Bangs and Whimpers
So Celtic's latest foray into Europe ended with a dismal whimper not a bang last night at Parched and their Norwegian opponents, Molde, ran out very worthy winners over the two legs.
I stopped watching the game midway through the second half, so poor were the Celtic team on the pitch, leaking like a sieve at the back, bereft of quality or leadership, their best player being the young inexperienced left back, Tierney, who at least played as if his life depended on the result.
Good luck to Molde because they were by far the better team over both legs, at home and away.
Scotland and Norway (05/11/15)
Glasgow Celtic will need some 'fireworks' on the football field tonight at Parkhead, otherwise they'll find themselves dumped out of the Europa Cup having lost the first leg of their head-to-head meetings with Molde 3-1 over in Norway.
Now football fireworks can't be guaranteed because Celtic blow so hot and cold these days, particularly in Europe, but the Scottish weather is as predictable as ever and one thing we can guarantee any Norwegian visitors to Glasgow today is - plenty of rain.
Scotland and Norway (23/10/15)
Well, in the end it wasn't close at all and the Norwegian team, Molde, beat Glasgow Celtic quite comfortably by 3 goals to 1, having led 2-0 at half time.
I have to admit I was surprised to see Celtic pushing forward so boldly in the opening ten minutes, as if they were the home team, because this tactic left them wide open at the back.
The conditions may have been dreadful including a waterlogged pitch, but they were the same for both sides and no Scottish team, of course, is unaccustomed to playing in driving wind and rain.
The difference on the night was that Molde took their chances when they came along, while Celtic were sloppy and lazy.
Molde look to be through to the next round although the return leg is at Parched on 5 November and that will be a night of 'win or bust' for Celtic.
But there's no hard feelings and my offer from yesterday still stands - if there are any blog site readers from Norway visiting Glasgow that day, it would be great to meet up.
Scotland and Norway (22/10/15)
Scotland and Norway go head to head tonight in a Europa League match between Molde Fotballklubb and Glasgow Celtic.
Molde are top of the group with 4 points while Celtic are on 2, so it might be a tight contest in the home side's Aker Stadium which is on the west coast of Norway on what appears to be the same latitude as the Faroe Islands.
The blog site has a lot of regular visitors from Norway and if any of them are heading to Glasgow for the return leg at Celtic Park on Thursday 5th November, then get in touch because maybe we can meet up!
My contact email address is: markirvine@compuserve.com
Scotland and Norway (26/01/15)
Here's another curious link betweenScotland and Norway which revolves around the latest 'wunderkid' of world football, a young 16-year-old Norwegian called Martin Odegaard who has been signed by Real Madrid.
But Martin's chances of breaking into the 'Galacticos' first team straight away is very slim, so the Celtic manager Ronnie Deila, another Norwegian who gave Martin his first big break at Stromsgodset, has stepped in to suggest an audacious loan deal with the Glasgow club.
Now I'll believe it when I see it, but who knows because if you don't ask you don't get.
Although I'm sure Real Madrid will have to agree to pay young Martin's wages if Martin does come to Scotland - because he's allegedly paid around £80,000 a week and that would definitely break the piggy bank at Celtic Park.
Ronny Deila eyes loan deal for wonder kid
Odegaard, 16, from Norway, arrives for his press conference at Real Madrid, where he will play for the second team Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Paul Forsyth - The Times
