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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487 Comments

  1. Good night all

     

    for anyone in need of a hug

     

    You got it \ 0 / :)))))

     

    still highly confident we will progress tomorrow,

     

    even if we dont ,

     

    THERE ARE WORSE THINGS IN LIFE.

  2. PAUL67

     

     

    Hope this suggestion doesn’t overstep the mark

     

    As you’ve probably read about the sad and unfortunate situation TCR (and his family) find him/themselves in

     

     

    Would it be any assistance to his family for a donation, I don’t know his work situation but he could be out of pocket.which would make it an even worse situation ( they find themselves in)

     

     

    I do not intend to offend or embarrass anyone

     

    just know from personal experience not only recovering from the ordeal itself, but it’s compounded if the guy is self employed. Hope this comes across the way it’s intended

     

     

    Let me know if indeed I / we can help

     

    God bless TCR :(

     

     

    Need to go I’ll pop back on tomorrow and get the general concensus.

  3. Melbourne Mick on

    Hello again all you young rebels.

     

     

    Not been blogging much lately but always lurking and still

     

    loving all the word interplay from the usual good ghuys

     

    but too many professional agitators have appeared and we

     

    all know the reason for that but on reading about TCR’S

     

    vicious assault i had to respond to offer some sympathy to

     

    him and his family.

     

    Hope you are well soon wee mhan and these scumbags are

     

    found and given the type of punishment they deserve.

     

    H.H Mick

  4. i hadnt seen this before , ffs, i coulndt make this up. just searching you tube

     

     

    so it starts with paulie walnuts introducing basildon bond trying to find the door into the interview, then a 18 minute interview with Jim Oin,

     

     

    just watch the first 2 minutes,

     

     

    i am doubled up laughing here.

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqju-zBjMI4

  5. THIS IS A MUST WATCH – GET IT VIRAL – THE BREID MAN LOVES RA CELTIC

     

     

    on the back of SCOTT ALLAN IS A FENIAN.

     

     

    you timternet faceachers and instaroids,

     

     

    get this out there

     

     

    MARK WARBUTON LOVES CELTIC.

     

     

    his magic hat was a hooped tammy.

     

     

    he got it from his granny

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmr9kCEQUvU

  6. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    I logged on for a quick lurk before my first bullshit conference of the day and immediately saw posts about TCR being viciously attacked last night. Very sad news indeed.

     

     

    TCR, I met you at the Hootenanny in McChulls and enjoyed beers and maybe some drams with you and 16 Roads. I hope you make a very speedy recovery and justice is doled out to the cowards who committed this horrific crime.

     

     

    HH TCR You are CELTIC and we are all with you.

  7. Donation to family is good idea. Maybe wait thou until coorslad or someone has an update.

     

     

    Hopefully the police or the community catch up with the vermin going round attacking people for no reason.

  8. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    Just logged on,and read the awful news from COORSLAD about TRICOLOUREDRIBBON.

     

     

    Get well soon,mate. We’re all rooting for you.

     

     

    Once you’ve recovered,you can get a smattering of yer many pals together to dish out some summary justice,see how brave the scumbags are then.

  9. weet weet weet(GBWO) on

    Saint Stivs

     

     

    Quality mate

     

     

    Up there wi newco playing as a sideshow USA

     

     

    Was more people at the Dodgers

     

     

    HH ;))

  10. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    On the game tomorrow I’m not overly concerned. We were by far the by far the better team last week and I don’t see it being any different tomorrow. I’d like our defenders to focus on defending though, rather than rampaging up the park at every opportunity. Let our midfield and Griff deal with the business end, make sure we don’t concede and we can stick it right up the mouthy Swedes.

     

     

    We should have buried them last week, we can do it tomorrow.

  11. Just back from 3 day wedding in London. totally knackered. Decided to have a quick lurk before hitting the bed and read about the terrible assault on our friend Tri-coloured Ribbon. Had to come on to send a message of support, hopefully lads who know him will keep us up to date on his condition. God Bless you comrade I hope you make a full and speedy recovery and hope the scum bags that attacked you will get their just desserts.

  12. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    TRICOLOUREDRIBBON.

     

     

    What to say to you……………….apart from the fact that so many of your fellow Tims worldwide are thinking about you and wishing you a swift recovery.

     

    That speaks for itself.

     

    Slainthe.

  13. Neil Lennon & McCartney on

    MIKE IN TORONTO on 24TH AUGUST 2015 8:13 PM

     

     

    I will not rest however until I have seen a whaleshark in the wild …

     

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

    Donsol, Philippines, is probably one of the few places in the world that can offer an almost assured whale shark sightings during the season. In the months of November through June whale sharks converge in the Donsol bay and stay for 6 to 7 months feeding on the rich nutrients coming out of the mouth of the Donsol river. With simple snorkelling equipment, you will be awestricken by the grandeur of these animals. If you doubt your swimming skills, do not fret – just slip on a life vest or request for a personal guide before you head out to sea. The Whale Sharks swim from surface to mid-water and with their size, they are hard to miss. The Whale Sharks are friendly to human beings and they will love your admiration. Just remember not to scare them away by touching or harassing them. Give them the respect they deserve, and they will make sure that your visit will be one that is worth a lifetime!

     

     

    Read more…. http://www.donsolecotour.com/whaleshark-interaction/

  14. I have been off board for a few hours and trying to catch up. I have many pages ahead to scroll through ..

     

     

    Shocked at the news about Tricoloured Ribbon.

     

     

    Get well please.

     

     

    YNWA

  15. Neil Lennon & McCartney on

    Shocking news aboutTricoloured Ribbon ~ may he have a quick and full recovery from this cowardly attack.

     

     

    YNWA

  16. the glorious balance sheet on

    Tricoloured Ribbon

     

     

    Hope you get well soon and that your assailants get their come-uppance.

     

     

    Look forward to reading your posts again in the future.

  17. All the best to Tricoloured Ribbon and his family. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

     

     

    HH,

     

     

    CaliBhoy

  18. I am a big fan of Lustig.

     

    But

     

    (You were waiting for that)

     

    If there is the least doubt that he can survive the full 90 minutes, then he shouldn’t be chosen.

     

    They brought a wee threat down our right flank last week with the full back overlapping.

     

    We need to shore up the defense on the right.

     

    So if there are any fitness questions he must not take part.

     

    My only concern is that James is not keen to track back and help out the full back.

     

    So should we field Janko or Fisher, James must be encouraged to do his bit at the back.

     

    Brown needs to be on his case whenever they are on the offensive.

     

    We can’t afford any lapses in concentration.

     

    Focus and we will win comfortably.

  19. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    `GG

     

    Talking about Broonie.

     

    I hope Ronny has warned him that the wee Latino nigglers will be right on his case.

     

    Keep the heid,Broonie.

  20. I’m expecting Ronny has ordered Brown to screw the nut.

     

    I want him to be aggressive but controlled.

     

    I don’t think he knows any other way to play.

     

    That’s why he’s our captain.

  21. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    The world should rejoice at the death of one of history’s sickest bitches. This sick twisted maniac should have been drowned at birth.

     

     

    http://time.com/4007737/ieng-thirith-khmer-rouge-obituary/

     

     

    I hope her last years were agony and her last hours were painful.

     

     

     

    Evil bitch, although technically she died innocent

     

     

     

    I hope if there is a hell she is rotting in it now.

  22. I have watched Ronny’s press conference four times now, and quite frankly, I think that the man is a bag of nerves – although he is trying his best to hide it.

     

     

    He knows that this is his acid test, and he is like ‘a rabbit in the headlights’ – I know English is not his first language, however I have never heard him so unintelligible.

     

     

    Of course it is the players who have let him down, when ‘the chips are down’

     

     

    Ronny constantly ‘talked-up’ the treble last season, only to be ‘shot in the foot’ by the team at Hampden against ICT – the result should have been a forgone conclusion in the first-half. Having witnessed that, and the capitulation at Kilmarnock, together with the second goal fiasco last week – he must know that these players cannot be trusted – no wonder he is a bag of nerves.

     

     

    Those on here ‘shouting the odds’ about a Celtic two goal victory tonight, are merely ‘whistling in the dark’ in a display of unfounded bravado – I fear that we will be ‘put to the sword’, because basically the players don’t believe in themselves and the team is riddled with frailty and naivety – only pray that we don’t get another Neuchatel Xamax/Artmedia debacle – it could well be.