There’s been a palpable sense of relief among all of us since Leigh Griffiths scored in Astana last midweek, but as Wednesday’s second leg draws nearer, the reality that our Champions League hopes are very much on the line is dawning.
Astana’s natural game in Europe is to defend and play on the break. They kept a clear sheet in Vilnius in the last round and conceded only twice on the road in last season’s three away qualifiers against Maribor, HJK Helsinki and APOEL Nicosia – decent qualifier opponents by any measure.
They will put two men on both Patrick Roberts and Leigh Griffiths, and sit deep, hoping to draw Celtic into leaving space at the back. This is the exact scenario we lost out to otherwise inferior teams in Europe over the last two seasons. We enjoyed possession and territorial advantage (home and away) but were ripped open on the break.
Progress to the playoff round will be all about how well we defend.
The bulk of tomorrow’s training session should be set aside for the practice of penalty kicks. Celtic lose far too many penalty competitions, and despite legacy notions which persist in British football, penalties can be practiced. 10 players should hit at least 10 penalties each.
Dreadful news that Tommy Gemmell was hospitalised over the weekend. He’s been a great friend to CQN in recent years and I know we all send him our best wishes.
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Happy birthday dopey.
MWD
All seems happy and bright on here this morning , heck even TD67 posting links to James Forrest articles .
The calm before the storm.
Dia daoibh uilig
Leroy Sane to city for 37 million,another winger.
They have as many wingers as we have midfilders.
Get Patrick Roberts signed now,3 or 4 million down,the rest in installments.
I think he loves it at Celtic and will stay.
Breithlá sona sásta duit ………….JAMESGANG
HH BB
I bought a new book just released . . .
HILLSBOROUGH VOICES
The real story told by the people themselves
by
Kevin Sampson in association with the Hillsborough Justice Campaign
A very moving account of the disaster as told by survivors and bereaved family members, in the form of short narratives under each contributor’s name. I started reading about 3pm yesterday and put it down at 2am as I struggled to stay awake. Some harrowing accounts from survivors who very nearly died, and others describing their frantic search for loved ones, then the aftermath – the cover-up, the fight for justice.
STEPHEN WRIGHT (Lost his brother Graham John Wright)
I went to Celtic, and it was a definitive occasion for me. For one, I knew our Graham wouldn’t have wanted me to stop going to the game. I went everywhere with Liverpool. He wouldn’t have wanted that to stop. But, just as important, it showed that I COULD go back. You can never do justice to how magnificent Celtic were. The way the whole ground sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” – it meant everything to me.
TBB
Having now read the Wilson piece, my conclusion is that the author had no enthusiasm for the task of presenting the two Managers and their teams as equals. He knew he was writing tripe and the low quality and unconvincing nature of the article reflects that knowledge.
Either that or he is a very poor writer!
JJ
Cheers Bigbones
Cheers Happy!
HH jamesgang
How much are they charging us for Motherwell LC game, nothing on website?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
AULD TAM on 2ND AUGUST 2016 10:27 AM
Thanks for sharing that.
Stephen Wrights account is really moving.
BORGO67 on 2ND AUGUST 2016 10:25 AM
All seems happy and bright on here this morning , heck even TD67 posting links to James Forrest articles .
The calm before the storm
James is a blogger, he knows the score, if IMO it’s a good article I’ll say it and post it, if it’s not I’ll say it, but still post it, no one dies, it’s all in the game, he’s a big boy. He gives as good as he gets, but never gets personnel, well with Tims that is :))
Guys like Wilson can be ok at times , however he and we know how he got his job and he won’t bite the hand that feeds him
BRTH –
I remember a League game v Rangers at Celtic Park circa 1969 when Celtic were 1-0 in front and were awarded a penalty and the chance to wrap up the game. Up stepped big Tam Gemmell, the king of penalty takers. facing the Rangers end. Everyone knew he always blasted his penalties with brute force, but this time, despite his usual long run-up, he checked himself at the last minute and elected to gently side-foot the ball into the corner. Big Norrie Martin went down and saved. The Huns went ballistic.
Celtic went on to win and Tommy Gemmell reverted to basting his penalties with all he had.
Lennybhoy –
£15 for the Motherwell LC tie.
Wilson IMO, was comparing I thoroughbred with a Clydesdale, they may have pissed in the same stable at one point in there life’s, but one carried silks, the other? Coal, rags, fruit, flour, flittings and many other jobs.
TD67
Thought it had got a bit personal with you and James in the past but after reading your reply I remember it was someone else .
Let’s shut this mob up Celtic.
http://celtsarehere.com/big-mouth-astana-players-fueling-the-fire-ahead-of-crucial-tie/
RAEBERTO67
IMO,calling someone a hun for saying something you disagree with is poor stuff.
How you deal with it is up to you. Sometimes diplomacy,other times gunboat diplomacy. It’s your call,your post.
Remember though,apologising for your opinion is rarely a good move.
AULD TAM on 2ND AUGUST 2016 10:45 AM
Cheers mate, at work at the moment.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
BIGbones8867 supports MO’N and Ireland on 2nd August 2016 10:27 am
————————————————————————————————————
I’d love to see wee Paddy Bhoy sign for us ft but got that sickly feeling that he’ll be off to a second tier EPL club (his performances here won’t say too much down there).
As for your comment about Sane for 37M…I’m sure you & many other Celtic fans are as frustrated as me with the inequality of spending within the game. It’s getting to the point where fairly average players are moving between 3/4 clubs for 10M+ each time without kicking a ball for any first team. They had the cheek to complain last week about European clubs ‘doubling’ the asking price when EPL clubs enquire about players but what do they expect? This is the only way to try to prevent them from buying up every decent player in Europe & loaning them out or leaving them to fester.
UEFA & FIFA really ought to be hanging their heads at their lack of activity here. Their failure to implement FFP rules of any real meaning is allowing TV far too much control. If they weren’t so corrupt then surely they’d just find a way to force fairness into the game. That last sentence says so much about the ‘sport’ we all love. Players who’ve done nothing at all in the game shouldn’t be going for 10M+ because they have potential. We all have potential.
BIGbones8867 supports MO’N and Ireland on 2nd August 2016 10:27 am
Dia daoibh uilig
Leroy Sane to city for 37 million,another winger.
They have as many wingers as we have midfilders.
Get Patrick Roberts signed now,3 or 4 million down,the rest in installments.
I think he loves it at Celtic and will stay.
Breithlá sona sásta duit ………….JAMESGANG
—————————————————————-
Would love to see it happening but got a feeling we’ll lose him to a second tier EPL club. Hopefully he falls in love with the hoops as many have before and will a
AULDTAM
When TOMMY hit it hard and accurate,it was past the keeper in a blur.
I remember Big Roy took them for a while. Usually as hard as he could hit it,high down the middle.
For a change,we got one against Aberdeen. Leighton stood up instead of diving.
Damn near ended up in the back of the net wi the ball!
TONYDONNELLY67 on 2ND AUGUST 2016 10:46 AM
0:-))))
After seeing that post, I am glad I popped back in for a moment ! Quality , old school Glasgow patter !
JJ
BORGO67 on 2ND AUGUST 2016 10:42 AM
Guys like Wilson can be ok at times.
Borgo, a lasting memory I’ll carry for years was the Sportscene two seasons ago when the mighty Murderwell had, well …… murdered Thems. Start of the programme and the camera pans over Rat Nevin and said Wilson – Mrs Emeraldbee passing through the room says “What’s wrong with his face, is he chewing wasps?”
His coupon WAS a belter – obviously had been set up to praise the glorious return of Thems, but had to suck up the juices. Karma, eh? And I’ve kept a copy of the programme – still dip into it for the bit at the start every now and then.
Sorry for that mess of a post there…hope it’s clear enough.
BMCUW
Whilst on the subject of penalties, my recollection of those taken by Joe McBride were pretty special.
JJ
` is that ` instead of `of `.
Raberto67
You called posters who defend Efe childish and pathetic.
Many other posters think the same as you about Efe, but you are the only one who has had a go at posters who defend him.
For the record, I am neither childish nor pathetic.
Dia daoibh uilig arís
Remembering our friend and comrade today,Kieran Doherty TD,Big Doc.
I treasure the memories of the short time when we shared a cell together.
I learned a great deal from him,knowledge that I have carried with me always.
He was unbreakable
HH BB
Rumour of KDS that one of our several hundred midfielders will be heading to Rotherham on loan today. No name given but would assume Stubbsy would want Allan or Henderson
BMCUWP
IMO calling a person a hun for any reason is poor stuff! Unless of course they are one!
I’ve never apologised and never will if I feel I’m correct, no matter how many gang up, however, I’m open to correction and always willing to listen and adjust my views if appropriate, otherwise what’s the point of discussing anything?
HH
Actually your really supposed to enjoy training, but I think a know what he means.
http://www.insidefutbol.com/2016/08/02/training-under-brendan-rodgers-dubbed-exceptional-by-celtic-star/297781/
What is about my club Celtic,letting these papers and the media,drag us down,when they feel like it,always reporting negative story’s,while the skint and cheat mob get a easy ride,is there nobody at Celtic ,at least put them in there place now and again,and is it not P R Department, to look after Celtic,or isn’t there one at Celtic Football Club,I feel at times its a dig from them ,to me for being a Celtic Supporter,its not a nice feeling seeing our club getting tarnished with lies and made up story’s,maybe its time Dr John Reid was brought back to the club,he didn’t take any of there nonsense,
Emeraldbee
I remember it well.
Certainly not sticking up for him , I said the other day that Wison , Lamont and Broadfoot before them were placemen.
On occasions when they write about something else it’s like a different journalist has appeared.
Although I wouldn’t place him in the same category of those above , I enjoy Tom.English when he writes or speaks about rugby.
TET
This is what I said:
“As for the accusations of being a hun, being brainwashed by the media or needing a scapegoat levelled at anyone who can see it, well these are pathetic and childish.”
It’s clear to anyone who can comprehend English that I’m calling the accusations pathetic and childish, not necessarily the people who make them.
Don’t worry though, you just keep talking shite & calling people huns if it saves you from having to make a reasoned argument or in fact any point at all…
If they your calling a Hun isn’t one, then fine no problem no big deal, if he is then, GIRFU him, still no big deal, we’re all big boys, I’v been called worse on here, no big deal and no appoligy needed it’s a blog ffs, but just in case!
Any lurking Huns and Level 5 little helpers in here today? GIRFUYs
BIGbones8867 supports MO’N and Ireland on 2nd August 2016 10:27 am
Dia daoibh uilig
Leroy Sane to city for 37 million,another winger.
They have as many wingers as we have midfilders.
Get Patrick Roberts signed now,3 or 4 million down,the rest in installments.
I think he loves it at Celtic and will stay.
Breithlá sona sásta duit ………….JAMESGANG
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Would love it but we could not afford the wages. Just read yesterday that the top 11 clubs in the EPL got more in prize money that Real Madrid got for winning the Champions League! MENTAL
Raberto67
You didn’t copy all of the piece.
This is what you wrote and it puts a very different context to what you are suggesting.
“However…as for CQN…it’s incredible how many people on here can’t wait to defend Effe as a player. The guy is rank. As for the accusations of being a hun, being brainwashed by the media or needing a scapegoat levelled at anyone who can see it, well these are pathetic and childish.”
Would love it but we could not afford the wages. Just read yesterday that the top 11 clubs in the EPL got more in prize money that Real Madrid got for winning the Champions League! MENTAL
BTW to make it clearer – I mean that even the club who finished 11th earned more than Real Madrid in terms of prize money.
RABERTO67
Thing is like me, I don’t post for discussion or argument, I mostly post my opinion, or defend the club with the malcontents, or sometimes ask the odd question, if it’s my opinion that’s it, unless someone has proof on the on the subject that my opinion was wrong, then I’m sticking to it, I’m not into open university discussion, life’s to short, many in here like to discuss and that’s good for them, but it’s not for everyone, and in my experience on this blog, nine times out of ten it leads to name calling and key board bullying, and cliquey mobs, and it’s not nice if your new in here, but it shouldent detair you from posting in here, no matter who you are, if your a Tim that is, if your a Hun? Why you in here in the first place?
Incidentally the Moyes story – try reading it
He was interviewed and knows the Celtic board well
Absolutely nowhere in the story, does it mention he was offered the job
Wish to F— Celtic would show some backbone and sue these rags to stop the utter pish they put out on Celtic.
Brendan Rodgers, Brendan Rodgers
You heard us calling in the night
I like a wee song :-)
Hail Hail