A lot of work in margins needed before Malmo

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Malmo’s season started well. They were undefeated in their first eight games, recording wins against current league leaders, Gothenburg, and recent champions, Helsingborg, as well as a 2-2 draw at Elfsborg, but form soon slumped.

They’ve only recorded back to back wins in the league once since. Wednesday’s 3-0 over Salzburg is by some measure their best result of the season. Right now, there will be a lot of football fans in Austria wondering how on earth Salzburg are out of the Champions League. There’s a fair chance there’s just as many fans in Sweden wondering how Malmo remain in the competition, but there are clues.

Salzburg lost narrowly to Rapid Vienna days before the capitulation in Sweden, the second reversal in two league games this season. They beat a team from a regional league in the cup (0-7) but that and the 2-0 win over Malmo is the only positives in an early season full of panic.

Preseason friendlies are not to be regarded as an indication of anything, but home win over a weak-looking Southampton was the only friendly in which they avoided defeat in four attempts. At most this indicates their fitness was behind the curve.

The most telling inferences from all of these stats is that the margins between success and failure for Malmo, Salzburg, and Celtic, are tight. We could and should have beaten Maribor a year ago. Dedryck Boyata’s late goal against Qarabag transpired to be all that separated us from them. We are looking fit, and organised, but you and I both know we’ve yet to spark up front. We have a lot of work to do in the margins before the end of the month.

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663 Comments

  1. I think we could see Stokesy teaming up with Kris Commons today with Leigh and Nadir out. Scepovic carries no goal threat but could also come into the team.

  2. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar...... Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    Hello, Hebcelt …… How the devil are you, oh ‘massive’ Celtic Supporter….

  3. My friends in Celtic,

     

     

    “Rangers” Sevco or whatever will be back in direct competition to us at some stage. I understand this, although I struggle to accept it. We must and will be ready to meet this poisoned chalice.

     

     

    I do not fathom this renewed discussion.

     

     

    The full page advert in a national newspaper unambiguously stated our position perfectly.

     

     

    Nothing has changed and the advert is as relevant today as when it was published.

     

     

    HH.

  4. GRAFFITIONTHEWALL @ 10:46,

     

     

    Very likely, though I’m older than you. Think you’d be in my brother’s class, pretty sure that was the year he started.

     

     

    He has the same name as an Ex-CQNer from the Goldcoast.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  5. Is Leigh definitely out for today or is it just conjecture. Can’t see Ronny playing Stokesy under any circumstance, if he does play and has a stormer how could he justify letting him go.

  6. mighty tim supporting wee Oscar on

    Corkcelt/thomthetim I think banking was making reference to a poster who just came on as a grey cloud more than certain banking knows the proper words bhoys.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    KTF

     

     

    Utlr

  7. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Paddymacoz, the royal family link and the reserved occupation one really annoys the sticky buns when you tell them that.

     

     

    I know 3 rangers (il) fans who refer to themselves as huns.

     

     

    Off to FIRHILL to hopefully beat the Maryhill Magyars

  8. GRAFFITIONTHEWALL on

    CHAIRBHOY on 9TH AUGUST 2015 11:00 AM

     

    GRAFFITIONTHEWALL @ 10:46,

     

     

     

     

     

    Very likely, though I’m older than you. Think you’d be in my brother’s class, pretty sure that was the year he started.

     

     

     

     

     

    He has the same name as an Ex-CQNer from the Goldcoast.

     

     

     

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

    ——————————

     

     

    You might have been in the same year as my older brother ……… Starting year of 1966/67

  9. GRAFFITIONTHEWALL @ 11:04,

     

     

    That sounds about right, I’m sure I’d know him.

     

     

    As I didn’t go to St Margret’s I didn’t keep in touch with anyone. Shame really.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  10. Offski to 11.30 Mass for me, grab a takeaway dinner from the Deli after and home for kick off. Will record it as well in case the priest doesn’t know the kick off time.

     

    Catch up with ye rascals later on Live Updates thread.

  11. The conundrum of whether to rest players again.

     

    I wanted us to do it last season v Inverness as so much was riding on the European qualifier.

     

    Same again this year!

     

    Id like to think a few of the guys on the bench would still provide a strong team…..Efe in for Virgil and Fisher/Janko in for Lustig or perhaps both with Janko replacing GMS further forward.

     

    KC in from the start as well.

     

    We have a few good options but would it mean too many changes?

  12. Collins rues rivals lack of class. ” No disrespect to the other Scottish teams but they’re not clever enough players or quick enough thinkers to punish us”. I hope that comment doesn’t come back to bite him.

  13. Hi, looking for a bit of help regarding watching game against Malmo. Going to Psaldi in Kos next Saturday, anyone advise where I can watch the game?

     

    Hail hail

  14. Dallas Dallas W T H IDallas

     

     

    Cheers mate.enjoy the game.I’ll be watching on the couch here in Oz.HH

  15. Hebcelt Dallas,

     

    Many thanks ghuys, will check those out. Here’s to a good game and great result, hopefully.

     

    HH

  16. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar...... Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    OOOPS …….. Re-named, CELTIC

  17. embramike says "the Huns are Deid" on

    Celtic team v Partick Thistle – ko 12:30 – live on BT Sport 1

     

     

    Celtic Football Club ‏@celticfc 42s43 seconds ago

     

     

    Celtic team to play @ThistleTweet : Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, van Dijk, Izaguirre; Bitton, Johansen; Commons, Rogic, Armstrong; Griffiths (

  18. After a great result in a midweek European away tie, I’ll be happy with any victory today.

     

     

    Come On The Mighty Hoops.

  19. embramike says "the Huns are Deid" on

    Celtic Football Club ‏@celticfc 44s44 seconds ago

     

     

    Subs: Bailly, Ambrose, Scepovic, Mackay-Steven, Janko, McGregor, Henderson.

  20. HAVE WE GOT 3 LEAGUE MATCHES BETWEEN NOW AND MALMO GAME ?

     

     

    why “rest” players today ?

     

     

    by all means use the squad and get players fit.

     

     

    but, “rest” players for a game thats 9 days away and we have 3 fixtures in between.

     

     

    just go win celtic, please.

  21. embramike says "the Huns are Deid" on

    Celtic team v Partick Thistle – ko 12:30 – live on BT Sport 1

     

     

    Celtic Football Club ‏@celticfc 42s43 seconds ago

     

     

    Celtic team to play @ThistleTweet : Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, van Dijk, Izaguirre; Bitton, Johansen; Commons, Rogic, Armstrong; Griffiths

     

     

    Subs: Bailly, Ambrose, Scepovic, Mackay-Steven, Janko, McGregor, Henderson –

     

     

    Broony, GMS, Forrest rested – Commons , Rogic start

  22. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar...... Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    For inside that grim building

  23. No Broony? I bet he’s not too happy about that. Griffiths must be fully fit to start, can’t see a gamble there.

     

     

    Be interested to see how Rogic looks today.

  24. thats a strong team, hoping for a commons/griff finishing class.

     

     

    i think it will be tight.

     

     

    patrick 0 celtic 6.

  25. embramike says "the Huns are Deid" on

    Sure I read mid week that Broony has a tight hamstring so not taking any chances. His general fitness is never an issue.

     

     

    Also Mulgrew is not ready yet with a tight groin, and GMS was knackered (technical term) after Wednesday night.

     

     

    Rotating the squad and giving players match time might be necessary for fixture load at home and Europe

  26. Big Georges Fan Club - Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar on

    Hello this is WEE BGFC. We have a spare child ticket for today if anybody needs. Mon the Hoops!!!!!!!

     

     

    HH

     

    WEE BGFC

  27. 4 games in ten days, do the authorities know about this, and should we not ask for the fixtures to be postponed till the end of the season ………… ask ally ………… aye no ready.

     

     

    Partick Thistle v Celtic Sun 9 Aug 12:30

     

    Kilmarnock v Celtic Wed 12 Aug 19:45

     

    Celtic v Inverness CT Sat 15 Aug 15:00

     

    Celtic v Malmö FF Wed 19 Aug 19:45

     

     

    success breeds success.

  28. Andrew Kerins Green and White Army on

    Great opportunity for tom rogic as other quicker fingered posters have stated hope he grabs it with both feet

  29. St Stivs

     

     

    Oops!

     

     

    In a timewarp here!

     

     

    Keep thinking we are in Europe again this week….been picked up for it a few times already at work!

  30. Lennon n Mc....Mjallby on

    Saint Stivs

     

     

    Don’t be under the illusion that you need to be somehow ‘talented’ to play a musical instrument,you don’t,at all but what you do need after you’ve picked your weapon of choice is dedication to learn and practice,nobody is born with musical talent,it’s something you have to work hard at and develop a passion for which comes with and is enhanced by all the wee victories you have in the learning process.

     

     

    You’re never too old and you’re never not talented enough,try it.

     

     

    HH

  31. cheers lennon, ta for that sound advice, and steady hand,

     

     

    now where did i put my tuba.