James Forrest has been carrying an injury for 10 months, which has affected the player’s effectiveness, so, irrespective of the outcome of his neurologist visit last week, I’m working on the assumption Celtic will play Adam Matthews in front of Michael Lustig on the right. This pair have speed, enormous energy, can cross and can defend. They have the making of a promising partnership.
Dirk Boerrigter has seen only 30 minutes football this season, and that was almost a month ago, but with the lack of options in the striker role, and the memory of just how effective he was during those 30 minutes, I expect we’ll see him from the start. He would also lift the atmosphere a degree or two higher.
Emilio Izaguirre will, of course, play left back. With Emilio bombing forward it is crucial we don’t leave the left flank exposed. This is a regular habit of Celtic’s which is seldom exposed in domestic football but Spartak Moscow scored their only goal at Celtic Park last season by exploiting the acres behind Emilio.
With Anthony Stokes looking unlikely, it will probably be Georgios Samaras leading the line with Kris Commons in the free role. Some of Georgios’ best performances away from home in Europe have been up front but it’s not his best position. Kris Commons I have no worries about. He knows exactly what is required tonight. In particular, expect him to win free kicks near the box and perhaps a penalty. I’ll make no comment on what to expect if we are awarded a spot kick.
Central midfield will have Scott Brown and Joe Ledley. Watch for Joe making back post runs. We can expect marking to be tight tonight, so a late run into the box could offer our best chance of a breakthrough.
I think we can be sure we’ll not see two novice (to Celtic) central defenders again. Steven Mouyokolo, new at the club after three years of little football, was singled out for criticism in some places after last week’s defeat which was particularly unfair. Defences work as a unit and the unit in Astana was dysfunctional. Steven was no guiltier than half the team.
Efe Ambrose will play, probably with Virgil van Dijk, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see Charlie Mulgrew selected instead.
It will be close to 2am in Kazakhstan when the second half gets underway. Shakhter Karagandy players will be suffering from the effects of jetlag. Minds and bodies will be tired, leading to diminished concentration and rash decision making. Celtic players should be on the lookout to play on, and exploit, this.
Play to their vulnerability. Remove the lighting tubes from their changing room and have the heating on full blast. We’ve all been tired in a room that’s too warm, it’s not conducive for football preparation. This is an environmental advantage of playing at home. Use it.
Playing in front of a stimulating crowd might actually help Shakhter early on, but the adrenaline boost will fade, leaving tired limbs. The value of fresh legs is enormously underappreciated in football. Get subs on midway through the second half and work their defence off the ball. If we aim to have our players tired after 60 minutes, we’ll know we are on the right track, as they will be suffering a lot more.
It is not important to get an early goal, even conceding one would not be the end of the story. This is going to be a long night, stick with it.
We cannot afford to get a man sent off but there can be nothing cordial about this game. Shakhter’s manager, Victor Kumykov, sounded less sure of himself yesterday, perhaps filled with trepidation. Don’t let him or his players settle, be professional but make sure he knows he has been disrespectful to his guests, and that he is now out of his depth.
They are a long way from home, make sure they know this. There will be opportunities for friendly chat after the final whistle.
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blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
12:59 on
28 August, 2013
Excarhedra.
We don’t have a bhoy band member playing tonight…
============================================
Is that not James Forrest.
RIEPERMAN
Enjoy the oul’ country and yer bud’s wedding.
Personally I would leave the country just to a kid attending another bloody wedding,but heyho,that’s just me!
I agree about brains and women being a bad mix. As long as they know how much change from a tenner for a pinta lager and get yerself one while yer there love,any more is either wasted or likely to bite us on the arse….
Catch ya when I get back from Scotland. Tell yer pal wi the lad Henrik I’ve not forgotten,honest….
Can we give all the ball boys a bucket of hot soapy water?
Dip the ball in before handing it back.
Bang goes the long throw in threat.
totally off topic
However… does anyone know of an expat football team out in Benidorm? A group from here in Midlothian were due to meet up with Swedish counterparts in September but the Swedes have pulled out !
if so, email me at malmcgreg@aol.com
excathedra44
13:01 on 28 August, 2013
Is that not James Forrest..
nah, Jamsie’s ma’s no lettin him play any mair cos he hurt his leg
Martin sandin o
P m s l here, that was funny.
160 m iles away , lunchtime break, and the match is getting to me. Spoke to ex boss today ,he`s in very posh seats tonight in good company. I hope his journey is not in vain, will be testing Sky Go at 7pm giving enough time to head to Irish Bar if it fails.
God , am tense and restless already…as I said before we need someone to unsettle them. They will not tire, they may lose concentration though and we need people in the box to get the scraps. get Efe to run at them with ball at his feet , straight down the middle to commit the centre back.
Got to get back to work.. God bless Glasgow Celtic and her extended family , my lahad and brother and law are there tonight and they are a “lucky “pairing normally.
Hail! hail!
Forster – Izzy, Chaz, Effe, Matthews – Sammi (right mid), Broon, Joe, Derk – Commons, Balde
4-4-2. Not a minute’s peace for Borat FC.
5-0 The Hoops.
COYBIG
BMCUWP,
I’ll probably see him this evening – I’ll let him know.
Enjoy the match.
Long night tonight. No relaxation from anyone until we score four.
Last few minutes a goal for 3-0 please.
Big John on at 13.30 on bb2 in Fort Apache. I reckon its gonna be a bit like that tonight!! Hail HaiL!!
Good afternoon CQN
Thunder Road
Sorry to hear about your dad thoughts and
Prayers for you and your family
Can’t wait until kick off
Come on you Bhoys in Green and White
A good result tonight
Keep the Faith
Hail Hail
JIMBO67
TIME ran a double issue about it all.
Excellent stuff,and well worth a visit to the dentist for!
That was the only good bit of news I got there unfortunately
Anyway,I’ll give you my copy when I see you.
It’s rare for a simple magazine article to put a lump in my throat,but….
And BENJYBHOY is 100% correct about The Civil Rights Movement drawing inspiration from it all.
Everyone was appalled that a civilised country still treated its citizens in such a manner.
Few were aware of their own backyard.
Wear yer t-shirt,JIMBO,wear yer t-shirt…..
googybhoy ♥ Celtic
The frustration if we were to win 3-1 tonight does not bear thinking about.
HH
it’s also an anagram of…
Rob, Innit
:-0
Hampton Sides has written a very good book on the last days of MLK called ‘Hellhound on his Trail’.
Although the story and outcome is well known it is a genuine page turner.
oh jeez, there’s a lot of quality in the players and partnerships you’re suggesting there paul, just gotts go and do it now
I’d only be comfortable at 5-0 with one minute to go
Dbbia
Will I be able to get needle on boots for the oldyin?
Anyways, the Bhoys should be able to go through tonight.
The major obstacle to unbridled joy will be if we concede the Daft Early Goal.
Blantyretim -insulin needles?
Possibly, if he has contact details for the chemist he usually uses.
One way to do it would be to phone his long-sufferin’ ole saint of a GP and ask him to fax a scrip through to Boots.
We also need to put pressure on there keeper he didnt look to clever in the first game and he may well be a weak link. H.H.
Not getting my hopes up, we haven’t looked like giving anyone a hiding so far and may require 4 goals tonight…
I think we will score at least twice so hopefully at least force E/T then we’ll be heavy favourites to finish the job.
HH
BMCUWP
Thanks – I’d like to read that and Time is not the kind of mag my dentist has in his waiting room! I knew that about the inspiration gave to the Irish Civil Rights movement back in 68/9. I still remember when my Uncle Graham – who lived in the North at that time- being over at a new year and over the dinner table explaining the reality of Gerrymandering to an initially sceptical audience that considered itself well informed.
Getting nervous the about the night.
Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox
This killing of innocent animals as part of some sort of pre-match ritual disgusts me and I hope it adds to our players resolve to hammer this mob.
the honest mistake 11-49 27/8
Sorry didnt get back onto internet till late night and saw further posts. Thanks for your kind offer,I’m at Inverness airport now ,flight delayed? Can’t contact my son but know now he’s working till 7pm. He stays by the Rose Hill roundabout,I know that and Into Sutton. So in limbo at the moment but their till sunday then off to Thailand for ten months,all going well. My phone no is 07837605552 if you would like to contact me and thanks to all for advice.
Fingers crossed, etc, for a good win ( 3 clear goals- a lot to ask!)
tusker
BT,
Try Abbey Chemists, 144 Trongate if your in town.
First gie them the Evil Eye, then gie them the Severe Malky!
5-0 will do me.
Bhoys i should point out that most of the SK team aren’t Kazakhs as an indigenous Kazakh colleague of mine informed me yesterday. The main indigenous / Kazakh sports are wrestling and boxing. Football is a fairly recent introduction to the country. Makes it all the more galling they beat us, ‘upstarts’.
Wee hypothetical here;
FF sold for handsome profit with Shay Given in on a free?
Anyone fancy that?
DBBIA
Thanks,mate. I knew you could be relied upon!
I still reckon you’d have loved that book I left for you in BB’s,but heyho,as long as someone did.
I’ll put that on my order list. My “still-to-read” list is still around fifty due to still buying as many books as I used to,but not quite having the same time for reading them.
Don’t even watch telly apart from MOTD,so no excuse.
Any chance of you managing a dayooooot on 28/9?
One or two of us hoping to make a day of it.
I’ll send you the details over the weekend,basically turn up get bolloxed,talk bollox,drunken huddle,collapse.
Over a period of time,natch. I believe no-one has yet been blackmailed over their behaviour,though THE BARCA MOLE does mention blue taxis too often for comfort!
anyone been passed Celtic Park last wee while, need to go pick up tickets, and thinking of just going now
any queues at TO. ?
4 4 2, 3 5 2, 4 3 1 1 1…?
My formation for tonight is 11… Every single player working his #%^*^}{# off, winning balls, looking for the pass, moving into space, making sure they don’t know which way to turn…
Dexter
Bit late notice for tonight Dex, back to the drawing board!!
Mccourt for7 @ 12:38
Thanks for the help bud. I’m going to head over there now and see if any will be showing the game.
if not then laptop in the hotel room I suppose.
here’s to a good result tonight !
COYBIG!!
BMCUWP -I might be free for selection, although drinking wise these days I ‘m very much a girl drink drunk.
It’s always good to meet up and put names to faces, and vice versa.
WITS/Gordy
We were talking about Ogee last night. The stable do fancy it, but of course that does not make it a winner. Jist saying…..9/2. He’ll be without his usual pilot Jimmy McCarthy who retired..so bit of an unknown. He tends to fade a mile out and run on again, so hopefully the jockey keeps at it.
Sorry bhoys…back to footy.
We need to do it Celtic, no-one wants Thursday night football with 6:00 kick offs.
We are better than that…