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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Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on 23rd August 2016 1:57 pm
Not sure what PTT’s record is or his sources are like but yes, I’d be skeptical for now…
HH
Dont think Ive ever been so nervous this early before a celtic game !!!! When Brendan came in I would have been happy to make the Europa ….now touching distance from the BIG one …would be gutted if we dont make it ………….ohh my stomachs churning
Walturd Nosurname Isreal Legned!
There’s NOTHING as dumb as a hun.
Hope the team is not affected by the nervousness which I, and, I think a few others are feeling. Any result which gets us through is good enough for me this time round and then a few weeks to iron out any kinks.
Also, have to say that whatever position any of us have adopted on the flags issue, and whatever the rights and wrongs of it, that is a truly amazing amount of money collected in such a short period of time. Hopefully it will go some way to allievating the deprivation of a suffering people. HH
Congratulations to Tony Donnelly for contributing 2 grand to the Palestinian fund. I never agree with the guy. but that’s impressive for a pensioner. He must have seen the error of his ways and could not resist pushing the fund over 100k
Again ….
well done to Tony Donnelly for contributing to the Palestinian fund.
HH
vfr800a8 on 23rd August 2016 1:57 pm
In your opinion.
O’Connell will be out on loan by next Wednesday (unless Jozo has had a relapse), never make a first choice Celtic centre half, back up at best but 5th or 6th in the pecking order.
Ireland were a shambles in the Euros, 3 defeats in 4 games, a lot more than McCarthy had a poor tournament.
McCarthy is a higher standard than any of our current midfield, IMO.
BIGCUPWINNERS
Socrates,by our finest.
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Kingoh on 23rd August 2016 1:40 pm
Not as nervous as apparently some are tonight. No going for a walk or hiding behind the couch for me. I think we will qualify fairly comfortably. I’ll go for 6-3 to Hapoel.
On the rumour front – Wilfried Bony on loan should we qualify
——-
I wasn’t nervous until you mentioned Wilfried Bony!
Losing 2 goals apiece in our last couple of games , has left me somewhat fragile going into this match.
I think if we score then we will go through, and we look at the moment like a team that can do that at will.
However, we need everyone to be on top form tonight and defend from the front.
At 9/1 Paul, If I were Desmond I’d get a mate to put £3M on them Isreals (courtesy Gersnet) and hedge our financial bets.
I also see reports again that Bastian Schweinsteiger could be let go for as little as £2M.., just saying like.
I hope everyone enjoys the game and that we get the result we’re all hoping for.
HH
afternoon CQN,
at the start of the season i guess we’d all have seen the EL group stages as progress given that Brendon has had very limited time to work with the squad… so to be in the position where an away draw or even a 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 defeat would see us qualify for the CL groups is quite remarkable progress, what stands out for me in our games so far is Brendons ability to adapt when needed during a game and the players ability to carry out his tactical changes easily
jj has an excellect piece posted today https://johnjamessite.com/
Interesting that the transfer discussions have gone from practically replace the whole squad to who would this player replace in the first 11. It shows what a difference Brendan has made already.
As long as Celtic are the usual 3-0 up at half time I’ll be happy…
No worries for tonight we’ll go through with ease !!!!!
The home mob wont know whether to stick or twist and by the time they work it out it’ll be ALL OVER.
We now have a manager who is tactically aware.
There’s the difference IMHO.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 23RD AUGUST 2016 2:03 PM
BIGCUPWINNERS
Socrates,by our finest.
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===============
Top link bud,thanks.
Anyone else hitting F5 twice a minute already.
On another note 2.13pm and the team has not been leaked…
HH
Thank you kindly BMCUW, I’ll have a wee read over that during lunch.
See a few of the lads nervous about tonight, huh ?
Here’s a wee tune to emphasise, just who and what we are : The Bould Bhoys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1dagabzygo
Scott Sinclair 17/2 1st goal
Mikael Lustig 33/1 1st goal
Hmmmmmmmmm?
PHILBHOY on 23RD AUGUST 2016 1:45 PM…
Add ‘escape goat’ to the list…
Just my luck to read back on the previous article and find a plethora of posts about people concerned about pre-match bowel control, and posters being recommended to shove their observations up a place where the sun don’t shine, on the eve of my first meeting for 5 years with me old mucker Colin O’Scopy.
Of course,pre -meeting, there is the liquid depth charges to be swallied at 6, meaning the fuse should be well lit by kick-off time.
Pause button going to much-needed, I fear.
Or, rather, know.
‘Mon the mighty Hoops, and I hope you’ve all already had your lunch.
ERNIE LYNCH on 23RD AUGUST 2016 1:31 PM
QUONNO on 23RD AUGUST 2016 1:03 PM
Jock Stein signed only one of the Lisbon Lions.
Robert Kelly signed all of the rest, including one that Jock Stein had punted.
Kelly DID know something about football, but more importantly he knew that Jock Stein knew more about it than he did.
Never said that Kelly knew nothing about football.
Did say that he believed that he alone knew what was good for Celtic. Things only changed when he realised the error of his ways.
Big-cup-winners 2:14
Thumbs up n smiley face HH
“to be much-needed”.
I’m not quite sure what it is but I wonder if we’ll talk about ronnie’s legacy in a couple of year’s time. Tonight will go a long way to keeping this squad together for enough years to get very good football out of them.
From today’s Israeli times
Two Palestinian charities have picked up an unexpected financial windfall with over £72,000 ($94,000) raised by supporters of Scottish Champions Celtic it was revealed on Monday.
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One of the historic club’s supporters groups Green Brigade launched the fundraising effort initially to match an anticipated £15,000 ($20,000) fine from European governing body UEFA for fans waving Palestinian flags at last week’s Champions League qualifying first leg clash in Glasgow against Israeli side Hapoel Beersheba.
With one of it´s members Tony Donnelly 84 contributing personally 2000£.. “As sure as my name is Tony Donnelly, the whole fund raising was my idea although I refuse to take any credit for it. Let’s hope we can make it £200,000 and see if UEFA can help the magnificent Celtic board to match it ”
The money raised will be distributed to Medical Aid Palestine, who deliver health and medical care to those “worst affected by conflict, occupation and displacement”; and the Lajee Center, a cultural and sports project for children in the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem.
The Green Brigade said the money for the Lajee Center would be put towards football kit and equipment so they can set up a team, to be called Aida Celtic and who will compete in the Bethlehem youth league. A small donation is to be made to the Gorbals Celtic Pensioner fund for incontinence pads
“At the Champions League match with Hapoel Be’er Sheva [sic] on 17 August 2016, the Green Brigade and fans throughout Celtic Park flew the flag for Palestine,” read The Green Brigade statement when they launched the appeal.
“This act of solidarity has earned Celtic respect and acclaim throughout the world. It has also attracted a disciplinary charge from UEFA, which deems the Palestinian flag to be an ‘illicit banner’.
“In response to this petty and politically partisan act by European football’s governing body, we are determined to make a positive contribution to the game and today launch a campaign to #matchthefineforpalestine.”
Celtic – whose hearing is on September 22 – are serial offenders with regards to their supporters where UEFA are concerned having been up before them eight times in the past five years alone.
Celtic – who play Hapoel in the return leg on Tuesday – were fined £15,000 in 2014 for flying a Palestinian flag at a Champions League game against an Icelandic side.
Scotland’s Daily Record news website said Celtic could be forced to close one of its stands if the governing body decides to take a hard stance over the new incident.
The UEFA rule, which has sparked the latest hearing, forbids the use of “gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly messages that are of a political, ideological, religious, offensive or provocative nature.”
Israeli police, though, have made it clear they will be on high alert for the game and seize any Palestinian flags Celtic fans wave.
“Police units will respond in order to ensure that the game will be a professional game and not a political one,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP.
The move by the Celtic supporters was hailed by Palestinian Twitter users and activists online.
I’VEHADTOCHANGEMYNAME
Controversial. Agree.
And so does my Ronny Roar duvet cover.
Paddy Roberts on a permanent deal?
PL does lurk on CQN then.
Aw-Naw…
Wicked… ;-))))
KIKINTHEKAKAS,
just get out and about round the pubs and ask, i’m pretty sure there will be at least 1 or 2 places showing it. ive done that in a few places and generally get a decent response.
HH
touching cloth….
Offer Man City £5m plus first option to buy back. That’s what Barca did with Denis Suarez and Fabregas.
Anyone else been looking at the time, thinking 6 hours to go-5 3/4 hours to go…and now 4 hours 32 minutes to go?….hurry up ya lazy clock…
Kickinthenakas,
According to the bt pub thingy, the imperial bar, station bar and walkers tavern are all showing it.
HH
Celtic in the CL…
Tony Donnelly in the GB…
What a time to be alive!
HH
You’re a bhad mhan Awe_naw. However, the article didn’t mention anything about turd-polishing, can this be right?
I can’t get used to these games at 2:45 in the morning. Trying to get some shuteye before then. COYBIG.
Awkward when the youth club in Palestine will have a bigger transfer budget than secvco.
thetimreaper on 23rd August 2016 3:07 pm
Exactly my thoughts. Big Barca connections at Man City right now too – sure theyd be open to dialogue at least, not that they don’t rate Paddy, they just have too many players and too much money. Added bonus if he signs with us – he doesn’t play against them(domestically at least)…
HH
BMCUW
It’s a wee drive away, but at least there’s no fear of the Zica virus
So far.
Ask for John Paton, and check first that they have the game as its on an uncommon channel.
Venue:
Fox & Hound Pub & Grille
4812 North Dixie Highway
Oakland Park, FLA.
Telephone: (954) 491-8869
Tell John a friend of Tommy Mooney sent them and John will let them buy him a beer. ;-)
City sent Roberts out to get some 1st team experience. I think Guardiola will like what he sees when he brings him in next pre season. I don’t think they will sell. I don’t think the player will want to stay in Scotland. Even if those 2 stars aligned it would be a minimum £15m + £50k a week(£25m over a 4 year contract). Realistically you’re probably looking at £20m+ then £80k in wages. I wouldn’t be getting my hopes up. Like VVD, you can see Robert’s level is well above us, just enjoy him while he is here. If we were to get his loan extended for another year we would hit the jackpot.
Like Joe Allen before him, I think the numbers will also prove too much for James McCarthy. A proven Premier League player in his prime, I don’t think he’d be short of offers, and I think the figures would look similar to the ones quoted above for Roberts.
If we get through, (and how many times have we lost 3 nil away from home in Europe?), I think we will make a big signing, but unless it’s a last minute on deadline day I don’t think it will be from England. But then I thought Brenda Rodgers was out of our reach so what do I know.
Expect the team to be the same tonight as the 1st leg. If we see Roberts tonight it means we’re in trouble.
WE MUST SCORE FIRST TO SICKEN THEM!!!!