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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I find the DR’s headline all the more galling, when the Sports Editor, is a guy called Austin Barrett. I worked with his father, Austin Sr., in the car trade, both of them HUGE Tims, SB holders before and after The Bunnet’s intervention. Makes me wonder what influence young Austin actually has there.
Sad.
HH
BRTH – and the rest they say his history :-)
Zico – he has been known to frequent there! A fine local despite the name!
Hiya Minx
It would be two tickets (guess I’d have to take Mrs IGC)
If I’d have known I would have dropped a hint when speaking to Kris and Lisa last Saturday (first name terms now, ahem)
Jonny the Tim,
As has been mentioned on here in the past, the actual journo who pens the article usually has little say in the headline.
HH
TET
My wee sister has just bought a villa in wee place called Los Garcias, Arboleas in Spain.
Nearest big town is Almeria.
I know it’s along shot but is this near to where you live?
The hacks like to hide behind a ‘sub editor’,who allegedly picks the headlines.
minx1888
I bet it’s no as good as the aul’ Masonic Arms in Condorrat!!
Memories!
Minx 1888
I have never met HT as HT but may have spoke to him in the ludge.I was in the ludge on Thursday,Friday and Saturday.That was my local upto 9 weeks ago.
Any initials that he drinks with.HH
Philbhoy
I dont know the last time you frequented the Masonic in Condorrat but i feel it is run down a good bit imo.
The Craigmarlloch Lodge is a far superior hostelry imho.HH.
Zico – Did you drink with any of the Thursday night football bhoys?
Philbhoy – I too had many a good night in their my cousin worked behind the bar long long time ago! Moll Flanders now that was something else:-)
Igc – I’m on the case
“You spend too much time on the bloody CQN”, she says……..pfffffttttt :-)
Zico
We go in occasionally, I’m not a big fan of it. Chances are you’ll probably know Minx1888 if you’ve spent as much time in there as she has over the years :-)
Pedro67
Don’t you blinkin’ start, I’ve hed that for years now. I wish I had his money!!!
Hamiltontim waltzes on the thin ice.
HT do you fish through the ice:-)
Ohits, I wont be in the BV before the game. I didn’t book a hotel so will be driving down and then straight back up to the frozen north. Any news on the move?
ACGR
The only ice I need is to constantly refill madam’s glass!!! :-)
Has anyone heard any news on how Izzy is after Saturday’s assault?
HT,
I foresee sore ribs on the horizon for you my good man
:-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Geordie Munro
13:56 on
22 October, 2014
“Still the morons blame everyone else for their plight.”
Turkeybhoy, funny you say that does any other club who went to the wall blame anybody else for their demise?
Another world first for them??:)
Geordie,this from a seemingly articulate hun as well.The frightening thing,as I am sure we all know,and feel,is that their is a great sense of revenge brewing in the hun hordes.
God only knows how this will materialize,if and when they get back into the top league.
I think we know,just to what extent.Not only with us.Dundee U,Aberdeen,,etc,you know,all the teams that conspired to do them wrong.In their deluded,sick minds.
Their sense of superiority,and of being wronged,will boil over to create a united front against their “Enemies”.If they cant win on the pitch,we all know,and have witnessed,where the battle will go from there.
All the forces have conspired to make this so.Their own belief that they really are”The people”.The compliant SMSM,who have gone along with their ridiculous claims,and who,have nurtured this evil in their heads.The football authorities,who have pandered to them,scared,or otherwise to tell the truth.The same people who on many occasions,actually re-write history for them.This is all feeding their rage.
They freely admit now that they are being fleeced,taken for mugs,their club is being robbed,but this is everyone elses fault.It is beyond belief,a sort of mass delusion,brought on by over 100 years of self appointed supremacy.
It will only get worse as the chance to join the top league gets closer.I really fear for many fans safety.Lets hope for Administration.Keep the hordes at bay a bit longer.
Hamiltontim
Izzy is good to go.
Nice switch of subjects though…hmmmm.
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/celtic/296687-emilio-izaguirre-available-for-astra-clash-after-knock-in-dingwall/
HT,
I’m sure someone mentioned on Saturday that izzy gave someone from radio Scotland a daft look and said ‘of course I’m ok’ when asked about his injury.
So hopefully fit and well :)
Hamilton Tim
According to STV: ‘Emilio Izaguirre available for Astra clash after knock (sic) in Dingwall’
Reports on izzy are like busses :)
Zico…….
Sorry for the late reply!
I lived in Condorrat over 30 years ago, so It was my local.
It had shall we say, a cosmopolitan customer base, but had many a great Friday night in there.
Memories right enough!
Little extract from Caesar and The Assassin – Chapter 9 Trouble in Paradise…
Behind the scenes, the warm glow of a championship-winning campaign was already beginning to chill; there was the distinct pall of pollution in Paradise. According to McNeill, the board wanted to remove John Clark as his assistant. McNeill reacted to what amounted to something more than a mere request. ‘At a meeting, Mr White said he wanted me to sack John Clark and appoint Frank Connor, who later got the job under Davie Hay. I had nothing against Frank and, having worked with him previously, knew his capabilities and his love of Celtic. I do, however, believe that a manager should be the judge of his working assistant.
‘I asked for time to think, but my immediate reaction was to say no. I had a week’s holiday in the west coast of Scotland which gave me the chance to ponder the whole scenario quietly. I decided that it was important for me to retain the right to appoint an assistant. So, I declined to do what I had been asked. I warned John what had been going on and he was naturally very upset.’
Celtic’s jubilant supporters on Saturday, September 4, a fine, clear autumnal afternoon at Parkhead, were not aware that such friction had developed behind the doors of their cherished club. Their manager had revealed he had wanted to strengthen the squad during the summer break, but money had not been made available, despite a second successive title success. McNeill had brought in only one player – utility defender Graeme Sinclair at the cost of £60,000 from Dumbarton. The transfer, with all due respect, didn’t exactly trigger a stampede at the turnstiles.
But on the opening day of the new Premier League season, all was sweetness and light as Liz McNeill, the manager’s wife, unfurled the championship flag. At that precise moment, it would have been preposterous to even contemplate the campaign ending in bitter acrimony and savage mud-slinging. It was also well beyond the bounds of comprehension that McNeill would leave the club.
minx1888
See my reply to Zico too!
Aye, it wisney bad most nights!
Thanks for the news on Izzy lads. I’d imagine that withGuidetti being the only forced change for tomorrow that Ronny will 6 alterations then :-)
TTT
Dunts to the ribs are for strangers or family. I get a swift kick in the Sandy Shaws :-)
Not sure if we may be forced to leave Mikel Lustig out tomorrow, his head will be all over the place.
As I approach 60 I was thinking how many honours have we won in my lifetime.
This is my haul
25 Champonships
19 Scottish Cups
14 League Cups
1 European Cup
1 for every year of my life so far!!!!!!!!!!
Chaps,
Went into order the new book but got warning message about authenticity of the site? Is it ok?
Just had a wee gander on the Killie fans forum to get their thoughts on the up and coming match.
http://killiefc.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=81830&page=3
It would appear that the buy one get one free ticket deal is available to their fans too. Fair enough from Celtic but these Killie fans are getting a better deal than our own season ticket holders. I assume that any season ticket holder can phone Celtic or turn up at the Ticket Office and pick up their extra ticket for a friend?
LB
Can I have a Raspberry
That is strange – where is that coming from?
The site is up and running and seems ok
BT-Agree,unless there is a big improvement, good luck to ML and family.
Livibhoy
Nope.
BRTH-Seems a few guys on here being fed Adobe upgrade warnings and similar,virus stuff .Might be attached to book order link mate.
Hamiltontim
Very risky strategy that from Celtic.
Killie bringing more than two motors and a push bike by the looks of it.
LB
BT
I agree, the poor guy will be all over the place. For all that we love Celtic, his daughter should come way before our need for a result tomorrow night.
Matthews is back, I’d just put him straight back in at right back.
BRTH
Sorted on laptop. Will email for dedication.