Shakhter Karagandy manager, Viktor Kumykov, spoke to the media yesterday, and again this morning, ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League play-off first leg game against Celtic.
“Some of the players who played on Friday night will not make the starting line-up against Celtic but we have a limited squad so I cannot rotate too much.
“Celtic have a high calibre across their squad of around 20 players, they can rotate players without dropping standards. Whoever we face will be difficult.
“Their most dangerous players are the striker Samaras and wingers Forrest and Commons.
“We will attack but we will keep things tight at the back. The most important thing about a home game is not to concede. Celtic are a quality team but we are going to stand up to them with our best game. We have our plans.
“I said a few times that it’s going to be tough game for us. We are new in the Champions League, Celtic have lots of experience in games in Europe, they even won this tournament. But this does not mean that we are going to be taking a beating. We will do our best, will give our full strength to achieve a good result.
“We watched Celtic in last season’s Champions League, and against Liverpool. They are stronger than us but football is a game where the strongest don’t always win. They play a physical game, it will be hard playing against them.
“Unfortunately Toktar Schangyalyschbai and Mikhail Lunin will both miss the game through injury.
“We would like a full stadium, the crowd is going to be an important factor for us.
“We have achieved our main target, Europa League qualification, so the pressure is off us. We can take a risk in our play.”
Captain, Andrey Finonchenko, added, “Our dreams started with the games against BATE, few imagined we could beat them. The results against BATE and Skernderbeu have given us faith. We will do our best tomorrow.”
Stories of the ritualistic slaughter of a ram inside the Astana Arena this morning are true. No medieval stone unturned.
[calameo code=0003901713852289beccb lang=en page=88 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
378 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- »
Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar
It’s an option to play Balde but I reckon Neil will go for the tried and tested in this game. I could be wrong though. Hopefully get a good result and give Balde a run out in the home leg.
LB
TTTT
In the past I’d have gone with you on that but his positional play seemeed much improved on Saturday.
I know that he was outjumped by McGinn for his header but he was left in a 2 on 1 situation at the back post and ultimately was left unsure as to who he should cover.
Na I’d be inclined to go with him because of his strength and pace.
DR Headlines: Ally McCoist introduces new fitness program at Ibrox.
The super coach says in order to cleanse the club of the malaise that has afflicted them, they need to instigate a rigorous Excorcise program.
HT – on your head be it….oops! :-)
SOAL – obviously I meant Kayak!
T4
Livibhoy
I agree that I think Lenny will go with what he already has tried in the past and that will find Balde warming the bench, I’m only making my suggestion, but hey that’s why he’s the manager!
What’s ‘ole Jack up to?
https://twitter.com/jackirvine/status/369159990679855106
I have no doubt tomorrow will be a difficult game. Their manager is playing a nice psychological game but Im sure Lenny will have the players more than aware of this.
I will be interested to see the formation Lenny plays tomorrow though. Im guessing Sammi up front with KC in a withdrawn role off him.
interested to see someone mentioned the Boards’ Risk Management vis-a-vis signing a striker.
A definition of Risk Management is “The identification, analysis and control of Risk”
Way i see it, is that the Board have said:
Identification – Non-qualification for CL Group stage.
Analysis – already qualified for Europa group stage, we never budget for European money (as Paul has told us on many occasions), “good” draw as possibly one of easier teams we could have got in Play-off, them being poor travellers so as long as in game after 1st leg, still good chance of making CL proper without spend. Very little likelihood of selling more Season Tix if we fail to make CL Group anyway, but if we do qualify, probably will as fans ensure chance of Group games tix.
Control – As per analysis, no money relied on Euro Income. Dont spend on better player(s) until we get progress into CL proper. Then can afford better player(s) at very little, if any, cost to the Club.
Possibly a lot of pash I have spouted, but then again…..
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
timaloy29
11:45 on
19 August, 2013
“Meanwhile, Heerenveen have offered Finnbogason a bumper new contract.”
I thought I read somewhere they were strapped for cash?
Mind you, I also recall reading somewhere that Peter Lawell promised to strengthen the team year by year, so it just goes to show you can’t always believe what you read.
Chris McLaughlin@BBCchrismclaug
Local journalist here in Kazakhstan says if Shakhter Karagandy win against #Celtic, local people will run naked through the streets.
clever stuff from shaktar’s manager – honest, puts us up as the favourites knowing we know nowt about them – unusual to hear a manager say that about us in Europe, can’t wait now
What’s wrong with hoopslegend wee Tony Watt?
This should be his time to push on in his career.
HT/T4,
i reckon Izzy will play and Charlie will be LHS midfield with Broony, Ledders and Kayay, eerrrm sorry Kayak,,,errrm sorry, Kayal ;-) alongside him.
Matthews (calf concern notwithstanding) at RB, Lustig and Ambrose in centre, with VVD on bench.
BTW HT, no problems for me with a right footer as LB. Especially given the amount of teams who play with so-called wide men who cut inside these days anyway.
But then I would say that as i played LB for years…….and guess which is the stronger of my feet :-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
11:52 on 19 August, 2013
And of course that old Edinburgh favourite “likesay”
Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar
Fair play to you mate. That’s what the forum is all about. I am surprised Balde didn’t feature against Cliftonville to be honest. It would have been the perfect level to give him a run. Especially the home match when we were through.
I suspect that Balde with his lack of English was too much of a risk. He may also be struggling to match the fitness required. I read years ago that it took players from England a while to meet the fitness required in Scotland as the game is faster up here.
Who knows? We can only speculate as to why he hasn;t had more game time. Lenny may throw him in though if this mob are physical.
LB
Paul67
My money is on Sammi to get us the crucial away goal – wee saver on Kris and Joe
From earlier…
Folly, Folly- thanks for the offer, but I’ve had my coffee now ;-)
Jungle Jim- thanks I hope you getting the miles in and still fighting the good ‘nae helmets required’ fight? @:-)
HH
The Token Tim in support and praying for Wee Oscar:
The way I read your last post it reads like you don’t think the board give a toss about all that dosh that is up for grabs in the champions league groups and the by product of some glamour games at the pinnacle of football that all the support love.
That Kris Commons,eh!.The old bean counters among us will be livid at his totally uninformed comments about us having to strengthen the squad with a bit of quality and not”Projects”.Just what does he know?.Has he had a look at our balance sheet?.I dont know,they come up here,telling us how we should progress each season instead of weakening the team,with their fancy,la dee da ideas about spending money.
No idea what the result will be tomorrow.Going by all reports they do play a “Ball into the box”game as regular as possible.I would not have Efe anywhere near the back 4 as he cannot jump.Likewise Izzy.Lustig,Myoukolo,Van Dik,Charley,with Sammi helping out at set pieces.If Van Dik not fit,Mathews at Lb and Charley at CH.We need height.
So the DR uncovered the truth about CW,Big Hands,etc.That Keith Jackson,tell it like it is!!!!!.
We could have offset the risk somewhat by buying in Johnny Russel from United and think how minimal our risk would have been in real money terms if we had of signed him.
jackie mac
12:17 on
19 August, 2013
clever stuff from shaktar’s manager – honest, puts us up as the favourites knowing we know nowt about them – unusual to hear a manager say that about us in Europe, can’t wait now
—–
agree we don’t hear that much now
back in the day it was almost the standard line from visiting team managers
they were at it then and I suspect they are still at it now
this mob will be a stiff enough test and seem to be covering all the bases in planning stage- let’s see if they can execute their plan as easily as that poor Derby County fan ;-)
HH
Can I just ask where the Kris Commons comments were quoted?
Karagandy looked a decent side against St Pats two years ago but Pat’s still beat them and 8 of that Shaktar line-up are still there.
They were a big physical side then hard running and very fit however they didn’t like a high tempo game and an early goal might hurt them mentally as that’s really what did for them in Dublin.
Oh and what were his actual words not the journalists interpretation of them.
Are Celtic really gambling with CL qualification?
Really?
The whole pre-season Bavarian jaunt was all about prep for it.
Signing two centre halves was all about prep for it.
Signing Boerigter was all about prep for it.
Signing Balde was prep for it.
Getting to Astana a day early was all about prep for it.
Sending Garry Parker out to Astana 5 days earlier was prep for it.
Playing without a recognized striker on Saturday was prep for it.
Resting some players was prep for it.
Actually, CL qualification is always a gamble anyway, (just ask Deidco)
You can only do so much to mitigate that risk.
The future is green and white not rose tinted.
Oscar & Mackenzie CSC
HH
There are better psychologists on CQN than I, but it strikes me as a fairly basic mistake by Mr Kumykov to have said: “We have achieved our main target, Europa League qualification, so the pressure is off us.”
This is the equivalent of telling his players that it doesn’t matter if they win or not.
marti sandino,
Good on ye.
More viewers the merrier.
That’s my boy that presents the prog.
Weeminger
The Hootsman.
Weeminger
KRIS COMMONS has urged Celtic to splash out on star signings — or risk failing on Europe’s biggest stage.
He fears the loss of key men Kelvin Wilson, Victor Wanyama and Gary Hooper could have a huge impact on their Champions League dreams.
He called on club bosses to shell out and strengthen the team that will carry Scotland’s hopes into Europe. Straight-talking Commons — in Kazakhstan for tomorrow’s showdown with Shakhter Karagandy — said: “We do need to invest in good quality players.
“We want to try and get 90 points, we want the Treble, we want the Champions League. That’s our aim. Anything less than that will be disappointing.
“We’ve lost three of our best players, pretty much the core of our squad.
“Without the goals from Gary and Victor, and without the man-of-the-match displays from Kelvin, we probably would not have done as well in last season’s Champions League.
“But if we can bring people in, there is no reason why we cannot replicate what we did last season.”
Schalke striker Teemu Pukki tops boss Neil Lennon’s wishlist with Werder Bremen’s Marko Arnautovic another signing target.
Commons insists any new arrivals must be ready to bolster their Euro ambitions immediately.
Hoops have fared well from a policy of signing raw talent they can nurture into big money assets.
But Commons said: “There is no point bringing players to build the squad up. We need to bring in the right players and I think that is what we are trying to do.
“From a players’ point of view, you want to see the club bringing in players that are going to improve you straight away.
Success “There’s no point bringing in players who are going to improve us in two or three years.
“That’s not going to benefit myself and this current squad.
“It might help the club in three years time, but it’s not going to benefit us.
“The manager wants success and improvement every single year.
“We have a good group of players here, but it’s about keeping everyone fit every single week and that is difficult with travelling and internationals.
“People will need rest.
“We have a good squad, but I think we do need new recruits — we do need to add more quality.
“If we do pick up injuries in certain areas we will be down to the bare bones and that’s something I know the coaches, the manager and everyone behind the scenes are doing all they can to sort out.”
Pukki is high on Lennon’s list but the Finn could be ruled out of a move after club team-mate Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was injured at the weekend.
Schalke have a Euro qualifier against PAOK Salonica with Pukki’s agent Tapio Raatikainen fearing the hitman may not be let go now.
He said: “We don’t know if Huntelaar has a long-term injury.
“That makes it difficult to be sure if they will let Teemu go.”
Eurochamps67- If your about can you check your e-mails? Thanks Hutchy HH
As, I imagine, one of those categorised as a “beancounter”- CQNers are currently seriously failing to conduct themselves as we once used to- I feel that the major reason that we have not signed anyone is that we play in the SPFL. No one, whom we would want, with real ambition wants to play here. We cannot get round that fact. Anyone we do sign who proves themselves wants, naturally imo, to play in the EPL. That’s where the money and the glamour is. Look at Merson’s comment about Wanyama at the weekend: he’ll be playing for a CL team. He was with us but that simply doesn’t register in Engerlund or anywhere else, unfortunately. Look at Dublin. It was full of Liverpool fans for the friendly. That’s because of years of Match of the Day and SKY. I’m sure it would hold true in the Far East or the Middle East or wherever Murdoch’s tentacles reach. This is the world our Board have to work with. Personally, I think they are doing a great job.
Chuckles is going back on the sevco board according to big Phil.haaa. H.h
”The most important thing about a home tie is not to concede”
Utter Bo**ocks.
Don’t know how many coaches I have heard come out with that line.
The most important thing about a home tie is to win the match.
2-1 is better than 0-0 everyday of the week.
In saying that from our point of view I will be happy with nil nil.
leftclick 11.44
They also trousered £3600 from a children’s charity up in Jordonhill. This charity helps children in war torn countries and it must be stretched to the limit just now. They have no shame at all!!
Why are the fraud squad not battering those big doors down?
Celtic_First
You can be sure that Mr Kumykov may say that to the press but will be saying something quite different to his players.
Paul 67,you should,along with Phil and all your henchmen,be ashamed of yourselves.For years that intrepid reporter Keith Jackson at the Daily Record has ploughed a lone furrow in his attempts to get to the truth regarding Sevco.At great cost to his reputation as a “Rabid hun”he has defied the Sevco hordes and stood out like a beacon of truth,while you and the rest of the “Internet bampots”twiddled your thumbs.Not once did you help his crusade to bring the truth to the masses by even printing the odd,hard hitting,factual article that the intrepid Keith could pick up on,and enable him to add to his withering attacks on Craig Whyte,Charles Green,etc.
Lets hope Keith and his allies in the MSM keep up their sterling work in the fight to bring out the truth about Sevco,and it is not left up to “Heads in the sand”people like yourself and your cohorts to do so.
More power to your pen Keith,keep telling it like it is,
Angry from Turkey.
CF
Not so sure on that….who says he’ll be telling his players that message…..
MON told everyone outside the club that “Rangers are the benchmark” in 2000 and it would take time to reach their level but at the same time telling our players right from the start that we were going to win the league.
Rwe,
But we didn’t sign a 5 million pound striker, therefore we’re under prepared.
If we lose god help everybody from the wrath of the malcontents.
If we win and then sign a decent player in our own time and at a price of our choosing then the malcontents will continue to spout nonsense.
We deserve better!
TwistsNTurns – ta.
There’s one single sentence in there that makes me think that a lot of the negative stuff has been shuffled and or taken out of context (usually pretty obvious when they break the quote down into single sentences).
“We need to bring in the right players and I think that is what we are trying to do”
There you have it Kris Commons thinks out signing policy is on the right track.
Greenpinata & Yorkbhoy
from earlier…
cheers lads
HH