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 The meritocracy, which European football enjoyed in the 70s, has been replaced by Rule of the Rich, but these two clubs go head-to-head in what is an all-encompassing battle.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.
245 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- »
C,mon Celtic and everybody in the stands give it laldy
Hail Hail.
Let the poeple sing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&feature=related&v=zhkdy0AOpaM
4-1 to the HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPS
.
Courtesy..When Saturday Comes..
Celtic must alter mindset to get games they crave
Scottish champions find it hard to rise to Europe’s challenges
Celtic play Malmo tonight in the first leg of the final Champions League qualifying round and the Scottish champions are desperate for a chance to prove themselves against Europe’s elite in the group stage. For the fans, such matches are the perfect antidote to what has been an infamously predictable domestic league. Players such as Dedryck Boyata were attracted to the club by the opportunity to play in the competition. And playing in the group stages can boost Celtic’s annual income by about a third, while also earning other Scottish top-flight clubs a handy solidarity payment.
Malmo are currently fifth in the Swedish league, and Celtic have improved significantly since they failed spectacularly at the same stage a year ago when new manager Ronny Deila had just arrived, but it won’t be easy for tonight’s hosts. It doesn’t help that Malmo are in the middle of their season, but the real issues are with Celtic’s consistency.
While they combine strength and creativity in midfield, it’s not clear who should start up front. Deila has favoured new signing Nadir Ciftci as a lone striker in Europe so far. Ciftci holds the ball up well, which was key in a nervy 1-0 aggregate win over Qarabag from Azerbaijan in the previous round, but he hasn’t scored in any of his first four games in green and white, all of which have been in Europe because he’s suspended in Scotland. Most fans would rather see the more creative Leigh Griffiths playing, but Deila doesn’t seem convinced that he’s suited to the lone striker role in Europe.
Meanwhile, centre-backs Boyata and Virgil van Dijk are clearly talented but, at 24, neither is the finished article and both are caught out of position too often, as is attack-minded left-back Emilio Izaguirre. In each of their last two league games, against Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Kilmarnock, Celtic have conceded twice. In most domestic games, they create many chances and only convert a few.
In recent years, Celtic haven’t been significantly punished in Scotland for such profligacy and defensive carelessness. Europe is very different. Assistant manager John Collins was characteristically frank recently when he tried to convey the challenges of competing at two very different levels. He said: “Sometimes, we switch off and think it doesn’t really matter, because they (other Scottish teams) aren’t going to punish us. If you become open and detached from each other against good players and good teams, you’ll be punished. No disrespect to the other Scottish teams, but they’re not clever enough players or quick enough players to punish us.”
Understandably, Collins’ comments were criticised by many people in the Scottish game, including Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes and Dundee manager Paul Hartley, while Kilmarnock used them as inspiration to draw with Celtic. But they illustrated clearly the challenge that Celtic face. If the Champions League anthem is to be played regularly at Celtic Park this season, they’ll need more discipline, focus and concentration against Malmo. There’s a lot at stake, and it’s finely balanced. Both matches should be exactly the sort of dramatic nights the fans crave more of. Mark Poole
Summa
I got a phone call last night from my long-time CQN lurking wee brother, to tell me that my fellow Bankie, Terry Mac, had posted expressing concern for my well-being in the light of my absence from CQN.
I just want to thank Terry for his kindly concern & to assure him that I am in rude good health, apart from the old legs having decided that the local hills have become a lot tougher than they used to be & have conceded defeat… I didn’t like going up hills anyway.
:¬ (((
The Wee Brer also said that a couple of other posters had made kindly remarks.
My heart-felt thanks to them as well.
_______________________
On a more serious note, I am as excited & nervous as a child about tonight’s vital encounter.
_________________________________________________
‘Abba, were artistically unremarkable’
– this place is really goin’ to the ole dogs, postin’ that kind of pash.
So i say thank you for the music the songs we’re singing
Thanks for all the joy we’re bringing
Who can live without it I ask in all honesty what could it be
Walk on and zadoc the priest its to be do I say thank you for the music for giving it to me
Grumphy Auld Kilbowie Kelt
Made my day that has:)
Ye’ve been missed.
Hail Hail fae the Always Green Valley
SP
I know its been played often ,
Turn up the volume to 11 and you will be ready for action :))))))))))))))))
Celtic
by Moravcik67
https://vimeo.com/10234202
12th mhanCSC
Pedro set to sign for Chelsea.
Anybody else sad to see a nice couple of Catalan lads like Cesc and Pedro having to play Mourinho-ball?
.
Thinks i Hate..
1. Vandalism..
2. Irony..
3. Lists..
Summa
Kilbowie Kelt
good to see you
HH
Having previously injured his toe by dropping an IKEA cupboard on it (probably a Billy one), ole Kris Commons is hoping tonight’s Swedish challengers do not play with a flat pack four.
…………he looked so remarkably frightful as he bummed a cigarette, then he went off sniffing drainpipes and reciting the alphabet….
defo my fav Abba song.
or some guy from Hibs…or Hibbing cant remember..
Anyroads I cant wait till kick off, so looking forward to this one.
ABBAsolutely brilliant post Paul67.
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do believe this guy is going On and On and On. The Visitors’s haven’t a clue about the Name of the Game as they will be Under Attack from the 1st minute and theie SOS will not just Rock Me but it will Ring Ring around the stadium. I truly hope this guy can Move On after tonight while we runaway with all the money Money Money or should I say Peter The Piper runs away with it. We Griffiths says Take A Chance On Me and if Ronny does then One of Us, If Not Both, will be the Dancing Queen. Knowing Me Knowing You I think that is you though. This guy is seriously Disillusion-ed and Chiquitita we’ll Dance (While the music still goes on) into the Summer Night City. like Super Trouper’s after our Soldier’s see yer man in their dugout shouting it’s Slipping Through My Fingers. He’ll be asking, Should I Laugh Or Cry?, by the time the 90 is up. My only worry is the Man In the Middle. But My Mama Said People Need Love so let’s go set his Kisses On Fire.
That’s Me
MWD said AYE
roamer
usual suspects will be in BV from 3.30pm
all welcome
Feeling pretty confident.
Get this mob pumped and shut their manager’s big mouth whilst we’re at it.
3-0 Celtic
itsabouttim
Kerrydale Bar
@KerrydaleBar
We’re open from 5pm this evening, closed post match. Open to all match ticket holders, first come, first serve. Thanks (HR)
SYD NEGAKEV on 19TH AUGUST 2015 1:34 PM
That made me both groan and laugh. :-)
just to confirm what leftie just posted
I’ve just received confirmation via twitter from Celtic that Kerrydale opens at 5pm..
Lashing from the heavens here in Derry and it looks as though the west of Scotland is going to get it later.
Would love a 1-0 but I have a feeling we will concede.
‘ Finally, a recurring sketch in the second season of the comedy sketch show Hipphipp! involved a group of Malmö FF fans singing and chanting while performing everyday tasks, such as shopping or operating an ATM.’
DBBIA/SagaNorenCSC
I wonder if the CP DJ will play a selection of Abba tunes before the game.
But which to play when we score?
Winner takes it all?
We hope tonight that each Celtic player gives his best we dont want passengers we dont want loss of concentration and we will see if that is good enough to get a decent win over the Swedes. The Swedes seem to be a pretty confident lot so will probably be competent and difficult to beat.However,I believe many Celtic fans want to see competitive matches and not the poor fair served up by most SPL clubs the fans tonight can make the atmosphere something special that the Swedes wont have come up against before.So com on Celtic lets make it a night to remember for all the right reasons.H.H.
Great article Paul.
Quick question – HB junior is on holiday in Croatia. Does anyone know a bar in Split to watch the game tonight?
HH
MWD – excellent
Let’s hope Malmo play Andante, Andante tonight.
Hareide may be at the ole mind games or he may genuinely have been fooled by our lacklustre performance in the Kilmarnock game, which he attended.
Either way, let’s show him the real Celtic with the team AND the support blowing them back to Sweden, sadder and wiser.
What was the crowd last time Helsingborg played us? Low 40k or less? I don’t think Malmo are prepared for this. Strange noises from them and their coach makes previously unheard of comparisons between Nordic sides and us. He clearly doesn’t know or understand the size of Celtic. He particularly doesn’t get that our support takes it personally if you make snide remarks. A couple of mistimed tackles from th could unleash Celtic Park at its best.
It’s to pish later. Floodlights rain teaming down crowd in full voice goose bumps
HB
Try – https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pub-Irish-Pub-Split/106250512779595?ref=nf
It is often difficult to get a Celtic game out there are they gravitate to Italy/Germany/Austria/Serbia teams but he should check here first.
HRVATSKI JIM
Cheers for that. Have passed on your advice.
HH
I noticed highlights are on ITV at 10.40……..i thought BT were keeping it all to themselves.
Rumour from a reliable guy on Huddleboard,saying Johansen on the bench…….canny see it masel
Wey hey
A post from kk
Chuffed csc
!!Bada Bing!!
I can
Gordon
lustig boyata vvd izzy
Gms brown bitton Armstrong
Commons
Griff or Ciftci
.
!!BADA BING!! on 19TH AUGUST 2015 2:10 PM
Rumour from a reliable guy on Huddleboard,saying Johansen on the bench…….canny see it masel
..
He has been Needing Benched for about a Month..Will do Him good..
He is Believing last Years Hype too much..
Summa
Hope to repeat this rant tonight:
“Age Hareide, Roald Dahl, Henrik Ibsen, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Edvard Munch, Liv Ullmann, Roald Amundsen, Leit Eriksson, Thor Heyderdahl, Vidkon Quisling, John Carew, Henning Berg, Nils Arne Eggen, Tore Andre Flo, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Egil Olsen, John Arne Riise, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Fred Olsen, John Fredriksen, Mona Grudt (Miss Universe 1990!)…
…your boys took a hell of a beating!!”
God bless Ronny Deila, Harald Brattbaak, Vidar Riseth and Thomas Rogne!
HH!!
Bada Bing
If that is true,and I hope not,it could mean we are going 442Griffith and Cifti ?.
traditionalist88 on 19th August 2015 12:23
Sorry for late reply – sadly nothing more than
Can we meet Tuesday
Watch game with lots of beer
Is it OK to bring wife
67ECW
leftclicktic-fanadpatriot-He says Brown,Bitton central,GMS and Forrest wide of them,look far too open for my liking,but it’s only a rumour……
I know all those I mentioned are Norwegian, but so is that bawbag Hareide!
Square go wae Ronny in the tunnel!
HH!!