Although Celtic created the overwhelming majority of chances last night, they were punished for unforced errors. This is why Malmo are still in the tie.
Lots of positives were evident. Malmo could only foul James Forrest. He is fit and simply unstoppable. Celtic’s least effective periods of the game coincided with when they failed to get James on the ball. When he did get the ball, he often attracted three defenders, which curtailed his options but opened up space for others.
Next week James should find more space. Malmo’s main concern for the return leg will be how to cope with him.
Leigh Griffiths is on fire. He had no right to score his second goal, it was never his ball. The timing of his leap, combined with his reach and finish, were first class. He’ll fancy himself for a goal out there.
Our passing early on was as good as it has been all season but something went wrong, I think Scott Brown and Stefan Johansen’s roles changed. Scott bossed the opening 20 minutes but towards the end of the first half, a tension had crept in.
When our defenders had the ball at their feet, the options they had earlier simply weren’t there. Think back to the early moments when Scott dropped deeper than the two central defenders to give them options in possession. There was one occasion when Brown dropped to collect a forward pass from Boyata, before passing onto Forrest and then Armstrong, who carved an opening, all achieved without resistance. Our movement made Malmo look pedestrian. We lost our way when those options dried up.
We know what we will get from Forrest and Griffiths but the key three Celtic players next week will be Brown, Bitton and Johansen. Hareide criticised Celtic’s fitness, it’s certainly clear that the early pace we set was not maintained, although it could be argued that pace was impossible to maintain. If Brown, Bitton and Johansen have the stamina to cover the acreage they did for parts of the game last night, we will be comfortable in Sweden.
The major concern is the likely absence of Mikael Lustig. Efe and Dedryck both need immediately-available options in possession. It will be absolutely critical that they are not left to play long clearing balls forward. If this happens, we will invariably lose possession and Malmo will be able to build sustained attacks.
Ronny may decide to deploy Saidy Janko instead of Efe. Efe got the nod for the bench last night as we needed cover for both central defence and right back (he’s also convered left on occasion). None of us have enough information on Saidy to offer an informed opinion on this option yet, but he may be asked to step forward.
Malmo got as much out of last night’s game as was possible. They scored two goals and didn’t pass up a good chance. We have the lead and there’s nothing too worrying in what we saw from the visitors. They will play a different game at home, have more possession and create more chances, but Celtic will create lots of chances of their own.
There’s a hard 90 minutes ahead, but it’s in our own hands, and Ronny’s right, we can win out there. This tie has a Blackburn feel about it.
One for the golfers…….
Taggsybhoy is raffling a Round of Golf for 4 at the magnificent Aberdour Golf Course, where our annual CQN Golf Open takes place, to support his Great Scottish Run campaign in aid of the Celtic Foundation. The auction ends next week and you can bid on it here on ebay. Check it out, and check out what YOUR Foundation does as well.
This is a brilliant way to get involved and achieve something significant, well done to Taggsy for taking the initiative.
Thanks to everyone who donated as part of yesterday’s competition to win a Celtic Euro shirt, courtesy of Magners. Special thanks to the winner, Glasgowdave, for allowing us to auction the shirt at a later date. You’re not a bad lot.
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!!BADA BING!! on 20TH AUGUST 2015 9:29 PM
Cowiebhoy https://twitter.com/STVRaman/status/634453109113233408
No thanks
———————
Ditto! Big Mhan.
Time to go for me now. Night all. HH
Jimmynotpaul, I hope you and the family had a great time down in the Smoke.
A pal of mine was there 2 or 3 weeks ago and went to the Jam exhibition and met Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton. He thought they were lookalikes at but it was them.
Gordon Strachan used to be the pundit when Match of the Day 2 was first shown. His match analysis was far better than disco dansin and Lawrenson on match of the day.
I started to warm to him from then. Some of my pals give him grudging compliments when he managed us. They still disliked him from his Eberdeen days.
Gutted we lost that late goal but tbh I saw enough to convince me that we are more than capable of getting a result away from home.
How many times have I said that in the past before Euro away games? It wont stop me believing it though.
Thought we played the best football I’d seen at Celtic, for at least 10 years, in the 1st 10 mins. A bit of a concern though that again we lost 2 goals, something’s not right and I can’t put my finger on what it is . Ronny better start earning his pay and put things right. This could be a really good Celtic team, they just need to cut out the mistakes.
On another note love how the site now has a spellchecker.
jamesgang on 20th August 2015 9:32 pm
Literally lmao
husband thinks I have gone mad………….. madder
HH
We dismissed Ronny and Norwegian football as a pub manger in a pub league but look at Norwegian clubs in the Europa tonight, at a stage wehere all Scottish clubs have been eliminated.
Little Odd gave Dortmund a fright before losing 3:4.
Rosenborg beat Steau Bucharest 3:0 in Romania.
And Molde beat Standard Liege 2:0
Pub league, right enough, eh?
JIMMYNOTPAUL on 20TH AUGUST 2015 9:25 PM
Forgot to say I’m delighted that J.F. has found his form. He has so much ability now he has to produce it on a more regular basis.
Fingers crossed he remains fit and his confidence continues to grow.
Agree 100% so much potential if he can remain injury free
HH
HT
PFAyr, gave you the answer
I have also already quoted, it is more pace we need in the team.
I have a lot of sympathy in what St Stivs has been arguing all day
Forrest had a much better game, absolutely, but still created nothing, and forgets what to do when he reaches the box
Still he is getting confidence and playing better, hopefully goals may come
Who done better last night, Forrest or Berget ?
Hail Hail
THE67BRIGADE on 20TH AUGUST 2015 9:34 PM
Time to go for me now. Night all. HH
Goodnight KTF
HH
Jimmynotpaul, I meant to add the song sung about opposition players’ wives , was not one of my favourites in my teens .
EDDIEINKIRKMICHAEL on 20TH AUGUST 2015 9:37 PM
Gutted we lost that late goal but tbh I saw enough to convince me that we are more than capable of getting a result away from home.
How many times have I said that in the past before Euro away games? It wont stop me believing it though.
Thought we played the best football I’d seen at Celtic, for at least 10 years, in the 1st 10 mins. A bit of a concern though that again we lost 2 goals, something’s not right and I can’t put my finger on what it is . Ronny better start earning his pay and put things right. This could be a really good Celtic team, they just need to cut out the mistakes.
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You just put your finger on it
“cut out the mistakes”
HH
Jimmynotpaul-cheers,hope you are well HH
Are you all texting each other now saying let’s wind up saint stivs.
James nae goals, nae assists, to play up front now.
Only me and RWE knows anything about fitba.
If we had played out a 0-0, with James putting in the same display, everyone would see the reality.
His improvements ?
He ran at defenders and kept them busy.
Big wow ee
Dallas.
That’s a great story about Weller and Foxton. Did your pal ask them if they were lookalikes?
We had a great time, thanks. Managed to fit Loads in, London eye and the attractions beside it, Windsor, Natural History museum,which was mobbed, even at 10.00a.m. on a Sunday morning. Huge queue for it opening, even managed Chesington world of adventure.
Chalkie junior going to Brighton for two week trial, once paperwork completed.
Cowiebhoy on 20th August 2015 9:40 pm…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Who done better last night, Forrest or Berget ?
For me Forrest,,,,,,,
Berget got lucky , twice……..
HH
SFTB, as Corkcelt said the other day, pub team pub league are very annoying terms and extremely disrespectful.
How many of us get annoyed when people in England look down their nose at us, football wise.
The Norwegian league does have an advantage playing summer football but the above results deserve respect.
San sabastion, Amsterdam, OK not many to write home about,, Great nights, great support.. Stopped in San sabastion year later on route to Lisbon..lining the street to wave our buses though
Keep the faith
.See you all I’m Rome v Lazio..
dena29
Thank you so much for that response. You know how to make an happy mhan feel old, oooooppppssss sorry, an old mhan feel happy. And you have. HH and KTF.
Pfayr/Cowiebhoy
He’s clearly fitter than he’s been for some time but as you say his confidence still has a way to go.
My thinking is that if he can find space up top in the channels and get get up a head of steam, Malmö will back off, we’ve seen him do it before. They then risk conceding a penalty.
It’s just a thought.
Dena29/Saint Stivs.
That’s the beauty of football, we all have our opinion and can all see it differently.
I’m firmly in the J.F. had a good game gang.
Southampton draw 1-1 at home with some Danish outfit I can’t pronounce nae spell
Dena
I wish Forrest had got lucky twice :-)
Hail Hail
PS, for the sake of repeating myself, as it stands we are through, a draw enough next week,
Get pace and hit them on break, and we will go through
The Griff or Hooper.
It’s a no brainer for me.
The Griff all day long.
He will only get better, the Hoop won’t, IMO :-)
………………..
PF
The subs last night were enforced on RD, SA signaled to come off, LG got a knock, & ML did what he does.
What it does show that we are very weak apart from our best 11.
HH
HT
I wish we could find another McAvennie, now there was pace for Centre forward
Hail Hail
TET
I agree the subs were enforced …who we chose to bring on wasn’t
No point debating with the benefit of hindsight …however we will struggle in any CL game when our team contains Ciftci, GMS and Ambrose on current form
Cowiebhoy on 20th August 2015 9:40 pm –
Who’d you rather have in your team? I know who I’d rather have. I thought Forrest was excellent last night. OK things didn’t always work out . Someone posted this morning that his pass rate was over 90% successful on the occasions he chose to pass, not a bad ratio for me. How old is he? Who’s academy produced him? Isn’t this the thing we have all been shouting about. Produce our own and have them regular 1st teamers by age 22 or punt.
Frankie bhoy..Now were talking..
Jimmynotpaul, London is a great place to visit. So much to see and do but at some expense.
He didn’t ask if they were lookalikes as he saw some what looked like security talking to and hanging about them.
Good news about young Lee. I hope it works out for him.
Don’t like to undermine a Celtic player, however Ambrose is not good enough
I would cash in James now.
Sorry, he in never gonny be sammi, or even mcgeady.
Stokes is more productive.
Let the bhoy go now.
You just put your finger on it “cut out the mistakes”
Dena,
Proper lol there :)
HH
Cowiebhoy
Macca would be worth £20m in today’s money. Just so long as we didn’t have to pay alimony for all his ex’s :-)
H.T.
Your idea about J.F up front is not the worse, a role Joe Miller played well.
My thoughts are if L.G. and J.F. both don’t play the team will be weakened. So it’s the Griff up top for me.
Saint stivs
Stokes ???
You on the crystal meth :-))
Pretty frustrated about last night.
Before last night I was 100% behind Ronnies tenure. But during last nights showing I became extremely frustrated as the first half wore on for many reasons.
They were extremely poor and an opportunity was missed.
After the 2 goals and Johansons attempt we sat back
They would play better in the second half ( they couldn’t have been poorer )
We showed no urgency to finish the tie
Probably the most damming element was Ronnie accepting the mental approach ( not physical ) by the players in the second part of the first half. Would loved to have seen him screaming to up the speed/ tempo while the opportunity was obviously there. Nothing changed at half time when experience should have told him they would improve ( they could not have got worse) although at the end of the game in his interview he stated he asked for more of the same from the players and that he did not warn them to expect Malmo to come out and have a go at them. I find that strange as if I was Malmo manager that is exactly what I would be saying ( I believe he urged them to show more aggression which was evident ).
Still hope for a result in Sweden but really thought the tie was there to be won last night and a real opportunity missed by both players and management team.
Hail! Hail!
COWIEBHOY on 20TH AUGUST 2015 9:53 PM
Dena
I wish Forrest had got lucky twice :-)
Hail Hail
Me too…….. hopefully its Jamesies turn to get lucky next week
KTF
HH
Thought Forrest was excellent last night. I think that the difference this time is that he has been allowed to recover properly from a number of injuries over a lengthy period. Ronnie would appear to have him prepared to hopefully peak for the two games we are in the middle of. Too often in the past he has been coming back far too early not fully fit .He will be vital to the outcome next week. Confident we will go through.
Sorry Dena, We did not meet up. We were sitting in the restaurant area, maybe next time I will post you.
Clogher