is out of the question, but if we can beat Milan we can stay in Europe.
06 Nov 2013 21:55:52
Very poor display against a reasonably good passing team. Very flat footed throughout, never won any second balls or third or fourth for that matter. Pass marks to VVD, Kayal and Lustig. Izzy should NEVER play LB again, only further up, if ever. Still waiting for Forrest to start and thought Lennon took too long to try any changes. 54 mins for first shot at goal is shocking and probably tata europe for this year. Simply not good enough to compete at this level, at present. Just my opinion.
chasaboy
06 Nov 2013 21:54:05
Forster - good - 7.5/10
Lustig - good 7/10
Izaguirre - average - 5.5/10
Kayal - not good enough 3/10
Ambrose - OK 6/10
van Dijk - great - 8/10
Forrest - give him the ball 6/10
Mulgrew - good 7/10
Stokes - not good enough 4/10
Commons - not his best game 5/10
Samaras - terrible game 2/10
06 Nov 2013 21:53:46
Poor, very poor. Sammy didn't win a header all night. Whole midfield a mile off the pace. No striker as Stokes spent his whole game at right wing. VVD and Lustig only passes for me.
We buy Boerrigter, Pukki and Balde in the summer, but they are only good enough to get 10 minutes or so at the end of a game!?!
Joeshmo1888
06 Nov 2013 21:52:30
Sammy is an impact player should have been off after 15 min wee forrest stokes poor we jut do not have it at this level against a team who have not won a game for a year in cl and no clean sheets in cl 11 games
06 Nov 2013 21:48:39
See that f#�n samaras btw! Wit ah waste of ah player on the field! Think we've all praised him over the last year or 2 but tonight took the pure pi£h. never trakd bk. never won the ball. Wit does he say in the HUDDLE? Tawk aboot perfume and conditioners? because its ah dif team ah see when broony gets them fired up in the huddle!. Ah ken am fuming just now and I am proud of the BHOYS but c'mon this was OUR TIME to prove ah point! . Wit u fink EDO?
Chris1888 {Ed007's Note - I don't think the blame can all be laid at Samaras feet but you're spot on that we do miss Brown any time he isn't playing.}
06 Nov 2013 21:46:18
What a night for half a team not to show up. Why were Sam and Commons on the park? no where near fit. Van Dijk and Lustig outstanding and stopped us getting a gubbing off a poor Ajax side.Stevie
06 Nov 2013 21:43:30
Not good enough from Celtic tonight, yes Ajax played very well going forward, but looked vulnerable in defence, Samaras was awfull tonight, back to how bad he was 2 years ago.
Kayal worked hard but that chance he had when through on the keeper was just complete sh@te.
Lennon has to get tough with some of these guys fundamental passing errors.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and that is mine.
Tried to post earlier that Sammy should be a impact player from the bench you know within 10 mins if he is up for it stokes too slow at this level vvd, lustic and izzy only pass marks we are short at this level Charlie a yard slow at the lead up to the goal we just do not have the players to win away from home as our record shows
06 Nov 2013 21:41:07
Why does Lennon constantly play stokes in the CL? He is not good enough! How can we score goals in the elite competition with an spl striker? Every time big sammy is captain its like the pressure gets to him and plays rubbish! Vvd and lustig were outstanding and kayal had a good game but we were pathetic first half and had a decent 20 mins in the second half! Long ball game and no balde what's the point in playing long ball with stokes leading the line? Laughable!
SOS BHOY
1: Lennon doesn't play Stokes Constantly in CL lol.
2: We only have SPL class strikers! So unless you mean try something else and it worked? Then these guys would have been top class? If stokes had scored you would have said different!
There's problems all over.
Bigbadjohn
06 Nov 2013 20:35:57
All a bit frantic so far, Ajax dominating possession.
We need to try and keep the ball and get Forrest on the ball.
Lost Bhoy 50
06 Nov 2013 19:08:30
@(1), johnboy I was born there and left in my early teens, loved it, playing on the red ash pitches I often wonder if any the good players ever made it ( arnie ) was a goalkeeper thought he had every chance a lot of great memories came flooding back bud . sigh! anyway just settling down for the game we play to our potential . 3-1 c'mon the hoops yeehaagh.
.
Sorry Ths. Shouldn't go on hearsay. Anyway half time and no harm done. Maybe second half.
06 Nov 2013 22:23:55
@ Johnbhoy, there was trouble if you wanted it, I just mastered the art of avoiding it lol
06 Nov 2013 18:16:06
For me 4-5-1:
Usual goalie and back four.
Forrest kayal commons mulgrew samaras
Stokes
06 Nov 2013 17:45:46
Has anyone got a link for the match tonight?
Mon the hoops
Cheers
Henriks Tongue
06 Nov 2013 15:27:49
Maybe I am totally out of touch but for years my opinion is extremely simple. If an individual or groups of the same, commit acts against the law then they have committed a crime. If that same individual or group are registered under the name of a club then there may be some acceptance of liability by the club. Groups. gangs etc who are not registered with the club or international associations who commit crimes should be held accountable by that legal system. The clubs should not be penalised. Basically if FIFA/UEFA have the guts to lay down specific requirements and the clubs meet those then they cannot punish associate members who comply. Not that I would but what is to stop me turning up at Firhill, wearing all the local supporters gear and causing a riot ( I would have used the sevco analogy but tghey are too sensitive).Is that Thistles fault or mine as an individual criminal? Fed up hearing of this andthat club supporters doing this and . Set the rules, if complied with then its a social problem not the easy target like the football club
Hail. Hail.
06 Nov 2013 15:23:17
Champions League night again folks! After a pretty lazy performance at the weekend, although fair play to Utd who always tried to play, we need to start well tonight
Listening to Lenny he seems to be in a very positive place and seems to be keen on taking the game to Ajax.Good idea? It would appear Ajax are low on confidence and goals, so an early loss could be a real problem for them and turn their fans against them.
As always the team will be the key.I thought Lenny might have gave Commons a run out before tonight, will he last the ninety minutes?, as I don't see any shocks in the starting eleven. Will Stokes start and How many in midfield seem to be the major questions. Brown is a big miss in a game like this so can Kayal step in? Big chance for him to recapture his early form for us.I see him beside Mulgrew, who might be a key man here, in front of the back four.
On Charlie, if we can isolate Sammi and Forrest Charlie could be key with a big switch from defence for them to run on to, in a straight race you would fancy their chances one on one.So for me it's;
Forster
-Lustig----Efie-----Virgil------Izzy
------Kayal----------Mulgrew
Forest-----Commons------Ledley
Sammi
06 Nov 2013 13:43:37
Make or break for us in my eyes 2nite, 3 points if we want to make the last 16.
Team selection I would go with:
Forster, Lustig, Ambrose, Van Dijk, Izzy, Forrest, Kayal, Mulgrew, Commons, Borreighter, Samaras
I would go for this line up, I think its time for derek to stand up and if can't do it against a team he wants to prove himself, he will never do it! Away from home in Europe its better to play 1 up top and have Stokes and Pukki as impact subs
I hope Commons is fit as he makes a big difference - especially in the CL.
We have struggled for goals all season although we are creating plenty chances so hopefully things will start to 'click' in front of goal soon and tonight would be ideal.
I am not as confident as a few of the guys on here as we struggle to keep clean sheets in all our games so I would be delighted with a draw.
JJ
It's not make or break. A draw does us also, keeping Ajax last. Then we go into Milan game knowing a win puts us second place.
I think it will be a draw. If Ajax lose I don't think De Boer has long for that club. He changes his team a lot trying To find his best 11. No wins in Europe, sixth in domestic league and not knowing his first 11. Celtic have a great chance.
ANTHONY for Derk and I'd go for that team.
Have to find place for Ledley in team. Without Brown I think he could be massive for us.
06 Nov 2013 11:38:02
Morning Ed007, saddened reading a story celtic fans being attacked in an amsterdam pub, the authorities need to com e down hard on these individuals also any damage caused in the stadiums whether it be our supporters or any other set of fans anywhere the culprits must be hammered not the clubs, they hide behind the clubs in my opinion, I'm not one of the pc brigade, i'd take their passports, season tickets if any, we need to feel safe going to games, I would love to take my grandkids to more away games, unfortunately I was the biggest coward to ever walk the streets of Easterhouse and the safety thing I have tried to install in my kids seems to have fallen on deaf ears ( I'm just an old fool say them ) anyhoo off out., maybe I should change my login to Rev.I.Am.Jolly lol
Ths. you were braver than me just walking the streets in Easterhouse
06 Nov 2013 08:38:55
Everyone stay in large groups today in the dam. Was in old sailor bar last night when they attacked woman & older men sitting at the front of bar. They came out of nowhere with bats etc. stay safe and let's get that 3 points. Hail hail.
06 Nov 2013 10:00:04
Woke up with a good feeling about the match tonite and a pixies song in my head. Hope you all have a blast in the 'dam.
Tog bog e
Ajax 0 Celtic 2