Malmo worries over Celtic speed and height

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The sight of Mikael Lustig checking in at Glasgow Airport this morning was welcome, but we should be pragmatic, six days is little time for a hamstring to remedy itself from what was clearly a concerning injury on Wednesday. Mikael should go through some stringent tests tomorrow morning but if there is any doubt of his fitness, he should not be risked.

Football is a 13 or 14 man game. Ronny will want to make two, possibly three, fatigue or tactical changes. Losing a player early to injury would severely hamper his options, allowing Ronny only one change, if he wants to keep a sub for late game, or extra time, contingencies.  For what it’s worth, I believe the knocks taken by Lustig and Griffiths in the first leg cost us fresh legs, and ultimately territory, leading up to Malmo’s second.

Celtic’s perpetrations went a lot better than Malmo’s over the weekend. A comfortable win with what for all intents and purposes is our second 11, while Malmo put a full-strength team out, restored those suspended for last week’s Celtic game, and lost to lowly Hacken.

Journalists close to Malmo assure me the Swedes hope to tempt Celtic into an attacking formation, just as they did to Salzburg in the last round. Salzburg arrived full of confidence but were picked apart on the break. Celtic’s own pace on the break is one worry for Malmo, who want Celtic to play high up the field.  The other is defending set-pieces. Hacken, who don’t have the height advantage of Celtic, scored from a corner kick on Saturday.

Winning free kicks 30 yards from goal would be useful. This is Kris Commons territory. Kris knows how to put his body between ball and man, and wait for the barge, although James Forrest displayed the same tactical-awareness in the first leg.  I’d have Kris holding a training session tonight: “This is what to do with your first touch, this is where you put your bum, then wait….”

Protect the defence, break quickly through Forrest, Johansen and Griffiths, and allow van Dijk, Boyata, Bitton, Griffiths and Lustig/Ambrose to give Malmo something to worry about at set-pieces, and we’ll win this game.

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  1. Folks,Just to let you know..Tricoloured Ribbon who posts on here,was attacked in Derry last night …jumped him to take his phone,then severly beat him..He was left for dead..Someone goin to work this morning found him…The Wee man is in need of your prayers…

  2. embramike says "the Huns are Deid" on

    BT have won the contract for all European competition coverage from Sky.

     

     

    Game tomorrow on BT Europe (414) starting at 7:00pm for 7:45 ko

  3. coorslad on 24th August 2015 4:54 pm

     

     

    Folks,Just to let you know..Tricoloured Ribbon who posts on here,was attacked in Derry last night …jumped him to take his phone,then severly beat him..He was left for dead..Someone goin to work this morning found him…The Wee man is in need of your prayers…

     

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    Awful! Dear God I hope he will be alright.

     

     

    HH

  4. coorslad

     

     

    Terrible news, he was on here all day as well in great form.

     

     

    Our prayers and thoughts go out to him.

     

     

    Tricoloured Ribbon you will never walk alone mate.

     

     

    Starry P

  5. COORSLAD on 24TH AUGUST 2015 4:54 PM

     

     

    Folks,Just to let you know..Tricoloured Ribbon who posts on here,was attacked in Derry last night …jumped him to take his phone,then severly beat him..He was left for dead..Someone goin to work this morning found him…The Wee man is in need of your prayers…

     

     

    – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/malmo-worries-over-celtic-speed-and-height/comment-page-3/#comment-2660966

     

     

    Ffs, did they catch the scumbags? Dreadful news, pray he gets well soon HH

  6. An Tearmann B is indeed in Sweden having a beer with Tony Roper and Stephen Gallacher – name dropper. Mood in the camp is very positive. Hail Hail Hecelt – No it was’nt me who won!!!

  7. Just logged in to see this terrible news. I wish him Tricoloured Ribbon a full recovery and hope that the police get the people who have done this.

  8. Jude,

     

     

    Get one of the grand kids to show you how to work one of them newfangled papers.

     

     

    HH

  9. Bada..

     

     

    I’m looking for a bit of advice h&s related.

     

     

    I don’t want to post it.

     

     

    If any posters are lurking that have my addy or number could you forward it to bada. Thanks in advance. HH

  10. mike in toronto on

    Well lads,

     

     

    You will (hopefully) be pleased to know that I survived my diving course this weekend….

     

     

    As a result of some recent work in the St. Lawrence, the current was RIDICULOUS, and I ended up in the ER and having a few staples put in my head, after getting tossed about in the water, and hitting my head ….

     

     

    on the bright side, as a result of the blow to the head, I am now a happy clapper, and am expecting a comfortable away win tomorrow!

  11. mike in toronto on

    Just popped on and saw the news about Tricouloured …. thoughts and prayers for him and his family.

     

     

    ap0ologies for the timing of my last post …. didnt mean to be disrespectful to TR, and trust and hope that it will not be taken that way.

     

     

    HH

  12. MIKE IN TORONTO on 24TH AUGUST 2015 5:12 PM

     

     

    Being an avid scuba enthusiast and having my rescue divers ticket, I can assure you the wee scar will be a badge of honour.

     

     

    Word of warning, being underwater can be addictive. Often I feel more at home In the ocean than on terra firma.

  13. Coorslad

     

     

    Stupidly after reading your post I text D and then realised that of course he won’t have his phone!

     

     

    Please pass on our best wishes and assure him that we’ll be thinking about and praying for him.

  14. Just logged on and saw the terrible news about TCR. Here is to your

     

    speedy recovery comrade.

     

    HH

  15. Hamiltontim,after dancing on him they rifled his pockets…I work here in the hospital,and its as bad as ive seen..My heart is sore for the Wee Man and his family…

  16. Nye Bevans' rebel soldier on

    Coorslad…………….dreadful news, pass on my best wishes for

     

    a speedy recovery to Tricoloured Ribbon,hope the catch the

     

    evil bastards.

  17. Tri Coloured Ribbon

     

     

    Shame to hear that,

     

     

    scumbags,

     

     

    Hope he is ok.

     

     

    KLV

  18. Tricoloured Ribbon

     

     

    Get well soon, looking forward to seeing you post again, we’re all behind you.

  19. All being well, the team tmoro will ideally be:

     

     

    ——————C.Gordon——————

     

     

    Lustig. Boyata. VanDijk. Mulgrew

     

     

    ———-Brown. Bitton—————

     

     

    —Forrest. Johansen. Armstrong–

     

     

    —————Griffiths—————–

     

     

    That said, I too think Commons will have a big role to play. I’d bring him on for Armstrong around 60-65 mins… Think K.C is currently finding his match sharpness. And is almost there. Predict him to cause damage to Malmo deep into 2nd half.

  20. Dubaibhoy-Ur they still deid? on

    Burnley78 on 24th August 2015 4:41 pm That said re Beijing, seeing a 3 year old boy take dump, encouraged by his mum, in the equivalent of Buchanan street right outside the Prada store showed that there is still a way to go……go and finest would have been proud !

     

     

    ———————————-

     

     

    Doesnt sound like youve been to India yet…

  21. Shocking news about TCR. Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery and hope the scumbags who did this are brought to justice.

  22. glendalystonsils on

    I’ve been shocked out of lurking by the news on tricoloured. That could have been someone’s life………..for a feckin mobile phone…….?

     

    Dear God.

     

    Don’t know him other than through his posts but I hope he has a full and speedy recovery.

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