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

Samaras looks world class on YouTube

 

It's a sad day when Partizan Belgrade are rated bigger than Celtic.

 

Even knowing we should go through against these i cant help but feel a wave of pessimism wash over me. Im. Nervous already. What dates are the home /away leg on

 

Can already see the headlines from the Record if we lose over there "Celtic suffer trip from Helsinki"

 

Eh?

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <wunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Who rates them as a bigger club than Celtic?

Uefa ranking are full of *.

 

Some Helsinki fan posted on the last page, saying they feared Basel and Partizan in the draw more than us.

For the record, that team Helsinki beat 7-0 really look like a first division scottish team, absolutely horrendous.

 

The HJK fan on the previous page said that the HJK fans were happy to get Celtic when they could have got Basel or Partizan.

 

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A better teams perhaps, but nothing to do with club size.

But anyway, I do not fear this team. As I said in the first few pages, whilst they should not be underestimated, losing to them would be horrendous.

 

When will we know if its on the 31st or the 1st? Im working the tuesday night so praying its on the Wednesday

 

i don't even think partizan are better than us, they got beat off shamrock last year surely?

i want a clean sheet at home and at least 2-0 taking over to finland. Anything less and I fear the worst

very excited however about this game

 

Exactly my thoughts, bud.

 

?
I'm not defending it, I'm just saying that's what Slaw was referring to.
Of course Partizan Belgrade aren't bigger than us, that's ridiculous.

 

Are we home or away 1st? Because even the club website doesn't know. I thought they decided all these things in the draw, there must be a second draw to decide specific dates and who's playing at home when.

Anyway we really should be winning this by at least 2 goals on aggregate.

 

Yes they did. Celtic have a better team than them.

 

At home first apparently, dates aren't set though.

 

We're definitely playing at home first. 31st or 1st.

 

Welcome to the forum.

How would you rate your team compared to the one we went to extra time with in 2000? Better worse or on the same level?

 

Some info on HJK:

1. HJK 2011 is not HJK 2012

The HJK team that beat Schalke last season, is no more. After that Euro campaign, HJK lost Teemu Pukki (to Schalke), Alex Ring (to Borussia Mönchengladbadh), Rafinha (to Genk), Dawda Bah (to Augsburg) and Aki Riihilahti (retired). All played a major part in both games against Schalke. For example Pukki scored all three goals in those two games, two of which were assisted by Ring and Bah.

The team was really good (broke many records last season in Finland and also in Europe beating Bangor City 10 - 0 at Helsinki), but the most important players have left and Celtic will be playing against a totally different team. HJK won the league last season by an incredible 24 point difference to runner-up Inter Turku.

2. HJK home and away

HJK is really strong at home, playing on astroturf gives them a huge advantage. In Veikkausliiga they have not lost in nearly two years while playing in Helsinki. Away they have been in trouble even in Finland this season, so if Celtic can NOT beat HJK in Scotland, i reckon HJK might go through.

3. Current Squad

A lot of players left during and after last season, but a lot of players have also entered the team: Demba Savage, Sherif Ashraf, Mika Väyrynen, Rasmus Schüller and Juho Mäkelä. Apart from Ashraf, all will propably start against Celtic.

Joel Pohjanpalo (CF) is a huge talent (not just by finnish standards), but he still has a lot to learn, even though he is the number one striker at HJK. He can´t do what Pukki did last season, surely. 6 goals so far in the league and 2 goals in Europe is good for a 17-year old kid. Likes to come deep to get the ball and distribute it to flanks. Good finisher, fast in his moves, always knows where the goal is and isn´t afraid to shoot. Lacks in strength and experience.

Juho Mäkelä (CF) is something of a cult-figure in finnish football. Half say he is absolute *, half think he´s actually really good. Both sides are basically right. He has horrible problems sometimes with basic ball control skills, but has always somehow managed to score goals. Ugly, scrappy goals that is. Propably hasn´t scored a beautiful goal in his entire career. Has huge weaknesses in his technique, but is fast, tall and reads the game well.

Mika Väyrynen (CM) is a player who can absolutely dominate the midfield if given the opportunity. Nearly 60 games for Finland and a decade in Holland can be seen in his playing. Played with the number 10 shirt in Heerenveen for years as a modern playmaker. Scored 9 goals in his last season before moving to Leeds last season. Came back from an injury this week. Hadn´t played for almost 6 months prior to that. If he hadn´t suffered so many injuries during his career, everyone would know him as the brilliant midfielder he is.

Rasmus Schüller (CM) is a left-footed finnish midfield talent, who has a beautiful, soft first touch and good passing skills, but lacks in defensive and physical abilities. He will play slightly above Mika Väyrynen and will have to be marked tightly.

Demba Savage (AML) is a gambian international, who is a good dribbler and relatively fast, even though he doesn´t always look fast. So basic african winger, right? Right, with basic african wingers weaknesses. Final decisions with the ball often quite weird and is better at passing than shooting. Is an absolutely crucial figure when HJK counter attacks, because of his skill to hold the ball under pressure.

Sebastian Mannström (AMR) is a short, fast winger who has a good first touch and who likes to cut inside with the ball A LOT. Moves really fast with the ball. Poor at crossing and also lacks in strength.

Central defenders, Lindström and Lahti are both tall and blonde, quite slow on ground and stong in the air. Lindström is the leader of the defence.

Ville Wallen (GK) is a fairly short goalkeeper, who is good on foot and a good reaction-saver (is that a word?). Because of his height (or lack of it), is in trouble when opponent is crossing the ball to the box. Often has to let the central defenders handle the crosses.

Overall

It all comes down to the first game played in Scotland, I think. Celtic is a firm favourite to win it, and they have to if they want to progress. This will not be an easy task for Celtic, HJK is NOT a push-over. HJK like to attack fast and move the ball swiftly around the pitch and they will benefit from astroturf in Helsinki and the fact that the season started in May. HJK team is fairly small and not that physical.

Edit. I see i kinda repeated Yanar´s words there

 

Hello Celtic fans! :bbpd:

Welcome to Helsinki, the ones that decide to visit us. You really should, cause that might be the only chance for you to see the match... last years match in the same stage of UCL against Dinamo wasn't broadcasted on tv... finnish tv coverage is really * when it comes to football. Just to warn you guys already... I recommend pubs near the railway station for pre-match pint and then catch the tram to the match. If you'r up to meet some passionate HJK fans, try the pubs at Mannerheim street, near the stadium. Scottish are warmly welcomed in Finland and there shouldn't be any problems. The match will most certainly be sold out.

I think you should really try to hit us in the first match in this one. Scoring atleast... let's say 3 goals, leaving us scoreless. Then it shouldn't be a problem to qualify for Celtic. Helsinki is a tough place to visit and we hardly lose at home. I would be really suprised if HJK won't score atleast twice at home. Surely we've had some tough times recent weeks, but I can assure you HJK has just started to found the amazing form we had last season. Hard to explain but the KR match, for example, was a whole different kind of football from us than the whole season before that. I would be really suprised if we lose at home. Considering this, HJK will sure try to park the bus and make the important away goal in the first leg.

HJK fans mostly consider that we have an amazing attack, compared to other finnish and scandinavian teams, and now after Väyrynen just signed we also have a really good and creative midfield. But our defending sucks. Celtic should try to hit fast as if the midfielders aren't there to help our defenders, they are screwed already in finnish league matches. Slow attacks, corners etc shouldn't be a problem for us tho. If you'r intrested about finnish reactions to Celtic draw, here's a link: http://translate.google.fi/translat...//futisforum2.org/index.php?topic=129438.1125

As an HJK supporter, I'd say this one is 4-3 to us after a 1-2 loss in Scotland. Realistically, you propably will win this one like 2,3,4 - 1,2 aggregate.

Good luck for the HJK matches and to the whole season you have ahead.