Half the battle when it comes to PR is not to score an own goal, which Neil Lennon managed to do in his pre-match press conference today when asked about the local ‘tradition’ of ritualistic animal slaughter before the game. “You have to respect the traditions in Kazakhstan, they have a different culture. We have our traditions.
“Our scouts watched Shakhter’s game against Astana on Friday. We know the played a weakened team.
“We arrived early to adapt to the weather condition. The journey went well.
“Tomorrow we play against a strong team. It’s important to get a good result in the first game to increase our chances of reaching the Champions League group stage.”
Really looking forward to this one now.
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NEIL LENNON insists there won’t be any panic buys at Celtic.
The Hoops boss is desperate to sign a striker with Schalke hitman Teemu Pukki his No1 target.
But the German club are refusing to sell — especially with main man Klaas-Jan Huntelaar out injured for a month.
Lennon fears he may have to move on to alternative targets.
But he insists he’d also be happy to go into the group stages of the Champions League with NO new faces.
Lennon said: “I’m quite calm about it, because I’ve got to be. There is no point in getting upset about it. Really, since I got here my whole focus has been on this game.
“If I’ve got time between now and next week to look at other players I’ll do that. But there is no point in panicking.
“It’s frustrating, yeah, but I have a job to do with this. It’s alright me saying I want to bring players in — but I don’t want to be disrespectful to the players I’ve got.
“I’ve got a good squad and all I want to do is try to improve it and not replace what I’ve already got. I always think there’s a flurry anyway for the last few days of the window. It gets hectic.
“So I’d imagine there would be business done either this week or next week. We’ve brought four players in, don’t forget.
“We have spent some money on Derk Boerrigter, Virgil van Dijk and Amido Balde. We’ve spent £5million to £6million.
“It’s not as if we haven’t been pro-active in the market. About this time clubs tend to be a wee bit cuter with who they are selling or try to get a bit more out of the deal.
“We are no different. I’m here and what I want more than anything else is to get through this tie because it would set up the season beautifully.
“It would put us in a really strong position. And if we don’t get anyone in I am quite happy to go with what we’ve got. These are the players who will have got us there.”
Another Hoops target, Alfred Finnbogason, has opened contract extension talks with Heerenveen.
Celts face Shakhter Karagandy in Kazakhstan this afternoon in the first leg of their play-off clash.
And Lennon insists his squad is in good shape.
He added: “The majority are fit. We’re just waiting on Tom Rogic and Derk.
“Virgil only got 15 minutes against Aberdeen so do we start him? I will see how he is. We want him to play but 15 minutes in four or five weeks could be a gamble. We’ll see.”
lymmbhoy:
maybe you’re logged in as a registered member?
a stor/desertbhoy
Here it is via Twitter.
@cartujakds: Get back to me… http://t.co/SyR8qkR06M
HH
Let’s hope so desertbhoy.
YESTERDAY the Shakhter Karagandy boss slaughtered a sheep.
But tonight in Kazakhstan Neil Lennon will sacrifice something else…
His football philosophy.
Viktor Kumykov reluctantly took part in a bizarre good-luck ritual when he helped slit the throat of the poor animal at the side of the pitch.
But for this vital Champions League play-off Lennon makes no apologies for doing what needs to be done, and winning ugly to reach the group stages.
The Celtic boss said: “We watched the full game of them playing BATE at home and they are quite defensive in their set-up and direct in how they get the ball forward.
“They are big and fit and organised. There doesn’t seem to be many technical players, but they are fully committed.
“They were a goal up going into the second leg at home against BATE and maybe that was their plan to sit and soak up the pressure.
“If that is the case, we would hope to control the game for periods.
“But I’m not taking this tie lightly. These games are very difficult. I know that from my own international experience. These games are not pretty to watch, either. We’ll have to be spot-on mentally and make sure we are well organised and drilled.
“I think mentality has a lot to do with it.
“We have better players, but they are a team which has never reached this stage of the competition before and will be hungry for success.
“But we’re hungry, too. We know what is at stake and it will mean a lot to us to get through again. It’s there for us.
“The players have earned our trust to a certain extent, but every game is different.
“I don’t think this is going to be an open, passing, fluid game of football.
“It’s going to be attritional at times and maybe as tight as the Elfsborg game, so we have to prepare ourselves for all eventualities.
“We will study more footage and prepare the players as best we can, but we don’t want to fill their heads up too much with information.
“We’ll handle whatever comes our way, but the players have learned to win ugly.
“They have ground out a few results along the way and it might be a case of having to do that again until we get them back to Celtic Park where we can make the game a little bit more expansive.”
Celtic have lost some big players. Victor Wanyama, Gary Hooper and Kelvin Wilson are all away.
But Lennon has faith in the players left behind.
Asked if the team was better placed than this time a year ago, he paused and replied: “It’s a difficult question.
“We’ve not really had much time to gauge whether we have progressed or not.
“But I’m very happy with the squad itself. I quite like the camaraderie between the players, and the new boys have settled in very well.
“Obviously, we have lost hugely-influential players in Wanyama, Hooper and Wilson.
“But we have acquired some very good players.
“They are taking their time to bed in, obviously, but we are very happy with how things are going.”
There is a drive and focus in the Celtic squad. They don’t want to fall at the final hurdle having come this far.
They could have travelled to Kazakhstan wary of what lay ahead but instead they turned up with their eyes wide open.
Lennon insisted: “The boys have adjusted fine. Sunday was just a recovery day. We had them at the pool for an hour and then sat and watched the English football through a live stream.
“We just wanted to give them a complete day off and then took them walking on Monday before training.
“It’s been pretty comfortable here. Conditions, facilities, even the climate. It’s been excellent and the players seem relaxed.
“There doesn’t seem to be any signs of fatigue.”
It’s not just another trip, though. Karagandy actually sacrificed the sheep before training yesterday.
But asked about it last night by local reporters, Lennon was understandably quick to play down the tradition.
He added: “You have to respect that. This is a different culture. Players have their own superstitions. We have a very diverse group of players.
“The only thing that we do collectively is the very famous huddle before a game.”
Karagandy’s Russian coach Kumykov also vowed to quit smoking if his side reach the group stages, with skipper Andrei Finonchenko promising to shave his head.
Lennon smiled and added: “Well, I don’t smoke.
“I’d like to say to say I would give up alcohol, but that would be very difficult, especially in Glasgow.”
And especially if Celtic win through…
twists n turns (God bless our little hero Oscar)
That last sentence of your post:
“We want him to play but 15 minutes in four or five weeks could be a gamble. We’ll see.”
Lymm.. Ok that works.. Across word on the Huns.
16.. Not envisaging any probs.. 2 goal bonus.. Ledley for one
Ok BMCUW so maybe not an argument as such but those heated debates get a little tasty at times ;-)
I have every faith that NL and JP will have suitable targets lined up! I am looking forward to big Balde getting a run in the team and Derk looked good for his 30 min cameo debut, only heard good things about VDV’s short stint at the weekend so hopefully we have a couple of good un’s to look forward to already?
Greenslade’s piece on keithy “Wealth off the radar” jackson was pretty awesome! Good to know that some in the print media can see the revisionism at play!
Anyway Hail Hail to you all ;-)
lymmbhoy:
good man, got it.
a stor mo chroi
04:48 on 20 August, 2013
GG:
Except maybe Juventus. :-)
————————————-
I hope the bitter taste and disappointment of defeat shapes their mettle.
COYBIG
The opening line is classic….thee ould whataboutery!
GAMBLING probe Rangers star Ian Black is just one of many Scots footballers who break strict rules by betting on games, an insider claimed last night.
Players and officials are banned from putting money on any match anywhere in the world under SFA regulations.
And Black faces a possible life ban after being accused of putting wagers on 160 games between March 2006 and July 2013 — including 13 involving his own team. On three occasions, he is said to have bet against his side.
Last night a source said: “He likes a flutter every now and then — but so do loads of players.
“One thing’s for sure, there will be a lot of worried players out there tonight.
“Loads of them bet on football, but the rules are so strict you’re not meant to bet on any game anywhere — not just in Scotland.”
The SFA revealed a string of claims against Black yesterday — sending shockwaves through Scottish football. It’s believed the midfielder was shopped by bookies Ladbrokes following a £400 win last month.
The bet — allegedly accessed on his phone — came when Rangers beat Albion Rovers 4-0 in the Ramsdens Cup on July 28.
During the period under investigation, the 28-year-old also played for Hearts and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
And the SFA refused to confirm which club he was with when he is accused of placing bets against his own side.
Black, who won his first Scotland cap last year, could face a fine of between £500 and £1million, a suspension or a life ban if he is found guilty by officials.
Last night the source said: “This all came to light after the Albion Rovers match.
“There was a bet placed on the game as part of a coupon, through a Ladbrokes account Ian uses. It came up trumps and he won £400.
“Somehow the bookies looked into this win, found out who he was, and told the SFA.
“He’s saying a family member placed the bet on that occasion through the account.
“Of course, he has placed bets himself on previous occasions, but it’s not like he has made hundreds of individual bets. A lot of the 160 matches will have been coupons. It’s also important to say that he’s only won a few hundred quid over the years.
“The three matches where he’s betted against his own team certainly looks damning at first glance. But it’s not match fixing. Categorically not.
“Ian’s basically included his own team in some accumulator bets.
“He hopes the SFA won’t throw the book at him and make an example of him.
“Obviously it’s not normal for players to bet against their own teams, so maybe this is what set alarm bells ringing when the bookies and the SFA went back through his
But they stressed he’s not accused under the more serious rule 23 which governs match fixing.
Black will face a hearing at Hampden on September 12. He has until Monday to provide evidence to the inquiry and it’s understood he will meet with Gers manager Ally McCoist today. Last week, Stoke City striker Cameron Jerome was fined £50,000 for breaching betting regulations.
And Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Andros Townsend was fined £18,000 earlier this year.
Last night Black refused to comment on the allegation at his home in Prestonpans, East Lothian. He added: “I’m not having a single word. I’ve nothing to say.”
A Rangers spokesman said: “We aware of the SFA’s Notice of Complaint and are investigating.”
Ladbrokes said they would not discuss individual accounts but contacted the authorities when they “suspect there may be irregularities that may breach regulations.
Black… Caught red handed?
Morning Celts
Thinking it’ll be a scrappy long ball game from the Kazacks, we will hopefully get the away goal and a draw will do.
Good luck to NFL and his young lions.
V
“is just one of many Scots footballers who break strict rules by betting on games, an insider claimed last night.”
“One thing’s for sure, there will be a lot of worried players out there tonight.”
Lets dumb the story down by insulation. I wonder who this “insider” person is? The long and the short of it is Black bet against his team, which is shocking, and there seems to be evidence to prove it. There are NO suggestions from betting firms that any other player has done likewise.
Had AN Other of Celtic FC been caught betting against Celtic the opening lines would have read somewhat differently.
Morning Vmhan. Hope you and yours are all well. Yeah 1 2 tonight. 3 0 at CP. Went to bed anxious about the game, woke up thinking, ” right, where are these Kazakstani b********s, we’ll slaughter em. Must have been something in the overnight air:-)
tnt .. not in our tradition to slaughter anything..
lymmbhoy –
Thanks for the info re ESPN for the game tonight. I had checked the Foxtel listings last Thursday or Friday and could find nothing for the game, so thought that was that.
I’ll be going to bed about 8pm and getting back up for the game.
Hail Hail
Good morning friends from a dry but cloudy East Kilbride. And if any of our fine players are reading this just now over their lunch, do us proud tonight Bhoys!
Jobo
Tom
No problem, I had been checking earlier in the day when I found it on ESPN.
I have similar intentions to yourself but will probably just fall asleep on the sofa like normal ;-)
HH
Some posters on here have let themselves down in the recent heated debates.
Mike in Toronto and Tiny Tim in particular…everybody knows it’s:
Roasted Cheese Then. Roasted Cheese Now. Roasted Cheese Forever.
desertbhoy
…except perhaps the board and Jamesy…
tnt… yes very sharp, have to agree with you there. Not condoned on my part.
Morning championees.
Good luck to the bhoys this afternoon… im doing a runner from work at 3:30pm today.
And in case you missed my post last night … a sponsored walks being organised in oscars name…. celtic park to ibrox … November 3rd.
Fans from the green and blue sides of Glasgow taking part… I offered to swap shirts at the start with a blue nose so its gonna be a historic day as I walk from kerrydale st to edmiston drive in a rangers shirt…. all in a very good cause.
A few bhoys have offered to sponsor me last night…. Shirley worth a wee donation bhoys and ghirls.
Or put a bit of perspective in your life and join me
Tiny tim
If its grilled cheese on toast
Why is the cheese “grilled” but the bread ” toasted” yet both are put through the same process ?
Joe ledley contract sorted ?
Striker signed yet ?
Green Brigade issue resolved ?
These issues are taken way too long to be honest.
The fans are given deadlines for tickets and adverts asking them to buy season book. They dont hesitate and get it done despite the price.
I would keep sammy out left tonight and start balde or watt up front. Keep derk for 2nd leg.
Goodluck to the famous glasgow celtic tonight.
Keep the faith
Good morning CQNers,
I only have questions, and this morning’s centers around why are we having such difficulty in signing a European striker?
Is Celtic still an attractive proposition for European footballers?
Does our style of play and Scottish football put off perspective European signings?
Are we offering contracts that are just not competitive in the European market?
Is our need to sign a striker so early in the transfer window leaving us at a disadvantage in the negotiations?
African, Asian and South American players see the obvious advantage in Celtic as it offers them a window in which to display their skills on a European stage but what have we got to attract European players of quality?
As I say only questions, no doubt more learned posters will provide some answers.
I wonder if Izzy will keep his position tonight or will NL go with Charlie Mulgrew at left back, as I said earlier, only questions this morning.
desertbhoy
ach, I think a lot of it is overhyped. I am personally not in favour of the boards lack of proactivity in this latest transfer market. In general however, I have no real gripe with the board. Similarly with James Forest. I think he’s a a decent player, no more no less.
Taking that stance can lead to the supporters who are in favour of the boards strategy, or,who rate Jamesy much higher, taking issue with those of differing opinions.
That’s all good and healthy though. Debate is good. It’s when it becomes personal and the “hun” accusations start to surface that you are into a different “debate”.
It’s actually my biggest bugbear as a lifelong supporter. My childhood memories of the hoops are all fantastic. I guess I was born into football at the best possible time, in respect of quality, since I was first taken to CP around 1966 as an 8 year old. All I remember (apart from winning everything on show), were kindly gentlemen on the supporters bus, looking out for me.
There was a warmth about the surroundings, a loving and charitable atmosphere that very much defined what Celtic were all about. It conditioned me to behave in a similar way, and I’ve tried to lead my life in that “Celtic” way. I would never deliberately do someone a bad turn, and that is the same for all the Celtic people I associate with.
I do struggle on this forum sometime to understand the offensive nature of comments made by some who seem to feel that if you are in opposition to their viewpoint, that you somehow are not a “real” Celtic supporter, and that your faith in Celtic must be proven by agreeing to every decision taken by the board.
Oddly, the only supporters I have met in person from CQN, and whom I can vouch for as being decent, honest true Celtic supporters, are the same ones who have a similar outlook on the current state of affairs as myself. As well as the relatively trivial matter of whether or not we rate James Forest (as one example), we all share similar viewpoints on the boards apparent reluctance to be more vociferous on more serious issues, such as the cheating of our club. Maybe it’s an age thing?, I am not sure. Maybe subconsciously we align ourselves to those of similar thinking?
I do know though that when the entire 60,000 fill the ground for a CL tie, the sense of togetherness returns, and regardless of whether the guy next to you agrees with you or not, you are only too happy to hug and celebrate special Celtic moments together as though he/she was you brother or sister. Inside Celtic Park, we are the biggest and best family in the world of football, sharing a sense of joy and love that is unique.
Juxtapose that with certain other grounds, where the togetherness is borne out of sheer hatred and intolerance, and we can be truly grateful to be Celtic supporters.
Tonight’s result, and the result of the tie overall, means the exact same for happy clappers, shafters and malcontents.
When we close our eyes tonight hopefully we will do so with a sense of relief, satisfaction and joy.
Regardless, when we open our eyes again tomorrow morning, we’ll definitely still be Celtic supporters. For that, we should thank our forefathers and count our blessings, but most importantly, conduct our life in the way they would have wanted, and in the way we want our children to conduct theirs.
Morning tnt,
Late reply as i was travelling into work. Alls well at our end and hopefully the same with you.
What’s with the early starts, 6-2 shift?
Busy day and hoping to be offski for 3:30pm.
V
So, it’s going to be 26 degrees or so in Astana today, about the same here today.
The Herald online is not holding back with its main headline . . .
SFA: Rangers player Black bet against his own teams
Apparently none of the previous names mentioned as having been fined were charged with betting against their own clubs.
This could be really serious for Black.
twists n turns (God bless our little hero Oscar) –
Fantastic post.
Well said and Hail Hail.
tnt.. got 6 years on you.. had to live with the bad times in the 50’s but as a child disappointment rubbed off more easily… but boy did i celebrate the 60’s and early 70’s.
Will support the team whatever happens tonight or any other time but have the gut feel for 2 tonight with Ledley for the first.
Open debate/discussion healthy.. object to some of the vitriolic shit i’ve read on here, but to knock it back just encourages more.
Vmhan
No, I don’t do any shifts as such. My contract was rather cleverly worded, at my insistence,:-) to say I shall “work the necessary number of hours to complete the job satisfactorily”. It means I choose my own hours, (within reason).
I therefore like to start at 6am and work through till whenever, usually around 4.30pm, but I do not work Friday’s. I am an early riser anyway so I never sleep beyond 4.30am weekdays and 6am weekends. Hyper!
I seem to spend my life updating phone apps that I don’t use and cannot uninstall – just ons of my early morning moans
twists n turns (god bless our little hero oscar)
07:12 on 20 August, 2013
Twists, I agree with everything you say there….must be an age thingy?.
Gb
twists n turns (God bless our little hero Oscar)
Great post
H.H
tbj praying for oscar knox
07:02 on 20 August, 2013
Tiny tim
If its grilled cheese on toast
Why is the cheese “grilled” but the bread ” toasted” yet both are put through the same process ?
—————————————
The result of grilling bread is toast. The result of grilling cheese is melted cheese aka grilled cheese.
Ergo, grilled cheese on toast sounds correct to me.