[Official TC Thread] FC Astana v. Celtic, CL 3rd Qual Rnd 1st Leg, Wed 27th July, 15.00pm ko, Premier Spor

Aye, reckon we'll get one.

 

Our lack of transfer activity leaves us exposed for this tie yet again, but I'm just hoping to we can get a result. Feeling confident for some reason, 2-0 Celtic.

 

https://twitter.com/TennentsBar/status/757907828795379712?lang=en-gb

They have it on.

 

Celtic Football Club ‏@celticfc
BR on Efe Ambrose & Eoghan O'Connell: “Both players have worked very well, particularly impressed by young Eoghan." (MH)

Celtic Football Club ‏@celticfc
BR on Eoghan O'Connell: A good size, wants to do well, good in the air

 

Looks like Kolo will feature next week then

 

Pethaps, but would still faaar prefer him to ambrose and would give him the edge over o'connell

 

BR on @eriksviat "Had been working well but unfortunately before the game he picked up a groin strain, unavailable for tomorrow night.


BR: " Will assess it and see if he will be available for second leg.


BR: "We will see when we get back and assess it from there. Just depends. A slight groin strain on the Friday so we will wait and see.


BR: "Doing best we possibly could with limited time & numbers we have but confident we can do our best with players we have out.


BR: "Pleased with how players & team shaped up against Leicester, every confidence that any player we put in will do best for the team.


BR on pitch: "It certainly doesn’t look like Gibraltar pitch, looks a faster pitch.


BR: "Most important thing in these games is speed is slower because of surface but, just have accept that & take on that challenge.


BR on Efe Ambrose & Eoghan O'Connell: “Both players have worked very well, particularly impressed by young Eoghan.


BR on Eoghan O'Connell: A good size, wants to do well, good in the air. Around first-team for a few years & had some loan experience.


BR: "Up against tough opponent at the weekend, & coped very well. He has a real in-built brain for football, understands the game well.


BR: "I have never any fears of putting young players in.


BR on Kolo Toure: Close to being available. Felt it would be unfair to bring him with just having one day with the team.

BR on Kolo Toure: "After a good week’s training and some game-time at the weekend, I would expect him to play some part next week.


BR: "Important we go back to Celtic Park in good condition, don’t have to win it tomorrow night.


BR: "We will have our support and great intensity of atmosphere at Celtic Park which will make it difficult for our opponents.


BR on Astana: "We know their threat, we assessed some of their games from last season in CL.


BR: "They like to cross and have good physicality in the team and can be very direct at times.


BR: "Focus on ourselves, another week down line in terms of fitness & impressed by tactical work of the team. Players shaping up well.






CG: "Trip has been good, no problems on the way here and we’re sticking to British time and so far it’s fine.


CG: "I think it will be very difficult. This team qualified for UCL last season.


CG: "We’ve looked at video footage and they have players that are very good and can cause us problems on the counter-attack.

CG on previous Euro results: "We’re pretty much the same group of players and have learned from those occasions.


CG: "We’ll have a different plan and are going into this with a bit of confidence off the back of good results.



CG on Astana: "Think they’re a good team. Seen clips of how they play and their patterns. Definitely going to cause problems.


CG: "We’ll have to defend, pass the ball and try to keep it. Big test but we have confidence in our own abilities.


CG on Eoghan O'Connell: "His last performance was exceptional and was one of our best players against the Champions of England



CG: "If you can come through that there’s no reason why he can’t step into a UCL qualifier and do just as well.



CG on Kolo Toure: "The clubs he’s played at shows he’ll bring a lot to the squad. Big character, good talker. Will bring good qualities.


CG: "I’m sure the song will bring some added excitement to the fans as well.

 

The only guy we didn't want to get injured, get's injured....

How's yer luck.

 

17C and 70% chance of rain at game time tomorrow. At least weather is on our side. Astana probably closes the roof to keep pitch slow, though.

 

Surprised at myself for still feeling confident with Erik out, but I'm confident we will score and maybe nick a win.

I take it from his comments that O'Connell will be starting. Happy with that, at least if he messes up we can at least say we took a risk and gave youth a chance.

I hope we let Efe go soon, set him free FFS. I blame the people in charge at Celtic, the big man is always there ready to step in, it's not his fault we only have him as an option.

 

Seriously!!!

O'Connell with his wrist strapped now

 

Pitch looks a mess, hopefully a lot better than Gibraltar though, Gibraltars looked like it had stones under it, was lumps and bumps everywhere.

 

* annoying that almost every team we seem to play in the qualifiers have * pitches. Feel like it's the same every year.

 

This time the morra we'll be 2-0 doon at HT and meltdown will be in full swing