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 The meritocracy, which European football enjoyed in the 70s, has been replaced by Rule of the Rich, but these two clubs go head-to-head in what is an all-encompassing battle.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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Time to head up to Paradise.
COYBIG
Richie
I’m just leaving Stirling on the way to dunblane. Quick change of togs then straight out the door. Nae tea. I’ll just bite my nails all night!
This not working in Glasgow malarkey is heartbreaking!
HH jamesgang
PS tell Oldtim I said hi!
Big shout for Cloghercelt who makes his CQN corner debut tonight. He has done loads of work already to make Easter 2016 in Dublin so I am sure you will all give a Hail Hail and hearty welcome tonight around 7pm.
Belated thanks to those I met on Saturday and shared a few beers with.
On tonight’s match, I’d like us to play the skilful football we played in our last two league matches. I think we would rattle Malmö with such a positive approach. We obviously need to be alert defensively for the entire match. I’d like Griffiths and Commons to start. Three nil to the ghood ghuys would be a great result.
Looks like everyone has a ticket for tonight then.
I’ll wave it around a bit outside Lisbon Lions Stand until I either get wet, cold or fed up!!
The ticket that is!!
Hail! Hail!
anybody traveling from the east tale back on m8 crash
newhouse to bathgate
Leaving for the Gazebo in 45 minutes.
Mon the Hoops
2 hours still to go and its not going quick enough.
At least the line up is announced in about an hour and that will bridge the gap!
A few are certain starters but Ronny has some tough choices to make in a few positions.
Main one is probably Griffiths or Ciftci?
GMS or Forrest?
Or according to the rumour earlier, both of them?
Or perhaps neither of them?!
Just hoping whoever gets the nod really performs well tonight.
Too many didn’t play well v Qarab in Paradise.
Will a few more games together again have got them into the groove a little more?
Lets hope so!
COYBIG tonight; let’s do them! Hope a full house sees a great night.
HH
Gerry
Good evening friends from a regrettably extremely soaking and miserable looking East Kilbride, 8.74* miles from the centre circle.
Am a bovvered…. nah, can’t wait although have to rething the shorts and vest t-shirt plan ;-)
* – complete guesswork…
Gazebo 17.45
Gazebo 19.45
Just back in from our site in Consett
Where my scarf, I need to be somewhere
COYBIG
Hope both GMS & Forrest don’t start, the two of them on at the same time doesn’t work.
bournesouprecipe on 19th August 2015 5:55 pm
Gazebo 19.45
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/hareide-threat-comes-from-the-stands-not-celtic-players/comment-page-5/#comment-2656346
Beam me up Scotty!
:))
Gerry
Jamesgang
I’ll say hi to the auld yin for you.
BTW the queen of CQN is Dena :-)
Made the trip up from Midlands. Heading off to game in a min. Can’t wait.
Taking my 11 yr old daughter to her first taste of Celtic. This is what it’s all about!
Cmon the hoops!
HH
monsoon season in G66.
I played golf last night in shorts and sunglasses. Tonight I’m heading to Paradise dressed like a north sea trawlerman!
Anyway, for what’s it’s worth my prediction is a “Sporting Lisbon”. 5-0 in recognition of Lennybhoys big 5-0. It might not be 3 by half time though!
COYBIG
Jimbob71
Is that ticket still free?
I’m certainly in the mood for the game!
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/08/19/a-game-of-football/
I’m a nervous wreck. Been listening to Celtic songs all afternoon. If I’ve watched that youtube video posted by a Barca fan of Celtic v Barca I’ve watched it a dozen times! Really chokes me up.
COYBIG
jimthetim53 on 19th August 2015 6:15 pm
Got a link?
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
If you are stuck in a traffic jam on the M73, M74 or M8 heading to the game, please do not get out of your car.
You will get wet.
It’s raining.
Paul67 will have the live updates on here so you can keep upto date with the score
See you at half time
p.s. i have a spare brolly. i will leave it wedged into a half eaten pie outside the chippy on london road, first come first served
END OF ANNOUNCEMENT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plhcTycP9QE
There you go Gerrybhoy. hope that works.
Evening all, looks like heavy rain for the match. Does that favour either team?
Drove down sprinfield rd after work so now sitting in duke st with a cold beer waiting on my very good lady serving my dinner
Then a stroll in the rain to celtic park to watch a 2-0 victory to the bhoys
Gerrybhoy, see when the Barca fan types ‘Thank you Celtic’ at the end, it tells you everything about our supporters.
And you should read the comments, from all over the world, fans of numerous clubs enthralled at Celtic Park in big Euro. occasions.
Celtic team to play Malmo: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, van Dijk, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton; Forrest, Johansen, Armstrong; Griffiths.
AsPostedYesterday csc
[18:34, 19/08/2015] Celtic team to play Malmo: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, van Dijk, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton; Forrest, Johansen, Armstrong; Griffiths. #UCL (MH)
[18:36, 19/08/2015] Jack O Friel: Subs: Bailly, Ambrose, Ciftci, Commons, Mackay-Steven, Rogic, Mulgrew #UCL (MH)
jimthetim53 on 19th August 2015 6:26 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plhcTycP9QE
There you go Gerrybhoy. hope that works.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/hareide-threat-comes-from-the-stands-not-celtic-players/comment-page-5/#comment-2656359
Unfortunately It is blocked here in Germany but many thanks for the effort M8!
HH
Gerry
Griffiths and Forrest get the nod.
Pretty much the CQN consensus team.
Over to the players now.
If anyone wants to have a go after the match, now’s your opportunity to show off your credentials as a tactician.
Otherwise: Hold on with both hands.
Celtic at home, in Europe. Where else would you rather be?
A night for cool heads on the pitch, and off it?… fa night for quickened pulses and quicked nails.
Hail Hail
Leigh Griffiths Hattrick
Mon The Hoops!
Commons on the bench with Cifci, GMS and Rogic so plenty of options for Ronny in an attacking sense.
Overcrowded bus, big traffic jam on M80, pouring down, feckin’ horrible.
So why am I this excited?
Cannae wait.
Shaved,check
Tap,check
Tap,check,
Broon camouflage kegs,check.
Mon the Hoops!
Strong team picked, no complaints here, come on Bhoys, just do it. Mollicate them.
Teams picked, and in Ronny we trust! To everyone lucky enough to be at the game, support our Boys 100%. This Hareide guy needs to go home with tail tucked firmly between legs.
Great move with the camourflage kegs LENNON N MC….MJALLBY.
Just got 250-1 from PaddyPower for you to net the winner :)