Positive clouds gather, Leigh’s peak years

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Brendan Rodgers would have opened his hotel curtains this morning and welcomed the sight of a cool, wet, day in Astana. Far from the 30° he feared, it’s to be 17° by kick-off, having rained most of the day. That rainwater will help hold the ball up on the plastic surface at the Astana Arena where Celtic play their Champions League qualifier this afternoon.

Astana must be wondering if the clouds are conspiring against them. This is the coolest day of the month there, well below the 31° heat in the city two weeks ago. As any runner unaccustomed to such conditions will tell you, temperature differences like this have a huge impact on performance.

We can be pretty sure Kieran Tierney, Mikael Lustig and Saidy Janko will play, but in what formation and who will join them at the back is open to conjecture. What we can be more certain of is that we’ll pull defenders tight together, with Scott Brown playing the kind of defensive-mid role he produced a year ago in Qarabag.

A great deal of responsibility will lie with Leigh Griffiths. He’ll have space to receive the ball from Roberts and (probably) Forrest. At 25, he’s entering his peak years and is more than capable of winning this tie on his own.

Take a deep breath………..

Directors’ Box auction prize

Courtesy of Celtic sponsor and all round good guys, Intelligent Car Leasing, we have an outstanding auction prize, as the centrepiece of our summer good causes. For the Kilmarnock game at Celtic Park, on 24 September 2016, you can win:

2 seats in the directors’ box
Champagne reception
5 course meal in the Walfrid Suite
Fully expenses bar (pre and post-match)
Half time snacks and refreshments
Car Parking
And a match programme.

There are experiences in life which money can’t buy. This one is now available for you to bid for here on ebay until Friday lunchtime. Two of you, directors’ box, Champagne reception, 5 course meal, free bar, get in there – and tell your pals about it.

Monies raised will go towards our fifth (yes fifth) school kitchen for Mary’s Meals, and our other good causes in connection with Friday’s CQN Golf Day.

And thanks to Intelligent Car Finance.  We’re fortunate to have people like this around us.

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  1. Saint Stivs says SACK THE BOARD on

    Off subject.

     

     

    Johnstone town hall.

     

     

    I find myself here on a wee errand.

     

    What a brilliantly simple functional design.

     

     

    Kinda castle walls with a barlinnie roof.

     

     

    I like it a lot. Nice historical reference artworks inside. And some burns about the elightment or something.

     

     

    Not so keep on the orange and purple walls.

  2. Small Hill Tim on

    Keep things tight for the first 20 mins, midfield put in a shift and provide cover for the defence, confidence grows as the game goes on, why not come away with a victory.

     

     

    It’s great having proper football back

  3. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    LUCKY CODY on 27TH JULY 2016 2:16 PM

     

     

     

    If you head for Sharkey’s in Annagry, you could watch the game with Árd Macha, of this parish.

  4. MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 27TH JULY 2016 2:01 PM

     

    Lest we forget.

     

     

     

    Our heritage.

     

     

     

    For ever and ever , we`ll follow the boys.

     

     

    The Glasgow Celtic , the Timaloys.

     

     

    ==========

     

     

    As long as we forget the Irish and the charitable bits you mean you useless bawbag.

     

     

    WMD

  5. Geordie Munro on

    “Available now at 12/5 with some outfit called Marathon Bet”

     

     

    Sftb,

     

     

    Really? Sweet.

     

     

    Will be like taking candy from a baby ;)

     

     

    HH

  6. MOONBEAMSWD on 27TH JULY 2016 1:39 PM

     

    TD67

     

     

     

    well at least we now understand where you violent streak comes from.

     

     

     

    MWD

     

    Ah! My stalker gets upset when I post about level5 helpers and Huns, wonder what one he is or maybe both? For the no mark that I am as he said he does get involved in most of my posts, no friends? Wouldent that be ironic eh? Bus stop coming up HH. Guys enjoy the game.

  7. Delaneys Dunky on

    Good line up today. A team who will hopefully show that attack is the best form of defence.

     

    COYBIG

  8. I’m sure Ciftci or Dembele wouldn’t be bad as an emergency CB. Like Lassad, Cole, Pukki, Scepovic, Fortune, and many others who have had the chance in recent years, they are both quite proficient at using their skills in the box to keep the ball out of the onion bag!

     

     

    Just sayin’ like…

     

     

    P.S. If Dembele gets a hat-trick tonight I’ll let him play up front in the 2nd leg.

  9. Geordie Munro on

    Starry,

     

     

    Join the live updates thread.

     

     

    It’ll blow your mind. :))

     

     

    HH

  10. Brilliant result & Young Roberts is different class.

     

     

    What a difference it made to the game when Bitton came on. We finally got a grip of the midfield with someone capable of taking the ball & finding a hooped shirt. Lots of good performances a few let downs (Lustig being one of them) but special mention for Efe well done big man :)

     

     

    1-1 is a blinding result hopefully we bench Paddy Roberts for the Barca game as we need him more for the home leg.

     

     

    HH.

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