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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Nerves, pah!
3-1 to us, pick ’em off and pump ’em.
CL, we’re havin’ a laugh.
Hot Smoked on 23rd August 2016 4:44 pm
There’s a good chance Ajax will be out tomorrow night. Away to Rostov, 1-1 first leg in Amsterdam
Three hours `till KO. I am off now to begin my mental preparations to ensure progress for our team.
Hail ! Hail ! The Celts are here!
JJ
Gary
I hadn`t realised that. Replace Ajax with Rostov in my original group!!
HOT SMOKED on 23RD AUGUST 2016 4:29 PM
IF we do go through tonight and we then want to progress from the Group stage, I would like these four :
Leicester City
Porto
Ajax
Celtic
For excitement alone, I would like these:
Real Madrid
Arsenal
Sporting Lisbon
Celtic
———–
Who do you want in the semi-final?
Bhoys thanks for the help re bar in Cupar..anyone there pop along for a surprise beer
HH
Kikinthenakas
NB: Tá Fáilte romhat. (You are welcome).
Let’s hope it is
‘Go hiontach ar fad’
by 9.30pm CPT:-)
Lot of folk on here splashing the CL cash.
Pity none of them is called PL.
BLANTYRETIM
The last time I saw you at one of the hootenannies you were perfectly(?!) sober!!
..for about five minutes!
:-)
HH!!
Two hours thirty-five minutes till…..
Better sign wee Paddy up before Pep realises he’s a better player than Sterling…
Kickinthenakas
I would suggest that the Imperial be your best bet for watching game in Cupar. Its near the town cross. Dont expect everyone in there to be a tim but you should be fine. As for the Station Bar best giving that place a body swerve.
Hot Smoked on 23rd August 2016 4:41 pm
No probs, just posted that Mid East Monitor link as i was quite impressed by the opening paragraph!! :)
Cheers.
Brendan must have found the mole who has been leaking the team line up…
If we do sign additional talent where would they play?
For me the central mid area needs additions.
Defensively i think we have enough.
Another striker?
New signings can impact on team performance and morale in both positive and negative ways.
Has Craig improved with DeVries providing competition?
Griff and JF have shown positive signs to Sinclair’s signing.
Defense has responded well to Auld haun Toure’s arrival.
Brendan has seen most of his signings making players around them better.
Hopefully any other arrivals will have the same impact.
In Brendan we trust.
That awkward moment on CQN when an article makes you even MORE nervous:
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/champions-league-whats-at-stake/
I’m gonnae need to do something in a kinda distracting way to get through the next few hours! What an achievement this will be if we are to qualify tonight.
Meanwhile the GB initiative is standing at more that £117,000. While the Tims raise fortunes for the needy, sectarian bigots spray graffiti on the walls of a Catholic school.
Gary67 on 23rd August 2016 4:38 pm
Hot Smoked
Sick of the sight of Ajax and their moronic fans
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Agree totally
SIN CITY BHOY
And you can add about £7m in gate money, programmes, pies etc.
(actually I was only kidding on about the pies!)
I’ve not had the chance to catch up much over the past few days so apologies if already discussed. What would need to happen for us to qualify in pot 3?
Breaking News 5pm
Olympics jet arrived at Heathrow this morning.
Just getting off now is Lyndsey Sharp …….” It’s no’ fair ! I would have been off earlier if only the rest of them had not been in front of me”
ALMORE on 23RD AUGUST 2016 4:58 PM
NB: Tá Fáilte romhat. (You are welcome).
Let’s hope it is
‘Go hiontach ar fad’
by 9.30pm CPT:-)…..
Aye …is it not wonderful being a Tim.
There are a many no longer with us who are smiling down….
And cheering on the green and white…
And that will always be..
I hope my” codladh go maith ”
Was not too bad…
Let the people sing. ….
go hiontach
Braw .
Good Evening Timland.
Aye me tae!!!!
Maybe in a sign of peacemaking, BT could offer Craig Thomson a spot on one of their shows to explain why he didn’t send off Harry Forrester…..?
Sin City Bhoy
NOTTHEBUS
was on posting earlier looking for pub in Vegas to watch the match
Any info filtering through on how our away fans are getting on. Normally you get a few pics or videos of the Bhoys enjoying themselves and having a few pints.
Corkcelt
Saw pics from mount of olives and other lovely places , they are now heading to the match
Corkcelt
On FB, a few of the Irish bhoys my dad goes to games with as well as paulthetim of course
HT
A sequence of highly unlikely results.
CORKCELT on 23RD AUGUST 2016 5:35 PM…
They’re all in the Desert Inn…or they are all in the desert…wan ae the two…
Bourne
I like the highly unlikely.
Theres a picture on the ‘live updates’ Celtic game on BBC sport , shows a bunch of tims ‘enjoying the sun’.
Btw there is this on that stream as well “”” @BBCSportScot Xavi is at the game in Israel tonight could it true about a transfer???”””
4:09 p.m. – 23 August 2016
Mossad interfering with sky communications in link from Glasgow over a debate about Celtic fans ,flags & politics
https://www.facebook.com/danny.devenny/videos/10210604677823111/
:))
NB: The correct form is ‘codladh sámh’ or ‘oíche mhaith’ but 10/10 for your effort.
Just lined the stomach there. A posh cappuccino at seven and the bar opens at 7.44pm.
No nerves from me yet but trying not to think about it.
Thanks Bhoys, that sounds as if everything is nice & calm, you certainly wouldn’t want to see any trouble. I reckon the demo in Celtic Park will certainly increase TV viewing figures over there.
blantyretim
Got a call from Richie today..