Champions League opportunity for Celtic with Astana draw

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Celtic will face Kazakhstan Champions, Astana in the Champions League play-off round later this month, with the first leg at home. The teams faced in the same qualifying competition last season, with Celtic progressing, winning the second leg 2-1 after a 1-1 draw in Kazakhstan.

Astana eliminated Legia Warsaw in the last round, securing a 3-1 victory in the first leg, before holding on for a 1-0 defeat in Warsaw after 8 minutes of added time.

Although Brendan Rodgers will know what to expect, the enormous journey, the heat and the fact that Astana are 21 games into their league season, will give him cause for concern.

On the positive side, our man in Warsaw tells me there is a new pitch at the Astana Arena, which Legia report was excellent and a near-grass experience. He also tells me Legia should have done better in this tie, were the better team home and away, but were caught by Astana’s counter-attack.

They “parked the bus” in Warsaw and showed signs of indiscipline against Legia, which Celtic may be able to exploit.

Strikers Kwumasi and Kabananga, and midfielder, Maevski, are their danger players, while their keeper is “awful”.

It’s there for you, Celtic.

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  1. Good morning CQN from a dry, bright and sunny East Devon.

     

     

    Let’s pump these Jambos today.

  2. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    ‘We’ll scare them’ – Jon Daly pledges Hearts will attack Celtic

     

     

    Jon Daly wants Hearts to be organised, disciplined and hard to beat at Celtic Park today as they begin their Ladbrokes Premiership campaign. The Edinburgh club’s interim head coach knows they must contain Brendan Rodgers’ side but insisted it is just as vital to carry an attacking threat in Glasgow. Daly must decide whether to play with a back three, as Ian Cathro did before being sacked, or revert to a four-man defence.

     

    Either way, he wants a compact team well-drilled to cope with the dangers of the Premiership champions. “I’ve played there loads of times and I’ve played in teams that have sat off Celtic. Ultimately, the longer you sit off, something is going to give,” he said. “We need to be really disciplined and structured in our approach. We also need to give them a scare when we have the ball.”

     

    “The team will be set up in a way that we’re hard to beat,” he told the Evening News ahead of today’s lunchtime kick-off. “We want to be dogged, disciplined and hard to beat. We also want to have an attacking threat. We aren’t going to Celtic Park just to make up the numbers, sit back and invite them on to us without having something to offer.” The veteran Northern Ireland defender Aaron Hughes could feature for Hearts after returning to training. John Souttar and Ashley Smith-Brown are also available and improving their fitness after injury.

     

    “Aaron should be in contention because he’s back training now,” said Daly. “He has a wealth of experience and will be back in the squad, although he has only trained for a couple of days. He’s played in hundreds of games as big as this. We’re hoping he’ll be good to go. “John is training and will have a chance. He’s grown up a lot since I knew him at Dundee United. He’s not as soft as he used to be,” laughed Daly. “He’s physically able and he’s strong. He said he’s fit so that’s a decision we’ll have to make. Ashley Smith-Brown has trained and hopefully he can be involved .

     

     

    =================================================

     

     

    Go for it , son .

  3. GUTENBERG on 4TH AUGUST 2017 10:05 PM

     

    Friday reflection.

     

     

    ………………..

     

    Cheers mate. I live approx 100 yards from the Tolbooth.

     

    It would be good to meet up soon.

     

    If you wish, just ask Paul67/VFR for my email addy ?

     

     

    HH

  4. GREEN PINATA,

     

    If your looking in, I know you sometimes drink in McChuills.

     

     

    Feel free to ask Pual67/vfr8000 for my email addy if you wish for future meet ups. My financial situation is now much healthier….thank God.

     

     

    HH

  5. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    The sublime …………Chris

     

    The ridiculous……….Mc Coist ( Tax bill to be paid ? )

     

     

    Ex-Rangers boss Ally McCoist will join the BT Sport broadcast team for the 2017/18 Scottish Premiership season, according to Chris Sutton.

     

     

    The former Celtic striker and outspoken BT Sport pundit tweeted the news on Friday morning. Sutton tweeted: “Ally McCoist will be joining the BT team this season.” McCoist has made the odd media appearance for Sky Sports as well as appearing in adverts for SPFL sponsors Ladbrokes since leaving Rangers in 2014. The Ibrox goalscoring legend was put on gardening leave after a three-and-a-half-year spell as manager.

  6. BLANTYRE TIM,

     

     

    I will ( if its okay for you ?) meet you at the end of next week for a swally in the City Centre, ( maybe somewhere else than the BV ?

     

     

    Also, considering my great news yesterday ( Friday), I would hope to be making a wee cash donation to charity. i do not use Paypal etc, I would much rather give the cash to someone like yourself Blantyre Tim, and you would make sure it went to the right place, because I know your a good man.

     

     

    HH

  7. Wonder if SuperSally has buried his EBT cheat/fraudulent money in his garden. In a ” warchest” ?

     

     

    I will not be subscribing to BT Sport sadly, as I refuse whenever possible to contribute to McCoists unlawful pockets.

     

    This will mean that I will be FORCED to go to the pub to watch all of Celtics Champions League games this season……….all the way to the Final ?

     

     

    It never ceases to amaze me how ANYONE from a tv company etc, can somehow view this Cheating Chump McCoist as being an ” expert pundit” on ANYTHING ?

     

    He’s as thick as feck…period.

     

    He’s also a proven liar.

     

    I like Big Sutty obviously, and I have a lot of time for Michael Stewart ( who comes across as very fair ?)

     

     

    HH

     

     

    HH

  8. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    BIG JIMMY on 5TH AUGUST 2017 7:09 AM

     

     

    Hello there , Jimmy.

     

     

    Any chance of a bung ?

  9. Have BT Sport dropped that other big mouth Chump from Motherwell ( Stephen……? Ive forgotten his name), to accommodate McCoist ?

     

     

    HH

  10. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    BIG JIMMY on 5TH AUGUST 2017 7:09 AM

     

     

    Craigan, mate.

     

    After the mauling he gets from big Chris , I`m starting to feel sorry for him .

     

    Slightly.

     

     

    Next week ? Aye . OK then .

     

    :-/

  11. Is Celtic game v Mini Huns on TV/ Sky today ?

     

    If yes…then I will force myself to the ” winners and losers”….Boozers !

     

     

    5-0…..or 7-0 to the Celts

     

     

    We should expect this mini hun mob to park the bus…and hope ugly hun Lafferty goes for us on the counter attack ?

     

    Message to Jozo…..Just put that bigot chump Lafferty in the stand mate the first chance you get !

     

    HH

  12. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Big Jimmy

     

     

    You deserve your wee cash bonus

     

    Use it to help you settle in to your new digs and help relieve the pressure you have been under lately…

     

    ☘️☘️☘️

  13. Jozo…send Lafferty into the clouds like his mate Kenny Miller, they can have a feckin rendevous ( meet up ? ) in feckin outer space !

     

     

    pardon moi..my French was always rank.

     

    Whats French for 2 Cul De Sac” ?

     

    LOL

     

    HH

  14. BLANTYRE TIM,

     

    I’ll be buying new curtains and blinds….and rather large TV methinks.

     

    Right thats enough of the squandering…..wheres the pubs ?

     

     

    BLANTYRE, I’ll text you next mid week for a meet up maybe Friday Saturday ?

     

    Whatever suits you.

     

    HH

  15. MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 5TH AUGUST 2017 7:30 AM

     

    BIG JIMMY on 5TH AUGUST 2017 7:09 AM

     

     

     

    Craigan, mate.

     

     

    After the mauling he gets from big Chris , I`m starting to feel sorry for him .

     

    ………………….

     

    Cheers, so is Craigan been giving a Red Card by BT Sport ?

     

    HH

  16. “Anticipating pain was like enduring it twice. Why not anticipate pleasure instead?”

     

     

    Robin Hobb

  17. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    BIG JIMMY on 5TH AUGUST 2017 7:35 AM

     

     

    Thanks for reminding me that Laughatme may well be featuring .

     

    Something extra to look forward to .

  18. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    BIG JIMMY on 5TH AUGUST 2017 7:39 AM

     

    MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 5TH AUGUST 2017 7:30 AM

     

     

    BIG JIMMY on 5TH AUGUST 2017 7:09 AM

     

     

     

     

    Craigan, mate.

     

     

     

    After the mauling he gets from big Chris , I`m starting to feel sorry for him .

     

     

    ………………….

     

     

    Cheers, so is Craigan been giving a Red Card by BT Sport ?

     

     

    HH

     

    ===========================================================

     

     

    Couldn`t tell you , mate.

     

    Kinda hope not.

     

    He seems to be a hun who knows his place.

     

    Thanks to big Chris.

     

     

    How good izzit to be in the land of the Tim ?

  19. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    HOT SMOKED on 5TH AUGUST 2017 7:42 AM

     

     

    Yes.

     

     

    Keep them coming.

  20. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    NAPSTERS ALERT!!!

     

     

    Starting gate for our annual humiliation…

     

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

     

    FLEAGLE1888 on 4TH AUGUST 2017 7:31 AM

     

    CQN Saturday Naps Competition 2017-18

     

     

     

    Lads,

     

     

     

    is anyone interested in taking part in our CQN Naps competition this season?

     

     

     

    If so, please confirm your interest by posting on the next article:

     

     

     

    http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/rosenborg-v-celtic-live-updates/comment-page-35/#comments

     

     

     

    A big thanks to Paul for allowing us to continue to use his platform.

     

     

     

    Cheers, fleagle1888

  21. Morning all.

     

    Sharing listening to music with my seven year old on you tube.

     

    When I say sharing it’s all been her choices so far Ed Sheeran, Jusin Beiber and Luis Fonzi. Ouch!

     

    Wouldn’t change a thing though, a magic start to a Saturday morning.

     

    Hail Hail

  22. DD

     

     

    “No many huns live on Methil Street Scotstoun.”

     

     

    :0

     

     

    This Harland St Globetrotter salutes you!

     

     

    ….if memory serves there were quite a few on Earl St tho’……..

     

     

    HH.

  23. MacJay

     

    Glad you liked them but they were intended as a pre-season filler so today`s was the last until next year.

     

    Leaving for Glasgow now. Game, Bon Accord and Cafe Andaluz before staying overnight.

     

    Hoping for a clear (ish ) road and a decent victory to start the day off well.

     

    Cheerio for now,

     

     

    JJ

  24. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    JNP

     

    Enjoy every minute, mini going to a party in Gallowgate tonight after the game, I’m a wreck

     

     

    They grow up too quickly

  25. HOT SMOKED on 5TH AUGUST 2017 7:42 AM

     

    “Anticipating pain was like enduring it twice. Why not anticipate pleasure instead?”

     

    Robin Hobb

     

    ———————–

     

    Never thought I’d see Robin Hobb quoted on here :o)

  26. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Delaney’s, that area of Scotstoun, for me, will always be associated with that orange hole, VD secondary school . Even though it has been demolished , its legacy of hunism is still there .

     

     

    No wonder Cokey learnt to fight after attending that ‘school’.

  27. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    HOT SMOKED on 5TH AUGUST 2017 8:15 AM

     

    MacJay

     

     

    Glad you liked them but they were intended as a pre-season filler so today`s was the last until next year.

     

     

    =============================================================================

     

     

    Oh , aye.

     

     

    There`s a phrase for that.

     

     

    The second word is ” teaser “.

  28. Good morning from a bright and breezy north staffs

     

     

    Referee appointments – we’ve got clancy and the huns got madhun

  29. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Jimmynotpaul, your daughter will want to listen to that Capital radio in the car.

     

     

    My son and daughter , if each or both are in the car , want that radio station on as it plays up to the minute hits .

     

     

    My dad refused to let me watch the sex pistols doing Pretty Vacant on top of the pops but I would encourage my two to watch and listen to the Pistols.

     

     

    Big Jimmy , congratulations on winning your battle with the DWP. its always good to hear people getting the benefits they are entitled to.