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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this whole thing with the Hun is going to come round to us and bite us in the arse
we know the scottish media will be recording every sound that we make and it will be in the papers the next day
so.i will be the first to say this
anyone seen singing that beautiful sunday abomination should be chibbed out the ground and be banned from celtic park
regardless of what ground they sing it in
the problem is that there are too many coked up wee fuck wits that go to our away games that dont give a shite about our reputation
so we know wots coming
Culmination of failure from recent windows leading to an accumulative weakening of the team. Recruitment of multiple defenders at the one time, from, different countries, different culture and style of play. At at time when fans don’t have any patience. Still looking for a right back, albeit I like the look of Elhamed. Probably need another centre back given Jozo’s fragility. We have certainly spent far less but we have never been in such a position of strength and at a time when fans are desperate to secure 9 and 10 tiles. Before Tierney left for £25m we were screaming out for more quality yet since then, nothing.
Surely since the Cluj debacle the best new poster must have been “Pogues1967” his/her posts were terrific … might have been more believable if they posted a wee link to Fairytale in New York …
GENE on 24TH AUGUST 2019 8:15 PM
Money for nothin.
Ziggy 8.57pm
So no evidence of “worst transfer window ever”
By all accounts give your opinion about ins & outs but am afraid even your reply was pretty poor .. and can I ask
“at a time when the fans have no patience” … who ? Am pretty sure internet apart there are plenty of fans with plenty of patience… remember apart from the first half against Cluj.. Neil has the team playing well and scoring goals … and still waiting on the evidence that this is the “worst transfer window” ever … come on, surely you have basic facts and not just bullshit about the fans not being happy … cmon or is it just easy to punch a few letters on a keyboard without thinking about the letters you are touching
Let’s all- correct
So apart from losing the most important game we’re doing great ?
…… see that the bigoted masonic tax dodging filth supporting liying cheating racist orangeman has left rangers super (ha ha) scoreboard.. Jeez, the list of candidates to replace him will stretch to John O’Groats. He’ll probably get a move ‘upstairs’ to work for jabba’s rangers news.
What a piece of scum……
I’m just sitting here thinking……
No point in going to Mass tomorrow as I’ve just read this on FF:
FFS religion is all made up pish. There’s no proof for any of it. Yet EUFA are treating it as REAL and hammering us for singing FTP!
They also seem to have missed the whole “discriminatory chanting” bit as they’re simply going to replace Fenian with either Celtic or peado in the old wading up to their knees in blood routine.
That awkward moment when Jimmy Bell has to go out in the pishing rain to padlock the auld blue gates of Ibrox on a Thursday night!
Let’s all 8.57pm
Whatsbouttery …
Coked up f+++wits
Deflection ….
We have always had eijits in our support and always will, mainly drunk. but come on the story is AND should be the songs of hatred …
gftb
yes
but the deflection (and i wasnt using deflection) of the huns, media and authorities will be enough to get us dragged into this
i think you know that
Which manager is in Tennents on the bevvy before an important game.
Ps it’s not Craig Levein
GREENPINATA on 24TH AUGUST 2019 5:55 PM
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.
___
Been out and just saw this so apologies for the late reply. I should say that I appreciate you engaging as every other Brexit supporting person I know now refuses to discuss the topic – for them it has become a question of faith not fact.
First off, you don’t actually address my point and instead veer into the history of decades ago. My point was that racism is on the rise since Brexit – here is a link to just one recent article but there are many if you require more.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/20/racism-on-the-rise-since-brexit-vote-nationwide-study-reveals
Emboldened by Brexit it seems to me inevitable that attacks on the Irish/Catholics will increase. For example, we’ve had Priti Patel suggesting that the UK starves Ireland so that they give into the Brexiter demands. Indeed, some tabloids are already blaming the Irish –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/31/leo-varadkar-media-telegraph-sun-irish-taoiseach-brexit
Why not go along to a Brexit rally wearing a Celtic or Irish top and see what reaction you get? Do you think it’s coincidence that the Orange Order are all big fans of Brexit?
One of the (many) reasons I voted to remain is because of the human rights that benefit us all as part of the EU. As this is a football blog I’ll give a football related example. The Hillsborough inquest was only possible due to our membership of the EU – if we weren’t in the EU then those poor souls would never have received justice. After we leave the EU if something like that happened again the rich and powerful would be able to sweep it under the carpet as our individual human rights would not be protected in the same way
I repeat, I do genuinely appreciate you engaging in discussion so could you please tell me why you voted for Brexit? And what the real benefit is as opposed to the human rights we are losing?
Let’s all do 9.36pm
Spot on
SSB opened their show today saying our two top clubs have a religion problem ???
Don’t think Celtic have ever had a religion problem … never cared a jot what religion any Celtic player or fan had… or even if they had no religion whatsoever … it’s about football all my life
LC, are you keeping tabs on Craig Levein as well, and can you be sure he’s not in a pub in Edinburgh somewhere.
Fud
Lucky cody , now now , can’t say things like that on here bud!! 😂
My time is up ….
Enjoy your night fellow Celts
Remember … one bad half v Cluj, we have had far more good halves of football this season so far
Hail Hail
Can say anything he wants, but what position is he playing tomorrow? If he was out for a meal and having some wine would it be any different?
FRANKTERRY on 24TH AUGUST 2019 9:41 PM
Thank you my friend for the cordial reply.
Firstly , I did not vote for Brexit. It was way too complicated for me.
However if you give a vote to the people in a one off referendum then you must abide by the decision.
We did not crash and burn after the vote, we did not crash and burn after we triggered article 50.
We will survive and indeed prosper regardless.
It was a totally unnecessary exercise. I hate any division and hatred and I hate any ” National ” parties. All European national parties need a hate focus. Our national party is no different.
HH my friend.
Pitymevin,
Truth hurts doesn’t it.
We have a completely unprofessional manager who does not set a good example.
Even McCoist wouldn’t have made that mistake.
LC
Why don’t you go back to FF and leave our manager alone. In what way has he been unprofessional, because he’s having a pint.
Very good FUD
FrankTerry
On SSB last night the legend that is the verbose Laurie Fae Dennistoun asked Fraser Wishart what impact Brexit would have on UK teams signing EU players next season. FW replied that no one really knows yet but he didn’t think it would be as straight forward as it is currently due to work permit requirements etc.
Yet another aspect that Farage never highlighted to the masses!
LUCKY CODY on 24TH AUGUST 2019 9:39 PM
Which manager is in Tennents on the bevvy before an important game.
Ps it’s not Craig Levein
———-
Lies.
On this day 30 years ago I’ve absolutely no I dear what happened mental
Are we signing anybody soon, clock is ticking
Not sure if it is lies but who really cares if NFL is in the pub having a drink
D17, then he has the balls to compare with mcmoist.
Out and out hun
FRANKTERRY on 24TH AUGUST 2019 9:41 PM
Thank you my friend for the cordial reply.
Firstly , I did not vote for Brexit. It was way too complicated for me.
However if you give a vote to the people in a one off referendum then you must abide by the decision.
We did not crash and burn after the vote, we did not crash and burn after we triggered article 50.
We will survive and indeed prosper regardless.
It was a totally unnecessary exercise. I hate any division and hatred and I hate any ” National ” parties. All European national parties need a hate focus. Our national party is no different.
HH my friend.
Thank you for taking the time to reply. No matter our political differences it is important to be able to debate in a respectful manner. Plus you’re a Celtic fan so i know you’re a good guy :-)
‘However if you give a vote to the people in a one off referendum then you must abide by the decision.’
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address this point. The referendum was advisory and not binding. Due to the illegal nature of the Leave campaign if it had been binding it would have been declared unlawful – here is just one link but again there are many more if you look for them
https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/james-obrien/brexit-referendum-corruptly-won-but-result-stands/
There has also been much written on the incredibly bad way the referendum question was set up which I don’t have time to go into now but will gladly do so at a later date if you wish. Essentially ‘Brexit’ was undefined – although the one thing everyone agreed at the time was that ‘no deal’ was never an option (including Farrage and the most fervent brexiters). Yet in a few weeks time that is exactly where we are headed, for something that no one voted for…
‘We did not crash and burn after the vote, we did not crash and burn after we triggered article 50.’
Brexit hasn’t happened yet. What we do know that it has already cost us billions, it’s hard to put an exact number on it but this one numbers it at £66 billion –
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/brexit-cost-how-much-uk-economy-money-spent-a8854726.html
‘We will survive and indeed prosper regardless.’
How do you know? Every prediction (including the government’s own) is that all of us will be worse off to the tune of thousands of pounds. And more importantly we will now have less rights and less opportunities. Trade deals with the US will leave us exposed to their lower standards for food and they are desperate to get their hands on the NHS. Brexit will be the focus for the next 5-10 years as new deals are signed and the impact will last for decades. For what? So that a tiny percentage of disaster capitalists make a fast buck while the rights of ordinary workers are destroyed. See ‘Britaania Unchained’ and be afraid.
It was a totally unnecessary exercise. I hate any division and hatred and I hate any ” National ” parties. All European national parties need a hate focus. Our national party is no different.
This we agree on! Brexit was a an internal Tory fight that has caused the potential destruction of the UK and the untold misery for millions.
Good night,
ft
Obviously huns infiltrate this good site.
I want to say to them this.
I am a highlander.
I am a protestant.
I am Ross County man.
I love Celtic.
I detest the orange order.
I detest The Rangers.
I detest all that they stand for.
Viva the Celtic republic of Scotland.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x0-ZQMy4hvk
ALASDAIR MACLEAN
Bravo! Respect to you, Sir!
Alasdair 11.13pm
Well said ..
Religion should mean nothing when it comes to Celtic / football
Who cares… my wife was a Rangers fan .. now a Sevconian and she loves Stevie Gee …. (she married me so maybe not the full shilling :-)
Enjoy your posts on here … even though a Celtic leaning its good to read a sort of neutral view :-)
LUCKY CODY on 24TH AUGUST 2019 9:39 PM
Which manager is in Tennents on the bevvy before an important game.
Ps it’s not Craig Levein
——————————————-
Interesting.
Assume you’re talking about Tennent’s on Byres Rd. Glasgow?
I’ve been in here for hours with a mate who lives just off Hyndland Rd.
What time was he in tonight?
DAVID66 on 24TH AUGUST 2019 7:43 PM
Natknow – yip
D. :)
——————————————————————-
Does your smiley mean you don’t really think Kilmarnock’s injured Taylor is worth £3m – can you confirm your opinion of the guys worth?
Put your cards on the table please. It’s not hard.
Robin bhoy
Has said Lucky Cody is a 6ft+ Celtic fan, I think our “lucky Cody” should change his moniker to “Unlucky Cody” for one one reason, it must be pure shoite following Celtic and being so unhappy …. there isn’t anything lucky about it 🍀
ALASDAIR MACLEAN on 24TH AUGUST 2019 11:13 PM
Obviously huns infiltrate this good site.
———-
Really, name non de plumes. It’s not as if you are naming actual names.
As far as I can see , we are all Celtic on here . ( Ross County excepted)
HH my friend.
Cheers boys!
Phew..
For about 10 mins there struck out and trying to get back in .. I was paranoid that I’d said something wrong!
From the republic of Sutherland we have support Ross County. It’s our heritage.
The wee Edinburgh wife says the day. “We all have to do our bit.”
See, thing is, Roy MacGregor has to do so much less than you…. an yer like minded bigots on the other side of the central belt …. ya hun.
Greenpinata,
Sad as this may be .. I did the same in reverse.
Bored offshore.
Fun!
They cottoned on to me eventually … and banned me as an Aberdeen Supporter!
They couldn’t understand that..
Ach..