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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THETIMREAPER on 23RD AUGUST 2016 2:56 PM
Paddy Roberts on a permanent deal?
PL does lurk on CQN then.
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The posters who said they would happily pay double for their season ticket if they signed him quickly deleting their CQN accounts :-)
Awe Naw…
TD67 is now known as Tony abu al-Donnelly…his image will now be projected on buildings throughout Gaza and the West Bank…(and castlemilk)
Ach, Tony you can take it… :-)
Jeepers The Fund has passed the 110k mark now, that is serious money and will make a difference. Just hope no one at UEFA has a black sense of humour.
Was busy for last couple of hours so the butterflies decided to take a rest, I’m relaxing now and the butterflies just decided to go into overdrive. Its terrible to be wishing a few hours of your life away.
Here’s my predicted line-up for tonight,in a 5 4 1 formation:
Gordon
Janko Lustig Toure O’Connell Tierney
Forrest Brown Bitton Sinclair
Griffiths
Good options in defence and attack in there.Switching from a 3 to a 5 at the back and Janko and Tierney supporting the attacks.Then we’ve got Dembele to come on and go at them when they’re tyring.
Whatever Brendan goes with will do for me but that’s my guess at the starting 11.
COYBIG
When it comes to supporting Celtic, my emotions are impossible to predict.
I felt more confident before the first leg than I do today……and that’s with half of the tie gone and a 3 goal lead. Mental!
The permanent move for Paddy Roberts will hinge on whether Paddy wants it himself. I don’t think Pep would stand in his way if he declared he wanted to leave for Celtic.
I base this on nothing more than the excitement of a giddy schoolboy…and that German burden in Indianna Jones and the Last Crusade found that attractive so…
Tell you what, it’s a full time job for someone to keep updating the target/goal for the ole matchthefineforpalestine page…
*burd not burden but if you watch the film you’ll see I was right first time round…
GB, Palestinian fund doing about £3K an hour, up to £111,000 approx.
NATKNOW
Is that your application for the role. You’ll need to [sneaky] bum yourself up more than that…
No need to panic Corporal Jones.
This will be the least nervous qualification game in our history.
We will cruise comfortably into pot 4.
Pog
I removed he turf polishing and coin shit references as I always do.
You moaning about your exotic location ?
HH
Starting XI
Gordon – De vries
Janko/Lustig/Kolo/Erik/O’Connell/KT/Emilio
Brown/Biton
Griffiths.
Solid. :-)
Reggie
I think your numbers are currently way too high.
I think Celtic are aware that a successful CL campaign this season and those could be the numbers in a few months….
HH
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 23rd August 2016 2:54 pm
Roarin’ on the floor!!! :D
Awe_naw – me moan? I’m enjoying myself.
Off to Kuala Lumpur on Thursday to Sunday, just need to find somewhere to watch the Sheep game.
grumpygitcsc
Gary67 on 23rd August 2016 2:00 pm
Yep, it’s all about opinions. I don’t rate McCarthy that highly. He was bang average in a bang average Everton team last season and isn’t rated good enough for this season. IMHO that makes him not good enough for Celtic in the CL this season. He’s a Stoke or Crystal palace type player.
DAVIDOPOULOS on 23RD AUGUST 2016 3:21 PM
NATKNOW
Is that your application for the role. You’ll need to [sneaky] bum yourself up more than that…
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I had no idea that it was possible to bum yourself – sneaky or otherwise. Every day’s a school day in here! :-)))
EL MADRIGAL on 23RD AUGUST 2016 3:23 PM
Two goalies and 10 outfield players. If that doesn’t do it tonight nothing will ;-))
“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. ”
Reggie,
Roberts signed for around £8m and picks up wages around 25k. I think your figures are a shade on the high side.
Imo it’ll depend more on paddy fancying it rather than the cost.
HH
NATKNOW
See! Lack of ambition pal, you’ll never get that job now…
I think El Madrigal has got it right, play 2 goalkeepers.
POGMATHONYAHUN…
UEFA are too busy clamping down on all things illicit to notice an extra player.
Pog
good to hear
HH
Davidopoulos on 23rd August 2016 3:17 pm
The permanent move for Paddy Roberts will hinge on whether Paddy wants it himself. I don’t think Pep would stand in his way if he declared he wanted to leave for Celtic.
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Guardiola said in press conference that if any player wants to leave he would allow it. PR just has to ask and I’m sure we would do the deal.
James Forrest (the other one, no’ wee Jaimsie) has written a good piece on it: http://thecelticblog.com/2016/08/blogs/could-celtic-break-the-transfer-record-to-make-our-loan-bhoy-a-permanent-deal/
KTF
Good afternoon all.
With such a commanding lead from the first leg it is simply the fear (and the backlash) of NOT making it that is causing such a nervousness to kick in.
Don’t mistake nervousness for fear.We go into this game with a margin that I’m sure all of us would have taken this time last week.
Had we only drawn the first leg we’d have been angry but would, by now, have turned that anger into the ole ‘we can do this, get an early goal’ attitude. We’d know we were up against it and, by default, probably wouldn’t be as nervous!
So, deep breaths (cue a BSR photo….), remember that we start the game THREE goals up and are just 90 minutes (or a single goal for us) away from joining the big boys, pocketing some decent cash and then aiming for 3rd place and a good run in the Europa!
Corkcelt… I’d have Fasan on the bench incase 2’s not enough!
On a straight deal I’d be confident tonight.
Brendan has really lifted the squad, big hearts and passion are now visible rather than lethargy and fear – but, i’m just not sure how much of the ‘level playing field’ this will be tonight… the ref, the security – given the huge publicity re the flag waving…
anyhow, bring it on… mon Brendans Bhoys.
CORKCELT
I remember Celtic trying that against FC Zurich at Celtic Park, unfortunately no one told the referee we were playing two goalkeepers and Tom Boyd was extraordinarily sent off….
TRADITIONALIST88 on 23RD AUGUST 2016 3:24 PM
I very much doubt there gonna take a loss on a player they paid £11.5m for, just as he is starting to scratch the surface of his potential. Ross McCormack is going for £12m at age 30. Roberts is highly thought of in England…
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/may/13/patrick-roberts-theo-walcott-celtic-manchester-city-arsenal
and there is also a premium for English players. I would throw my left nut in if I thought we could get him, but I genuinely think £15m, £50k a week and Reggie’s left nut wouldn’t even come close.
DAVIDOPOULOS on 23RD AUGUST 2016 3:34 PM
NATKNOW
See! Lack of ambition pal, you’ll never get that job now…
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That’s a real shame. Anything would be an upgrade on my current job!
Roberts would cost, I reckon, in the region of £10M. £25K a week for 4 years would be £5.2M.
Sign him on a 5 year deal and sell after 4 for approaching £20M if he continues to progress and we are still gaining both financially (4 years CL = £100M + £5M profit) and in terms of being in the CL regularly if we can attract that type of talent.
Right guys.
New campaign.
Left Nuts in for Paddy.
We need 50,000 left nuts by tomorrow.
:-)
If the GB can do it!
MWD
I had been assuming that BR would go with a similar team to the home leg with one obvious change in Bitton coming in for McGregor. However on further thought I would get Sviatchenko back in the side as he is a better option than O’Connell and provides more experience for our biggest game of the season in a no doubt volatile atmosphere. It will also be good for Erik to get some game time under his belt and start building a partnership with Toure with other big domestic games against Aberdeen and Sevco coming up.
I also wonder whether BR will be tempted to play with three CB’s and put Erik in next to O’Connell & Toure and keep things solid at the back.
Reggie on 23rd August 2016 3:42 pm
TRADITIONALIST88 on 23RD AUGUST 2016 3:24 PM
I very much doubt there gonna take a loss on a player they paid £11.5m for, just as he is starting to scratch the surface of his potential. Ross McCormack is going for £12m at age 30. Roberts is highly thought of in England…
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/may/13/patrick-roberts-theo-walcott-celtic-manchester-city-arsenal
and there is also a premium for English players. I would throw my left nut in if I thought we could get him, but I genuinely think £15m, £50k a week and Reggie’s left nut wouldn’t even come close.
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A lot of that £11.5m is performance dependant I believe, they certainly didnt pay that upfront, I believe it was a fraction of it upfront to Fulham.
Just re-read your initial post and your lower estimate of wage for PR may not be too far off but I think we could shave a bit off that still. For reasons stated above and previously I don;t believe the fee would be anything like £15m, particularly if they have a buy back/first refusal clause.
HH
If we are good enough we go through
From what I have seen over the last few games we are good enough and I would go with the fringe players on the 10 September a few days before matchday 1
Being a ‘left footer’ as the old saying goes,i’m keeping my left nut.The lefties must stick together.
I’ll be donating my right nut.
Reggie on 23rd August 2016 3:42 pm
TRADITIONALIST88 on 23RD AUGUST 2016 3:24 PM
I very much doubt there gonna take a loss on a player they paid £11.5m for, just as he is starting to scratch the surface of his potential. Ross McCormack is going for £12m at age 30. Roberts is highly thought of in England…
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The original fee is somewhere in the region of £7M so an offer of £10M is a profit for them; added to that Roberts is about 5th in line for a wide right player: Man City have just paid silly money for another winger who will get in before him.
So if he wants to go, Guariola has said he won’t stand in anyone’s way. It’s down to the boy. Does he want regular first team and European football as well as playing in front of 60,000 every 2 weeks or playing for a mediocre EPL or Championship team? Time will tell.