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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Bob L
That sounds like zombie paranoia. Not for me. Win fair Celtic. It’s our way.
Remove the lights, turn up the heat???? Why not also send in a case of buckfast and then Lenny with his banjo.
Three thoughts on tonight
1) We will progress
2) I suspect we may concede an early goal, if we do, let’s not lose sight of our endgame
3) One call to switch should be enough. I think we may start with 3 at the back . If we do,or if it is an alternative formation, the players should be fully briefed on any alternative line ups e.g. If we need to switch to 442, 4141 etc, the players should be able to do this instantly , without waiting for an injury / break in play. Same applies to any injuries, the guy who slots in at set pieces knows his responsibility.
Bob/weeminger
Apologies. Early Monday morning posts I usually miss :-)
For me, let’s win it fair and square, but if the Ref fecks up and gives Big Sammi a peno for tripping over his locks, who are we to say no ?
I’d love to see Sammi score for us tonight BTW and get right back to his Euro best from last year.
Marti
looking at the interactive seat map on Celtic FC.
There are only about 20 seats left in the whole bottom teir,
and around 300 in the top tear.
Sections 415 – 419, are not yet realeased for sale (approx 3,000 seats).
So if your hoping to walk up and buy at the rear of the superstore tonight, you need to get there early.
Maybe they will need to open up one of the tarpaulin sections for any late rush.
So a crowd of around 56,000.
Thats actually brilliant.
Off to the TO now, high ho.
Ard Macha
Cheers mo chara….
Have a great night watching it, I am sure you and the wee fella will be roaring on the bhoys….HH
Kikinthenakas
Kevj
If you fancy the game, get my number from paul67… Wee freebie
Kikinthenakas
Saint Stivs
I was over at 11.am this morning picking up a couple of extra tickets and it was empty. Hung around for a bit at shop and still no queue when I left around 11.40 mate.
KTF
HH
We are not the Huns so should not expect outside forces to help us win.
I always want us to win fairly and the fact that we often do so when faced with blatant cheating is a source of pride to me and my fellow supporters.
We should have enough to win.
Saint Stivs
My mate was saying there were big crowds in the store in Argyle St buying tickets. Very encouraging for a midweek match.
Marti
Saint Stivs
Have paid 20 pound for my ticket, but I would love LL upper to be made 10 pound pay at the gate tonight and a 60,000 attendance
So it looks like a couple of red cards for the Kazakstanis plus a penalty or two for us.
Uefa mibs rule.
We’re the best supporters in the world and tonight we have a job to do.
Time enough for howling or not after the game.
The players have to play their hearts out and we need to sing our hearts out.
We are Celtic.
COYBIG
HH
Celtic_First
Regarding discussion from yesterday.
Our diplomats sent official not to FC Seville yesterday. FC Seville sent apology to Slask Wroclaw and to our Embassy. Case closed and fair play to FC Seville. Even the biggest clubs have idiots among their crowd.
Fernando de Ornelas Baldie
Talksport talking up our chances all morning.
Murdo McLeod on now.
Nir has arrived in Glasgow
Zbyszek mówi, trzymaj się Oscar
I missed what was going on with Seville, seen there was something going on here on CQN but didn’t really catch up with what their fans had done?
Good Afternoon Bhoys & Ghirls,
How are we all feeling?
The hours leading up to an occasion such as tonight are always the worst for me.
I utterly detest it – stomach churning, head all fuzzy from the countless permutations running through my brain, shivers at the thought of not going through, etc, etc.
I’ve been worse than a man down at work today (and yesterday afternoon), all because of football game!
Supporting Celtic has never been an easy ride (in my experience) and tonight will be no different.
In saying all that, I wouldn’t have it any other way. The emotional rollercoaster that our wonderful Club frequently puts us through is part of what makes us so special.
Give it laldy tonight folks, sing & support the team like never before and we’ll get the job done. Hopefully!
Keep The Faith & Hail Hail.
Uncle Fester
twists n turns (God bless our little hero Oscar) @ 22:33 on 27 August, 2013
Morrissey
Been reading back. I’m assuming you have done a parachute jump for charity? Or a skydive or something equally mental? Great stuff. You got a sponsor page??
Yes:
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/morrissey23rdskydiveforstiliyan
Thank you to all who have donated so far.
4-1 the Hoooooooooooooooooops Sammi,Kris,Joe and whoever else wants it enough so I will go with Broonie.
Ticket -Check
Uniform & scarf :))) -Check
Lucky fitba socks – check
14: 32 and biting at the bit
Health good, spirts high COYBIG……. BELIEVE
Let the people sing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&feature=related&v=zhkdy0AOpaM
Willie Maley (Thasi Tims)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmCp0uKJrIo
A Ceiler Gonof Rust – Supporting Wee Oscar through Thick and Thin @ 23:08 on
27 August, 2013
Morrissey 23rd, well done on your death defying feat. I hope you raised a packet for your efforts. Enjoy your day with Stan.
Whars ra vids???
Here:
Skydive for Stiliyan :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF57gPbuq24
I was at the game on Saturday and went with a mate to the West Bar and Brewery, next to Glasgow Green.
Don’t know how but I hadn’t even heard of it, although I have had a place in town for 16 years!
Great (big) boozer with home-brewed beers and half way between toon and Paradise.
Highly recommended (by me)
kikinthenakas
Thanks, me and the 2 bhoys!! You haven’t met the big 11 yr old yet:-) God love him he’s a nervous wreck like his da!!
During the Elfsborg game he was pacing the floors with the face roaring red with anxiety!!
#iblametheparents
Árd Macha
If big Amido features I hope the finishing training has been going well, having a bustling striker with a shot like a little girl is not going to help matters.
HH
Turkeybhoy @ 23:38
Good post.
Delaneys Dunky @ 23:46
Great post!
Emerald Green @ 23:48
Unfortunately UEFA are corrupt too.
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ @ 00:13 on 28 August, 2013
Matt Mc Glone has Celtic ruining through his veins. He has also been very nice to me whenever I’ve met him.
Emerald Green @ 00:13
As requested: Atmosphere at Celtic Park filmed by Barca fan- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sf711rNtc4
Happy birthday! Hope you are given a wonderful present tonight.
KevJungle @ 10:16
Sadly Margaret McGill’s repeated four-line post seems to be spot-on.
Zbyszek mówi, trzymaj się Oscar
That is good to hear. As you say every club has idiots. I have been to a few Seville games and found their fans to be great company and very welcoming so I was very disturbed to see your post from yesterday.
The Ultra culture is great when adding energy, atmosphere and colour to a game. Making highly offensive and abhorrent references to the massacre of fellow human beings should not have any part in any culture, football or otherwise.
Marti
Malone Bhoy
I would not say “their fans” as I believe it was group of idiots who made “Welcome to Katyn” for Slask Wroclaw fans when they played the game last week in Seville.
What do Celtic need to do tonight to progress to the group stages?
Simple really – win by at least three goals.
Easy – eh?!
Total concentration throughout, high tempo performance, keep the back door locked, be patient…
…and the crowd will also play a part, undoubtedly. Expecting 50,000+.
…and not a single sheep slaughtered.
Would settle for either of our most famous results – 7-1 or 6-2.
C’mon the Hoops!
HH!!
My plan for today has just changed. I’m going to get ready just now. Go to my local for a beer then head into Glasgow. Anybody want to meet up?
@STVRaman: RT @STVSport: Nir Biton arrives in Glasgow ahead of proposed transfer to Celtic http://t.co/wfFuIdBF6w
Zbyszek
Still nothing on Spanish online media, as far as I can tell, or on the club’s website. I hope they make their apology public.
Good morning/afternoon gents
Just a thought … dont know what people think…. but today at 8pm Glasgow time is the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a dream” speech….
Might be a nice symbol to have a moment’s applause at 8 in recognition.
Not sure if others agree, but, to me, it seems like something Celtic fans would appreciate and want to recognize.
Mon the Hoops!
Celtic_First
Link to the news in Polish press.
http://www.futbolnews.pl/rozgrywki/liga-europy/artykuly-liga-europy/art,618,prezydent-sevilli-przeprasza-polakow-za-witamy-w-katyniu.html
Brief visit to say I’m feeling unwell with nerves. Don’t know if being on the site is a help or making me worse. Have to go out for an hour or so anyway. I keep trying to tell myself that the result really doesn’t matter in as much as we might be better off in the Europa but its not working.
Paul67,
How nervous am I now, after reading that….BRING IT ON!!
Marti Sandino
You are right.
My opinion is the political references ate the stadiums should have no place, unless these are icons of the players, founders or reffer stricte to the history of the club.