2012 is a recent high watermark for Celtic and AIK in European football. Celtic collected 10 points in the Champions League group stage that season, while that was the first and last time AIK reach the group stage of the Europa League; they finished bottom with four points. Today will see the Swedes compete in a playoff round for the first time since then, so this is nosebleed territory for tonight’s visitors.
Their most impressive result this season was a 1-2 win in Moldova against Sheriff. An early own-goal was enough to give them the edge for an aggregate win. They travel without suspended top scorer Tarik Elyounoussi, who handed Neil Lennon his pre-match team talk by telling the media “When you hear the name Celtic, you think they are a big team. But they lost four goals at home to Cluj and the Scottish league is not so good.”
It is helpful to hear a bit of disrespect from opponents before a game. I trust we will reserve comment on the standard of the Swedish league until after this tie.
There will be plenty of hurt in the Celtic dressing room before kick-off tonight. Hurt that three times they let Cluj back into the last tie and the manner of some of the defending. Hurt too, at what has been said and written since. Defeat is not a pleasant business at Celtic.
What matters is whether the manager and players can use this pain as fuel to destroy AIK at Celtic Park tonight. We will know soon enough.
163 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- »
Guess who said this:
” So I think everybody needs just to take a breath and just wait and see. Normally you would get halfway through a season before you would be judged on how things are going. You don’t even get to the start of the season now. It’s crazy.
“Anybody who has been in the managerial position and done it understands that. Ones who haven’t, who just open their mouth and let a load of crap come out. You have to have been in that position, worn somebody’s shoes before I think you have the right to criticise. A lot of it just now is just noise from people who are experts at making noise.”
HOT SMOKED
That would be Craig Levein
The classic if you haven’t been a professional player at the top level you don’t know what you are talking about defence…. I couldn’t build a car but if mine breaks down I can tell you its F*cckd.
Our opponents tonight: Allmanna Idrottsklubben !
Incidentally, I think I said earlier that AIK had beaten the old Rangers 2-1 and Hibs 9-0 . I was wrong. That was Malmo.
JJ
Robinbhoy
That wasn`t a guess !! :-))
MARADOMINIC
He was talking about Michael Stewart it seems, not only a decent footballer, but the best pundit on the TV
Maradominic
Do you think that those who are/have been managers in Professional Football are likely to:
a) Know a lot more than the average fan;
b) Know a little more than the average fan;
c) Know just about the same as the average fan;
d) Know less than the average fan ?
#lawwellout
#lawwellout
#lawwellout
Robinbhoy
Are you sure he was talking of Michael Stewart? Here is the article:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49436319
HOT SMOKED
I read the article earlier 😁
Breeny
You do know my team is playing tonight. yes?
Mind you, so is yours.
JJ
Wanyama to Brugge seems to be happening. Fee agreed at 15 milly euros
HOT SMOKED
This is the one I read.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/craig-levein-slaughters-pundits-hearts-16799230.amp
Robinbhoy
he doesn`t mention Michael Stewart.
Apparently it was because of this:
” Levein was asked about the reaction of a section of Celtic supporters calling for Neil Lennon to be sacked following their Champions League exit.”
Hot Smoked…before I answer that…can I ask…what’s an average fan? ;-))
H.H.
Hot Smoked
So you reckon Lawwell is doing a fine job? We are so much weaker than last season and Rangers game coming up with soooo much money in the bank. Get a grip
Robinbhoy
I had already posted my 2:15 post before seeing your link!
`Your` article says it was a thinly veiled criticism of Michael Stewart. Even so, it was too heavily veiled for me !
I certainly saw–and still see — Levein`s comment as a general criticism of those giving strong opinion with insuffient information or knowledge.
JJ
had it only occurred to our management team to use the recently aquired left back in the game against Cluj
A left back at left back
Scattergun, Whim.
Bye
TIMALOY29 on 22ND AUGUST 2019 1:20 PM
About sums it up. The joys of the qualifiers.
TLT
One who is neither a professional footballer nor one who has never been to a game. Everything in between !
Craig Levein…the player and manager who won eff all as either…my footballing CV is as good as his ;-))
H.H.
On the bus to Glasgow. We should be looking at a minimum of 3 tonight without conceding. Seen high scores at Paradise in recent years only to have squeaky bum time in the 2nd leg!!
I would like to see a tenacious and relentless performance from Celtic tonight, no messing. 2 clear goals minimum and a clean sheet would be a lift for all.
HH☘️
Michael Stewart and Levein can’t stand each other. I heard MS say as much on the radio at the tale end of last season.
Then again who actually does like Levein? Jambo Dickhead!
Hot Smoked,
I see Paul67 is plagiarising your quote from the Japanese poet, in his editorial today. So maybe he does read the blog on rare occasions these days. 😉
From @michaeldevlin67
Celtic’s recruitment policy appears to have no strategy and is short sighted at best. We drift from one window to another fumbling around losing key players without adequate replacements. I fear this and the previous 2 windows will haunt us. I pray I’m wrong though. 🍀
So in essence, unless your doing my job you shouldnt be able to criticise me, god, wish that worked in the real world.
Stop making excuses for people who made a major balls up and cant admit it (notably NL) and those that continually balls it up (PL) but get away with it every single time.
We’ve got a team to support tonight, surely thats the focus.
2-0 good guys, win 2-1 over there
Will we see any action in the transfer front if we win 4/5 nil tonight?
Spartim
” So in essence, unless your doing my job you shouldnt be able to criticise me, ”
Does that not depend on the compexity of the job , the standing of the critic and the possible effect of the criticism?
Pog
I suppose Iplagiarised it , too :-)
Are you going to Coia`s pre-match?
Does Alfredo have to deal with the volume and level of insult that PL has thrown at him?
JJ
“POGMATHONYAHUN AKA LAIRD OF THE SMILES on 22ND AUGUST 2019 2:50 PM
Will we see any action in the transfer front if we win 4/5 nil tonight?”
Yes……from Sevco.
Hot Smoked
In essence, was the clue.
If you wish to break it down even further fill your boots, but to avoid further confusion and confuscation, it appears to some on here that you cant criticise NL or PL despite seeing the same failings you saw the last time. Do we forget Ross County, or the Willo window or many of the windows in between, not to mention some other of NL’s previous european excursions.
Dont get me wrong if they did well id be equally as positive (no laughing Turkeybhoy) but the Cluj result was all on NL and NL appointment is all on PL (in my opinion, thats all it is)
Ajer – Jozo – Jullien – Boli
Looks like being the back 4
McGregor back in midfield.
Good result tonight.
Few reinforcements in.
Crack on, get the 9.
Be positive CSC
SffS
Hot Smoked…as you are speaking in generalities the the answer would be a. (with exceptions)…by the same token I’ve never been a politician…should that make them immune to criticism of any and all policies that they support?
H.H.
Pundits/Hundits start the witch hunts.
Some fans join in the Witch hunts.
Pundits/Hundits blame the fans for Witch hunts.
And round we go…
We don’t like Craig Levein because of things he’s said and done, and he’s proven to the world that he ain’t a great coach or manager. He has consistently called out referees and the SFA in support of his team’s grievances, and he has called out the huns. Not everything he says is shite.
Is it not time we started calling out the Sevconians who come on here? We used to in the past……
LUCKY CODY on 21ST AUGUST 2019 4:12 PM
Why would the players listen to a tactically incompetent coach like Lennon on Thursday.
Defeat on Thursday should see him do honourable thing. However he will try and hang on as long as possible enjoying the green pound.
___________________________________
If this guy is a Celtic Supporter I’m a Chinaman.
POGMATHONYAHUN AKA LAIRD OF THE SMILES on 22ND AUGUST 2019 2:50 PM
Will we see any action in the transfer front if we win 4/5 nil tonight?
——————————————————————————-
If we win 5-0 tonight, why would we need to buy any new players?
;-))))))
HENRIK1967 on 22ND AUGUST 2019 2:47 PM
Sorry for asking but who is he ?