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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TeT
Pass on my best wishes to the beautiful one….
Let’s see what Brendan can do with the same bunch of misfiring misfits who let everybody down before
Broonie to score anytime in 90mins for me tonight,
get intae them Celtic
till later all
CELTIC40ME. If we go through Brendan will have done a great job if we go out it will be Peter Lawwells fault .We Celts are a fickle bunch. H.H.
TET …
Grenada/Granada …. Tomato/Tomato
I haven’t been to Granada, but I was in Grenada earlier this year … what a lovely country! Quite unspoiled so far. iYou should think of getting a place there … I’d come for a visit! :)
Cheers bhoys, it does mean a lot.
The nerves are getting to me now,
HH
Exiled
Sorry to hear about your wife’s heart problems.
Hope she is on the mend. .
P.s….don’t let her watch celtic. .They are bad for the heart. ..Anyhow take care
Mon the hoops
Mon the exiled lady
Toon was buzzing. Traffic on the gallowgate not bad. At the forge already https://youtu.be/xTg_Be2HiM0
HH
TET
Best wishes to your good lady for a full and speedy recovery.
HH!!
TET…free beer is braw…..whilst it lasts…Germans are great at logistics…..so it lasted for seven hours…lots of hoopy villagers….
My very best to the smile….
Your braw braw folks….
Now come on the bhoys in green…
Braw
The Exiled Tim-
Thoughts with your good lady at this time, and strength to you too.
Hope the Tic can provide you with the perfect medicine for relaxation today- a win!
MiT
Only seen Grenada on the box, and it looks the biz, Granada is a beautiful reigon, it has everything, I live in the poor bit :-)
HH
I’m right bloody early. This aff the drink caper is nae good
Guy in Work just Pre-Ordered a Sevco shirt from Sports Direct & wrtten in bold lettering across the back of the receipt it says “Rangers exited Administration in 2012”.
THE EXILED TIM
May Mrs TET have a speedy and full recovery my friend..
HH fae the Green Green Unsullied Valley:))
Only joking, his receipt was a balloon, apparently. I wonder what that means.
Brendan obviously sees a player in Forrest
TET
Looking at taking a break, and had thought about going south for a week …. but have only ever spent a few days in Spain (Barcelona) and think maybe a wee trip to spain might be an idea instead ….
just looked at a few pictures of Granada …. looks stunning! If a fellow you dont recognize knocks on your door, open the door … it will be me! :)
STV………………Rangers ‘surprised’ as new kit goes on sale without permission
not as surprised as us they’ve been deed for four years
Any IT experts help me as I cannot get logged in to Celtic TV – paid for it last night
evening all, whats the best kodi add on for Celtic tv.?
thanks in advance
HH
MiT
Anytime mi amigo, you will be welcome.
HH
scullybhoy email them they are really good at fixing problems and they do it quick smart
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
Post of the day:))
ROTFLOL
SCULLYBHOY on 3RD AUGUST 2016 7:04 PM
Any IT experts help me as I cannot get logged in to Celtic TV – paid for it last night
Ask for help in the chatbox on the live audio screen, provided live audio is free for all these days
Evening folks!
Nerves are ‘a’ jingle jangling, but an early goal will see the bhoys take care of the remainder of the match. Let’s hope (and I’m sure he has) Brendan has instilled a battling, professional attitude into the team, because I dread to think about our players being as nervous as I am!
Anyway, my prediction…. I predict will be wrong, but here it is anyway:
4-1 (Griff x2, Paddy, Dembele)
-Tambo
THE EXILED TIM
Sorry pal i must have missed you telling us about your good lady.
Thoughts and prayers from Bulgarski.
tansbell on 3rd August 2016 7:06 pm
AuroraBorealis79 on 3rd August 2016 7:07 pm
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
They did indeed fix it for me THANK YOU lads
HH
Speyside
Click on Sportsdevil and check out the streams 5 or 10 minutes before kick off. Almost always get one. Good luck. Monthehoops.
SPEYSIDE LHAD. ..
Try Castaway….then Dimsports…should be
o.k.
Rogers confirms 4-5-1 on Celtic TV
plenty of updates guys for us who cant watch thanks in advance
Ronny’s team and line up? Hoping for a Brendan’s team performance!
any sausages folks
Cmon the hoops. Let’s get the job done
HH
HWG walk on
BRAW
Yir pals here LOL
Wow brooney