So much about modern football is skewed away from those who strategically plan and develop teams. It wasn’t always this way. It isn’t this way everywhere. Tonight upwards of 50,000 people will pack into Celtic Park to live every kick of the ball. They will be there to see the champions of Scotland face the champions of Sweden, two clubs who bookended the 1970s by losing the first and last European Cup final of that decade respectively.
For the Celtic and Malmo, this is the modern equivalent of the European Cup final. The meritocracy, which European football enjoyed in the 70s, has been replaced by Rule of the Rich, but these two clubs go head-to-head in what is an all-encompassing battle. For each club, winning will be their biggest trophy of the season.
Both teams fancy their chances. Malmo manager, Age Hareide, is enjoying a welcome midseason form hiatus. When asked about Celtic before leaving Sweden, he dammed with difficult to find praise.
The challenge for visitors to Celtic Park, it appears, lies in standing firm to the distractions of a boisterous stadium. Celtic’s players don’t worry Hareide so much, “At Celtic, the pressure will not come from the opponents but from the stands”, apparently. Take that.
Hareide’s Helsingborgs lost to Celtic at this stage of Champions League qualifying three years ago, but after losing the first leg 0-2 in Sweden, he dismissed Celtic’s achievement by saying “we were better than Celtic at everything; in possession, we ran more than the Celtic players, and we actually played really well”. Celtic won both ties by two goals to nil. Hareide, no doubt mystified at just how his superior team were denied.
On-loan striker, Nikola Durdic, was also at Helsingborgs when they lost to Celtic. Former Aberdeen defender, Kari Arnason, lost on his only visit to Celtic Park. Jo Inge Berget made two starting appearances at Celtic Park, scoring twice in a 6-1 win over Dundee United, before losing to Maribor and slipping out of contention. All three will start tonight for Malmo if fit.
These people think we’re a one-dimensional shouty football club, who can be undone by sophisticated Scandinavian guile. Which has annoyed me, who do these people think they are? Abba, were artistically unremarkable. Take that, yourself.
Didn’t think I’d that anger in me. Hareide is in for a surprise tonight.
You can win a Celtic European shirt (the bumblebee one), courtesy of club sponsor, Magners, who have kindly donated the shirt to help with our Mary’s Meals appeal. The competition closes as kick off takes place TONIGHT, so you don’t have much time to enter. To win the shirt, email me at celticquicknews@gmail.com with the answer to the following question IN THE SUBJECT line:
How many goals have Celtic conceded to Swedish opposition in history?
When you are entering, if you can give a £1 or so to help build what would be our fifth school kitchen in Malawi for Mary’s Meals, you can do so here, it will only take a minute. I’ll give you a clue, the answer is not as hard as you may think.
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Londonbhoy,
You asked about bars in Helsinki? Weefra could help you if he still posts. I spoke with him about Helsinki on the blog.
Decent place Helsinki. Get over to St Petersburg though and enjoy a great city.
The gods may throw the dice
Their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear
The winner takes it all
The loser has to fall
It’s simple and it’s plain
Why should I complain?
Incredibly Deep Lyrics CSC
Itsabouttim, no info, sorry.
BMCUW, we led different childhoods. Now Debbie Harry……..
beatbhoy, I can dream!
Malorbhoy
doing good mate,have had a similar virus to yourself since sunday so been sippin the benylin.
looking forward to tonights game.Will try and pop into BV beforehand for an hour.
onwards and upwards for a Celtic victory.
Hail hail
If any of the younger contingent post from the game tonight, I’ll be asking “Does your mother know that you’re out?”
Pre match dinner decided…
Chicken Tikka you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they’re leaving
You’ll be dancing once again and the pain will end… Oh yes Chicken Tikka.
Heard the Kerrydale was open tonight but would double check…
HH
.
The love you gave me, nothing else can save me
S. O. S.
When you’re gone
How can I even try to go on?
When you’re gone
Though I try how can I carry on?
Summa of Sammi..
i have a visitor here today from austrailia, he is a native of that land.
he sits and sings dancing queen over and over again.
I think he is an abba riginal
Hope it isn’t a good game for the ‘neutrals’ tonight
I’m going for 1-0 to us.
Hail Hail
Which Super Trouper
Will
Gimme gimme gimme a goal before half time?
See that girl, watch her scream, kicking the dancing queen’
OK, so when I turn up at Celtic Park tonight will I see Celtic v Malmo or Abba supported by Take That?!
confusedCSC
A pigeon just landed on the window ledge….. couldnae help pointing at it shouting…”A doo,A doo,A doo,A doo,A doo”.
abbacsc
.
If you change your mind, I’m the first in line
Celtic I’m still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you’ve got no goals to go, if you’re going down
If you’re all alone when the project birds have flown
Celtic I’m still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain’t no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try
Take a chance on me
(That’s all I ask of you Celtic)
Take a chance on me
Summa of SignSammiCSC
People everywhere
A sense of expectation hanging in the air
Giving out a spark
Across the room your eyes are glowing in the dark
And here we go again, we know the start, we know the end
Masters of the scene
We’ve done it all before and now we’re back to get some more
You know what I mean
It’s a good job the Swedes’ Spanish rivals in Eurovision back then, Carmen, Nacho, Tito and Ulalia didn’t use the same method of naming the band.
Jeezo Paul ye’ve set aff the Grey Brigade, it’ll Abba puns awe the way noo:))
Mon The Hoops
Celtic to run out comfortable winners…
Sven1980 is currently pondering the artistic merits of the Krankies on MQN.
Abba song for Old Tim
“Take your teeth out
Tell me what’s wrong”
Batgirl – RiP
Another piece of childhood has passed. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment_and_arts
————————————————————————-
Difficult to know just how full the stadium will be tonight as it is hard to tell which seats are actually sold and which are not up for sale.
I sit in the second back row in 443 which was among 6 rows earmarked for closure last summer but a few of us wanted to stay where we were (out of any rain) but the result was that most of the rows around us are normally empty. The ground plan indicates that most of the seats around us are not available tonight so hope they are sold and just not put up for sale.
Hope you all enjoy your night.
Mr Pastry
You say you’re going tonight. Why not meet up with the bhoys at CQN corner (outside the Pools Office) so that we can see if you’re the real deal.
I think you’re a troll. Prove me wrong!
Football
Because..?
‘That’s the Name of the Game’.
Hail Hail,
KevinBhoy.
.
The Worlds First and seemingly Best Tribute Band..
Bjorn Again..
could be the Title of the Sammi DVD When He returns to Paradise..
..
Summa
Iv’e took that Too Far haven’t l..?
‘Might as well face it, you’re a dick with a glove’
Robert Palmer
I thought that struck the right note for tonight, Paul!
And I am glad CQN is on hand to build up to the game because you might never know it was happening if you read the MSM this morning!
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/08/19/bringing-you-the-big-stories/
Fingers crossed for tonight!
Champions League riches await
The winner takes it all.
.
GER57 on 19TH AUGUST 2015 1:01 PM
Mr Pastry
..
He will be Easy to Spot..He has a Big Mole at the End of His Nose..;-)
Summa
AT-Mountblowtim-ta HH
Afternoon off, and in an anticipatery mood as I head home to get organized for CP tonight.
Imo, Charlie must start tonight – his versatility will be needed, as I believe the game could change dramatically, depending on who scores first.
Cifti WILL start- hope Kris does also.
This is a time to put ALL ‘our eggs in one basket’ – if we win this tie, it will be because of tonight’s performance and result – let’s make the return a formality, and not a cliffhanger.
Hopeful, not confident – how can we be otherwise?
Hail Hail for a memorable and winning night.
THECLUMPANY…. better charge your iphone pronto my good man!!
Keep shining a light on our increasingly demented ‘press’
HH
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/noninvestigative-churnalism/
The latest from Phil.
.
ABBA ft AngeGers..
Owing me, Owing you (ah-haa)
There is nothing we can do
Owing me, Owing you (ah-haa)
We just have to face it, this time we’re through
(This time we’re through, this time we’re through
This time we’re through, we’re really through)
Breaking Gers up is never easy, i know but we have to go
(We have to go this time
We have to go, this time We know)
Owing me, Owing you
It’s the best we can do..
Summa of SevcoCSC
Anyone going to bv today. HH
Ole Mr Pastry, will be in his usual seat along with the Thompson Twins and Alfie Noakes.
His pre match ritual is washing his hair, a light meal, and listening to The Holy Ground of Glasgow Celtic
See Eee Ell Tee Eye See………Celtic csc
I’m nervous about tonight. I think it will be a bit like the Qarabag game.
I just hope Griffiths and Commons play some part.
Paul
Did you get my message ………………. when I called you last night from Glasgow? :-))
GER57 on 19TH AUGUST 2015 1:01 PM
Mr Pastry
You say you’re going tonight. Why not meet up with the bhoys at CQN corner (outside the Pools Office) so that we can see if you’re the real deal.
I think you’re a troll. Prove me wrong!
=========================================================
I don’t get involved in pen-pal clubs, knitting-bees or sweetie-wife gatherings.
Exactly what is a troll? Someone who disagrees with you?
Your input is less than puerile – if you disagree with anything, say so and why – that’s what grown-ups do.
You and Bobby Lennox’s Burnt Oot Slippers, have no input except name-calling and mud-slinging – grow up!!