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The rare joy of Swedish football

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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.

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  1. Auld Neil Lennon heid on

    There was a caller to SSB late on who was moaning about the obsession of Celtic supporters with The Rangers fate. He said that The Rangers had done nothing wrong but in that statement lies the reason for so many calls pointing out the very opposite.

     

     

    Now the caller was probably arguing from a legalsitic (if uninformed) aspect but what riled me as a Celtic supporter was a Rangers supporter telling me no wrong doing had taken place because no matter how he saw it I FELT wronged.

     

     

    I felt wronged when reminded of the pain of the narrow league defeats in 2003 and 2005. I felt wronged by the procession of honest mistakes in 2008/09. I felt wronged by Doughiegate. I felt wronged during that time from 2009 when Celtic supporters became divided by those demanding we match Rangers spending and those saying (rightly) it was folly to do so. The Mineshafters v the Happyclappers arguments that divided The Celtic support whilst the Rangers support laughed – all of that was wrong and caused by Rangers behaviour.

     

     

    It is this dismissal of feelings that angers me and I suspect so many, as if those holding those feelings do not count as human beings. Now this might be because for the first time in their existence, Rangers supporters feel the kind of pain that was a regular feature of supporting Celtic and all that matters to them right now is THEIR pain and alleviating it..

     

     

    I doubt it will ever happen in my lifetime but unless there is a recognition of not only their wrongdoing but the feelings of the victims who are not Rangers supporters, then acrimony will continue to bedevil our game and surface on phone ins.

     

     

    I accept Rangers supporters will be hurting but if their response is simply to deny the reality of the consequences of their behaviour on others then they will continue to be reminded of it by those on the receiving end of their wrongdoing until they recognise the depth and extent of it.

     

     

    Only when they put themselves in the shoes of those wronged and appreciate how that feels is there a possibility of a change of heart.

     

     

    In the meantime the universe is unfolding as it should as illustrated by something I have quoted before from The Prophet in respect of the Rangers support.

     

     

    ” Much of your pain is self-chosen.

     

     

    It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. “

  3. DJBEE on

    If the poster that was on earlier asking about Birmingham is still on, I am not positive but I think it’s in the south of england.

  4. dena29 on

    Nite bhoys and ghirls going to try for a sleep early boat in the morning and late boat home but nothing will take the smile off my face WHEN we are victorious tomorrow night. Glass half full ghirl me

  5. The Singing Sea Cucumber demands the reinstatement of Ma Anal Car as leader of the Polish United Workers Party. on

    Ma Anal Car

     

     

    Your Anal Car

     

     

    A’body’s Anal Car

     

     

    Right, Damn Right.

  8. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Rumours going into underdrive now,Chris Humphrey fae Murderwell..up there wi Ross Tokely fae last year.

  9. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    poisonous spineless hermaphrodite bottomfeeder,

     

    I am very very happy you have a bit of a crush on me, but as flattered as I am, I can only feel sadness for your plight, unrequited love must be truely distressing.

  10. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    Near crashed ma car when I put on SSB tonight and heard smudger was on it. How many jobs has this creep got? So PLEASE PLEASE do not phone in when this lower than a snakes belly is on!!!

  14. West Wales Celt on

    Hmmm, let me see, left wing intolerants or right wing tosspots?

     

    Give me canamalar anytime.

     

    You alright me old tovaritch hun/fascist skelper???

  15. Tallybhoy on

    Bayern Munich have extended their shirt sponsorship deal with Deutche Telekom for another 4 years.

     

     

    They will receive €30 million a year – an increase of €5 million a year!!

     

     

    We’re in the wrong league!

     

     

    HH!!

  16. The bould b`hoys on

    Soz haven’t read back…

     

     

    Just brought myself back to Earth after hearing my wee darling nephew will be leading out the Troops in the Hoops tommorrow night.

     

     

    Absolutely chuffed to bits.

     

     

    Look out for the bhoy with the biggest cheeser on his face you’ll ever see. God love him.

     

     

    Nite nite x

  24. The Singing Detective Demands The Resignation Of Campbell Ogilvie on

    Bold Canamalar….

     

     

    Surely You’re No STILL Burnin’ A Candle For That Manky Australian….

     

     

    He Loves Them An’ Leaves Them..Cryin’

     

     

     

    Ah’m Sure You Could Do Much,Much Bettah….?

     

     

    Catch Uncle Philvis At Lunchtime,For A Bit Mair Counsellin’…..?

     

     

    Yer Pal…Who Thinks You’re The Cat’s Whiskers….

     

     

    Oh….C’Mon The Hoops…..!!

  26. suttons volley on

    Evening gents

     

     

    Hope all those in the ‘Royal Burgh’ of Ruggy are aware that a Toryglen Tim loves CQN!!

     

     

    Can’t make the game tomorrow unfortunatley, family commitments, there just a constant hurdle in my life long ambitions of getting beers in and watching the tic!!

     

     

    2-1 Celtic, they’ll score first!!

     

     

    HH

  27. sipsini on

    Auld Neil lennon heid.

     

     

    Perfectly put,I mind all the hurt especially the Sunday after Seville.

     

    Il never lay off telling huns what they did and what they deny will haunt them and their ilk forever.hh

  29. gordybhoy64 on

    Anyone looking at the odds Jungle Jim posted earlier,

     

    there would be no point in betting the swedes to qualify at 11 to 1

     

    when you can bet them minus a goal at 16 to 1,they have to win by

     

    at least 2 to have any chance of qualifying,even after extra time,

     

    not that i expect anyone to bet the swedes anyway

  30. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Auld Neil Lennon heid

     

    22:56 on

     

    28 August, 2012

     

     

     

    Very well said.

     

    You speak for so many of us and for our predecessors.

     

     

    We can`t change the past,but we must do all in our power not to revisit it.

     

    Hail Hail

  31. The bould b`hoys on

    WWC

     

     

    canamalar

     

     

    Aye their desperation is palpable eh….RFUT ha feckin ha

     

     

    Ce sont les meilleures équipes

     

    Es sind die allerbesten Mannschaften

     

    The main event

     

     

    Die Meister

     

    Die Besten

     

    Les grandes équipes

     

    The champions!

     

     

    Une grande réunion

     

    Eine große sportliche Veranstaltung

     

    The main event

     

     

    Ils sont les meilleurs

     

    Sie sind die Besten

     

    These are the champions

     

     

    Die Meister

     

    Die Besten

     

    Les grandes équipes

     

    The champions!

     

     

    Die Meister

     

    Die Besten

     

    Les grandes équipes

     

    The champions!

  32. setting free the bears on

    I was always confident that a Centre Back was heading our way during this window and that he would probably come near the end. I would not vouch for the quality of said player because he may not come with a large enough price tag to convince some.

     

     

    However, with the recent moves of Murphy and Bangura (plus Keatings) it seems we have cleared our decks for a forward to come too.

     

     

    Tomorrow’s game will provide a continued feel good factor provided we qualify ( we don’t even need to win).

     

     

    We will have CL group stages to look forward to whilst Sevco can look forward to some interesting ties against BDO and HMRC.

  35. The Singing Detective Demands The Resignation Of Campbell Ogilvie on

    West Wales Celt….

     

     

    Let’s Be ‘Aving Yer Postcode…Then..

     

     

     

    So We Can Send All Our Newly-Minted Britons….

     

     

     

    To Live Oan YOUR Street….

     

     

     

    And Lengthen YOUR Hospital Waiting-Lists

     

     

     

     

    And Put Pressure Oan YOUR School Enrollments…..

     

     

    Oh….Are You Open To Having A Few Wee Windmills Around Yer Wee Bit Hill An’ Glen….?

     

     

    Or Are You Demanding The Exclusive Pristine Dumfries & Galloway Exemption?

     

     

    Laughin’….Whilst Playin’ Devil’s Advocate…

     

     

    NotInMyBackYardCSC…..

     

     

    Justice For Skippy…..Now!

  37. West Wales Celt on

    One hooked chuckle brother I see; patois an all…

     

    Nitey nite ma wee imperialist paper tiger…

     

    Still singing in the land of the bards BTW and it ain’t GSTQ…

     

    :-))

  41. "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 welcome, thanks 

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