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.
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LENNY’S PRESSER – I didn’t love his lack of self-reflection/recrimination but hope his defiant bullishness reflects a fighting spirit he’ll impart to this shell-shocked team (incl the CQN team). They’ll need to fight at Ibrox ffs.
You know the one thing that worried me, was when Neil (twice) inferred that the coaches remedy was to let the players watch it and see the problems for themselves…watch the first 15mins or so and see for themselves.
Is a self-serve solution not kinda devoid of direction; what if the interpretations of what went wrong were different for each player…Dunno…that was the main bit that spooked me.
CORKCELT on 16TH AUGUST 2019 11:20 PM – that’s right, and JF wasn’t the only one waxing lyrical. I still think Lenny’s right about we’re a very good team and squad and not self-soiling is a damn good idea for starts.
DAVID17 – Chris Coleman straight away put his hands up for some of the pants performances at Sunderland a coupla times I recall.
Auldheid…was good to meet you and have a good long informative chat at D’s birthday doo re Res12…curious…has there been any forward movement?
H.H.
Right ghuy’s/ ghals time to charge down to the local, Celtic top on.
It’s emblazoned with…I might live in Australia but my heart is at Celtic park.
That should bring any huns oot from under the carpet where they’ve been
hiding the last few years.
God bless each and every one of the Celtic family.
H.H Mick
OH! and Lurkin Tim i’d go with a back four including elhamed, Julien , Ajer, boli.
if all fit and play them the next few games to settle.
OOT noo to hunt a hun.
H.H Mick
MM…even the naysaysers n doom-mongers….yer heart is bigger than mine…njoi yer day mate
H.H.
*naysayers
Strange days.
Neil Lennon needs the Support from the Board to get in 2 or 3 Quality players. At least one Trusted Backroom staff would be good as well, ffs – gie him a chance.
Get Big Vic in – even if only on loan.
Robbie Keane was bankrolled for £65000 a week if I recall correctly. Go get the Kenyan Fenian.
It is a joke that we have all the money in the bank, Supporters paying constantly for tickets @ the start of the Season, and we are not strengthening the Team properly.
C’mon Neil Francis Lennon – God Bless ye.
Here is an angle on the selection of McGregor at LB to add to a previous response agreeing with TBB on Bolingoli.
Back in the early 70s I found myself managing an office team from scratch. I mean no strips and not enough players 2 days before first game (and we got gubbed regularly initially, but week by week I recruited for want of a better term, guys who were just a bit better than the original 11 that included Bournessouprecipe who was on loan from the main team for the first gubbing. :0)
By the end of that season we were matching teams in the lower places in the leagues in terms of the odd draw or close losing result. 2 or 3 -1 rather than 6!
In season two we were good enough to get promoted to the 2nd division, but at that point I could not promise some of the original stalwarts a game because I had better players to whom I had a duty to provide with new players of the same or higher quality. It simply would not have been fair to them to have their hard work ruined by a player not quite at their level.
Bolingoli may come good but he was awful in the games I watched before Tuesday in terms of touch, tackling passing and positioning and I was not in the least surprised he was dropped out of fairness to his team mates.
Why NL went for a positional change given previous experience of McGregor at LB rather than play say Hayes I’m unsure although it seems he thought Ntcham would keep the quality in midfield up and if you had two places to fill from McGregor, Ntcham and Hayes I think Hayes would have been the one left out in technical terms.
So NL got it wrong in that Ntcham didn’t compensate for loss of McGregor in midfield and McGregor was no better at LB than Hayes would have been, but I can understand NL’s thinking.
However the core issue is that he never should have been put in that position in the first place, we had more than enough time to recruit a competent LB as in he had the attributes lacking in Bolingoli. I was reminded of Paul Telfer replacing Agathe to my chagrin under Strachan but Telfer was competent.
Which takes us back to recruitment and the sell on value of a player should not take higher precedence over his value to the team the minute he makes a first team appearance.
Whoever is responsible for giving sell on a higher value than the value of impact from day 1 on the park knows SFA about football and team dynamics.
If we buy it should be to keep the side strong in terms of providing team mates with someone they feel they can rely on, if we are buying to sell then they should be played in the development squad until competency as a footballer in their position has been proven, just like the lads who come through the development system.
THELURKINTIM on 17TH AUGUST 2019 1:20 AM
Auldheid…was good to meet you and have a good long informative chat at D’s birthday doo re Res12…curious…has there been any forward movement?
=======================
It was good to chat about the issues.
To answer your question I would put us at leaving Defcon 4 moving to 3 and moving in the right direction as planned. :)
It is utterly ridiculous for anyone to call for Neil to be sacked.
FFS what is happening to peoples thinking?
We are Blessed to have Neil here Right now.
Over to the Celtic Board to seriously back him.
The Sevco are hurting badly and they REALLY want it. Gerrard and MCallister obviously work well together.
Stop D!cking about Celtic.
Gie Neil the proper tools to get Celtic another genuine 9.
Anger – can we tax that?
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
Lads, we’re back… :)
For those interested in the CQN Naps Competition, please post your Week 1 selections here:
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/time-to-circle-the-wagons/comment-page-14/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888
Good to see you back Leigh
Big Eddie is Mega.
I’m Delighted that we are away from home in Europe just before Ibrox.
Everything is setup for Celtic to lose, possibly heavily.
I only ever went to orc dome once, got beat 5-1 Wilkins (RIP) scored a screamer right in line where we were standing.
A lot of stuff was thrown down from above.
We stayed to the end, Celts do that. Never been since, you never say never, but I doubt I will want to go there again in my Life, My wee Nephew is a quality Rangers Supporter, he is always offering to help his Gran. A Magical wee dude.
Love is the LAW.
Brendan wanted the Celtic Rangers thang to be just a Sporting Rivalry.
That is the jibber jabber – I really want to hear.
Love is the DAVE.
I was asked a ?
Whats the best ever song.
It took me a long time to ANSWER. I still ain’t done it. Face 2 Face.
Dinnae think he is Ready.
A young argumentative Type – Spoon fed By TELEVISION.
Anyways the Best ever Youtube Video is Whatever Atheist
James Forrest,
Good summary of Lennon’s failure on Tuesday. The clueless , amateurish team set up at end summed up his disjointed thinking. His subsequent deflection and arrogance shows he is completely out of his depth. He is our McCoist and would have never picked up a job at a reasonable level again. Reasonable pundit and that’s about it.
It doesn’t matter if we buy better players Lennon will screw it up. He is just not a good manager.
At what point will Lawwell sack him. Defeat to AIK ? Defeat to RFC ? We need to face facts he has failed the first big test and he does not seem to be aware off it.
Even as he is gradually losing the dressing room the procrastination by the club to take him out is only making a bad situation worse. Put him out of the misery he is inflicting on the Celtic support.
Auldheid You asked the question about who would put a players resale value 1st and that that person knows SFA about football
Just as John park left in 2006 a Celtic scout was interviewed for the Evening times
He said “ John park gave them a remit to find players to sell to EPL with two years , and that was instruction from Peter Lawwell direct to JP”
Funny how we keep going round in circles to find the root Cause/ common denominator and it seems to be a certain Peter Lawwell
#lawwellout
Re Neil Lennons press conference
What half does he reckon was bad?
Did he not see that calmac was destroyed the whole game and the moments he emphasised where his only positive contribution?
Where we really BREATHTAKING?
Dont insult us.we really do know our football Neil.You used to say the same pish first time around( as did o’neil and strachan).
Your out your depth if you think your big name players turning it on are your saviour.
Give us a break with your bullshit
LUCKY CODY on 17TH AUGUST 2019 3:33 AM
Lenny got us over the line against Hearts away and sundry other difficult games in the immediate aftermath of the abrupt departure of Brendan.
We needed an immediate replacement . We got one.
He has put one foot wrong imho since then.
Admittedly , a serious foot. A potentially expensive foot.
Surely , he deserves the chance to redeem himself.
Macjay,
He helped close out the league ; the way Rodgers exited resulted in a siege mentality and players, fans and club in general rallied to secure league. Towards end of the campaign the warning signs were starting to appear.
Lennon should have been handsomely rewarded for stepping into the breech. However the club have known since last summer Rodgers was on his way. To replace him with Lennon who has done zilch for years —- he is yesterdays man.
He should be nowhere near the job. It’s insane that he was put in as permanent manager—- the job needs a modern progressive manager ( and a proper DOF not a beancounter ). Lennon has cost us £45 mil already with his clueless screw up on Tuesday.
He is losing the dressing room by all accounts,
Nine will not happen under him and we need him out before he does more damage. It’s only a question of time before he is removed kicking and screaming from the building.
If he is here at Christmas we will be out of CL, Europa, lost treble and behind RFC who will go for the jugular at the January transfer window. The Scottish Cup May offer a consolation prize.
That is the reality staring us in the face.
We need to end this farce now.
LUCKY CODY on 17TH AUGUST 2019 4:02 AM
You put forward a convincing argument.
Sadly you may be right.
I can recall feeling exactly that way very early in the tenure of Ronny Deila and spent eighteen months convinced that he was out of his depth , so I can understand your point of view.
Certainly , it would be foolish to put sentiment before practicality.
C’mon Lenny.
God Bless Neil.
Get to work and Win the games.
NL ‘out of his depth’? Clearly not! It is silly to say so since he’s been here before and managed us over the lines last season.
But….
He’s not of the standard which we should have aspired to after the level being raised with the appointment of BR.
The idea we couldn’t have had a better qualified and respected coach/manager is risible.
HH
Haven’t woken up…cause am in zero sleep mode again….but it’s looking like a beautiful day to skelp Dungfermline
Strongest team on the park Lenny…if you know what it is?
A day for partial redemption
Go out and do it Bhoys
H.H.
Good morning CQN from a dry but blustery Garngad
Watched Lenny’s presser yesterday and still thinking wtf.
His naivety or ignorance, both baffles and worries me.
I have no time for he EL, just concentrate on the league and maybe a cup, or both cups.
HH
D. :)
Neveralone,
Lennons record is somewhat a myth ; he won the league in his first full season up against McCoist and rangers going into administration with subsequent liquidation. Our track record in cups was patchy with Ross County semi final a standout. Europe was also a mixed bag although Barca was a standout when we had no choice but to go with a back to the walls display.
His track record in key games against Rangers is also poor. Does not bode well for Ibrox. Defeat in that game will see a Tsunami wanting Lennon out. Failure in the EL coupled with his usual capitulation will see him go.
Lawwell should be planning on this basis and have a new manager lined up to step in for the first Monday in September. It would still be recoverable for the league ; however much better if we relieve him and his Mickey Mouse backroom team of their duties now.
I hope the pars enjoy their day at Paradise and it’s a pity the fans will vote with their feet. It’s a good club with great fans who excelled themselves with their banner at Celtic Park many moons ago.
Ps Mr Lawwell either Davie Moyes or Stevie Clarke will do the trick. Moyes would be the smart move ; Clarke would be the low cost option. Anything else and it is goodbye nine.
LUCKY CODY on 17TH AUGUST 2019 8:26 AM.
Ps Mr Lawwell either Davie Moyes or Stevie Clarke will do the trick. Moyes would be the smart move ; Clarke would be the low cost option. Anything else and it is goodbye nine.
=================================================================
Brave or foolish ?
Hope you will return to gloat or repent .
David,
Very curious to what youwere looking to hear?
Hail Hail
Macjay
“Don`t want to do this to death , but…….
NB ” Agreed to sell ”
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Ends the Mexican-American War”
It was a Treaty, like Versailes, imposed by the victors in a war. It was not a mutually agreed decision from 2 equal parties. No Mexican would have voted to cede the territory, if allowed to vote, It was the culmination of several attempts by the USA to expand Southwards and Weswards and it did not end in 1848.
We had the Nicaragua expedition, Cuba and the Philippines, amongst many breakages with the Monroe Doctrine.
As for Mexico protecting the caravans- should they not> What is the alternative- attack them? or leave them open to attack?
A fair bit of Lenny bashing going on right now.
An uncomfortable vibe.
Nobody would be happier than the huns to see Lenny in strife.
Cards on the table.
Give Lenny more time.
HKWHK – hope I got that right, apologies if not.
I was expecting him to say something like in hindsight maybe having Cal Mac in a wide left position and getting pinned back at left back was not the way to go, and it’s his fault. Also I would not want him to name MJ or LM and they are not at that level YET, but say there were other misjudgement in team selection and that HE shoulders the blame.
If he thinks everything is rosy in the garden with that formation/team selection then I’m worried.
HH
D. :)
Hey there Jobo – you about?
Me and WeeBGFC just on the way out to our first ever ParkRun at Drumpelier Lochs in Coatbridge. Shouldn’t have had that bottle of wine last night :-((
Looking for a time of about 30 minutes for a first time out – does that seem reasonable?
Then back up to Plains, showered and shifted, then in to Paradise to joint the other Celtic adicts – Hail Hail !!!
HH
BGFC
Still hurting after Tuesday result
BRTH, quoted the boards objective was to achieve Champions league qualification 3 years out of 5
That means we need to invest to get into this competition the next 4 consecutive years (6 out of 10 attempts)
Unfortunately to achieve this the board needs to radically change direction
How many clubs our size, with our resources, playing against vastly inferior financed teams – would fail to regularly qualify in a pre qualification process ?
How many teams have access to the funds we have, therefor increased chance to pick up better quality players, on an annual basis would consistently fail to achieve a clear objective ?
Incidentally this objective gives access to far greater financial rewards, ensuring success in the competition is sustainable ?
My own view, we should be pushing for annual champions league qualification, through improved investment, which means identifying the best players we can achieve, and remaining sustainable through the value we would get in this competition, the increased value our teamplayers would receive through regular appearances in such
But
We require far better leadership and ambition
PS – I would suspect at best we could finish 3rd in the group stages in champions league, and drop into Europa league
Maybe just me, but that is my ambition for Celtic
Hail Hail
Macjay – believe it or not I so wanted and still want Lenny to succeed, I’m just worried that maybe I am being blinded by loyalty and a feeling of injustice for the guy after all the troubles in his life at the hands of a disgusting element of Scottish society. Maybe No room for sentiment when we are going for 9IAR.
D. :)
Another quick point
My view only
Many suggesting we go with a Centre back pairing of Julian and Ajer
Why not Julian and Simonuvic ? Both natural CH’s
Ajer has played this position passed 2 seasons only
He joined us as midfielder, but being 6’5″ we naturally see him as a CH
Try him in his natural position of midfield in front of the 2 natural CH’s
Let’s see how he gets on there
Otherwise go out and get Big Victor back on loan 🙏👍
David,
TOP of the morning.
Exactly what I expected and I assume the other hundreds of thousands around the globe.
Baffling HOWEVER I will be supporting the Bhoys today.
Me thinks the board will get it tight today. Also hope Green Brigade make a statement of sorts.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX
Well hullawrerr , SFTB.
Versailles. The VICTORS were paid stupid reparations , principally at the behest of France , which in time produced wee Adolf and further nastiness.
( Virgen de ) Guadeloupe Hidalgo Treaty.
The LOSERS were paid by the USA .
Of course ,the Mexican people were screwed , but you can be sure that money found the right pockets.
Don`t blame USA for Mexican corruption…….La Mordida.
A way of life in Mexico.
God help us if that ever becomes a way of life in USA.
BGFC.. if it’s yer 1st Park-Run…yer 1st time is the time to beat next time….good luck
H.H
The movement of the caravans was facilitated by Mexican authorities .
Totally contrary to the way Mexico treats its own illegal immigrants.
Locked up and deported without compunction.
Trump sorted out that little scam.