[Official TC Thread] Astana v Celtic Tue 22nd Aug 4.30 - WE'RE IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!!!!!

The biggest weakness if we are not wrecked by injury is our keeper

 

If you watch the way we are starting to pass the ball, quickly and skillfully, then you would understand what Brendan is building, pure quality, even the keeper is passing well, you have to be prepared for some things to go wrong occassionally, when seeking quality, Europeans will be loving watching us play!!!!... good times ahead!

 

Packie Bonner just heading out of Sportsound to go home and say's "well done everybody, we're through anyway "

 

Why mate ?

 

I really want to critisize some players, but BR put it perfectly into perspective; we have been hammered by injuries and whatnot, so we had a mammoth task, and STILL managed to pull through.

Thought the ref was shocking, they were playing filthy, and that looked like a clear penalty towards the end with Rogic. They deserved a * of a lot more than three yellows.

 

Odd you say that. Thought he made a lot of vital saves tonight

 

It's got to be up there mate. These * have put * knows how many years on me.....Artmedia, Partisan Belgrade, Neuchatel, Beer Shavers, Centenary Double, Love Street title.....just off the top of my head...* me what a ride though!! Wouldn't change it.

 

Agree

Agree mate , big Ntcham was superb, broony was dreadful tonight, as you say as well as poor as it was 4-1 down with 20 to go showed a lot of character to get back to 4-3,

 

To be fair overall- we had a 10 minute spell at 4-1 were we looked really shaky and I thought if Astana get another here we are in trouble but at 3-1 it was ok and of course Ntcham put it to bed. From the 70th to the 80th minute was unnecessary and the players will know that. We are back in the big time though and its where we belong. Money hopefully spent now and a huge autumn/winter coming up. Im excited already

 

Phone ins blah blah lost 4 goals.couldnt give an eff. 30 million and more if we get a few points.never gonna win it. Group stages was our objective .well done guys.HH.

 

We're bk in the CL again putting us further away from the Scottish teams if it was even possible.

 

Scoring 3 away, far far away, on a plastic pitch in the Champions League is an achievement

 

Ach just because of all the * from their media. In reality it is a non issue and shouldn't bother me but * pieces like Adrian Durham really get under my skin. It is a sweet feeling when we silence them but I hate the thought of losing to one of them, then arseholes that support * like Blackburn and Burnley start giving it your league is * etc etc. I let some people get on my nerves too much when it comes to Celtic.

 

You've got

you've got simonuvic n boyata coming back, big kouassi, wee paddy n moussa and hopefully the new bhoy so a lot to look forward to it, and a few new faces be as strong as *

 

Learned 2 things tonight:

1. Defence needs a complete overhaul in terms of who we have alongside Jozo and in terms of back ups as well. Really need more reliable back up options than Ajer and Bitton at this level.

2. Ntcham is the best central midfielder we have now by far in my opinion.

 

That was some game. Glad it's done. It'll take a few weeks to recover from that one. What i don't get is why the ref didn't get the cards out. I lost count of the late challenges, so there'll be no love lost.

Goodbye Astana, hopefully we don't have to go back their anytime soon. Someone should tell UEFA Central Asia isn't in Europe, but hey they have shitloads of mineral wealth so they're in

Fair does, they've some right good players and made a game of it. The amount of games, finally caught up with us, but now we can rest up and look forward to some new signings and another £30million.

Job done. Scary, but job done. Three goals away from home. We fought back and refs should be far stricter on astroturf, but that's unlikely to happen anytime soon.

 

Could you ima

the Huns wee hard ons sitting in work checking LiveScore, "its 4-1 now,", get the 25m right up your orange cuntz

 

Aside from Griff, we had one player who looked totally in control for the full match, N'tcham!

Analysing that bombscare period... is this where a lack of competition at home will tell on our squad?

A period of uncertainty, a few errors punished by players superior to what we normally play against and the mentality of our players get tested.

Some of our players dug in and adapted quicker than others but the requisite opposition required to test against, to learn and challenge when the chips are down only comes a handful of times in the Champions League or Europa.

The problem arises is we need to retain the players we develop instead of lose the best of them every two years. Buying that level of quality with
big game mentality just ain't possible with our budget constraints.

I can't blame our defence solely for shipping 4 goals, the team as a whole capitulated. We knew our weaknesses and failed to protect it.

We've looked a great unit, organised and controlled until that period. At least that game will count as a valuable lesson on how not to react as a unit when * goes south.

All that aside, over the piece it was an attacking delight. We done the damage in the first leg and can now look forward to some exciting games against Europes best. We belong there!

HH

 

an excellent training session for the Team, especially for Ralston and Ajer (CL stage at this age has to be special experience)
never in doubt and we simply needed a bit of a challenge before entering a serious football territory.
plenty to take on board and learn from.
great stuff!