Celtic v HJK Helsinki - Wed, 1 Aug K/O 19.45 - Live on Premier Sports.

Eh? A win in Udinese would have put us through, and we very nearly go it.

 

Give it a rest Slaw.

 

Having Forrest and Commons on both wings is suicide for me away from home mate.

We have a lead to defend, we need to shut up shop for the time being.

 

Couldn't watch the match as I had training, not ideal conceding an away goal but atleast we are ahead. I'll be very * off if we can't see this out next week.

 

Pleased with the overall performance tonight, and I think we showed in the second half the gulf in class between us and them, even though they are seventeen games into their season. We showed mental discipline to come back from the sloppy conceded goal, put that down to ring rustiness, but we will be better after another game tucked under our belt on Saturday, and Lenny will have learned a bucketful from the game tonight. Expect us to beat this mob on the artificial pitch.

 

Have to say I'm very uneasy about the return leg, given our track record, and the fact that despite our efforts (+ our reliable bad luck on each end of the field) they still managed to score first in our house. Also * off they play on a plastic pitch.

What gives me hope is we'll have another 90mins under our belt. What would really give me hope is knowing that Lenny will put Wanyama and Kayal in midfield to soak up the pressure. Won't be holding my breath tho.

Brown's better in a 5-man midfield than otherwise, but still not good enough.

I like your lineup DCF, but would have to sacrifice maybe Sammy for Commons. We need Commons composure and deft touch on the field next week. He was instrumental in both goals today, and you felt he was destined to score. Lenny was crazy to take him out, it wasn't the night to take precautionary measures.

 

Just easing myself in for the new season.
Remember though.....I tell no lies.

 

Well done lads, after we went a goal down we showed some real heart and desire to get back into it. They are clearly not a great side but they can cause us problems. Tempo is so important to Celtic's play, it was key tonight, we started off at a high pace and went for them then after 25 mins we dropped off, whether that's fitness or sloppiness I don't know. It took us till after we went 1 down to raise the tempo again and when we did we caned them.

For the 2nd leg we must keep the tempo high, not in an all out attack fashion but we must get in their faces and they will make mistakes. Wee Forrest showed tonight he can tear them apart so he is crucial to us. We won and at least we are going there with something up our sleeve. Please Celtic keep the tempo high.

Another positive was the attendance we showed out backing for the club and the bhoys like we always do, let's hope they repay us.

 

:icon_mrgreen:

 

thought we actually played well and we were unlucky to only win 2-1...

BUT, considering helsinki have to be better in the second leg and how woeful celtic have been away from home in europe, I wouldn't share the optimism of some of you on here. just don't see us dominating the way we did tonight. probably 1-1 with 5mins to go and everyone shiteing themselves... :icon_mrgreen:

 

Yeah, but there was very little pressure on us for that game, we were expected to get beat away to Udinese so we could play with a certain freedom and we did, but ultimately we were knocked out that night.

 

we are what we are.

some folk choose to make the best of it, some choose to point out our deficiencies...

and then some choose just to ridicule for the sake of it for some reason.

I honestly don't understand it mate.

if supporting Celtic made me as miserable as it seems to make you I would give up.

 

obviously not happy about conceding an away goal especialy with our recent performances in away qualifiers but heres hoping we can stop them scoring over there and then we are guaranteed europe this season:icon_mrgreen:

 

happy enough with that ,played well though we still didnt create anywhere near enough chances for all our possession ,
need more creativity from midfield cant expect commons to do it all himself

 

Just a quick question. Were they playing Chelsea dagger again after our goals?

 

What about rennes then?

@moros

 

Noticed that aswell had to do a double take, missed it tbh!

 

Theres no reason we cant win over there, they didnt look that good and if they try to attack and beat us id be confident of hitting them on the break with Forrest, Sammy and Hooper, Matthews and Izzy and scoring 1 or 2.

Great to be back at Paradise, bring on the sheep

 

You know yoursels, it can't be done.

You support for life, even when we are rank.