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.
600 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- »
LEFTCLICKTIC
Evening Lefty, I mailed you, don’t know if ye got it:))
TechyCSC
Patrick Bamford of Chelsea linked with us in tomorrow’s press down south (KDS rumour)
Underground @celticrumours
3 being lined up for medicals tomorrow apparently.
Gary67 on 22nd July 2016 10:30 pm
Patrick Bamford of Chelsea linked with us in tomorrow’s press down south (KDS rumour)
—————-
Bamford is a Griff clone even left footed, no way we need him
Team for Wednesday
CG
SJ. ML. EA. ES. KT
SA. SB. CMcG
MD. LG
We really need the goalie to have a blinder.
I think we’ll win 2_1.
paul the tim
paul the tim – @paulthetim
sinclair done by tuesday im told and toure announced tomorrow
Jobo
Your new “seat” will be great training your Saturday run, delighted you made the game (sort of glad you didn’t buy a new scarf didn’t even like mine getting washed)
Superstitious nonsense (but still a worry)
Lenny – cheers buddy. It’s hard to keep up on here!!
starry plough
Emailed back (I think)
not so techyCSC
THE_HUDDLE on 22ND JULY 2016 10:32 PM
Always thought he was more of an attacking midfielder/second striker rather than an out and out striker, at Boro he played behind Kike or Vossen and had his best season to date
All this signing speculation is just that.
Speculation.
TT
TINYTIM…
Did you miss a pot on the black tonight:)
Let’s see what transpires. HH
Gary67 on 22nd July 2016 10:34 pm
paul the tim – @paulthetim
sinclair done by tuesday im told and toure announced tomorrow
——————
I’m glad the club are keeping Paul updated on our dealings.
Now where’s eTims and James Forrest
Tinytim
Aye just like your speculation about Dembelle.
sipsini on 22nd July 2016 10:44 pm
TINYTIM…
Did you miss a pot on the black tonight:)
Let’s see what transpires. HH
———————
Still fuming about the peas
Bamford, did very well on loan at Middlesborough 2 seasons ago
I would take him
Just a different slant on signings, EPL clubs need to name their 35 man squads in a few weeks, once that’s done, good options will be available for loan deals – if shopping in Englandshire, as they try to get savings on wage bills ?
Like many state, some better value in Europe though, if only we could get our scouting sorted :-)
LEFTCLICKTIC
Just saw that:))
HH
Gary67 on 22nd July 2016 10:40 pm
Always thought he was more of an attacking midfielder/second striker rather than an out and out striker, at Boro he played behind Kike or Vossen and had his best season to date
————-
Nah he’s a pure striker, pretty skillful but certainly in the Griff mould.
I think he has potential but he’s never kicked on from the early promise and it would be him or Griff in the team, so only one winner there
Dembele, very clearly trying too hard to score on Wednesday night, once he does score and relaxes, he will do well for us
Now I like Griffiths, and who can argue with his scoring record, tell you this though, he is very poor when 1 on 1 with a goalie
If he improved in this area, he could get 50 goals this season :-), playing with a strike partner
Hail Hail
Speculation signing :) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Chalobah …
COWIEBHOY
Do the EPL teams not usually name there 25 man squads the day after the transfer window closes or has that changed?
EldiagoBhoy. – Good thoughts with you at this time
HH
For anyone wth one of those we Droidboxes. Just noticed that within the sports zone – DC Sports – Celtic – there’s then a whole feast of highlights of Celtic games from years gone by. That’s the rest of my evening sorted…
slán go foill a chairde go mórmhor iad a bhfaca an cluiche idir dúinn ‘is na hIMPS as Gibraltar.
edb, go raibh míle maith agat ar do shaol ‘is na focail a tá sciartha agat ar cqn
the hoops abu
Toure we are Celtic must be better out there
Gary67
sure once they name this excess players are available to sign on loan
Last year sure the squads had to be named by early Sept ? But they need to clear space pre transfer window closing for signings so make players available
Hearing Toure and Sinclair for sure, cooling on Duffy as Simunovic coming back and Mulgrew likely to stay. Midfielder and another forward coming in but no further information.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Big sadie at rb , not good enough, move on
Cowiebhoy
You’re right about Dembelle trying too hard. Did you see how quickly he grabbed the ball at the rescinded penalty ?
LENNYBHOY
Fletcher?
Love
CM should be nowhere near celtic park , finished .
Go on then Mr Pastry, challenge me, you post pish time after time, I call you out on the pish you post, yet you never once have refuted my posts to you, not once, you are a troll, you are never a Celtic man.
All posters have to do is look at your posts over time, many on here have had times when they have posted about problems they have had, or people close to them that have problems, and not once have your ever posted offering your condolences or your concern, NOT ONCE.
NOT ONCE, AS I SAID, NEVER A CELTIC MAN
Refute that.
Ron67
Go on mate something positive….
Even just include my blog name in the reply. It’ll lighten your heart.
BCW
Yes, once he gets his first goal and relaxes in front of goal, they will flow :-) hopefully
THE SPIRIT OF ARTHUR LEE on 22ND JULY 2016 10:59 PM
Alas not, he is dealing with more Porridge…:)
Love…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
TET
Ffs man, his Mrs was on the blog the other week, vouching for his appetite et-al.
Now that is a problem.
MURDOCHAULDANDHAY & WEE OSCAR on 22ND JULY 2016 10:50 PM
Certainly a position we badly need someone
BIG-CUP-WINNERS on 22ND JULY 2016 11:02 PM
Ron67
Go on mate something positive….
*** If we have to relay on Players like CM then heaven help us mate.