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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Good to see Izzi looks OK for tomorrows game but Kris Commons is still getting treatment so it will be touch and go.H.H.
Good news re ML and family,scum press again,added to DR crap today,time to act Celtic.The Board like to portray themselves and the Club as victims,and are happy for boards like this to fight on various fronts,hoping we make enough waves negating the need of a Club statement.Leadership nil.
Ger57, the lovely Anabelle would never struggle in my company.
JFH- Commons buttock injury will be touch and go……..
Bada Bing. Nice one fella.H.H.
PFayr
Didn’t go, mate. Ended up at a friend of a friend’s house and watched the game on TV.
Was told that “Big Mick’s” is a good place for Tim minded folk. Will try it out the next time I’m down there.
Thanks for the heads up.
ohits.
Richie and I will be in the Blane Valley before the game tomorrow night if you fancy a wee dram.
oldtim67
You,ve talked me in to it see you there .
HH
Thank Lennybhoy.
Email sent.
Should eventually get to you Minx.
#inittogether
Ger57
Stopped in The Athletic a few times weir the football …as you say …a god place for Tim folk
Due to work commitments with The Mob, I’ll be in edinburgh tomorrow night.
Any recommendations for a Celtic friendly pub that’ll show the game. Thinking around the Lothian Road area.
Ohits, good stuff. Hope it all works out for you.
Change of plan on my part. I’ve just booked a hotel as I cant be arse driving home after the game tomorrow. I’ll be in the BV for some steak pie and chips and a pint and a chinwag with old tim and ………etc
Bada bing
CFC have been acquiescing on the MSM pissing on us for years ….can’t see it changing any time soon …sadly
blantyretim.
what’s your move tomorrow,are you coming to the game, if so, will you make the B/V
Is the detective investigating the Zaluska case on his winters week holiday ?
ElDiegoBhoy
18:14 on 22 October, 2014
Just finished a lovely story from Dennis Lehane. Read all of his books but as yet haven’t visited Boston. His latest is titled The Drop
I just finished a book by Michael Connolly……”The Drop”………
Good evening friends. And I hope that by this time tomorrow I’ve said that to a few of you in the flesh in the ole BV.
Real Madrid -2 … 11/2 …
Ronaldo has scored more goals this season than Liverpool
Lucasz available for selection, according to Reporting Scotland.
Well done, Wilko, my saahn!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ILyWFhuf3Y
Haven’t read back.
BBC Tea Time news headlines….. ‘Celtic’s Reserve goalkeeper fit for Euro tie ‘only days’ after being injured in Glasgow’
Call me cynical, but how would you read into that?
Cynical CSC
just started reading back,what pish are the MSM writing now
Oldtim
Still not fit for.action I’m afraid. Leg was pretty swollen by time I got home Friday.
Good Evening Timland.
Prestonpans……if your lurking, are you available to take
a call?
PF
3 goals without reply is hard away from home, I have gone for Real to win both to score @ 11/5 as my single
Jinxed it now >}
HH
igc
18:30 on 22 October, 2014
Got it and copied you email I sent to hamiltontim
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
BSR. . . . . .Reporting Scotland now describing it as an ‘attack’ on LZ.
Gordy64
jamesgang
17:42 on
22 October, 2014
From josefin Lustig’s blog
Great news!
Less good news. MSM.
HH jamesgang
—-/-/
We are finally at home and Lexie is feeling well, as you can see on the picture! Feels so good to be home after these hard days. After 4 nights at the hospital I´m ready to sleep in my own bed. These days have been really hard physically. To wait for the test results for 48 hours wasn´t fun. It showed that she had a virus going on, nothing dangerous. After some antibiotic the fever was gone and I hope we all stay away from all of that now. It´s so scary when they are sick and that small.
We really appreciate that so many people care and showing sympathy but when you just got home from the hospital you don´t want someone you don´t know knocking on your door! The papers have written about that Lexie have been ill in hospital, they take stuff from my blog. That´s not ok! But I have accepted that´s how it is here and nothing I can do anything about. I have to think about what I write and post but I still want to be able to write what I want in my blog, I want my readers to read about what I have to say. But I want them to read it here! This time it went a bit too far in my opinion. I don´t want the papers to knock on my door 3 hours after we got home, I appreciate the gift for Lexie but I know there is a thought behind it and all they want is a story. I didn´t give them anything because it´s not ok to show up at someones house! Please, show some respect.
HH
Romanian football is of a reasonable standard and I expect the usual close encounter tomorrow night, yes hanging on probably with a slender lead biting our nails to the quick praying for the usual four minutes injury time to end. No John Guidetti a big handicap but we are an unknown quantity to Astra which should help.
Macca rambling on like the guy you avoid in the pub
pfayr-correct and fed up re MSM.I done RM -2 also mate,and Hull 15/2 at Anfield on Saturday,will be cut if Liverpool get a hiding,plus teams struggle after CL games
TET
Liverpool were atrocious on Sunday …if RM start quickly they could get blown away …I thought 11/2 is a decent price
A score for £110 lift …give me a interest during the game
TET,
cheers mate,absolute rats so they are
pfayr-STV said it was by a premiership player….
pfayr-Hills have Celtic 5/1 -2,and 14/1 -3…
Looks like ramos will be playing.
Big miss when he ain’t.
PF
Going out to watch it in a 50/50 bar, should be fun, will be wanting Real to win, can’t take to Lpool, never have liked them.
Real are getting better by the game, they will take some stopping again this season.
HH
……………………………….
g64
Aye, they sure are.
HH
beatbhoy
Attack is more accurate and they at least, missed out alleged, the story overshadows the game, which they went on to report minimally. The fact that Lucakz is fit, infers, ‘couldn’t have been that bad’ ……whilst Plod appear to drag their feet.
Will the defence lawyers ( if there is ever a charge ) refer to the fact that the jury/judge in his discretion should consider the big keeper was fit, and couldn’t have been reallyas
unconscious, as all that?
All speculative.
WeAreCelticSupporters CSC
….pfayr supports weeoscar
18:53 on 22 October, 2014
Only got 9/2, was almost ready to do -3 at 11/1 but you know my luck this season.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!