Kairat Almaty’s Champions League qualification campaign started five weeks ago with a draw at Olimpija Ljubljana. After eliminating the Slovenian champions they did the same to Finns KuPS Kuopio, overturning a 2-0 first leg defeat, before their epic tie against Slovan Bratislava, which they won on penalties.
Kairat are the lowest seed still in the competition, but all three of their earlier opponents were seeded higher, so they are punching above their weight this season. Brendan Rodgers biggest concern will be the fitness gap between the squads. Kairat are 19 games into their domestic league, are fully fit and tactically settled. Celtic will be three competitive games into the season when the sides meet in Glasgow on Wednesday. That is a material advantage.
Despite this, there can be no excuses. Over the last three years Kairat have signed players for money only twice, for fees totalling €350k. Kazakh football does not benefit from significant investment, the country has no player development heritage to speak of and this squad has never played anywhere like Celtic Park.
Prepare correctly and get the job done, Celtic.
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ta tom.
the dd not allowing spending is a head scratcher.
We need to forget all this travel nightmare nonsense. Focus on the positives. It’s a favourable draw and we should look to win both legs. Our transfer inactivity is utterly baffling. Lots of theories and I find it hard to believe that DD is the roadblock.
i had a very good boss longtime ago who would always ask me so stivs what do you think we should do.
i would give a good reason . and what might go wrong.
he would say ok. we will do what you think is best and if it goes wrong just say i told you to do it and it was my fault.
maybe dd is playing that game.
bigbhoy on 13th August 2025 2:14 pm
i think a reasonable concern is that we will be going to Ibrox after long travel from Central Asia. This may be the consequences of this “easy” draw.
This is an Important game for the destination of the League title.
—
To your last sentence BB – genuine question
Is it?
Despite some assuming our next opponents would have been Bratislava
I said here recently that Karat would be no pushover especially being
half way through their season but still surprised the Slavs could not
get the job done..
With only one qualifier to play this is a terrific chance for the Hoops
to make the league stage again and the financial benefits accruing.
It will be a major disaster if Celtic fail do do so against these opponents.
hankray on 13th August 2025 7:07 pm
With only one qualifier to play this is a terrific chance for the Hoops
to make the league stage again and the financial benefits accruing.
The financial benefits to who or whom?
Chairbhoy @ 2:54pm.
Interesting historical summary of our Champions League outcomes
(I assume these refer to our last 11 attempts across a 12 year period?)
If I am reading your data correctly ?
We’ve qualified 5 of 11 times (incl. the last 3 in a row)
And NOT qualified 6 of 11 times?
It’s a good thing our away leg is on the Tuesday as it affords us an additional day prior to Ibrox.
An Tearmann on 13th August 2025 3:52 pm
%
Zero lobby in Scotland will be the ultimate independence.
Btw, what lobby is krankie in.
Why do I ask? Cause it, that’s right, it, looks and sounds like thum!
Guess who is burning down Greece?! lol
jackiemac on 13th August 2025 4:12 pm
“The Ukrainian narrative is – if some of us have a funny accent it doesn’t mean you can kidnap our children?”
%
I don’t follow that mate. Sorry
Tom- I have heard very similar, which brings a different dynamic, DD is the majority shareholder, but not in charge(if you see what I mean?),so Nicholson and others are fiddling while Rome burns,anyone with any balls there,or as we all suspect, dancing to DDs tune?
We can all throw stuff about, but I think we all know the manager is not getting the backing he is asking for,and what the team/squad needs right now.He is never at CP,but when we played Lazio he’s front and centre with the Pope
He’s an opportunist IMO. Is he trying to fatten up the bank balance to sell,can the other major players buy him out? For a Club with more money than we’ve ever had,be in such a worse position, player wise,going into a £45 million double header?If what we hear is true, it needs challenged big time
principal shareholder. 35%
without a majority.
all other significant shareholders agee with what he does .
fan owned shares . 21000 shareholders.
we couldnt get 1000 for a resolution.
end of story
“If somebody came along … said that they were going to do something absolutely amazing, outstanding for Celtic … and I felt that they could do a much better job than me … I would certainly release my shares. But there would have to be evidence that they were going to do that because my interest is in the greater good of Celtic.”
Dermot Desmond
man with 2,300 million dollars is retaing cash in his smallest investment so he can sell it
trading places
they wanted pl out.
could rod stewart fill the chair
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full
Our match at Ibrox is important in that it is against our main rivals for the title. They will likely finish second to us.
It is important but this early in the season it is not critical. A victory and 3 points is important as is a blow to the Huns and their confidence. Going 7 points ahead with them sitting low in the table will not help their non satisfaction with their Manager. We would be piling the pressure on Sevco
Winning the title gives us an easier route to 26/27 Champions League and its riches
Why would DD not authorise spend – what motive would he have for that. I hear Bada saying fattening up the bank balance further but Celtic would be attractive to a buyer whether they have £80m or £100m in the bank I’d have thought. Also, the bounty of CL group phase money can offset.
Sheffield playing Tommy Cannon ???????tonight.Bought him for £10 million from Leicester.
1 goal in his last 18 appearances.People who whinge about the Idah transfer have no idea the transfer market prices.
BADA BING
Excellent points.
As I said, I don’t know if what was said is true or not, but what is undoubtedly true is that for whatever reason, the club has been slow in spending money to improve the squad at a very vital time.
If what we’re hearing is true, then the board must be happy to let DD call the shots. Surely if necessary they can vote against him on specific issues.
As Saint Stivs said, he’s not a majority shareholder and is not the club owner. Or does he have the majority of votes on the board, meaning he can’t be overruled in the boardroom?
Anyone got a link to radio commentary of the Super Cup game?
Looking forward to watching it on TNT.
Unfortunately, dumb and dumber are on duty.
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cjr1l8epz02t#player
Click on listen live :)
Bigbhoy @ 7:51pm – cheers.
No mischief intended.
Statistically, last season, it wasn’t a factor
(The season before it was)
If we beat Livingston (and it is an “if”) we’ll be ahead of R2ngers regardless of the result.
Good point though, psychological impact of putting down a marker COULD be significant.
“Why would DD not authorise spend?”
Unfortunately this will go down like a lead balloon with some/many so I will issue a trigger warning ⚠️
Maybe, and I stress MAYBE, DD does not think Engels, Trusty, Bernardo (all of whom haven’t started a game, with the latter not seeing the pitch) and Idah do not look like £30m well spent?
Nottaclue1 – 👍
ONILisbon……. To the club we assume. Good point though.
Pat Woods rip
Check out this post from Celtic FC https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/august/13/condolences-after-the-passing-of-celtic-writer—historian–pat-woods/
GM- I disagree with a lot of the criticism the 3 major signings have had,I do agree they could have done better, Engels looks a very good player to me,Idah I’m not mad about, but stats to minutes actually decent, I would pick Trusty before Scales,so IMO Report Card is OK but can do better
Bada – thank you for the civilised response 👍
For the record I would kind of agree but for me they’ve been OK-ish.
But it’s not about what you, me or anyone else thinks. In this scenario/thought experiment, it’s about what DD thinks.
Does he think £30m on “could have done better” is worth another £30m on the same profile of player?
I honestly have no idea and as I’ve said, all we’re doing is indulging in speculation.
1-0 Spurs
Dermot Desmond doesn’t own Celtic ,so why can he sell the club,it’s the fans who really own the club .Over the years season tickets are snapped up.53 thousand,fans ,3 or 4 new strips every season ,champions league tickets snapped up ,we plough millions in to the club ,the shares that he holds are worth a few quid so that’s all he can sell,
Half time.
My son’s observation.
“Like watching Scottish football.
Goal comes from a free kick on the halfway line launched into the box.
Has Franks been talking to Martindale?”
A winger and a singer
the broader Celtic support do not own the club .
emotional nonsense
Back of the old Celtic End
So if as the story goes,that Lawwell was critical of the 3 signings,last year,what are his professional qualifications in judging any player? Absolutely zero.
Heard today that we have four players lined up with a total spend of £30 million. ( possibly including wages?) .
Wages question is my own.
Club waiting on agents to tie up the deals.
Again, no idea of the truth of this.
AT
I think the guy Terry Dick who wrote the tribute is the son of Glen Daly.
He taught English if it is the same guy.