In a departure from the usual pre-match niceties, Astana chief executive, Kaisar Bekenov, did his best to send a message to Romania referee Istvan Kovacs, that he expects Celtic to try to provoke his players into getting a red card tonight.
For good measure, he informed Kazak media that all referees he spoke to about the “Griffiths incident” and everyone in Glasgow he spoke to since he arrived, told him Leigh should have been sent off. I suspect his sampling technique isn’t entirely scientific.
He’s right to be cautious about picking up red cards, they can determine the outcome of any game, but I’m sure this is an indicator of the manner in which Astana plan to play tonight. They will get ‘stuck in’, in particular to Patrick Roberts.
Roberts won’t be the first Celtic right winger to face some robust action in European football but this is all new to him, how he deals with it could be a major factor in the game.
Two other players worthy of note are Scott Brown and Leigh Griffiths. Astana will note how Scott was lured into a needless booking in the final seconds of last week’s first leg. If I was their coach, I’d send my players out to test Scott’s discipline.
Like all European strikers, Leigh will have to deal with being pulled inside the box. How he breaks free will result in scenes of drama, as Astana attempt to right the wrongs from the first leg all those Glaswegians spoke to Kaisar Bekenov about.
Celtic have the advantage of not having to chase the game, but we are likely to press forward from the off. How we defend will be crucial. Ronny Deila’s great undoing was the porous shape of his team when they lost possession in Europe. Tonight needs to be about defensive discipline above all else – and yes, that means patience.
It will be close to 3am Astana time at 90 minutes when the effects of jetlag will be greatest. The latter part of the game will be when Celtic have most advantage. Keep it tight, draw them out and finish strong, Celtic.
Well done to Dundalk in qualifying for the Champions League play-off round by eliminating BATE Borisov last night. BATE are accomplished qualifiers for the Champions League, having progresses through the champions group more than any other club since qualification reorganisation.
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Under16s play Basel 10.30 am KO tomorrow
Under 14s play Charlton
THUNDER ROAD on 3RD AUGUST 2016 4:21 PM
Celtic Champs Elect
Thought the lad N’Diaye in the under 14’s looked an a fantastic prospect when i saw him in action last season.
Guess ive been wishing my life away to see if he can do the same stuff for the 1st team!
Only about another 5 years to go now…..hope the wee guy makes it and im still cutting aboot to see it :)
Yes TR by all accounts a very good player but caddy is the prize trust me on that I have seen caddy play 2 years up and not look out of place. The under 16s win the foyle cup in derry and Hibernian cup in Dublin last year the first academy team to win both.
Come on the Hoops!
Give me joy in my heart give me Ambrose!
Sin City Bhoy
Its not just you mate as ive seen a lot of posts saying they would be happy with 0-0 and obviously that will do us at full time.
Can you just imagine the state everyone will be in throughout those 90 minutes with the score like that?!!!
I know your not suggesting we go out and play for 0-0 but because we can never do that domestically, its a foreign game to us and we just cannae play that way!
Fasten yer seat belt……it may be a bumpy ride!!!
DBBIA –
welcome back aboard!
Trad88
All quiet, game time
HH
Celtic tv also run a generic radio style commentary for all formats explaining where the ball is, wether its a short pass or whatever. Its a bit intense and after a while (10mins) it begins to irritate.
Could they not get several video and radio feeds in an effort to enhance the product?
Catman on 3rd August 2016 4:43 pm
Enjoy bud, real momentum if we progress with a good win tonight,
HH
QUONNO on 3RD AUGUST 2016 4:37 PM
I do not believe that is the official team sheet as yet. If it is, so be it, he will have a game plan, so we will see.
Celtic Champs Elect
Hope you are right mate as there’s not enough make the step needed.
I will look out for him and will hopefully remember who i heard it from 1st!
Dinnae be shy to tell everybody you telt us 1st as well, as id say we will just be delighted that one of them has :)
THUNDER ROAD on 3RD AUGUST 2016 4:43 PM
Aye, all they midgets along the back four heading the ball out of defence…
Give me joy in my heart I pray…
Tumble Tumble
Hahahahaha
Braw
Bishopbriggs
Impatient to get into town for beers and a home win with the good ghuys x2!
HH jamesgang
Let the People Sing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&feature=related&v=zhkdy0AOpaM
Sing hosanna to the king of kings….
Bet he is watching .
Braw.
TONYDONNELLY67 on 3RD AUGUST 2016 5:02 PM
I guess we’ll see now who are the people :))
http://videocelts.com/2016/08/blogs/latest-news/ashley-taunts-king-as-sports-direct-prepare-to-sell-the-jerseys/
Celtic Trust @TheCelticTrust
The beginning of the end for the Offensive Behaviour Act
http://www.celtictrust.net/index.php?func=d_home_article&id=529 …
Will be in Paradise tonight, 50 thousand roaring Celtic to the next round of the C/L
COYBIG
My grandsons fav song
Willie Maley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Et8uRfvk8o
Lord Lonesome Hermit @kinghoopy
As the atmosphere builds
And the excitement grows
It’s in these’s moments
We become one
We become
CELTIC
Good Evening.
New piece to help distract you from the LONG wait until kick off! Fingers crossed for tonight!
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2016/08/03/missing-paperwork/
Leftclicktic…….
How is he getting on at hide and seek…..still falling for your tricks?
Braw
Tony
I think Sports Direct have to start selling the jerseys as per their part of the contract agreement. If they don’t they run the risk of looking as f they think there is something in King’s stance, just my opinion por cierto.
Braw
Every Celtic supporter should watch that video, it sure doesn’t hold back.
She said 0-0, then I told her what the game was, who we were playing etc, and she still said 0-0, mi, no having it, not a bit of it, there will be goals tonight, mega goals, at the end of the night I don’t give an f as long as we score more than they do :-)
HH
The Asterisk Years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y2qtsPng5U
Just about to leave for the game. Full house tonight from Kilwinning as both daughters are going. Usual place for pre match libation. COYBIG
Clumps ..it might be the only bit of paper you could fold nine times ….
And bejesus do they know all about folding ….
Braw
i hate when i feel like this.
confident of a controlled performance , playing to our strengths, and a win by a few goals,
there i said it.
ps, you know how i feel about forrest, but i will be willing him on to please please please make a difference.
TET….
We won,t watch anything that passes the half way line then ….hahahahaha
I am with you ….a comprehensive ragging is on the cards …
Braw.
Neustadt-Braw
He is easy peesy :))))))
Willie Maley is a finder all the time.
———-
Turn up the volume
for a braw vid
Celtic by Moravcik67
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ZKQfp7D6U
Leftclickcelt……I sincerely hope I have not mixed your good self up with another grandchild sitting Celt..
The jist was to whistle COYBIG …to find oot where they where…
Braw.
TA BHOYS
GO ON TO CELTIC TV V FIRE FOX STOPS BUFFERING
Phew….
Braw.
Jude…. Caps lock.
Two hours till kick off and the soup I have just eaten is jumping about in my nervy stomach.
Wish it was a Six o clock kick off so we could get on with it.
Heading in just after Six, good luck to all of us and the team in particular.
‘ mon the Hoops!
Look out for me at CQN corner…I am 5′ 2″, 24 stones, but my stand out features are my bushy eyebrows. Please say ‘hello’…but never ‘hello hello’…on to victoreee…
If you are a ST and bought your seat online is it on your card?
Weebobbycollins – 24 stones?
What are your seat numbers? OJ ;-)
Enjoy the game!
KJAM on 3RD AUGUST 2016 5:56 PM
If you are a ST and bought your seat online is it on your card?
It’s on your card if you are on the Home Cup Ticket scheme
AOW…thank you …about to head over now…
Saint Stivs says SACK THE BOARD on 3rd August 2016 5:25 pm
i hate when i feel like this.
confident of a controlled performance , playing to our strengths, and a win by a few goals,
there i said it.
—————-
Celtic will put you through the emotional wringer tonight its what they do to us
:)))))))))))))
2-1 or 3-2 but hope for a stroll in the park 4-0