The rare joy of Swedish football

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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’.

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1,341 Comments

  1. Philbhoy- good stuff, the rough edges will come off in time, but if you played well in the wind that is a good sign!

     

    Hoping to get a wee game at St Fillans if the weather stays good.

     

    If you are heading in tonight, enjoy the evening, will hopefully be a very memorable one!

     

     

    HH

  2. Good luck tonight. Will be watching from behind the sofa here in the Highlands. Roar them on all of you lucky bhoys that are going

  3. A wee joke on this miserable morning……….

     

     

    Two Aberdonian farmers, Tam and Shuie, are sitting in the Farmers Bar, Tam turns to Shuie and says, “Ye ken fit ? I’m tired o’ gan through life withoot an education. I’morn, I think I’ll ging doon to the community college and sign up for some classes.”

     

    Shuie thinks it’s a good idea, and the two leave. The next day Tam goes down to the college and meets the Lecturer, who signs him up for the four basic classes: Maths, English, History and Logic.

     

     

    “Logic?” Tam says. “Fit’s at?” The Lecturer says, “I’ll show you. Do you own a Strimmer?”

     

    “Aye”

     

    “Then logically because you own a Strimmer, I think that you have a garden.”

     

    “That’s true, I dee huv a gerden.”

     

    “I’m not done,” the Lecturer says. “Because you have a garden, I think logically that you would have a house.”

     

    “Aye, I dee huv a hoose.”

     

    “And because you have a house, I think that you might logically have a family.”

     

    “I huv a femily.”

     

    “I’m not done yet. Because you have a family, then logically you must have a wife.”

     

    “Yer nae wrang!! I dee huv a wife !!”

     

    “And because you have a wife, then logically you must be a heterosexual ?”

     

    “I am a heterosexual. That’s amazin’ !! You were able to find a’ that oot, jist ‘cos I huv a strimmer.”

     

     

    Excited to take the class now, Tam shakes the Lecturer’s hand and leaves to meet Shuie at the pub. He tells Shuie about his classes, how he is signed up for Maths, English, History and logic.

     

    “Logic?” Shuie says, “Fit’s at?”

     

    Tam says, “I’ll tell ye. Di ye huv a strimmer?”

     

    “No.”

     

    “Well then, yer a poof.”

  4. Posted last night that Bayern Munich have just re-negotiated and signed a new shirt sponsorship deal with Deutsche Telekom worth €30 million a year – an increase of €5 million a year over the old deal!

     

     

    Puts our deal with Tennents into perspective!

     

     

    How about a shirt sponsorship deal with BT! After all Ian Livingston the CEO of the BT Group, is also a Celtic PLC director?

     

     

    Best of luck to the bhoys tonight!

     

     

    Can’t wait!

     

     

    HH!!

  5. I see a few SPL sides went out of teh League Cup last night. Partick Thistle are also out, which is a pity. I fancied getting them in the next round so we get a derby with the top two Glasgow sides.

     

     

    Suppose we will have to make do with Queen’s Park or “The Rangers” instead.

  6. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    PAUL McC 0938

     

     

    Forensic and fascinating.

     

     

    Pretty damning,too.

     

     

    Co-incidentally,I was trying to explain similar to a hun of my acquaintance only yesterday.

     

     

    Since you have done it so much better,I have forwarded him the article!

     

     

    Cheers…..

  7. Philbhoy - It's just the beginning! on

    Paul McC

     

     

    Mind boggling stuff again!

     

     

    A standard Professional Indemnity Policy covers, inter alia, negligence, dishonesty and defamation.

     

     

    So, no matter the outcome of BDO’s investigation and findings, duff and duffer will have all possibilities covered.

     

     

    Except their reputation could be in tatters.

  8. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    DIRTYMAC

     

     

    Thanks for the info on the yellow card situation.

     

     

    It seems a pretty fair way of doing it,tbh.

  9. pedrocaravanachio67 on

    When do them’s have to pay Rapid Vienna the balance for Jellylegs? Was thinking it’s this week, can anyone enlighting me.

     

    PC67

  10. 3-1 to the Hoops

     

     

    As an aside, I see Lord Hodge is back from his holidays.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  11. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    Have to do a link to this-sorry,but the c&p didn’t provide the picture.

     

     

    I think Volvo might have scored a wee own goal with this piece of advertising.

     

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

     

    http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/motors/scottishsunmotors/4509056/Swede-all-about-it-Volvo-aims-to-make-headlines.html

     

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

     

     

    Not wi me,of course. Their cars do that on their own……

  12. Re the billionaire sponsorship thing, I’ve always thought it strange that DD hasn’t sponsored the club given he owns sooooo many companies [looking down his list of invested companies I’d personally like ‘Greencore’ for obvious reasons :o)].

     

     

    There can’t be a question of conflict of interests as Ambramovich did it with CSKA as a way round putting money into two clubs at the same time.

     

     

    I know the guy has already invested a small fortune into the club but seems odds as it would surely mean that one of his own companies benefits from the exposure?

     

     

    Just a thought.

     

     

    HH

     

    /Bishop B

  13. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    LEN BRENNAN

     

     

    I would quite like this company to sponsor us.

     

     

    It’s not an alcohol,brand,has a lovely colour-scheme and,well,there’s something about the name that tickles me………..

     

     

    http://www.arla.com/

  14. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Summa of Sammi….

     

    07:43 on

     

    29 August, 2012

     

    .

     

    I kind of guessed that,Summa.

     

    Just havin` a laugh.

     

     

    Tonight Lenny earns his spurs.

  15. BT

     

     

    If you didn’t drink in the Bon Accord with profligates like OT67 then you might be a billionaire!

     

     

    Anyway I suppose it’s too much to hope for a hun free day on here, so I’ll log off now and head for an abstemious ramble north of the M8. I could take in the delights of The Garngad, Red Road, Sighthill …the world’s my mussel (cannae afford oysters) but I’ll leave you with this from 2007.

     

     

    A Whisper in Paradise

     

     

    Your whisper enticing, as clouds leave the skies

     

    Your warmth so inviting, is calling me home

     

    I turn to avoid you, but you won’t let me roam,

     

    Your heart pulls me closer to my Paradise

     

     

    CHORUS

     

     

    El Paradiso, yes our Holy Ground,

     

    When life has deserted it’s there will be found

     

    My ashes upon the green grass in bliss

     

    A breeze soft caressing, a heavenly kiss.

     

     

    The days when you held me in your welcoming arms

     

    Those nights of great drama when we dared to dream

     

    Of hopes and of pride in Celtic our team

     

    No one can replace your spirit or charms!

     

     

    CHORUS………………

     

     

    A choir calls softly then starts to resound

     

    Of Walfrid’s great passion to feed starving souls

     

    Those seeds he sowed then have flourished in shoals

     

    By St Patrick’s waters, on St Andrew’s ground.

     

     

    CHORUS………………

     

     

    Big Jock is awaiting with Jinky to greet

     

    With Bobby and Ronnie a welcoming smile

     

    Till then I’ll just wait at this stage for a while

     

    Where magic was conjured from magical feet!

     

     

    CHORUS

     

     

    El Paradiso, yes our Holy Ground,

     

    When life has deserted it’s there will be found

     

    My ashes upon the green grass in bliss

     

    A breeze soft caressing, a heavenly kiss.

     

     

    And a wee picture from All Celts

     

     

    Brothers (and sisters) in arms

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    Estadio

  16. BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS

     

    10:18 on

     

    29 August, 2012

     

    Have to do a link to this-sorry,but the c&p didn’t provide the picture.

     

     

    ********************

     

     

    I didn’t see any car…I’ll have another look.

  17. "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 

     

     

    @67mouldy67

     

     

    @weeoscar4life

     

     

    @wee_oscar

  18. South Of Tunis on

    First they build you up and then they knock you down .

     

     

     

    Failing to beat Braga has resulted in the Italian media queuing up to put the boot into Udinese . Everything that was previously praised is now being heavily criticized . The Brazilian ” prospect ” who missed the “spooned penalty ” has been openly slagged and ridiculed. The much praised Manager – Guidolin , is being described as “considering his position ” against a backdrop of those being lined up to replace him.

     

     

    How quickly the worm turns !.

     

     

    Tonight ? Stick or Twist ? Don’t think Celtic have the players for holding what they’ve got . Need to be professional . Need to concentrate . Need to keep the ball . Need to avoid giving the ball away . . .

     

     

    Hot -way down south

  19. Another one bites the dust?:

     

     

    Rosenborg agree with Dutch AZ Alkmaar on a transfer of midfielder Markus Henriksen.

     

     

    20-year-old traveled Wednesday to the Netherlands for medical test. He must also agree with AZ on the personal terms, reports rbk.no.

     

     

    As Rosenborg Alkmaar hope to qualify for the europa league. AZ last won the Dutch football series in 2009.

     

     

    —————-

     

    http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/article3461807.ece

     

     

    Rosenborg er enig med nederlandske AZ Alkmaar om en overgang for midtbanespilleren Markus Henriksen.

     

     

    20-åringen reiste onsdag til Nederland for medisinsk test. Han må også bli enig med AZ om de personlige betingelsene, melder rbk.no.

     

     

    Som Rosenborg håper Alkmaar å kvalifisere seg for europaligaen. AZ vant sist den nederlandske fotballserien i 2009.

  20. Afternoon from a warm Black-Sea……..heading into the new sports bar in Burgas tonight for the game, 2nd time now and a decent atmosphere with a good bunch of football fans.

     

     

    Mon the Hoops !!

  21. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    WONKYRADAR

     

     

    I double-checked on IE9 and Chrome-it comes up on both at this end.

     

     

    Although if you do get to the picture,the car is the last thing you’ll be looking at.

     

     

    Alternatively it’s on the Scottish Sun’s home page.

     

     

    Boo,hiss,I know………

  22. ParkheadcumsalfordwhoisNeilLennonand PaulMcBrideandTrishGodman

     

    10:42 on

     

    29 August, 2012

     

     

    Hate would rather destroy everything than let another have what it can’t. Its like an infant tantrum. That’s what all these hurtin huns are going through at the moment. What’s more, Ignorance would rather die with what it knows than change, like a sort of suicidal certainty- this is the existential predicament of der hun.

  23. ps — Just read a few posts on our miserable Tennents sponsorship deal. Is it true that we cannot wear Tennents logo on televised Euro games (alcohol advertising ban)?

     

     

    Could we get another sponsor for UEFA CL games only?

  24. BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS

     

    10:55 on

     

    29 August, 2012

     

    WONKYRADAR

     

     

    I double-checked on IE9 and Chrome-it comes up on both at this end.

     

     

    Although if you do get to the picture,the car is the last thing you’ll be looking at.

     

     

     

    – I did see a bevvy of healthy looking and generously proportioned nubile’s…still can’t see a car Bobby

  25. Tambourine Bhoy on

    Just been told I’ll be working ’til 9 tonight, so won’t get to see the game :(

     

     

    I could ask to leave early, but my ‘superior’ is a hun.

     

     

    Ah well, I’ll still have access to CQN :)

  26. blantyretim

     

     

     

    10:12 on 29 August, 2012

     

     

     

    if I where a billionaire I would gladly give the hoops sponsership..o))

     

    —————————————

     

     

    Billionaires don’t bail out Tims. We bail out them!