A few months after that win over Barcelona and being eliminated in the knock-out stages of the Champions League by Juventus, Neil Lennon took his Celtic team to Astana, where Shakhter Karagandy elected to play their home tie in the 2013 qualifiers, while sacrificing a sheep for good fortune on the pitch a day earlier.
We lost 2-0 before performing an heroic rescue a week later to snatch victory in stoppage time, but some of the detail from the defeat in Kazakhstan has been lost.
In the opening stages at the Astana Arena we looked miles ahead before Shakhter scored a 12th minute opener. We continued to dominate possession – 61% overall – but failed to put the ball in the net, before conceding a late second, which must have delighted and surprised the Kazaks in equal measure.
A 2-0 loss away in Europe is a bad result, but the nature of the game gave plenty of room for encouragement. We were clearly a better team, but didn’t have our act together, especially in defence.
This game was the one and only start for that urban legend, Steven Mouyokolo, who partnered Charlie Mulgrew in central defence to give new guy, Virgil van Dijk, his second start, making a very unaccustomed appearance at full back. What did we expect? It wasn’t a surprise that we did enough in the return leg with a more conventional look at the back (Mouyokolo and van Dijk were both dropped).
Astana have several things in their favour. They are fully fit, 21 games into their league season, and 10 points ahead, so they’ve had the luxury of resting players as the qualifiers approached. Shakhter Karagandy have also agreed to postpone their scheduled game on Saturday, so Astana won’t play until they face Celtic next week. By contrast, Brendan Rodgers still needs game-time to work his players up to full fitness.
Last season Astana reached the Champions League group stage, eliminating Maribor (cough), HJK Helsinki and APOEL Nicosia along the way. Their group performances against Atletico, Benfica and Galatasaray were more than credible – two defeats and four draws, achieved by defending in numbers across all six games.
Listen carefully to the confidence the Shakhter manager who faced us three years ago has in his fellow Kazaks. Astana will be buoyed by last season’s achievements and will have watched the debacle in Gibraltar. They think they are the stronger team and, unlike their group stage games last season, will attack Celtic at home.
The last time they attacked at home in Europe was a year ago against HJK Helsinki, who scored three on the counter-attack but conceded four. There will be space to exploit on that bumpy plastic surface in central Asia. Defend, forget faux comforts like 61% possession, and have Leigh, Patrick, James and Callum hit them on the break.
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TTT
Great News mate, Congratulations to you and your family.
Morning Bhoys, Looking forward to the game later. Nice dry day with some good football on display, hope to see Toure and HT and Allan.
KLV
From Twitter this guy was talking to kolo on the flight from Paris this morning,
McCafferty @frankmccafferty
@brian_reilly81 @MartyStrong88 @OHenleyAlex Only spoke to him as we were getting off plane. Confirmed he was here for Celtic,but no details
ELDIEGOBHOY on 22ND JULY 2016 6:56 PM……..keep up the good fight and look after yourself.
THOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK on 23RD JULY 2016 7:46 AM………..fantastic news for you and your family. Enjoy your celebratory drinks.
THOMTHETHIM-some good news for a change,congratulations and good health to all HH
Good morning all. Another morning, another slaughter of innocents on the news. Will this cycle ever stop? It’s not a world I want my 2 ghirls growing up in, and I can’t see how it will end. For those who constantly complain about Celtic’s lack of signings, or obsess about who is in the boardroom, take a minute and think about what Celtic really are, a distraction fro the everyday world, somewhere to go to (physically or mentally) to escape reality, a common purpose to engage with friends about, and most importantly something to enjoy.
Hail Hail
TTT – Congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter
HH
EDB
You’re doing well bhuddy,keep it going .HH
(GLAD ABOOT THE HAIR :o)
Kolo would be perfect for a season.Experience in abundance.Talking to my mates son in law who is here,he is big Fener fan,this morning.Says the boy we are being linked with is very good defender.He will be angry if he goes.In saying that,he is pyooooor raging at everything at Fener just now.
Toure is exactly what we need.
KLV
Toure can help develop O’Connell and McCart
Kolo Toure on way to Glasgow
https://twitter.com/frankmccafferty/status/756754046615228416
EDB.
Good post yesterday. Thanks for keeping us all updated.
You are a brave man. Keep being positive.
TTT.
It’s always nice to hear good news.
Well done to all and I’m sure you will enjoy many a happy moment with your granddaughter.
Moyes new Sunderland manager
TTT
Congratulations to you n family HH
If we do indeed sign Toure, we can be assured that he isn’t suffering burn-out from being overplayed in the last 3 years.
Notably, while he made only 14 league appearances last season, he got 8 starts in Liverpool’s Europa League run, including a start in the Final v Sevilla.
Unlikely though that the chap is fit to play competitive football, given he’s been without a club since the end of the season.
Emdy know if he’s been training with another club?
Davy Moyes new Sunderland manager
Once again, thanks for the warm comments.
Yes, grandchildren are a joy, especially the handing back bit!
EDB, your positive spirit and the support you receive, will see you through.
TTT
Lovely!
Good news regarding Kolo Toure if it happens. I see Moyes is new Sunderland manager.So much for wanting to manage a Champions league club.To me he is going to a club who often fight relegation and has damaged many managerial careers.in short an unimaginative appointment from a run of the mill albeit premiership club
TBB
BR is quoted as saying Kolo Toure is a fitness fanatic, in the Efe Ambrose super fit elite upper echelon.
He can do triple gazebo somersaults even when he’s jet lagged, Can’t be match fit, may
sit on the bench in Astana?
TTT
Congratulations another addition to an already fine family
I think Toure will start on Wednesday with Erik,seen him come in from the cold for Liverpool a few times,always up to the pace of the game.
Did Celtic sign anyone before the deadline?
No?
What a surprise? Who’d have thunk it?
Celtic – a club like no other (that just wants to make as much profit as possible).
Small hill Tim. There are indeed more important things than Celtic. The world is becoming a very dangerous place and changes in Europe and the US will intensify that sadly.
But Celtic do not live in a vacuum and while the board pay themselves needless bonuses whilst at the same time refusing to pay the living wage and offering zero hours contracts we see in them the same problem writ large elsewhere. Poor leadership, self interest, greed and corruption.
TTT Congrats , enjoy the head wetting its your duty .
EDB great spirit mate HH
Masty if AM is in today will get it from him .
HH
Neg
Small hill Tim. There are indeed more important things than Celtic. The world is becoming a very dangerous place and changes in Europe and the US will intensify that sadly.
Celtics fault I suppose.
OHITS
I’ll send you it,bud.
Ohits
I think he is coming in, if not HT or BT have my number, providing you have theirs
Oh and boaby had it as well
Cheers curly shoes
Dunno why we linked with a left back
Tierney and izzy more than capable for that spot.
Other areas need more immediate attention .
Centre midfield and centre half .. Backbone of any team is very weak.
Cheers M , are you moving in on BTs job , he wont be happy ha ha .
TTT. Congratulations. Toure arrival.Good news , better late than never.My main wish for today (apart from my Yankee being successful) is ninety minutes with no injury concerns for midweek.
Have a nice one fholks & be nice to one another. HH
Proudbhoy
Apparently the Turkish fella is very versatile can play all the way across the back and both half backs aswell
Once again the ever interesting,bright witty,Neganon arrives to brighten up everyones day with his witty take on all things Celtic.
How he finds all off his new original,hilarious material is beyond me.
Pictures of kolo at Ross hall emerging
First of 3 medicals today :)
https://twitter.com/CollectCelticFC/status/756783371821481984
MASTY
Nae bother,bud.
OHITS
No chance,I know my place! (Resists joke about Grumpy…)
TTT
Congratulations buddy.
EDB
Nice to see you back on and glad everything is going well. Keep the Faith.
MWD