2:35 am. That’s what time it will be in Astana, and in Astana FC’s players’ body clocks, at full time tomorrow night. Whereas Celtic will play the away tie during our afternoon, Astana will fight their natural instinct to be asleep, which will be a clear advantage for Celtic.
They conceded two goals at Celtic Park last year, in added at the end of each half. We should expect them to tire during similar periods this time, particularly so as full time approaches. If the tie remains tight late on, we should re-energise for a final push against what should be increasingly disorientated opponents.
Marin Tomasov joined Astana last month. He earned two assists in his last game, takes set-pieces and can shoot from distance.
Their other attacking dangers are Twumasi and Kabananga. Both are fast wing-players, who will attempt to press Celtic as high up the field as possible, and will break forward at every opportunity
Astana’s key concern is in goal. They have two keepers vying for the no. 1 spot, neither good enough to make it his own. Nenad Eric is likely to get the nod against Celtic. He is weak in the air and noted to spill shots. There should be scraps for Leigh to feed from.
Defensively, they rely more on numbers than aptitude. While Twumasi gets forward quickly, he isn’t known for getting back to do the hard work. Kieran Tierney and Scott Sinclair should be able to exploit this down Celtic’s left.
Make no mistake, this is a tie Celtic should win, but Astana will be more difficult opponents than anyone we will meet domestically this season. We have a big night ahead tomorrow – the most important game Celtic Park will host this season.
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BIG JIMMY
I don’t drink during the week!
There, sorted!
I have an Adult and U13 ticket combo available for tomorrow night.
Any takers?
HH jamesgang
PHILBHOY,
Any chance Christine will come and get me ?
HH
Bmcuwp
Yes myself and she who must be obeyed are planning on going to Lisbon next year. Probably the weekend of the first Monday in June which is a bank holiday over here in the republic of southern eire
BIG JIMMY
She probably would if I asked her!
LOL
PHILBHOY on 15TH AUGUST 2017 2:55 PM
BIG JIMMY
I don’t drink during the week!
There, sorted
……………………………
The only time that I drink is when I am alone….or with someone !
So there.
I did go over 3 months recently without drink….eventually had too get out, I was going stir crazy.
Looking forward to meeting you Bhoys….lock up yer Grannies.
HH
Well said Alex Smith…and Fraser Wishart, where are you?
I wonder what performance bonus BR is on at Celtic re Europe?
Id happily give him 10% of net profit relating to European income…
WHATISTHESTARS
Ah,Magic.
Mail me on
bmcuwp@gmail.com
I reckon there might be a few takers.
Wonder if Pep’s assistant Arteta is having any influence on the Paddy negotiations?
Hoops 2/5 the morra, Estana 15/2
Hoffenheim 2/1 Liverpool 13/10
Alex Smith`s supportive comments SHOULD make it more difficult for the SFA to take prejudiced action against Neil Lennon.
Cultsbhoy: “Id happily give him 10% of net profit relating to European income…”
I am obviously more generous with other people`s money than you are. I would give him the lot :-)
JJ
Hopefully tomorrow we will return to the fluid side of last season.
Griff can give focus to our attack.
Left side of KT and SS can give them problems with their pace.
Need JF on right to create also.
They seemed strong and organized but lacked creativity.
Pass and move is the way to break them down.
Paddy Power has Astana at 11/5 To Qualify; Celtic 30/100.
I hope that dispels some of the nerves i sense surrounding this tie.
JJ
Fan-a-Tic
“Hopefully tomorrow we will return to the fluid side of last season.”
I share your hope for a fluid performance but why last season? Why not as we played against Hearts and Kilmarnock this season ?
JJ
If you don’t think Celtic are stronger now than a year ago you haven’t been paying attention.
Hotsmoked
I think 10% about right.
My understanding is that gives him a bonus in the range of 700k to £7m depending on performance. That keeps him and his ego in line with top managers.. which is fair. He wants to be a top manager. We want a top manager so we need to reward accordingly .
BMCUWP – saw your earlier posts about phage technology.
What you may not know is that one of the world leaders in the field is one of our own – Professor John McCafferty – ex-St Francis Primary in the Gorbals and an alumni of ra Mungo.
if you can make head nor tail of what his Wikipedia page says then you’re a better man than me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCafferty
Sorry that should read alumnus not alumni. before the fellow Mungo boys shout.
I remembered this article and dug it out, four years ago, and nothing’s changed, in fact I’d go as far to say it’s got worse?
https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2013/dec/13/raceandreligion-scotland
Beaton demoted. That’ll teach him not to mess with ra peepul.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40926767
Alex Smith on Lenny…
Southside-Seriously?
Cultsbhoy
I was only joking :-). His wages are of no interest to me.
Incidentally, I am in agreement with those who feel the BBC are less than impartial on their site but I loved this bit of Mickey-Taking , under a video clip, at the expense of the Huns:
” Neil Lennon celebrates Hibs equaliser at Ibrox. Warning: Some people may consider some scenes to be offensive. ”
Brilliant.
JJ
DOC on 15TH AUGUST 2017 3:40 PM
If you don’t think Celtic are stronger now than a year ago you haven’t been paying attention.
Or your one of the several guys with the Ultras who stand with they’r back to our games for 90 mins every game :))
Phyllis D
I went to St Mungo`s with a John McCafferty . I wonder….?
JJ
!!bada
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/john-beaton-and-craig-thomson-to-referee-championship-fixtures-1-4532650
Hot Smoked – he was there from 71 to 76.
Southside-More deflection from Pedro, Level 5 at work again I fear….HH
PD
If it was the same one as I knew, he must have been a very slow learner ! I left in 1962 :-)
Thanks anyway.
JJ
Southside/Bada
Is that definitely a demotion ( for Thomson as well) ?
Pretty sad if they are demotions.
I noticed The Scotsman called it ` a controversial red card`. I suppose they are correct. Any red card against the Home team at ibrox is rather controversial.
JJ
JJ-Will be for 1 week only i’m sure……
Make bad decisions against Celtic and you get a cup final ffs.
Whatever happened to the honest mistake?
Man City team to play Girona, no Paddy in first 11. 5pm KO. Dragged over there kicking and screaming as well.
I spent the 70’s + 80’s listening to people saying we were sure to go through because they had a dodgy keeper that was useless at cross balls, that the opposition would be useless anywhere further north than Stoke on a rainy Wednesday night, that the rain would play to our advantage, that they weren’t good travellers etc, etc, etc,
What happened? We got pumped every time.
Admittedly I didn’t start attending Euro games until after Feyenoord game and the only chink of light I saw was when Johnny Doyle scored against Real, but we got mollucated in the return.
“Beaton will take charge Dunfermline v Falkirk at East End Park, while Thomson will oversee Livingston v St Mirren at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
In the Premiership Willie Collum has been appointed to take charge of Rangers v Hearts at Ibrox and Nick Walsh will referee Celtic’s v Kilmarnock. Steven McLean is at Hibernian v Hamitlon, Kevin Clancy Aberdeen v Dundee and Barry Cook St Johnstone v Partick Thistle.”
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Where is Andrew Dallas?
Quietly on the naughty step too? Funny how the other two get all the coverage?
Is Andrew dropped too? Maybe it’s part of his ‘Accelerated Development Plan?’