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 The meritocracy, which European football enjoyed in the 70s, has been replaced by Rule of the Rich, but these two clubs go head-to-head in what is an all-encompassing battle.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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http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/Quotes+-+About+Celtic
Bada,
How else is Allan gonna get a game? :))
67 European Cup Winners on 19th August 2015 2:19 pm 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
===========================
Was hoping for the signings of Hooper, Denayer and unnamed top European striker being confirmed but not even close;)
Still not sure I’d agree with bringing the wife mind you, unless she is fanatical:)
HH
Tallybhoy- you forgot wee Mariella Frostrup.
BSR,
Someone looking for a good picture of the badge on the Shawl.
https://twitter.com/DogsThe/status/633986986903269376/photo/1
Paul – Malmo – not Maribor tonight. Does anyone else read Paul’s work ? :)
Michu – Would be a great addition, but suspect he is too similar to Ciftci to be a serious consideration.
traditionalist88 on 19th August 2015 2:26 pm
Im afraid I cant share your enthusiasm for Hooper (loved him when he was here – but it never works when you go back!!)
Jason another story (conscious of contradicting myself) I would definitely have him back
As for his wife Im with you but I didn’t have the guts to say no way particularly as she reads this and she would come anyway ??
As for tonight – tight its always tight (Man U last night!) – but I think we will be stronger faster fitter and win
Hail Hail
67ECW
MNCELT,
Michu is a very good player but do you know who I’d take? And I’m sure I’ll get pelters for it…….Peter Crouch.
There. Said it!!
A midfield of : Forrest Brown Bitton Armstrong GMS
would be interesting. ( I am responding to the Joe Hansen on the bench rumour). I see Forrest Brown Bitton Joe Hansen Armstrong as the starting midfield.
JJ
67 European Cup Winners on 19th August 2015 2:36 pm
I look at Hoopers goalscoring record and would snap him up if we had the chance, not sure its a goer with his wages anyway though.
Enjoy anyway!
HH
GM- My take on the Scott Allan signing is Johansen is getting punted (no info btw),allied to Rogic getting gametime,after being well out the picture. .HH
Bada
Just been reading back
Well done pal
HH
Peter Crouch : only if his wife came with him.
HH.
WITH WEE OSCAR on 19TH AUGUST 2015 2:36 PM
MNCELT,
Michu is a very good player but do you know who I’d take? And I’m sure I’ll get pelters for it…….Peter Crouch.
There. Said it!!
During an interview
Q, what would you have been if you weren’t a footballer
PC, A virgin
HH
If that is our proposed midfield then I wouldn;t expect the full backs to get forward much.
LB
Work dragging in today. Torture. Canny wait to get to Paradise.
Brilliant to see my fellow Bankie resident Kilbowie Kelt posting. Would love to meet you for a blether KK.
Hail Hail
Paul,How dare you, Abba, were artistically unremarkable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyMXOlX6Ujw&list=RDRyMXOlX6Ujw
!!Bada Bing!!
Tom Rogic has been injured mate, chronic groin problems, obviously his Mum tortured him in Oz playing her old Abba albums..
Delighted to see Kilbowie posting. Missed you pal might even start posting a few more obscure ballads now.
The Swedes have annoyed me with their guff in the build up, hope we shut them up tonight.
In Croatia on holiday.
Asks barman at hotel
Where to watch game.
He says here. ??
I reply that Dynamo Zagreb also playing tonight.
Reply loosely translated to.
Ah that sh*te.
No one likes them here.
I’m on the coast.
If I dont get the game.
Please post updates as usual.
All welcome.
Come on the hoops!!
Paul67 et al
Of course back in the day we had the Beatles…..(that song about the submarine was a classic)
Not one to believe that the supporters win games, it has to be won on the pitch. And I think we have enough to do it. Our game is coming together, and we more than capable of scoring against Malmo. We have potential goalscorers in Michael, Dedryck, Virgil but not Izzy. Armstrong, Johansen and Brown could get a goal between them, as could Commons, Biton, Griff and Forrest. And for all you cynics out there, so could Ciftci. Again club rules apply, they don’t score they are out, job done.
Think tonight will be very close game with Celtic winning it 1 nil.
would love 2.but cant see it .
just knocking off from work for a few.
Enjoy the night Tims all over the world
Hail Hail
normanstreet49
I posted similar yesterday. Most people on the coast follow Hajduk but they are in the doldrums due to financial problems going back a few years.
Enjoy Croatia.
Paul67
“All three will start tonight for Maribor if fit.” Really. That pressure getting to you?
Best of luck to the Bhoys. I would take anything to nil tonight but hope for three or 4 nil.
I think they will be decent but they do not play in the atmosphere that CP can generate.
Mon the Hoops!
Hi bhoys,not posted for a bit but thot I’d share a rumour I heard! From same person who told me Adam was goin to Sunderland weeks before it happened and that scot Allan wasn’t goin to the dark side but to us!!!! Zlatan is a distinct possibility,depends on us gettin to group stages though
If big Zlatan signed for us the Herald would have it as sports article #10…just after the lawn bowls.
naeoffencetolawnbowlerscsc
Kilbowie Kelt
nice to see you posting again
Mon the Hoops tonight!
HH
bellshill tim
If you had posted both rumours you had heard previously you may just may have been taken seriously but Zlatan is on about £200k a week so there is no chance!
Sorry to rain on your parade.
HH
LB
Hrvatski Jim
Yes indeed. I’m down coast a bit at Cavtat.
Quite a lot if Glasgow bhoys and ghirls in hotel.
So here is hoping.
Fingers Crossed!!
HH.
Butsy
Thinking 2 or 3 nil to us tonight.
OverconfidenceCSC
SP-I know Rogic was injured,but he was oot the picture when he was fit.HH I like him,i think he’s a good player.
Bellshill Tim
Zlatan did say that his next move might be a surprise,or words to that effect a few weeks ago.He’s also on record stating how much he loved the atmosphere at CP.
If your correct.I’ll would walk all the way from Motherwell to give you a big smacker!
Ok maybe get the bus to Forgewood and walk the rest.
Weet-HH
Bad news Bhoys,Cammy Bell a doubt for Sevco tonight…..:}}
Celtic 3-2 Malmo
Malmo 0-2 Celtic
There we go.
HH
little rain shower already in G72
Nerves really kicking in now. Have dinner and then off to the game. No predictions from me but hoping that we can do it. We’ve grown accustomed in recent years to playing cautiously at home but just for once I would love us to go for it, get the crowd on their feet and absolutely annhilate the opposition.
Patience my ass. Let’s mollicate them.
Tommy Love, if you are logged in and fancy a pre-match pint, email me or post on Natims.
Ronnie