“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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IPTV
Calcio 2
TSN 4
Others?
‘GG
Fox sports?
BBC Scotland Footbal “Top Stories” tonight when the Celts are about to take the field in a CL qualifier !!!
Rossiter feeling ‘fitter than ever’
Stuart Armstrong
Armstrong close to new Celtic deal
Jimmy Calderwood
Calderwood suffering from Alzheimer’s
Albion Rovers field ineligible player
Disciplinary proceedings are opened against Albion Rovers, who fielded an ineligible player in their Challenge Cup win…
LIVE UPDATES UP
Is it just me….incredible timing jimmy calderwood…..soon unable to answer any questions…..DEPOSE him now…..if it’s possible within the Scottish Law….It may be instructive ….. ;-))
Will be watching the game in Cape Cod this afternoon. Anyone else up this way?
A big Hail Hail to the Bhoys watching in the Docksider, in Bermuda.
Happy Birthday to that young red head from Fauldhouse United – TOHG.
COYBIG
I read Doncaster claim the SPFL has no power to strip titles. No need for that. 0-3 in every game where an ineligible player played. Simple application of the rules.
I have read BRTH thoughts on this, he is of course correct, but the finer points can be argued and subverted, they have history and will argue the points.
A simple application of the rules of the game each time a player was ineligible is unarguable.
Just my simplified thinking on this.
0-3, yer clubs deed mate, beat it.
Tonight? Wimbledon CSC for me, get it done Celtic.
I too was wondering if pressure was put to Jimmy Calderwood to announce his Alzheimer’s now, of all times.