LASK arrived in Glasgow yesterday looking for their first European win since March 2022. Since then, they have recorded four draws and eight defeats across single campaigns in the Europa and Conference Leagues, while they failed to qualify for Europe last season, or in 2022-23.
They shocked the established norm to take their second Austrian title last term, the first arrived two months after Jock Stein’s appointment as Celtic manager in 1965. That season, Kilmarnock won their only Scottish title, the reverberations in Austria in May were no less significant than had Killie done the same here. A season without European football helped LASK as much as it helped Hearts stage a title attempt in Scotland, but Salzburg and Sturm Graz had poor seasons; both were eliminated from the Europa League at the league stage.
Odds are generous on LASK taking the title again this term; they are joint-third favourites alongside Rapid. They have a degree of stability in their favour. Few of the title winning team have moved on, and they have started the league campaign with three wins, albeit against weak opponents.
Having the second game in Austria gives them a straightforward gameplan for tomorrow. A team who play on the counterattack in domestic football are unlikely to press Celtic too high tomorrow.
They will play for corner kicks, throw-ins and free kicks anywhere inside the Celtic half. Push men forward on these occasions and see how we cope with a physical challenge. Their job tomorrow is to get the tie back to Linz alive and hope to intimidate Celtic there.
Although this will be LASK’s most difficult game of the season so far, the same is true of Celtic. Hearts were humbled 6-0 on aggregate in Champions League qualification by Sturm Graz, providing an arresting comparison between Austrian and Scottish football standards. Celtic start favourites to progress, but as we know to our cost, that is not a reliable indicator of the outcome.
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Wednesday eve!
‘mon the hoops!
HH
We don’t have the strength or defensive savvy in midfield to make me too confident.
Agree re issues with midfield and defence and ditch the passing across our box at bye kicks always ends up with us under pressure 9 out of 10 times
Goalkeepers should be stopping goals against not trying to create goals for
If we fail to come through this tie then its 100% our own fault. None of this “the game came too early for us” nonsense either. The date has not suddenly been brought forward catching everyone by surprise. We have known for months when the play-off round takes place. At the final whistle a week tonight our preparation efficiency – or otherwise – will become self evident .
I share the same midfield concerns as several others on here. But probably linked to my vintage I tend to be a glass half empty guy vis-a-vis the Sellik. On that basis we should be fine and qualify for the group/league stage !
I am excited to be going tomorrow with my two sons and I expect it to be a very competitive and open game.
As has been said before I also lack great confidence as we lack the personnel required to deserve feeling that way. We have signed well offensively and so that is our strength and we need to play to it.
Nicholson hopefully isn’t basing any more new recruits on our qualification to the CL as only a person totally devoid of football knowledge thinks Celtic are healthy in midfield. Cover for lb and other areas will take care of itself I am sure.
Over to MON for now.
There is no excuses from the Celtic Board and Martin Oneil for not having a right back and midfielder in the current squad ,so get cracking to day.
High noon 13 sep :-))
HH
IMHO it’s already too late with any possible signings.
Even if they were signed today, they couldn’t be expected to play tomorrow.
I would think our next signings are more dependent on the outcome of the tie than anything else. Those that are higher in our preferred list, will be more likely to want to come if we are in the champions league (and will have been holding off to see which of their suitors makes it). And, something we are more use to sadly, our leadership will be more aware of what is affordable in their eyes (please note – I said in their eyes).
Two scenarios playing out in my mind. We attack, attack, attack, make loads of chances, don’t take any and concede on the break. Crowd get deflated and game ends 1-0 or 1-1, followed by a week of sleepless nights till the return game. We’ve seen that play out so often.
The other scenario is we blow them away as we did Astana, 5-0, in 2017. That would be nice. From now till tomorrow night I am focusing on this one…
I would play McGregor, Nygren and Baur in midfield. Duran, Hogh and Yang up front. Yang to do more defensive work than Tounetki and to help out Donovan who probably starts at RB.
And the affordability issue is a chicken and egg argument
Like others, some mixed emotions ahead of this one.
Front third, we look threatening
Behind that, it’s more threadbare
I have little knowledge of LASK and I’m unsure what to expect
Thankfully, I’ve secured a ticket, so the settee at home can remain against the wall
and the argument around affordability and level of European participation is a chicken and egg argument
tangbhoy
are your bhoys paying concessions prices ?
I think we should try and get Sigur in the door. He’s a great wee player and he can play fullback or midfield. He has filled in for AJ playing for Canada.
GSU
LASK but not least ,
Much tougher game, they are in some form at home, as are we. Any lead to take abroad will do lightweight midfield but goal threat up front , especially with 5 subs to vary it, if we’re struggling.
GREENSIDEUP
Close but no Sigur
I still think selling Engels without having his replacement in the building was an unnecessary risk which I hope doesn’t come back to bite us . All the plaudits our recruiters have recieved for the excellent signings so far would be wiped out if we are found wanting in midfield . I know signing players is not as simple as buying a loaf of bread but failure to replace key positions/players is a lesson we should have learned the hard way by now .
BSR, 😊
GSU
Re the Lask game…. I believe Martin will get us over the line, he’s rather good at “winning football matches” God bless him.
Erm, I’m quite happy with who we’ve signed and confident that our coaches and personnel will have a series of well-considered plans and strategems to beat these uppity Austria-alians.
It seems fashionable to equate caution or cynicism with intellect (I dae it more than I’d like) but ffs, we’ve bolstered our squad where most needed; up top. And with some serious-looking additions.
Yes Arne’s gone (at a handsome profit) and AJ’s out injured again but we have alternates and delegates for exactly this situation.
The players, as I said months back, know they owe us a decent show. I hope they bring it tomorrow night. Every reason to be confident compared to immediately prior seasons.
Only an antipodean muppet would predict the score at this stage: 2-0 to the ghood ghuys !!
SunnySideUp CSC
PS; Hatate can do one, imo. Martin has decided he’s not essential for the way he wants this team to play.
What level does he really think he belongs at given his consistently hot n cold application and performances ?
Same as Ntcham.
FreddyMercurial CSC
Signing quality is much more difficult than s8gning quantity.
The summer transfer details are transparent and demonstrates that even clubs with much more financial mussel than ourselves struggle.
HH.
Looking forward to tomorrow night.
Cometh the hour … and all that.
We’re in OK nick. Not superb, not disastrous.
My influence in the outcome extends only to being a single voice in the crowd.
Hopefully all voices are supportive throughout.
If so, will tip the scales … a wee bit.
In tight contests, wee bits matter.
Bring it on.
Aye it’s hard to sign the pearls before the swine 😜😉
When or if we get our midfielders, fullbacks , GK, we’ll still think we are one or two short. It’s just how it is.
In the meantime we go with what we’ve got, which so far has been exciting.
Good afternoon you rogues, rascals and vagabonds.
And what about those of us who identify as rapscallions
Are we not worthy of a “good afternoon “
Paul67 et al
As stated before gotta take some confidence from our EL games under Martin & Co last season, a good set of results against some decent opponents home and away. That we are the more experienced club. And that we beat Stuttgart without AJ, Engels and CCV, the latter available now. If LASK are indeed a counter attacking team that might well work in our favour as long as we do not give the ball away cheap in the final third. Or indeed invite pressure in the 18 box when there isn’t any on the horizon. Kasper seems prepared to work back to the half way line, Duran & Yang too so hopefully will help out midfield in that respect. No point being negative mentally, the players wont be, need to keep our eye on the prize, we’ll create chances no doubt about it, convert a few of them we’ll go to Austria in front.
In Martin & Co we trust….
Why oh why does the blog insist on me disabling my Adblocker, it really pisses me off
kinglubo
It will keep asking you to disable it, just ignore it, switch to another tab and back or just log back in to CQN.
I wouldn’t mind a few ads here and there but unless you block them the site is unnavigable…..
http://www.brave.com + refresh
There are still tickets available for tomorrow night.
Fill your boots or forever hold your wheesht.
HH.
DUSHANBE BHILLY BHOY on 18th August 2026 4:28 pm
http://www.brave.com + refresh
Hip been using it for ages, no ads nothing!
vale bhoy on 18th August 2026 12:59 pm
IMHO it’s already too late with any possible signings. Even if they were signed today, they couldn’t be expected to play tomorrow.
*Oh I don’t know about that Bobby Craig got off the train at Glasgow Central at hauf four from Blackburn and turned out against reigning champions Valencia in a 2-2 draw at Parkheid only to be met by WTF is that fae the support.
Hip=yip