AIK came through a tense final few moments in a 1-1 draw with Moldovans Sheriff in Stockholm last night to face Celtic in the Europa League playoff round, the first leg is in Glasgow on Thursday.
AIK were bottom seed in the Champions League first qualifying round, where they overcame Ararat-Armenia 4-3 on aggregate, but were bottom of the unseeded pack for the second round, which they lost 4-3 to Maribor. Maribor were beaten home and away by Rosenborg in the last round.
Last season AIK eliminated Shamrock Rovers from the Europa League qualifiers before losing home and away to Danes, Nordsjaelland.
Neil Lennon twice faced Swedish opposition in Champions League qualifiers in his first term at Celtic. Two comfortable 2-0 wins over Helsingborg in 2012 were followed by a more testing examination by Mo Bangura-inspired Elfsborg a year later, which resulted in a 1-0 aggregate win for Celtic.
Ronny Deila needed to overcome Malmo to reach the Champions League group stage in 2015 but despite racing into an early 2-0 lead, the first leg at Celtic Park was turned on its head when Malmo scored an added-time goal to make it 3-2. Jo Inge Berget, who Ronny had on loan months earlier, scored both Malmo goals. The Swedes won 2-0 a week later to knock Celtic out.
Although AIK are 19 games into their domestic league campaign, there should be a negligible gap in fitness by the time we face them on Thursday. There can be no excuses.
You and I were there in the dark summer of 2010, when Utrecht and Braga were the last teams to deny Celtic group stage football, and a year later, when Sion came within a CAS ruling of doing the same. It took Neil time to get it right, but a year later he earned 10 points in a tough Champions League group.
Before AIK, we have the small matter of a League Cup to defend against Dunfermline at Celtic Park tomorrow. Celtic have won a record 27 consecutive domestic cup games. Avoid defeat tomorrow and we set an unbeaten record. Let’s hope Dunfermline feel a backlash.
522 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- »
James hang on a second mate, up to last Tuesday you were a happy bunny, you were pleasantly surprised by Lenny;s progress and were almost apologetic for having a go prior to his appointment.
On our first 7 games we were all purring, none of us saw Tuesday coming. Now whether Tuesday was a freak or a sign of things to come nobody can say for certain.
I’m hopeful it was a freakish result but we are all extremely clever with the benefit of hindsight. We will all be a lot wiser after net 5 games.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 16TH AUGUST 2019 11:19 PM
Brendan Rodgers survived playing Callum at LB
……………………
He wouldn’t have survived doing it twice with the same outcome. Neither will Neil Lennon.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 16TH AUGUST 2019 11:19 PM
Brendan Rodgers survived playing Callum at LB
——-
Calum McGregor played 60 minutes of a Cup Final at Hampden against Aberdeen when we were going for an Invincible Treble. Don’t you remember the summer of outrage afterwards??
** at left back
CORKCELT on 16TH AUGUST 2019 11:20 PM
James hang on a second mate, up to last Tuesday you were a happy bunny, you were pleasantly surprised by Lenny;s progress and were almost apologetic for having a go prior to his appointment.
On our first 7 games we were all purring, none of us saw Tuesday coming. Now whether Tuesday was a freak or a sign of things to come nobody can say for certain.
I’m hopeful it was a freakish result but we are all extremely clever with the benefit of hindsight. We will all be a lot wiser after net 5 games.
………………..
We were all lulled into a false sense of security. Who could have possibly foreseen Neil Lennon’s decision to play Callum at left back and his failure to close the game down when we were ahead in the game for the second time with 11 minutes to go.
CORKCELT:
I parked my doubts, I really did. I had put them aside.
Then I heard the team selection Tuesday. I heard the team selection and I knew we were in big, big trouble.
Like right away, instantly, the second I realised the team system.
I’m not claiming special knowledge or superb analytical skills here … I knew what everyone I know, friends, family, fellow bloggers, every single one of us, knew all at the same time.
Our manager apparently didn’t know what we all did.
And even after the game, the result, the reaction, the literally thousands of people who must have pointed this out, the video footage, past precendent …
He still dosen’t know it.
And mate, I cannot park those doubts. This is astonishing. There is no minimising the reality of that. He would do it again. He might do it again. He will almost certainly make decisions which are just as bad. And even if he had held up hands – which he hasn’t – that he didn’t see it before the game started, when everyone else could, is damning …
It’s not the only things he said today that worried me. His praise for the board. Worrying. He didn’t have to mention them at all, it was like someone a line and he trotted it out, although I may be misreading that part of it. But he dissed statistical analysis, which drives so much of the modern game. His review of the game amounted to fifteen minutes at the start. He said the second half was brilliant … I guess he means the three goals we conceded notwithstanding.
How the Hell are we supposed to park our doubts now?
You know what, for me, and for many others, would have put this in the rear-view?
And I mean this sincerely.
If he’d said at full time, “This one’s on me guys. That was a bad error, and I’ve apologised to the players and I’ve apologised to the directors and now I’m apologising to the fans. It was a bad call, and only one of a number on the night, and I’ll watch the whole game, I’ll rethink the approach … it won’t happen again.”
And you know what? I’d have settled for that, I’d have been grateful for that.
JAMES FORREST on 16TH AUGUST 2019 11:32 PM
You know what, for me, and for many others, would have put this in the rear-view?
And I mean this sincerely.
If he’d said at full time, “This one’s on me guys. That was a bad error, and I’ve apologised to the players and I’ve apologised to the directors and now I’m apologising to the fans. It was a bad call, and only one of a number on the night, and I’ll watch the whole game, I’ll rethink the approach … it won’t happen again.”
And you know what? I’d have settled for that, I’d have been grateful for that.
——–
Name me a Manager that has ever done that ?
DAVID17:
You should have picked a tougher question ;)
The Hibs manager did it at Ibrox a week ago. Right after the game.
That’s one example, off the top of my head, but I thought that it being a week old would be impressive ;)
James I’m off to bed and haven’t time for an exchange. Lenny wouldn’t have been my choice first day but I did object to your original onslaught on him which I felt went way over the top.
Like yourself I parked my doubts over past 7 games but yes after Tuesday I’m gutted and angry.
I reckon the presser today was all about a presenting a united front, there have been rumours of Lenny not getting on with certain players plus a rift with the Board.
I am disappointed he didn’t hold his hand up and say he got it wrong but he knows it deep down abd I don’t see him doing it again,
If he does I’ll join you on the barricades.
CorkCelt;
You have a good one fella.
Sutton announcing the Meling deal is an interesting one. Have to assume he got the info from Lenny and that Lenny was ok with him announcing it. Wonder if the big man is doing Lenny a favour and shifting some of the focus off him with some ‘breaking news;’. If i know big Sutton, at this first sniff of blood he will go for the throat of the Huns this season, i am sure of it.
David 17
Name a manager who had home advantage, 60000 fans supporting the team, superior resources, had the aggregate advantage on three occasions at 0-0, 2-1 and 3-2 (the last with 11minutes remaining) and still blew it.
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 16TH AUGUST 2019 11:39 PM
We could play this game all night. I have made my point and i stand by it.
TOSB
“Name a manager who had home advantage, 60000 fans supporting the team, superior resources, had the aggregate advantage on three occasions at 0-0, 2-1 and 3-2 (the last with 11minutes remaining) and still blew it.”
Would Billy McNeill count?-
“This was one of the most remarkable games ever viewed at Parkhead with an absolutely disastrous ending for a brave Celtic team.
Scoring went as follows: 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4.
With Celtic leading 5-3 and going through on aggregate with just two minutes left, Joe Miller lost the ball at the Partizan goal corner flag. A quick break down the left wing saw a cross come in and Scepovic headed it for goal. The despairing Bonner got a hand to out and only served to divert it past Paul Elliot who was on the goal line and would have cleared had Bonner not knocked it past him.”
Celtic players and fans were devastated at time up and stood in stone silence as jubilant Partizan players and coaches danced for joy on the Parkhead turf.
Billy McNeill was heavily criticised afterwards for not making one substitution when Celtic were leading 5-3 with minutes to go which would have broken the game up and killed some time.
It is thought that Darius Dziekanowski could have laid on another cert, but went for a personal five. He was later lambasted in the changing room despite having scored four goals, and maybe others were more culpable for the defeat than Jacki.
I heard you heard doesn’t matter a fug, if our coaches can’t realise our problems were in big truble
Aren’t we playing Dungfermline tomorrow…the same old sh*t dissection/analysis of Tuesday isn’t going to help us.
H.H.
DAVID17 on16TH AUGUST 2019 11:38 PM
Sutton announcing the Meling deal is an interesting one. Have to assume he got the info from Lenny and that Lenny was ok with him announcing it. Wonder if the big man is doing Lenny a favour and shifting some of the focus off him with some ‘breaking news;’. If i know big Sutton, at this first sniff of blood he will go for the throat of the Huns this season, i am sure of it.
Why would you assume that? If you take in to consideration that Neil Lennon was still on the touchline during an important game while Chris Sutton was announcing the transfer of Kieran Tierney to Arsenal, then surely you would have to believe that someone else within Celtic Park is passing Sutton his info.
AURORABOREALIS79 on 16TH AUGUST 2019 11:48 PM
Fair enough, maybe it was Peter.
David 17
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 16TH AUGUST 2019 11:39 PM
We could play this game all night. I have made my point and i stand by it.
……………….
You started it. :-))
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 16TH AUGUST 2019 11:46 PM
TOSB
“Name a manager who had home advantage, 60000 fans supporting the team, superior resources, had the aggregate advantage on three occasions at 0-0, 2-1 and 3-2 (the last with 11minutes remaining) and still blew it.”
Would Billy McNeill count?-
“This was one of the most remarkable games ever viewed at Parkhead with an absolutely disastrous ending for a brave Celtic team.
Scoring went as follows: 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4.
With Celtic leading 5-3 and going through on aggregate with just two minutes left, Joe Miller lost the ball at the Partizan goal corner flag. A quick break down the left wing saw a cross come in and Scepovic headed it for goal. The despairing Bonner got a hand to out and only served to divert it past Paul Elliot who was on the goal line and would have cleared had Bonner not knocked it past him.”
Celtic players and fans were devastated at time up and stood in stone silence as jubilant Partizan players and coaches danced for joy on the Parkhead turf.
Billy McNeill was heavily criticised afterwards for not making one substitution when Celtic were leading 5-3 with minutes to go which would have broken the game up and killed some time.
It is thought that Darius Dziekanowski could have laid on another cert, but went for a personal five. He was later lambasted in the changing room despite having scored four goals, and maybe others were more culpable for the defeat than Jacki.
……………..
I actually thought of Big Billy as soon as I pressed the POST COMMENT key. It must be a Celtic thing. No I am sure there are other examples. I was being a bit facetious.
DAVID17 on16TH AUGUST 2019 11:49 PM
AURORABOREALIS79 on 16TH AUGUST 2019 11:48 PM
Fair enough, maybe it was Peter.
Who it was we cannot be certain but maybe it is the same person that’s been leaking transfer documents & team sheets for the past 10 months
TOSB
We lost that game in 1989 and , in the 1989/90 season we finished 5th, having won 10 out of 36 matches, ending with a goal difference of 0.
Yet, Billy is rightly revered , despite being “partly” responsible for that.
We need to scale back the rhetoric on Neil Lennon and where we are. We are out of CL but we are top of the league with only 2 games gone.
Maybe the prescient ones forecasting doom will turn out to be right, but their track record on predictions of lost leagues is not encouraging.
I find too many, these days, who are quick to see signs of the righteousness of their predictions when there is a slip up but, hardly a peep from them come April and May when foretold doom is in short supply.
Maybe this year will be the year they get it right but, until the signs are stronger, I will be looking for us to beat an eminently beatable Hun squad over the course of this season, and I care not a jot of we lose out on a cup or two along the way.
Goodnight
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 17TH AUGUST 2019 12:08 AM
TOSB
We lost that game in 1989 and , in the 1989/90 season we finished 5th, having won 10 out of 36 matches, ending with a goal difference of 0.
Yet, Billy is rightly revered , despite being “partly” responsible for that.
We need to scale back the rhetoric on Neil Lennon and where we are. We are out of CL but we are top of the league with only 2 games gone.
Maybe the prescient ones forecasting doom will turn out to be right, but their track record on predictions of lost leagues is not encouraging.
I find too many, these days, who are quick to see signs of the righteousness of their predictions when there is a slip up but, hardly a peep from them come April and May when foretold doom is in short supply.
Maybe this year will be the year they get it right but, until the signs are stronger, I will be looking for us to beat an eminently beatable Hun squad over the course of this season, and I care not a jot of we lose out on a cup or two along the way.
Goodnight
……………………..
I think we’ll win the league. I’m not at all angry with our players. I didn’t want Lenny appointed as manager but was prepared to give him a chance. I did think he was the right man for the job to endure last season’s treble but I thought, long term, we needed a more cerebral manager. In my view, Tuesday night only proved what I feared to be correct. It gives me no satisfaction to say so. I like Lenny as a person but not as our manager. I think we’ll win the League but it will be a struggle. While I’ve been hinting at boycotts all night I’ve kind of fallen in love with Celtic all over again and I’ll probably turn up at the game tomorrow after telling anyone who cares to listen that I would be making my protest. God help Lenny if we don’t win :-))
Goodnight.
i think we get carried away with our performance and forget we are playing in scotland.
there in lies the problem the board will see it next year if we dont win the league.
starting next thursday next four games are big. imo
*ensure
Timhorton…starting tomorrow…or are you dismissing Dungvermline lol
H.H.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 16TH AUGUST 2019 8:00 PM
Don`t want to do this to death , but…….
NB ” Agreed to sell ”
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Ends the Mexican-American War
Guerilla attacks against U.S. supply lines continued, but for all intents and purposes the war had ended. Santa Anna resigned, and the United States waited for a new government capable of negotiations to form. Finally, on Feb. 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, establishing the Rio Grande and not the Nueces River as the U.S.-Mexican border. Under the treaty, Mexico also recognized the U.S. annexation of Texas, and agreed to sell California and the rest of its territory north of the Rio Grande for $15 million plus the assumption of certain damages claims.
=================================================
I said ” people power ” by stealth , not military power.
The Mexican govt. tycoons would never risk their wealth by taking military action.
They are happy for the USA to continue to provide the welfare which it is the duty of the Mexican govt. to provide.
So they keep on protecting the caravans.
Hello again all you young rebels.
From a lovely sunny Melbourne morning.
O.k whats been appenin?
I’m over Thursday nights debacle…i think.
Just one wee moan, why does that tic box that says remember
me when you log onto the blog never remember me?
Is that a hint 8-))
H.H Mick
MM…glad to hear yer overish it…you must b memorish to yer telly…2 days to clean…that musta been some sanny lol
H.H.
THE LURKIN TIM
Massive screen, huge sanny, and the Princess kept sayin
” you’ve missed a bit ” 8-))
H.H Mick
AULD BERTIE on 16TH AUGUST 2019 1:03 PM
And may I finish with this question regarding the Res 12 fiasco, if Celtic played these supporters can these Shareholders not sue Celtic PLC for being wilfully blind to shareholders of the Company,( depriving shareholders and the Company of perceived earnings CL monies when Rangers owed social taxes) that way everything would come out in court, and it would be established who on the Celtic PLC board knew ‘what & when’?
=========================
The main barrier is the high legal cost just to establish the answer to your question which might be no.
However if anyone has a goodly large sum to take on Scottish football on a greater good basis , that would concentrate minds for certain.
MELBOURNE MICK on 17TH AUGUST 2019 12:46 AM
Re Res12 did you see my message to contact me?
AULDHEID
Think you’ve forgotten, i was one of the first to contact you
after info from BMCUW.
Remember you thought my mail was from the wife? because
of the email addy?
H.H Mick
Mick
So…should we go with 4 at the back…including Jullien and Boli…or 3…to let us go with 2 up front (Eddie &Gtiff)..me…am inclined to go with team and formation that starts Thursday
H.H.
THE BHOY FROM OZ
Condolences, rest in peace Charlie.
MELBOURNE MICK on 17TH AUGUST 2019 1:08 AM
Ahhhh. I looked for Melbourne or Mick as I had a memory of an e mail from Oz, but couldn’t see it on the list. Its there.
A semi senile moment. Cheers.
*Griff