Champions League Dortmund V Celtic Tuesday October 1st kick off 8PM TNT Sports

Referee for tonight has dished out 62 yellows and 4 reds in his last 10 games

José María Sánchez Martínez Referee Statistics (whoscored.com)

 

Hope he sends off 4 of dortmunds in the first half

 

A barometer of what though? Apart from 3 peaks in 2013, 2016 and 2019, the "winnable" ties are the kinds of ties we've really struggled in ever since Strachan left. If we can win those ties, that will be a barometer of real progress. It will show a genuine step forward.

The problem with using the likes of Dortmund and Atalanta as a barometer is that it only allows a 1-way inference. If we do manage to be competitive, then that absolutely will show a quite bonkers level of progress in an insanely short time; but a failure to be competitive will not show the opposite. It is entirely plausible that Dortmund will give us the same sort of doing they would have given last year's side; but that won't change the fact that this year's side is clearly much better than last year's.

One way to see this is to think about our home games against Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donestk. The draw in the latter game showed far more clearly the real limitations of Ange's team than the predictable and expected defeat in the former.

An analogy:

You might be stronger than me, but you're going to lose a tug of war with a power lifter just as quickly as I am. The way to see you are stronger is to watch how different our results are when we both try to compete against ordinary gym bros: you will be competitive and I won't.

 

Ali Johnston can be a bit over talkative at times.

 

stuck a fiver on a player to be sent off after reading that

 

If we were to be defeated then losing say 2-1 would be considered a decent sign of progress at this level and confidence would remain. Again, a draw against last years beaten finalists in their formidable ground is an incredible achievement.

 

Seems a bit of a home team referee, his last 17 games he's gave the home team 5 penalties and 2 reds and the away team 1 penalty and 5 reds although overall he has gave more bookings to the home team.

Maybe one of them who gives less wee decisions to the home team, like i'll not be swayed by the atmosphere and fans but then caves in to the big decisions.

 

One surefire way to ruin a good game of football is a whistle/card happy ref who tries to steal the limelight. We've had a few in Europe over the years and this actual ref red carded Bayo against Rennes back in 2019.

Hope to * he doesn't become the talking point of the game.

 

Cannot * wait.

 

I think there will be goals in this one and could see a 2-2 or maybe 3-2 to us.

 

16 goals in 3 games and dortmund leaking 7 goals in 2 games.. tiocfaidh ar la.. and also happy birthday to wee jinky who's 80 today

 

4 penalties in his 6 games so far this season as well.

 

As good as we've been, I think we'll lose tonight. It's a whole different level of opposition

 

It read to me like it was the home teams he awarded more pens against recently.

 

That ref's stats give me the fear. But must say i am quite confident that we can get something here. Lets just play the way we play. dont change things up.

 

All of that is fine, as long as people don't go all negative and critical if it all ends in tears tonight. You must admit that that's a thing we are prone to doing.

I'm loving this style of football and I think we're heading in absolutely the right direction. Nothing that happens tonight will change my mind on that.

 

You win this round, Dutch.