The rare joy of Swedish football

1341

I’ve only seen a Swedish team play live on two occasions, the national team, at Hampden, twice. The first was in 1977. Kenny Dalglish was still very much a Celtic hero at the time but back then I was captivated by Ronnie Glavin, who, for me, provided as much thrill as his more celebrated team mate.  Ronnie was subbed early in the second half but it was Joe Craig who made the headlines after coming on as a late substitute to make his international debut.

I was far back in the Celtic end but memories of Dalglish crossing from the right wing and Joe stooping low to head into the net from close range – his first touch of the ball – remain vivid.

I’ve a few great Swedish football memories of TV coverage: Gothenburg in the 1986 European Cup semi-final against Barca.  The Swedes were 3-0 after the first leg but wilted in Catalonia and lost out on penalties.  The neutrals were disappointed.  Gothenburg fared better the following season, edging Dundee United in the Uefa Cup final (I was disappointed again).  Heady days for both.  I recall cheering the same team on in a Champions League qualifier during our barren 90s, when European pleasure was taken second hand.

There are some who would tell you Swedish football is in dire straits.  Gothenburg, once the regional superpower, are currently 11th in the league, but Sweden has a rare joy, a league title competed for by up to a dozen teams.  The Allsvenskan has produced seven different champions in the last seven years, in fact, it is a bit like Scotland, without Celtic or former club Rangers (remember them?).

Clubs live within their means, have an absolute connection to their communities and thrive knowing that genuine talent will be rewarded with a league title. Aspirational Scottish clubs must dream of this status….

Looking forward to tomorrow night. The script is written for Tony Watt to ‘do a Joe Craig’.

A couple of administrative notes:

Some of you will have received automated emails relating to your CQN user accounts today.  We discovered password requests waiting in a queue.  If you are already registered please ignore.

Twitter changed their application rules last week causing display problems for several readers.  We hope to have the problem resolved soon but if you clear your cached files, or try from a different browser, you should have no problems.

Next edition of CQN Magazine will be with you shortly.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

1,341 Comments
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. ...
  10. 36

  1. Boom!

     

    mick11:52 on 28 August, 2012

     

    >>>>>>>>

     

    At the risk of sounding flippant, but what the hell, I’d recommend Duff&Phelps….looks like you could make a fortune there,even as the office gofer,if their latest accounts are anything to go by.

     

    Have you seen their per diem rates for doing the most lowly of tasks?

     

    Staggering.

     

    And why not screw rfc(almost liquidised) for whatever….everybody else is.

     

    The only bods gettin’ nada are the creditors….right down to the face-painter owed £40.

     

    We should have a collection…..pay her,and a wee bit on top for interest,and shame the ***** out of them.

  2. Jeezo! What’s going on today? A million new CQNers and 7 e-mails telling me I’ve requested a change of password. Have you got an answer Paul?

  3. JinkyvJohnGreig-saysitall on

    “Bathgate no more, Lewis no more, Irvine no more, the huns, no more”.

     

     

    Proclaimers CSC

  4. The absolute best Swedish player I’ve ever see, without a doubt, belter of a goalscorer…gem of a mhan….hero and star, god-like status assured, is………

     

    : > )

  5. leftclicktic

     

     

     

    12:09 on 28 August, 2012

     

     

     

    Thegreenfaerie , JJP-ON & IPN5

     

    welcome aboard

     

     

    squire danaher & Arizona Lennon Bhoy

     

    Welcome BACK :))))

     

    ———

     

     

    TimJim

     

     

    10:22 on 28 August, 2012

     

     

    Not been able to get into the site for three days( tweet tweet tweet).Whats been wrong??????????????

     

     

    Had same prob

     

    Google Chrome …HAD IT :))

     

    Finally got someone to “clear memory cache”(coz im hopeless with computers) SORTED INSTANTLY :))

     

    No more withdrawals. ps now know how to Clear memory cache :)) wooohooo

  6. Lots of people who are hopeless with computers know ONLY how to clear memory cache.

     

    So I’m told.

  7. Paul67

     

     

    I cant believe you have not mentioned Subo singing tomorrow night!

     

     

    Murphy going on a season loan to Ipswich.

  8. Podium chasers…. shameless!

     

     

    Another new user – long time lurker – but glad to be on the best Celtic site around.

     

     

    Thanks to Paul for fixing my access and no, I’m not a hun!!

  9. Following the Joey Barton chat yesterday.

     

     

    QPR midfielder Joey Barton says he is “heartbroken” after revealing his proposed move to Marseille is on the brink of collapse.

     

     

    The controversial midfielder was hit with a 12-match ban by the FA following his red card at Manchester City on the final day of last season and has looked to be on his way out of Loftus Road ever since.

     

    The 29-year-old has been stripped of the captaincy by R’s boss Mark Hughes and was not even given a squad number, suggesting an exit was imminent.

     

    He spent part of the summer training with League 2 side Fleetwood Town, before reports emerged of a surprise potential move to Ligue 1 giants Marseille.

     

    Barton took to Twitter over the weekend to reveal his excitement at the potential transfer, admitting his ‘heart’ was already at the Stade Velodrome.

     

    However, he has now taken to the social networking site once more to reveal that the deal is now off, saying:”Doesn’t look like this Marseille thing is gonna happen now. Whatever doesn’t kill you make you stronger.

     

    “Why can’t things just be simple.

     

    “Maybe this is time to dumb down and be dishonest. It seems to take you a long way in this game.”

  10. We do we not just release D.Murphy from his contract? Presumably Ipswich will be paying part of his salary, but why hold onto him at all. He clearly has no future at CP.

  11. galbhoy 75

     

     

    Is that me exposed? My head’s hanging in shame! Truth is I was writing my post when the new article was posted… so i took a chance. Never had the podium before so I can die happy now. ;-)

  12. PAOK Salonika and Rapid Vienna have been hit with suspended one-year bans by UEFA after crowd violence before their Europa League play-off match.

     

     

    The Greeks won the first leg 2-1 after clashes between rival fans during the warm-up. The return leg is on Thursday in Austria and will now be played behind closed doors.

     

    PAOK will have to play their next three European home matches behind closed doors and have been fined £120,000, while Rapid have been fined half that figure.

     

     

    The one-year ban on the clubs is suspended for three years and allows the winner of the play-off to continue playing in this season’s Europa League.

     

     

    But both teams will be suspended immediately should any similar incidents occur within the three-year timeframe.

     

    Several skirmishes ensued after dozens of PAOK supporters spilled onto the pitch at the Toumba Stadium in response to having flares thrown at them by Rapid fans.

     

     

    PAOK spokesman Kiriakos Kiriakos said the club intendeds to appeal the decision in the coming days.

  13. ASonOfDan

     

     

    12:20 on 28 August, 2012

     

     

     

    I think there’s still hope for Barton, but it would take an older, more experienced manager that Neil Lennon to handle him.

  14. “Maybe this is time to dumb down and be dishonest. It seems to take you a long way in this game.” is the FPLG way to do it, says Mark Hateley.

  15. Paul67

     

     

    We discovered password requests waiting in a queue.

     

    ———————————————————————–

     

    Jim Farry was put on gardening leave for less.

  16. I too am part of the reset password lot. Have not posted for a long time, but a fervent lurker.

     

     

    Really appreciated the truth throughout the ex-team’s shenanigans.

     

     

    In answer to the question asked of all returners/newbie’s. No I am not.

     

     

     

    Posted late on the last thread. Repetitive old me just to manage a first page post

  17. JJP-ON

     

     

     

    Because then we would have to pay the remainder of his contract and he would go to Ipswich on a free anyway.

  18. Think we flogged the Barton for Celtic thing to death yesterday. There is no room for Barton at Celtic. End of.

  19. Sounds a player…

     

     

    Yesterday news from both the French and British press had Scottish champions Celtic linked with a move for Auxerre defender Willy Boly. And it looks like the 21-year old will be the next player to leave the Stade l’Abbe Deschamps after l’AJA were relegated to Ligue 2 last season.

     

     

    After breaking through during the 2010/11 season, it was last year as he started 33 games for the Burgundy club that he really caught the eye. He was selected as a member of our Le 50 project, as this website picked out 50 best young players in France. Boly was a well deserved member of that selection.

     

     

    Here is what we had to say about the centre-back:

     

     

    That’s Boly with a y at the end, as the Auxerre defender is keen to point out.

     

     

    He has been compared physically to another former Ajaïste, Younès Kaboul, and with his height and size he makes a formidable barrier. But to suggest that he has got to this point on physical gifts alone would be to grossly underestimate him. Boly holds a Bac S, roughly the equivalent of top grade A-levels in maths and the sciences, and on the pitch he comes across as a more evolved breed of footballer. Elegant and always with his head up when in possession, Boly strolls out of defence with the ball like a man going for a walk in the park.

     

     

    This can get him into trouble, and he himself admits that his biggest failing is his nonchalance. But he has benefited from playing alongside a rugged, experienced veteran in Stéphane Grichting, and one gets the impression that when Boly drops back to cover his partner challenging for a ball higher up the pitch, he’s making detailed notes.

     

     

    The future is bright, and possibly blue, for Boly. And once he makes a name for himself he won’t have to check that everyone else spells it right.

     

     

    As for Boly, of course his season would go on to end pretty badly with relegation to the second division but there is no doubt the potential this young defender possesses. Getting stronger in the air with every game, his tackling and awareness is also improving, and with the right move he has the skills to become the next in excellent defenders to come from this club.

     

     

    Celtic are not the only team to show an interest this summer. Ligue 1 clubs Lorient and Lille are keeping an eye on the situation, Inter Milan were linked at the start of the summer and now fellow Serie A club Fiorentina have made their interest known. For the type player Boly has shown to be, all three of these moves would be positive for the player. And whoever wins the battle is getting a very good player, for a very low price

  20. JJP-ON

     

     

    ‘Why do we not just release D.Murphy from his contract?’

     

     

    We could but we would still have to pay him what he is due in his final year

     

     

    Think the best part of a £1m. If we can’t sell him then it is better to loan him out with another club picking up circa 50% of the tab

  21. Paul67

     

     

    A former club called Rangers (remember them), you say?!

     

     

    Sorry I cant!

     

     

    HH!!

  22. SK-Bhoy , a ship called dignity & Quijote72

     

    Welcome aboard…

     

    MaryhillNo5 Welcome back :)))

     

     

    HAIL HAIL

  23. itsabouttim

     

     

    12:28 on 28 August, 2012

     

     

    It’s not the ‘end of’ unless you conclude with the word ‘FACT’.

     

     

    Them’s the rules.

     

     

    FACT.

  24. As far as signings go, I’d like ust to sign two good bad bassas for CB & CF. Even if only on season long loan deals

     

     

    Let Murphy & Bangura go and give at least 3 of the kids a starting place in every league game and 5 or 6 of them in the domestic cups.

     

     

    This is a once in a lifetime chance to blood the kids, we must take it with both hands.

  25. JinkyvJohnGreig-saysitall on

    Why have we still not been linked with Robbie Keane or James McFadden?

     

    Craig Bellamy on loan from Cardiff???

     

    Broadfoot to Celtic? Well,we do need a commanding CB ha ha!!!!!!

     

     

    Will Thursday and Friday be interesting? Even if we get through tomorrow night unscathed I suspect any signings may be loans with a view to permanent transfer at most. Can’t see us spending £2m on Johnny Russell from Utd (and I think that is too much for him anyway at this stage).

     

     

    Good luck tomorrow night Bhoys.

     

     

    HH

  26. "THERE IS ONLY ONE TEAM IN GLASGOW" aka "@67MOULDY67" on

    OSCAR KNOX APPEAL 

     

     

     

     

    Hello , just to let you know that I am planning to take part in a 50 mile cycle from Glasgow to Edinburgh, 09/09/2012

     

     

    During the next 2 weeks I plan to train very hard in order to be able to take part in this cycle where I would hope to be able raise some funds for “Wee Oscar Knox” who is 3 year old kid and is not keeping very well just now.

     

     

    You can read Oscar’s story on web link below….

     

     

    http://www.justgiving.com/Team-Oscar-Knox-Appeal-Cycle-09092012-Paul-Muldoon

     

     

    In the meantime, all donations are appreciated thanks

  27. ASonOfDan

     

    12:26 on

     

    28 August, 2012

     

     

    I appreciate your response. But if for arguments sake he is due a further £200k on his contract, could Celtic not negotiate a release, by paying say £100k. He goes to Ipswich who pay him a similar salary, thereby earning £300k over the same period. Celtic save £100k, Ipswich get a player they are clearly interested in, and the player earns more. Everyonesawinner.com?

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. ...
  10. 36