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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CLOGHERCELT
Erm….
Priceless!
The thing that Disappointed me last night was not going for the third goal early on,apart from Johanson effort,we appeared to diliberately slowed the game down,keeping possession without causing them problems,I thought that another goal would had destroyed them.Overall we are better,we will qualify.HH
Just been spammed by The Herald.
Sixteen e-mails in about fifteen minutes on my works addy.
Kills a bitta time,I suppose…
For me, going to Malmo should be treated no differently than going to Pittodrie, or Tyncastle…. And domestically when we go to these grounds the general expectation is still to win.
Everyone from fans, management, players should in my mind view the game in Sweden as no more than a visit to pittodrie. And with the correct , positive mentality… A win is what will be secured.
That said, my prediction for Tuesday remains 2-2. Think it will be an open encounter.
drogheda (53 43N) is two degrees further north than Warsaw.
well done that clubs supporters.
I don’t think our away performance in Quarabag can be repeated…
They were a technical side, but all their play was in front of us.
Malmo are more direct. They play balls in to channels, and balls over the top of full backs.
Essentially we will need to play the same way as we did last night, discounting the Efe defending.
Just a very short time ago we are playing like we expect a goal to come.
This week we shoot oor load too quick and tire.
Only on cqn
coatbridge is further north than moscow, by a smidgeon of a degree/
Geordie Munro
50 Shades of Green:))
And I find it strange that Malmo have taken our disappointment as a guarantee they’ve already qualified for the next round.
Cheeky buggers!
Bring it on…!
VERY interesting….
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13616932.Fresh_concerns_over_Mike_Ashley_s_Rangers_retail_deal_as_Sports_Direct_goods_figures_emerge/
Swap Griffiths tor Hooper Norwich City must be kidding Griffiths everytime for me Hooper has in my opinion no unfinished business at Celtic. I would prefer if the want a swap offer Scepovic and Ciftci. H.H.
Saint Stivs,
Thanks for that.
It was the Padraigs Bus from Dublin. They dropped us off at Drogheda and then headed to Dublin.
A great trip, well managed and they couldn’t do more for us.
You have probably seen the banner from the Upper Tier at the Celtic end.
Highly recommended trip.
Clogher
I think what the last three games have shown is that our First Choice Xl is fine. We are actually a good team when they are all on the park at the same time. However, our back up players require improvement.
I would like to have seen more game time given to Stokes and young Fisher in particular. Ciftci is not ready at the moment, if he ever will be. Commons has had trouble with injuries and Tierney lacks experience at this level. GMS is finding his feet at this level and I thought he did OK when he came on last night. What we need is to have a short leet squad of about 16 players who can all play at this level. We could start with buying someone at left back who will put pressure on Izzy and compete with him for a place in the team. We’ve signed young Allan who is a creative player like Commons but it might be a wee while before he can play at this level. Let’s play him on Saturday and any other occasions before we play in Europe to nurse him along gradually.
I like Efe but I don’t think he has a future long term with us. Too many fans won’t let him forget Juventus. It was Neil Lennon’s fault for playing him that night. I love Charlie as well but he is the victim of bring a ‘utility’ player and hasn’t had the chance to settle in one position, develop and make it his own. There is constant debate on here about him being a centre back, left back or left or central midfield player. I think Charlie will go the way of Efe. I would never insult either by calling them deadwood. Boerigghter (sp) has to go. He’s a delicate floo’er and we’ll never get anything back for him. I would hold onto Scepovic as we don’t want to run into the same problems as we’re having at right back due to injuries and having sold Adam Mathews.
What I’m trying to say, I suppose, is that we need to loosen the purse strings to improve our squad by buying in players who have a serious chance of making the first team and moving on some of the players who are less effective on the big occasions.
Re Hooper, heard last night finalised this week mmmm….. Me, ambivalent, off to Belfast tomorrow morn. So, logging/lurking off.
NewLodgeCSC
SAINT STIVS on 20TH AUGUST 2015 7:09 PM
coatbridge is further north than moscow, by a smidgeon of a degree/
………………………….
I knew that and was thinking of changing my monniker to North of Moscow in a kind of South of Tunis sorta way since I’m a Coatbrig mhan.
clogher celt-Great to see you and the Bhoy enjoyed the trip,having never lived further than 10 miles from Celtic Park in my life,it’s easy to forget the lengths ,yourself and many other thousands go to,to support the team HH
My favourite football film,apart from the ones by MORAVCIK67. Most of you will have seen it,but always worth ninety minutes of your time.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2if9uf
I see the Malmo goalie is trying to wind us up for Tuesday, by calling us pigs …..last time I heard someone calling someone else a pig was in Primary School….hahahahahahaha
An awful lot of “what disappointed me about last nights game” ffs Lhads, give your heads a shake. we won!
What disappointed me though ; )
is that we still haven’t given Nir Bitton a new contract yet.
Get it Sorted!!
BTW, i’m very happy that we scored 3 goals last night, i’m also very happy that we won the game & i’m extremely happy that we’re still in with a good shout of qualifying for the Champions League group stage.
Oh aye, I am disappointed about 1 thing tho, i’m disappointed for Mikel Lustig. I almost shed a tear as I watched the guy break down when he realized the extent of his injury.
SwedeDreamsCSC
Hi, I seen one bookie had us at 8/15 to win, and Malmo at 7/4. Not being a gambling mhan, I am sure they favour us. HH
67 Heaven
Our players are pigs, our fans are sheep worriers and Swedes are turnips ……………. With a few notable exceptions of those who have worn the Hoops with distinction.:-))
Thanks Bada Bing, sorry didn’t see you at CQN corner, might see you in Dublin.
clogher
St Stivs
Moscow is in Ayrshire…
CC-HH
The67brigade
Those odds are to qualify.
They had Malmo as very slight favourites to win the match over 90 minutes though when I looked this morning.
Strange, as, if they win, they’ll probably be through, unless it’s by the odd goal in a high-scoring game of course.
Dortmund 3-0 down in EL to a Norwegian team.
We’ll beat them 1-2 over there
Just think, this is what we could be facing in the EU League…
@EuropaLeague: Well nobody saw this coming! Odd 3-0 Dortmund!
What a start by the Norwegian side… Can @BVB turn this around? #UEL http://t.co/5GygOOEIf9
Hi ghuys
I’m thinking of buying a free TV box to watch sports,movies,Sky,Netflix etc
Looking for some advice on which is the best one to go for,where to purchase it,and how much it will cost.
Any suggestions?
HH
Who could have possibly predicted the Britains foreign policy of destroying stable secular North African government would cause such an influx of migrants to Europe and the UK for help.
Me for one, he’ll mend you Cameron and yet followers.
And hell mend you toi
All quiet on Lustigs injury? Hopefully no news is good news.
Should we play with a back 5 Next week ?
Injuries to some key players may force a change on Ronny
Play a 5, 4, 1
Janko, Boyata, VVD, Mulgrew, Izzy
I would rather see Charlie inside Izzy in a back 5 than in midfield – also offers cover for Janko and Izzy to break forward, the Middle 3 hold position
Need to wait and see who’s fit for midfield
Biton and Armstrong may be struggling ?
Forrest, Brown, Biton ? (Johansen), Armstrong ? (Commons)
Griffith
All we need is a draw, we are through, let’s tighten up and ensure we get it
Hail Hail
A taster of Easter 2016, wait until you see next year,
http://youtu.be/Gcy6soYgaBU
Clogher,
All the other German teams should go through leaving Dortmund the Odd won out.
Loving the Greeks new strategy, got the money now screw the EU :)
Flood the market with Greek euros and watch the German banks panic.
Well,one thing’s as sure as Shell,whether you don’t rate us for the second leg,whether you think we’re ultimately too strong,whether we’ll stumble over the line in a war of attrition I know this,that which is posted on the ole bhlog will not make a blind bit of difference to what happens on the park!
Chill,Winston.