“I’m so tired of being alone,
I’m so tired of on my own,
Won’t you help me, girl,
Just as soon as you can”
Al Green’s lament is written for those tired and distant from homely comforts If you and I do our job tonight, the Astana players who take the field will know what it feels like to compete in what is the wee small hours of their internal body clock. They will be tired, and the crisp Glasgow night will feel nothing like their central Asia base. Home advantage is worth nothing if you don’t make the most of it.
Astana’s Bulgarian manager, Stanimir Stoilov, promised his players are ready for tonight’s game at Celtic Park.:
“Discipline will be key. When we were here last year feelings were running high and we could maintain composure. We just have to remember two games will decide who gets to the group stages of the Champions League. We need to keep our nerve for both games.
“I have no words that can describe what it would mean for Kazakhstani football for us to reach the group stage. I am pretty sure the players know what it will mean for them, they are focussed on success.
“Celtic have risen up in recent years under Brendan Rodgers. He has done a good job and Celtic are stronger.
“We need to score [tonight]. If we don’t, get a goal, the game in Astana will be tough. We must try to be ourselves and play our football, no surprises.
“Any team which doesn’t lose in eight months deserves huge respect. We will be very happy if we win. On the other hand, there are defeats in football too, but we will see what happens.”
One interesting fact emerged from his Celtic Park media conference yesterday: the Astana board publicly set a target for their team to reach either the Champions League or Europa League group stages this season. This was achieved with the win over Legia Warsaw in the last round.
Given a choice, I’d prefer to play a team who’ve hit their targets, than one whose very essence replies on them beating you.
Let’s get stuck into them, Celtic.
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On Armstrong:
…Rodgers said : “This is a simple deal that should have been sorted out before the end of last season.
“Now it’s dragged on and on and on way too long for what, with all due respect, is a simple deal. Christ, it’s not a big multi multi-million pound deal.”
Therein lies the problem!
I know his advisors have clearly played a big part in this saga and its easy to vilify them. But they are only the players advisors and the player could have signed the deal months ago. Therefore he is clearly in agreement with the approach taken, which is his absolute right to do of course.
But for us, we need to set a deadline in terms of planning and getting other players in. He’s no use to us the way he’s performed in most games so far this season so give him another week max and take the contract off the table.
HH
Anyway,off now to get moderately drunk before the match.Dug needing walked,dinner needing eaten,before drink again being tackled.
Good luck to all Tims tonight.Have a great evening.
Turkeybhoy
Take it easy tonight:)
Hail Hail:)
GlassTwoThirdsFull on 16th August 2017 3:07 pm
Maybe someone could ask Doncaster how the 5WA can be in any way valid when it has already been broken. All football debts weren’t paid. And wasn’t the fine unpaid? Did they not have to deduct it from prize money?
==========================
There were two fines.
One on Rangers by the Judicial Panel by the SFA viz:
1 Breach of Disciplinary Rule 1: Not Proven 2 Breach of Disciplinary Rule 2: Proven A fine of £10,000 payable to the Scottish FA within twelve months. 3 Breach of Disciplinary Rule 14: Proven
A fine of £50,000 payable to the Scottish FA within twelve months. 4 Breach of Disciplinary Rule 66: Proven (subject to deletion of the sixth element)
A fine of £100,000payable to the Scottish FA within twelve months. In addition, the Tribunal imposed a prohibition in terms of Articles 94.1 and 95 of the Articles of Association, prohibiting Rangers FC for a period of 12 months from the date of Determination from seeking registration with the Scottish FA of any player not currently with the club, excluding any player under the age of 18 years. 5 Breach of Disciplinary Rule 71:
Proven The Tribunal imposed a censure.
the total was £160K which was paid.
CW was fined £200k on 4 charges but paid nothing.
Separately the LNS Commission placed a fine of £250K for non registration of side letters that was appealed but appeal rejected and recouped from prize/TV money due initially to TRFC.
ANDYR53
The voice of reason as usual.
Technically Astana will be the best side we’ve played thus far .
Going forward we should be fine .
If we keep a clean sheet that we be fabeedoo .
I’m going for a 1 goal margin for us .
Happy Birthday to BT’s dad TOHG .
53,000 happy clapping seals…..
wullny get justice…..
53,000 empty seats, wull get justice !!!
But, yeez just don’t listen…..
maybe one day.
Anyway,…….
Guid luck to the Cellic tonight….
Hoopy Birthday Mr John Fallon, Blantyre’s finest…
HEBCELT – Sorry about the loss of yer pal, Johnny.
Thoughts and Prayers for all who love him.
……off-oot.
Happy birthday to TOHG!
I hope BT is spoiling you rotten!
£6m for an international player. Considering the very average players going for crazy money in this transfer window; The £6m must be a deposit.
HH.
Auldheid
Did the 5WA not state that all football debts were to be paid by sevco ?
If this is indeed the case I would bet my last cent that they didn’t pay all of them, that would make the 5WA null and void imo
HH
I THINK THAT WE’LL KEEP ARMSTRONG RIGHT UP UNTIL THE CLOSE OF THE TRANSFER WINDOW WHEN THEYLL BE SCRAMBLING ABOUT FOR PLAYERS AND WE’LL GET A BETTER PRICE.
Jim Calderwood diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers – terrible condition wouldn’t with it on anyone
KEVJUNGLE on 16th August 2017 3:38 pm
You handed back your season book in 2005 didn’t you?
HH
Kev J
Hope you are well.
May i remind you that our average attendances during the jungle years had about 50 thousand empty places. Including the 9 in a row years.
What were we boycotting for then ?
Let it go and enjoy the bhoys on the park.
At least until tomorrow : )))
COYBIG.
Oot.
This morning dropped off one of sir’davids’ minions.
Brand new £4 million house sitting oan a hill overlooking ravel stone in Edinburgh.
Electric gates, roller and 2 land rover’s in driveway.
Gardens that would take a army tae maintain.
This a bankrupt that went bust owing lloyds/ taxpayer nearly a billion quid.
The bastard disnae even hide it, the man mocks us.
Scumbag.
Bhoys, remember that aside from Brendan being Manager for a full year now and the team developing during that time, we also have a few more games under our belt this time, we met them in the previous round last year, no fears, COYBIG
Right who pashed down the back of Kev Jungle’s leg:))
Sounds ridiculous but it’s almost as important to keep a clean sheet tonight as it is to score. Went to Israel with a good 3 goal advantage last year but the 2 we conceded at home nearly killed us in the end. So come on Celtic keep it tight and pick them off, would settle for a 2-0.
Team sheet latest………………Wee Jamesie
SOT- ta again
Sorry if this has been covered. With talk of VVD fetching an eye watering £70m+ fee, what is celtic’s cut? Is it 10% of overall fee, 10% of profit on Southampton’s £13.5 paid or 15% as reported in parts?
Nerves kicking in, thankfully beer time.
BV here I come. A clean sheet for CG and 1 or more goals tonight for us please.
Hail Hail
C E L T I C
Inspirational.
Annihililate them with Rhythm Celtic.
Turkeybhoy on 16th August 2017 3:30 pm
So what do you predict? 4 nil? 5 nil?? MORE??? Hope your right.. and my support for my team is around 59 of my 64 years.. undying, always accountable, but also realistic.
MARSPAPA.. Great to hear from you mate.. Hope you good pal.
lili – oops
Early onset Alzheimer’s is indeed a dreadful disease. A friend of mine diagnosed two years ago is now a shell of who he used to be.
Oh its all gone Pete Tong.
1-1-2
Press them so hard they wilt.
I am backing Bitton 100% tonight.
Often our support doesnt like cool heads in the box. Years of watching the most mentalness of lost goals due to indivdual decision making or just clear fluffing the ball, short back passes, headers onto opposition, the unmarked at corners etc etc etc. We all remember or worst moments.
However,
in Bitton, and his makeshift support, I havnt seen him really make mistakes yet. For sure the commentators on the TV highlighted positional errors or the penalty that never was, but really, what mistakes has he made ?
give the bhoy our support tonight, encourage him, cheer when he clears, clap when he cooly plays the ball out of defense.
I wouldnt be suprised if he scores from a corner , he has done it before.
So will you calm down and support the bosses decisions, our players efforts, and back them.
Cmon you bhoys in green.
To take your mind of the waiting for game to start – here is a wee link to when we had a couple of celebrity followers – Liz & Richard (1972). Enjoy.
http://www.sceala.com/phpBB2/irish-forums-25371.html
It will be good to have the GB back tonight.
The big worry about Bitton is if Astana have runners and players with pace. Its one thing playing against lumps like Bendtner and Lafferty but I’d be concerned about his awareness and ability to mark players with decent movement. Lets face it hes hardly the combative type, as calm as he can be.
HH
Saint Stivs on 16th August 2017 4:17 pm
I am backing Bitton 100% tonight.
Great post mate we all have our favorites but its the out of favor and out of position players that need our support the most a wee chant of this would maybe help …. Song for Nir Bitton ( mo mo super mo ) , Here NIR lets make this clear , you to us are oh so dear , an when you play we’ll always cheer , NIR BITTON of the Celtic .
200 minutes…
just caught up red dressed judith who tells me its to rain from now till 10pm at celtic park, strong south westerly winds.
one of those nights. under the lights.
Without starting a middle east debate, Nir is Israeli, I am sure he has seen more combat that most.
HOOOOOOOOOPY Birthday
To Lisbon Lion John Fallon.
This is gonnae be a mega
1988
Blast.
Oli is just warming up.
ANDYR53
I’m champion bud :)
Europes a different kettle of fish ( no pun intended ) when it comes to predicting results .
Domestically i put on 4-1 or 5-0 home or away .
Europe i tend to put on 2-1 or 3-2 ……
never relly win ,always done by the odd goal :(
Hope you and the family are well .
Ps…2-1 tonight.
Gordon …lustig …Ajer …
Simunovic…Teirney…Broon..
Sinky…Armstrong…Nycham.
Forrest …Griffiths.
COYBIG ;))
Team selections is it?
Well, I’d imagine we agree that the following 7 will start – Gordon, Lustig, Simunovic, Tierney, Brown, Sinclair, Griffiths. The remaining 4 spots to feature the following contenders –
As part of the back 4 – Ralston, Ajer or Bitton (my choice – Ajer)
Sitting alongside Broonie – Ntcham or Armstrong (my choice – Ntcham)
Wide right – Forrest or Hayes (my choice – Hayes)
Supporting Griff – McGregor, Rogic (my choice – McGregor)
Those of the above not starting will be on the bench along with De Vries and Benyu
And I’ve assumed Gamboa isn’t fit ;-)