It’s hard playing away from home in Europe, statistically, the hardest thing we do (harder still than guessing what bizarre nonsense Craig Thomson will get up to next). For all our great Champions League nights, our record on the Continent (or any other continent, as the case may be) is poor.
Hapoel Beer Shiva’s expectations will be low, but their job tonight is remarkably simple: score, then score again, then see what happens to Celtic. They scored twice in two minutes at Celtic Park, and if they can do the same in 80 minutes in Israel, that +£20m pot you’ve been reading about it anyone’s.
We need big performances from our big players, most notably Craig Gordon and Kolo Toure. I’ve no concerns we’ll get what’s necessary from Leigh Griffiths, James Forrest and Scott Sinclair. Therein lies the tactical problem for Hapoel.
They would prefer to play this game as they played Olympiakos: on the break. Instead, they have to chase the tie, which will leave space for Celtic’s fast front three to exploit.
Tactically, this is a very difficult task to prepare for the home team to prepare for, which is why Hapoel are 9-1 against qualifying, high odds for a two horse race. They need to play the opponent, so should defend, but they also need to play the aggregate score, so need to create lots of chances.
Teams who attempt to square this circle often lose the match. Let’s hope.
1-2, Celtic, on the night.
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Barney67
tonights his night, although he does let another 2 pens in in the 2-2 victory for the Hoops.
MWD
I did not see the last game against Hapoel but followed the updates thankfully on CQN but when Celtic went three up I thought that was game set and match and went back to looking at the Dundalk-Legia Warsaw game on TV. Went back to CQN and got the shock of my life when we conceded two goals in as many minutes and thought here we go again.
The israelites could be considered novices when it comes to European competition and although a bit worried I think Celtic who are starting to look lethal up front with loads of pace will score over there. Paddy Roberts could be our secret weapon if hopefully he plays at some stage.
Statistically speaking – because it’s that kind of day and I need to relieve the tension – there are 36 possible results between 0-0 and 5-5.
Of the 36 results . . .
1 result takes it to extra-time
5 results put Hapoel through
30 results send Celtic into the CL
We can’t lose.
HH
I’d like to see how Sviachenko an Toure get on together, if that partnership gels we have a good foundation at the back, at the moment we’re conceding too many goals, we’ve got away with it so far but we wont if we progress tonight. Its time to see if we can defend a good lead and concentrate for 90 mins. That why i’ll be satisfied with a 0-0 tonight.
Not posted for ages..
Looking forward with confidence to tonight’s game. In BR we have a manager capable of shrewd in game management.
Personally I’d like to see Celtic take the game to them until first goal is scored. If that goal is for Celtic then we just bury them. If it goes against us time to get the WalterSmith tactic book out and park the bus. Hit on the break.
One thing we do know is that tonight’s opposition need to go for it so there should be space to exploit.
Good luck Brendan and the Bhoys – bring back the bacon!
Token..,
very good point, big, small, wide, skinny, I expect them all to be using their favourite left foot and favourite right foot as opposed to their out of favour left and right feet.
hail hail
Not overly confident (I never am) but as long as there are no major catastrophes we’ll be ok, no red cards etc.
Out with the bhoys at the Gaelic first so will miss the first 15 minutes or so. If they’ve scored when I get back I’ll be shiting myself
Árd Macha
Both teams are out of Europe tonight. But we’ll win to get back in.
MWD
The Clumpany,
You’re on good form at the moment and the ‘Cobblers’ gag at the end of your most recent offering is laugh-out-loud funny. More power to you, Sir. Or indeed, madam.
BMCUWP
You’re right there my bhoy!
I once saw Hibs 3 times within 1 week around 1974/75.
They lost 15 goals in 3 games, 2 of the games were against Celtic and Dixie scored 6 of them. We beat them 5-0 in the league and 6-3 in the LCF on successive Saturdays.
In midweek I went to Easter Road with some Hibee pals to see them play Juventus in the Fairs Cities Cup where they lost 4-2 – with an aging Altafini scoring a brace I think.
Those were the days my friend.
Obv 0-1 or 2 would be even better ;-)
Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession
Yes, I agree. They all need to keep their own head too – I am tired of players being so complacent that they misplace their head. They are not much use to us at corners when they lose their head.
For balance, DDV has saved 7 pens in his entire career.
Auld Tam,
I think you are discounting the infinite possible scores above 3-0 when talking about that 5 results that put them through, which will equate with infinity + 4, I suspect, or should that be 4 X Infinity + 1 ?
Wow! Just had a quick check – over £100K raised for charity now!
BOOM.
£100,003 of £110k goal
#MatchTheFineForPalestine
MATS NILLOC on 23RD AUGUST 2016 12:15 PM
MACJAY1@12:01 (last article)
Funny you should mention that game – when we were selling the family home after my mum died – we came across a pile of old newspapers – most were The Weekly News – we were a great Weekly News family.
A preview of the Dunfermline cup final made fascinating reading – in an even older one , there is this kinda burly crew-cut young centre forward called Him Conway – do you remember him?
Jim Conway was yet another who suffered from Robert Kelly’s belief that He, and He alone knew what was best for Celtic.
Not much work being done in my office today. too busy thinking of tactics and team selection…Come on Celtic!!
For Fs sake.
This is so unlike me.
I firmly believe that Celtic are home and dry.
Scott Sinclair To Score, Celtic To Win 1-0, 2-0 Or 2-1 In 90 Mins 11/1 william Hill
vfr800a8
If only 500 million Oldco fans had been offered the opportunity to stump up some cash to save their club – think how much they would have raised!!!!!!
Hapoel need to score at least three goals, barring a complete collapse I just can’t see that not without a Celtic reply, the way we are playing at the moment I think we are always bible to score, plus Hapoel need to chase tonights game, leaving gaps for us to exploit.
I’m confident without being cocky and my sneaky bum will be parked in front of the screen for the whole game:))
Walter Smith tactics aye alright Cults:))
Davido…,
another good point, you’d think football players were deformed mutants with the number of limbs and body parts commentators claim they have, it’s like a freak show, which is why they are paid so much I suppose. Four legged decapitated mutants.
Very nervous at the moment. It would be so great if the Bhoys can pull this off tonight. Different from the last time when we had a poor team but qualified and got skelped by Barca. This time we can actually dare hope that we can do something.
COYBIG
starry plough
Sneaky bums are never parked – that is too decisive and candid an action. Sneaky bums may hover and occasionally sidle, but never park…
DAVIDOPOULOS
Spoken as a true four wheel driver:))
I get the tram:))
Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession
Don’t get me started on their engines. How many cylinders does a McGregor 42 have?
DAVIDOPOULOS on 23RD AUGUST 2016 1:07 PM
vfr800a8
If only 500 million Oldco fans had been offered the opportunity to stump up some cash to save their club – think how much they would have raised!!!!!!
——
It would probably have been cheaper to source a liquidation expert.
QUONNO on 23RD AUGUST 2016 1:03 PM
I take your point.
On the other hand, he did know what was best for Celtic when he appointed Jock Stein.
The single best appointment in the history of Celtic.
Frankly , I can`t abide current trendy vilification of the Kelly family.
Father and son.
Talk about biting the hand that has fed you.
Arguable to put forward the proposition ;
No Kelly`s , no Celtic.
Not nervous in the slightest. Fairly confident we will see this through.
Now I’m getting worried at the lack of nerves. :)
HH
thetimreaper
It would probably have been cheaper to source a liquidation expert.
———————————————————————-
They already had by that point…Sir Craigy Whyte of Motherwell.
Ach, I’m fin. Here for the day, more people concerned about this polish turd of a charity drive by the GB high jackets and Middle East freedome fighters, I told you all on Thursday this would happen, they only need Celtic when it suits they’r agenda, been like that for years, time you all caught on before this gets out of control, there’s more politics on here now than Celtic talk, and that’s the agenda, first the blog, then cause it somewhere else,.
Predictable and not to clever IMO.
Good luck the hoops tonight, lurking Huns GIRFUYs
HH
Brendan built his career at Swansea on counter attacking football, sitting a wee bit deeper , soak up a bit of pressure then hitting on the break, more of the same tonight i hope
Davido…,
Jeeze we could be here all day babbling like petrolheads, thats a good idea :)
Now are we talking petrol engines. diesel engines or steam engines, they never seem to run out of anything but steam but I’ve heard some of them have rolls royce engines but rolls royce don’t make steam engines, do they ?
Re the Kellys, couldn’t it be argued that Sir Robert was a product of his time who, once he realised what he had in Jock Stein, was able to amend his own ways to allow Stein the freedom to do what he did better than anyone.
Whereas Michael turned out a bit of a fud.
Is that unfair? That’s my sense of it anyway, at all these years distance.
Same auld Craig Thomson…always cheatin’…
Some right auld guys on here…Jim Conway, big Hooky John Colraine…a lot a Grecian 2000 used in here…either that or dome polish…
Anyway, confident we will get through…saw a pic of Brendan smiling with the bhoys at training…it was a smile of confidence…wouldn’t dare forecast a score…but I’m sure it will make us all happy…
And hopefully, the blog will become a happy place again…whit? (copyright Auld Tam)
I thought the game would be an early kick off, but its 19.45 here, that will make it 1745 there i think, it will still be hot i expect the new water break rules will be essential for our players.
GeezadrinkehthatwatterCSC
I don’t think we have the midfielders to play a defensive game tonight.
Unless you play big Erik there with Broony.
But who do you leave out?
Just a thought.