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Sviatchenko out but turmoil also at Astana

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

I remember a situation several years ago when we had five full backs and converted-full backs out injured at the same time. The injured count for central defenders is not currently as high but the situation is just as critical.

Erik Sviatchenko joins Jozo Simunovic, Dedryck Boyata and Kristoffer Ajer on the injured list. Kolo Toure is certain to be added to the Uefa squad before tonight’s deadline but will be pushed to be match fit for next week.

Fortunately, the man who has spent more time injured over the last two seasons than anyone else, Mikael Lustig, is fit and able to move from full back into the middle, with Saidy Janko able to deputise on the right.

More words have been written about Efe Ambrose than any other Celtic player this month. It’s quite possible he’ll move on towards the end of the transfer window but he’s set to be given an opportunity to make good his error in Gibraltar by leading an unfamiliar defensive line-up in Astana tomorrow.

If I had a choice, I would prefer Celtic in adversity than Celtic over-confident. We know we will have to protect the defence tomorrow so the match plan should be straightforward.

Astana are not without their concerns either. Kazak media are concerned Astana are weaker than a year ago, due to the departure of Georgi Zhukov the likely absence of captain and top scorer, Tanant Nuserbayev, added to the turmoil at the club this week, caused by Lyon’s bid for midfielder, Nemanja Maksimovic. They will battle tomorrow, but their preparations are far from ideal.

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  4. Foxy on

    DELANEYS DUNKY on 27TH JULY 2016 1:21 AM

     

    Foxy

     

     

     

    Brickyard Blues my karaoke attempt. Magic voice Frankie.

     

    —————————————

     

    Hope we;re in the same place somewhere sometime to compare the worse karaoke attempt :-)

     

    HH

  7. Delaneys Dunky on

    Foxy

     

     

    I saw Jamie xx live in Spain last week. Changed my musical taste. Love artists who do that.

     

    The guy took me to a high place. :)

  10. 'GG on

    “The time has come,” the Walrus said,

     

    “To talk of many things:

     

    Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax–

     

    Of cabbages–and kings–

     

    And why the sea is boiling hot–

     

    And whether pigs have wings

     

     

    And whether Brendan and his back room staff have the ability to instill discipline and resolve to our makeshift but able defence.

     

    I believe we have the players and tactical nous to play it close and tight for 90 minutes.

     

    The elements will not be in our favour, nor will the playing surface.

     

    We will need to rely on the experience of Gordon, Lustig, Brown and Ambrose, yes Ambrose, to shepherd the younger less experienced members of the side through the heat and hostile atmosphere.

  12. 'GG on

    Brendan is confident of a positive result.

     

    Many should take a leaf out his book and think positive thoughts for the bhoys in hoops.

     

    Unless they wear the third strip tomorrow night, afternoon, morning depending on your location.

     

    BRENDAN Rodgers is confident that whatever team he selects tomorrow (Wednesday) against FC Astana will rise to the challenge of harvesting a positive result.

     

    Celtic will take on the Kazakhstan title-winners for a place in the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League – the final hurdle before the lucrative group stages.

     

    The Hoops have been hit by several untimely injuries ahead of the crucial clash, particularly in the central defensive department of the team, with Erik Sviatchenko and Kristoffer Ajer joining long-term absentees Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic on the treatment table.

     

    But the manager, pleased at how his charges performed at the weekend against English champions Leicester City and throughout pre-season, has firm belief in his players to put themselves in a favourable position for the return match in Paradise.

     

    Speaking ahead of the game, the Hoops boss said: “In these games, it was always going to be a case of doing the very best we possibly could with the limited time and numbers that we had. But I am confident that whatever team we put out will do their very best, like we saw in Saturday’s game.

     

    “Erik didn’t play at the weekend but I felt how the players shaped up and worked in the game against Leicester, who were a very good opponent, we dealt very well with. I have every confidence that whatever player I put in, will give their best and do their best for the team.”

     

    Efe Ambrose and young centre-half Eoghan O’Connell, who capped off an impressive display against Leicester on Saturday with a terrific equalising goal, could be in line to fill the void in the heart of the backline.

     

    The Hoops boss said: “Both players have worked very well. I have been really impressed in particular by young Eoghan over the course of pre-season. He’s a good size. First and foremost he wants to defend.

     

    “In the short period of time I’ve worked with him, I can see he is good in the air. He has been in and around the first-team for a few years now and he’s had some loan experience playing senior football.

     

    “He was up against a tough opponent at the weekend. Even though Leicester were only back a few weeks, my experience of working with the players at that level is that they come back into the season already fit. They were at a good level of fitness and I felt Eoghan coped with that very well – the speed of their team.

     

    “He has a real in-built brain for football, he understands the game very well for a young player and, importantly, he plays the game well. For young players, if they show those qualities and professionalism, I never have fears of putting them in.

     

    “In terms of Efe, people have seen him a lot more than me, and he knows that if he can cut out mistakes and errors that he makes in games then you have a very good player. Physically he’s very strong, he’s very fast and he’s good in the air. It’s just about decision-making and simplifying the game and if he can do that then he can be an asset.

     

    “Those two players are two of very few central defenders which are available. Clearly, you can see there are a lot of injuries within the squad and that was prior to me coming in: Simunovic, who is a big talent, was injured and Boyata who was injured in the summer, and if you add Erik to that then it leaves you very short.

     

    “But I have no qualms about who I put into the game as the strength of us will be the team rather than the individual and the team we put out will hopefully get the result.”

     

    Sviatchenko didn’t travelled to Kazakhstan, having sustained a groin injury before the Leicester friendly, and he will be assessed by the club’s medical team to see if he can return to the reckoning for the return game.

     

    The manager said: “He had been working well. Unfortunately before the game at the weekend, he picked up a groin strain which makes him unavailable for tomorrow night. We will assess that over the course of the next week and see if he will be available for the second-leg.

     

    “He wasn’t available for this game, so we will see when we get back and assess it from there. It just depends. It was a slight groin strain he picked up on the Friday, so we will see.”

     

    Kristoffer Ajer suffered a knock to his hand prior to the meeting with Foxes, which prevented him making the trip to Astana.

     

    The Hoops boss added: “You also have to remember that Kristoffer is only 18 years of age. He has come into the squad and he’s working very well but there is no rush with Kristoffer. We will see how he is for the weekend in terms of his hand and assess it from there.”

  24. Mats Nilloc on

    TIMMALONE@9:16

     

     

    Your analysis is spot on.

     

     

    Our timetable with regards to the CL is out of kilter with the transfer windows.

     

     

    It is well known that it is increasingly difficult, even for those with lots of money, to make telling signings in January. Therefore it is not a case of us loading-up in January in anticipation of the July qualifiers.

     

     

    Because of where we are, the July/August window presents different problems. As you say it is very much a ‘chicken and egg’ situation, trying to tempt players to come to Scotland before our CL fate is known is extremely difficult.

     

     

    On the other hand, should we indeed qualify, we become an attractive proposition for quality loans/signings after EPL clubs have registered their squads for the new season – there could be more like Denayer and Roberts.

     

     

    Loans will become a major part of our strategy if we are to get back to the ‘top table’ – players that we could never afford to buy may be able to be accessed through loan deals, IF, we are CL regulars.

     

     

    This model will also help the development of our young players – being in the company of top quality will bring out the best in them.

     

     

    We will only be able to take advantage of these opportunities if the club stays financially healthy and is not encumbered with debt – all is not doom and gloom, however we must realistic and clever.

  29. Foxy on

    MATS NILLOC on 27TH JULY 2016 3:04 AM

     

    TIMMALONE@9:16

     

    Your analysis is spot on.

     

    Our timetable with regards to the CL is out of kilter with the transfer windows.

     

    It is well known that it is increasingly difficult, even for those with lots of money, to make telling signings in January. Therefore it is not a case of us loading-up in January in anticipation of the July qualifiers.

     

    Because of where we are, the July/August window presents different problems. As you say it is very much a ‘chicken and egg’ situation, trying to tempt players to come to Scotland before our CL fate is known is extremely difficult.

     

    On the other hand, should we indeed qualify, we become an attractive proposition for quality loans/signings after EPL clubs have registered their squads for the new season – there could be more like Denayer and Roberts.

     

    Loans will become a major part of our strategy if we are to get back to the ‘top table’ – players that we could never afford to buy may be able to be accessed through loan deals, IF, we are CL regulars.

     

    This model will also help the development of our young players – being in the company of top quality will bring out the best in them.

     

    We will only be able to take advantage of these opportunities if the club stays financially healthy and is not encumbered with debt – all is not doom and gloom, however we must realistic and clever.

     

    ——————————————————————————

     

    Couldnt have put this any better myself.

     

    The squealers demanding all and sundry before a baw is kicked in season baffles logic.

     

    Celtic are trapped in Scotland and have to make most of loan players until the powers that be open up and change the structure of affairs we are confined to.

     

    Keep the ship steady and if in doubt look south side, some still collecting rats alive pretending they have a ship left to board

     

    HH

  34. Mats Nilloc on

    FOXY@3:29

     

     

    Thanks for replying – I’m glad we agree on Celtic…and I’m glad we agree on ‘wee’ Frankie.

     

     

    I knew Frankie many years ago and we shared some times together. One Saturday he was playing with Sock Em JB at lunchtime in the Burns Cottage at Paisley Road Toll.

     

     

    Pubs at that time shut at 2:30 – Frankie left Jimmy Dewar to do the last few numbers and we headed to watch the Celtic at Ibrox – pay at the gate, with the rain ‘pissing down’ and a 1-1 draw – then back to the city-centre for a couple of pints in the Horseshoe and then our seperate ways.

     

     

    Great singer – great company – great Celtic man.

  36. Foxy on

    MATS NILLOC on 27TH JULY 2016 3:55 AM

     

    FOXY@3:29

     

    Thanks for replying – I’m glad we agree on Celtic…and I’m glad we agree on ‘wee’ Frankie.

     

    I knew Frankie many years ago and we shared some times together. One Saturday he was playing with Sock Em JB at lunchtime in the Burns Cottage at Paisley Road Toll.

     

    Pubs at that time shut at 2:30 – Frankie left Jimmy Dewar to do the last few numbers and we headed to watch the Celtic at Ibrox – pay at the gate, with the rain ‘pissing down’ and a 1-1 draw – then back to the city-centre for a couple of pints in the Horseshoe and then our seperate ways.

     

    Great singer – great company – great Celtic man.

     

    ==============================

     

    Thank you for sharing that, Hope you dont mind me repeating myself, my favourite :-)

     

    JJ Man

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVkqQ8BDiWA

  37. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    MATS NILLOC on 27TH JULY 2016 3:55 AM

     

     

    You jammy `steward.

     

    I would have loved to share Celtic or other time with Frankie.

     

    Magic blues vocalist.

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