Cynical look at coupon busters

688

Astra started their season on a historical high, eliminating Lyon from European competition, but their 8 games since August have brought five defeats, two draws and a solitary win against opponents currently 14th place in the Romanian league.

On paper this sounds as straightforward as previous European ties did against teams from Karagandy or Maribor but as we found out on those occasions, European ties are seldom straightforward.

The cynic in me suggests there is more going on at Astra than meets the eye.  Any team who can win in Lyon would be heavy odds against shipping three goals in the cup to lower league opponents a few weeks later, which Astra did.  They then turned up away to league leaders Steaua Bucharest to keep their only clean sheet since August.  Another coupon buster.

Astra, it would seem, are a gift to those who bet outsiders.  They are long odds tomorrow, so I’d caution against backing Celtic for a comfortable win.  The visitors will apply themselves, just as they did earlier this month against Salzburg, who won by a single goal.

The Celtic books we have published in recent years have been a real labour of love.  After a biography of Willie Wallace and a football journey from Tommy Gemmell, we published your story of Seville, a record of its impact on the Celtic Movement.

Today we launch Caesar & the Assassin, the accounts of Billy McNeill and Davie Hay as Celtic managers, told in their own words.  It documents the period of our history from when Billy took over from Jock Stein in 1978, through to the end of his era 13 years later, including Davie Hay’s four years in charge.

Most of us lived experienced that period first-hand but it has been an absolute education to read about the games and events which we watched as spectators from the managers in charge.  It’s the best CQN book yet.

The first batch of orders will receive a copy signed by Billy and Davie, more here.

If you fancy watching Sunday’s game against Kilmarnock in comfort…….. We have secured another pair of Premium Seat tickets for the Jock Stein Stand from Celtic sponsor Magners. To win the tickets answer the following question:

Which country do Thursday’s opponents FC Astra come from?

Optionally, if you have £1 available, please donate it to Mary’s Meals at this MyDonate page, which will send your £1 straight to Mary’s Meals, then send me your contact details (with or without donation confirmation) to celticquicknews@gmail.com

Competition closes tonight (Wednesday) at 10pm, so get your entries in now and watch your inbox Thursday morning. You can donate more than £1 if you like, of course. Terms and conditions are available here.

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  1. Tricoloured Ribbon on

    It has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Suarez was carrying a very mediocre Liverpool team.Players like Johnson, Allen and Henderson are hopelessly out of their depth at this level.

  2. bournesouprecipe on

    marrakesh

     

     

    Very pertinent. They used to say the real bigots of the dead club, were the ones in the main stand, the bowler hats, and business men.

     

     

    Look at how that turned out CSC

  3. West Wales Celt on

    Gutted for Anderlecht, not least because there was the usual ‘best league in the world’ nonsense from the TV commentator pre-match and it would have been lovely to stick one over him…

     

     

    Lucky, lucky Arse-nal…

  4. foghorn leghorn on

    pedrocaravanachio67

     

     

    21:34 on 22 October, 2014

     

     

    Ryecatcher, jimmy Tarbuck, Phil Thompson, Sheila grant, the liver birds, the antichrist souness, cilla black, lily savage, Ryecatcher again, Bruce groolbebeelarrrr!!!, the orange order, the guy I met on holiday in Rhodes 4 years ago, ma Boswell, Joey Boswell, awe the boswells ffs, Thomas the tank engine ( well at least the fella angelis that does his voice ), a big plate of scouse, the river Mersey, the ferry across the river Mersey, the women that works in the canteen on the ferry across the river Mersey and Ryecatcher……..your boys took a helluva beating tonight.

     

    ——–

     

    you forgot about scouser phil from my work

  5. pedrocaravanachio67 on

    Jude

     

     

    Naw, love watchin them gettin pumped….

     

    Almost as much as the deid team…

     

    Ah the memories :-)

  6. zbyszek

     

     

    20:26 on 22 October, 2014

     

     

    Due to the media coverage of the incident involving Zaluskas I have no doubt that the Procurator Fiscal (prosecutor) has a report sitting on his desk regarding the circumstances

     

     

    From a post thatyou made last night I believe that you were saying that one of the alleged assailants and Zaluskas may be the best of friends from their time in Warsaw

     

    If this is the case it may be that Zaluskas is reluctant to make any formal complaint against his countryman

     

    It would then be the decision of the Procurator Fiscal to make a decision wether to proceed with a prosecution or not. It may be the case that the Fiscal will decide to go to trial,wether Zaluskas wants to proceed or not, if he decides it is in the public interest

     

    Prosecutions have been made in Scotland before even when the victim was reluctant to give any evidence

     

     

    You may learn more of the incident involving Zaluskas if you subscribe to any forums that the Polish Community from Glasgow frequent

  7. Delaneys Dunky on

    Jude

     

     

    I have a large amount, by my standard, on the Real Madrid & Celtic double.

     

    Canny wait till kick off now.

  8. Marrakesh Express on

    Pedro

     

     

    Just as well you didnt mention the Beatles. I”ve have been roon at yer hoose.

  9. Mickbhoy1888

     

     

    Ehhh?

     

    Where did I say “that one of the alleged assailants and Zaluskas may be the best of friends from their time in Warsaw”?

     

    And who?

  10. Just listened to Brendan Rodgers interview, talking guff.

     

    We played really well in second half.

     

    That’s the kind of thing U/9 managers say to make the weans feel better.

     

    Real didn’t bother in the second half, it was all about protecting themselves for Saturday’s el classico with the barca boys.

  11. Delaneys,

     

    had a big bet by my standards as well,

     

    now nervy about the hoops while earlier I was full of confidence

  12. mickbhoy1888

     

     

    If I am not mistaken zbyszek post last night was later explained

     

    as a joke the friend being Legia chairman and bit on side

     

    women who put in wrong papers.

     

     

    Surprised DR didn’t run exclusive today with quotes “from a source

     

    close” to zbyszek.

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    mickbhoy1888

     

     

    21:48 on

     

     

    22 October, 2014

     

     

    zbyszek

     

     

    20:26 on 22 October, 2014

  13. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Bourne, the sticky bun bigots from more affluent areas like Newton Mearns, Giffnock, Clarkston, Bearsden, Milngavie etc are worse than your Bridgeton, Larkhall lot as they are meant to more intelligent & open minded, if that’s the right phrase to use.

     

     

    Great news about Wee Lexie Lustig getting home but not so good news some of the SMSM turning up at Mikael’s family home.

     

     

    Let’s hope the bhoys do their jobs and get the job done tomorrow.

     

     

    James Forrest’s comments about Sleekit nailed him. Sally is a not so wee sleekit, timurous beastie.

     

     

    My contempt for Sleekit increases more than I ever thought imaginable. A horrible creature, totally classless.

  14. Marrakesh Express on

    Makes you think how frightening Barca will be up front soon, with Suarez joining back to form Neymar and the wee man.

  15. Sipsini

     

     

    There’s weans, grandweans and Christmas to encounter before you are my Belfast valentine. :))

  16. Big Virgil’s price goes up by the day.

     

     

    The John Parks of the EPL clubs will have no identified him as a priority come January. Love him to see out the season with us but the way many of the teams down there are conceding goals, PL can name his price.

     

     

    On the subject of PL – He really needs to action against that rag who made fun of an incident where someone was attacked and left unconscious. And let the Celtic fans know you’re doing it!

  17. West Wales Celt on

    Reading lots of excitement about the Lying King’s potential takeover of Mordor.

     

    Shurely a purchase of 51% implies a takeover and the requirement to offer on all remaining shares?

  18. Bet Real Madrid were glad that they weren’t playing the really good English clubs like Bournemouth or Bolton. Liverpool looked like a pub team – even Ross County aren’t that bad. Of course they are all much better than Celtic so hope you are all feeling really bad about your club. As for that Hamilton Tim….

  19. Liverpool just illustrated my points this morning beautifully. Buying all the wrong players meanwhile Arsenal I believe proved a point I hadn’t quite touched on directly. The teams from the stronger leagues benefit from refereeing decisions when needed. Only when the English teams start to get horses regularly will Sky call for a UCL revamp. It would appear arsenal and chelski will exit the group stage at the minute. Liverpool and Man City are not looking as comfortable yet and may toil to make the knock out stages. We may well see City or the Pool later in the Europa league. Hopefully we are flying by then. We can give both a game at home. Prefer to play Liverpool than City to be fair.

     

    Good luck to the Hoops tomorrow. Keep the head and score early and we should win comfortably. Anyone who fancies a wee punt try Lustig FGS and a 3-0 win. Maybe even double it for the banter. The Bhoy will play out of his skin tomorrow if he makes himself available to play.

     

     

    LB

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