This was a classic European game, requiring concentration, effort, but above all, patience. AIK were better than the SPFL fare we meet at the weekends, but Celtic Park was a stretch for them, while they enjoyed a spell of possession between the goals, they never landed a punch.
Despite dominating possession and territory, Celtic were inhibited in the first half by the stiff wind blowing towards Craig Gordon’s goal. The storm calmed during the second half, but by then, the hosts were well in control.
The back line played well, perhaps their best performance of the season. Kristoffer Ajer won man of the match and Christopher Jullien put in his most impressive performance for the club yet, but it was Jozo Simunovic who I thought stole the show at the back. Twice he made difficult interceptions that denied AIK an opening, one of which when running back, looking forward and jumping for a high ball that changed direction in the wind.
In full flow, Mikey Johnston, Ryan Christie and James Forrest are formidable. Defenders bunch around them as they are so fast and direct, no one individual seems able to stop them. Playing well is a big part of the job, but putting the ball in the net is more important. The game turned when (again) James Forrest did just that. His image will surely be next to adorn the stadium coverings.
Boli Bolingoli created the chance with a surging run forward but the angle was tight for Forrest, who saw the keeper get two hands to his shot but was unable to stop it crossing the line. Odsonne Edouard’s free kick was a delight and gave Celtic the two-goal margin they deserved. The keeper was less liable for this goal, but he will not enjoy watching either back.
I was very critical of Neil Lennon’s game management and team selection against Cluj last week, but he got everything right last night. After the second goal went in, Celtic did what they should have done nine days earlier and made sure their opponents did not get space in the final third. AIK were under pressure as the game neared its end, but Celtic had control of the tie and were not going to let that slip.
Nor were there experimental selections; Callum McGregor was back in central mid, Bolingoli at left full back.
Delighted big Fraser is back, we’ll talk more about him shortly.
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AIK look like another club in denial of their fans behaviour with this comment from the manager “You must keep your head if you are provoked”
You could easily believe those words came from Stevie G
You can’t make it up.
Big game manyana. Mon the Hoops
See the BBC has wheeled out budge to show fan behaviour is a wider problem
StoppickingonnewcoCSC
The BBC is all part of the fabric of sectarianism in the bigoted wee country in the world
You’ve got to worry about things when you read Graham Spiers in The Times today and I quote…..
“Like many, I have long wearied of the issue. Indeed, my conclusion in recent times, as I told the First Minister to her face, is that this problem probably cannot be fixed. Maybe we just have to live with it. Maybe we just have to let the Rangers support sing their Catholic baiting songs, because no one appears capable of fixing this sore”.
Just read that again – this from an alleged top journalist saying let it go, we can’t sort it……
Shocking journalism.
PHILBHOY
Did not know you had a holiday injury. As you may remember I had Rotator Cuff surgery 8 weeks ago. Doc says that I can keep the sling off. So ..I am back to driving again I think my wife is happy to get rid of her “front seat driver”. Sleeping for me is the hardest part. I don’t take anything other than Tylenol every other day.
As for reading …..I read The Secret Agent…Siddarthha….The Prince and Puckoon. Hope to get back to blowing my Baritone Horn soon. Keep well.
Pukki scores in EPL. Again.
Waghorn (Pen) scores in Championship. Again. With a… em… Pen.
Don’tbelievetheSkyhype CSC
🍀⚽️
Taylor not in Kilmarnock’s squad today. Wonder why?????
Thunderbirds at 2:05
Watched most of derby WBA.
Very poor decisions re penalties awarded. Poor game in general imo.
The guy sawyers we were interested in has been mentioned about twice and duly gave ball away. I thought he was meant to control games.
Timjim
Apparently pulled out of training yesterday – hammy problem
😏
‘These songs are offensive now…’
Derek Ferguson
Kelvinbhoy
Wonder what the first minister said in reply –
Scotland needs a strong rrrraaannngerrss
Gene
Or Richard….whatshisname
The sevco fan behaviour will only get worse after Brexit, in the the same way that racist crimes are on the rise.
Gene – probably something along those lines or make sure you get stuck into those Timmy’s, they’re worth a watching.
Wanyama hasn’t signed for Bruges yet. Celtic should be all over this. 28 ready made Captain. The mans a monster. £11m and match his wages or better them.
Lawwell won’t go for it despite the money he would make Celtic.
That kind of signing protects 9 and 10 in a row.
Sell Ntcham buy Wanyama. No brainer
Hello again all you young rebels.
Well! seems we are all calming down a bit judging by the recent posts
and i suppose my own heightened blood pressure with some recent
shoot ourselves in the foot mistakes.
I think we will murder Hertz and get a good result at the midden but
recent misjudgments can’t be ignored and very pertinant questions
must be answered.
The main one being, why the feck can’t the governors of our club be
upfront with the support instead of treating us like mushrooms.
Really need to up their game.
OZ TIMS
Our CSC in Mornington will be showing the game versus the hun on
fathers day here in Oz in the re-Publican Main St.
Sure to be a packed out club so be early 9 o clock pm k.o think i’ll
just make sure and be there at 9… in he morning that is.
For another orange squash he .. he.. he
H.H Mick
Bada Bing
That’ll be an interesting playback
Michael stewart brought up the orange strip
Dodds and Ferguson were laughable
In their reaction.dutch players my ass lol.laughable
HH
Does anyone have a link to the AIK Goalie/Mikey Johnston `incident`?
JJ
BRASS MAN
I remember you posting that.
Glad you are on the mend
I broke a knee cap on holiday in Crete just over 3 weeks ago.
I need to be lifted along the back seat of the car as can’t get in the front so that’s a no no.
Can only take paracetamol as I’m diabetic and it doesn’t help!
Red wine seems to make a difference though!
Take care!
BRASS MAN
Meant to say that PUCKOON was the funniest book I’ve ever read.
Years ago someone at work gave it to me and I started reading it on the train home.
I laughed out loud the whole way, much to the amusement of most of the other passengers.
Recommend it!
The BBC have wheeled out Anne Budge to talk about behaviour being a ‘common problem’. That was the leading story on their Scottish Football home page this morning. Very sinister indeed.
The BBC Anne Budge `story` is , indeed, worrying.
On a much lighter note, I was listening ( On You tube ) to a Beatles audition ( 1962) : This, from the Comments Section, made me smile:
`MrSwj2009 ____
3 months ago (edited)
Pete Best the drummer went on to have a semi-successful career as a baker in Liverpool. Not sure what happened to the other 3 guys.`
Howdy bhoys,,
We were inundated with requests to push the quiz back to next Saturday, numbers low tonight with plans.
Thus the quiz is pushed back by popular demand.
Apologies for any inconvenience but I’ll be having a beer and hanging out anyway.
Hopefully good numbers next weekend.
You bhoys be good. Take it easy.
Hail Hail
My thoughts and questions on UEFA doing a job that is the SFA’s responsibility to do.
http://etims.net/?p=14519
https://twitter.com/gibbogibby1/status/1164943399801294848?s=12
Huns in Warsaw
HUNDERBIRDS ARE GONE on 23RD AUGUST 2019 11:09 PM
From Will McGobledegook…
——–
Expect that term from a hun site, surprised to see it on here.
Was caught up in a traffic jam outside Ayr while Dodds and Ferguson were trying to defend the orange strips. How are we ever going to have change in this benighted country when such are given airtime to defend the indefensible. Thank God for Michael Stewart who persistently tried to get them to own the real reason.
The guy who was compering the programme tried to get them to see Stewart’s point. They point blank refused to accept it had any credence. I turned off at that point.
In other news might be a managerial vacancy at Old Trafford
And
England making a fist of it at the cricket
Aberdeen and Hibs ,Supporters should demand that they get rid off there present Managers,
Do we have a sell-on clause for our former manager ?
If not, Big Pete will be getting it the neck again 👍
Shankland another 2 goals today for Dundee United. Worth a punt? A previous poster suggested we sell Ntcham and buy Wanyama. Makes a lot of sense. Imagine how that would grip the imagination. Everybody is hoping for a couple of exciting signings before the window closes but inevitably we will be disappointed with the usual lame excuses.
PCS- That’s the way i read it…
SIPSINI on 24TH AUGUST 2019 4:53 PM
You checked the end of the post that you referred to, yes? I had written most of the post, which was an attempt at humour, perhaps admittedly a poor one, before I realised that a lot of the text mirrored the kind of language and phrase that Phil MacG uses, so decided to complete the post by modelling it on one of his missives.
If you are questioning my Celtic supporting credentials, based on a few lines of a post, well I can’t stop you doing that , but can assure you that you are well wide of the mark.
Re. Phil, I read all of his stuff, and enjoy most of it, and he has had some spectacular success in shining a light on corruption in the Scottish game. On the whole though, I think he is a bit of a fantasist.
I think I can support Celtic, and poke fun at Phil at the same time. The two things are not mutually exclusive. Maybe you think differently.
HH
🍀⚽️
FRANKTERRY on 24TH AUGUST 2019 2:33 PM
The sevco fan behaviour will only get worse after Brexit, in the the same way that racist crimes are on the rise.
——————
Absolute rubbish. Anyone from the west of Scotland will tell you it was horrendous in the 60’s 70′ s 80′ 90’s and into the new millennium. No pope here graffiti was common place and it was deliberately not removed. They tried and dismally failed to put us in our place.
Common sense then seemed to prevail for a short time and the vermin were ostracised.
What gave the dinosaurs a new focus was the referendum in 2014.
It brought out hatred, division, polarisation and supremacy on both sides and it still does.
Brexit seems to be the default answer to every problem now when we all know the glaring issues in Scotland. Yes undoubtedly Racism in Scotland is on the rise, however the greatest rise is in anti English racism.
And that my friend is a fact.
HH to all.
PHILBHOY
Sore one. The last time I was in crete they were cobbling the main street. Maybe one was sticking up a bit.
The “heavy ” books were to help me sleep, Puckoon and anything Bill Bryson are light and funny. My son is diabetic and he enjoys his red wine. YOU take care
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