12 Aug 2025 22:08:52
Almaty win on Pens.
Looks like a trip to Borats country - 'that's (not so) nice'
☘️ ☘️ ☘️.
12 Aug 2025 22:20:46
Approximately 11 hours flight to Kazakhstan and then another 11 hours return.
It’s not ideal but Kairat are a poor team although Bratislava were slightly worse.
Celtic travelled in 2013 to Kazakhstan and returned to draw 2-2 against Inverness CT at Celtic Park.
Celtic also travelled very far to play Astana twice in 2016 and 2017.
We only lost a Friendly match a few days later to Barcelona in Dublin 3-1.
The following year we travelled home to another disappointing 1-1 against St. Johnstone at Celtic Park.
Not ideal heading to Ibrox but I’m expecting to go there in a positive mood after Qualifying for the Champions League Group.
12 Aug 2025 22:42:37
Finish the tie next Tuesday then send over the fringe men? Unfortunately with the lack of squad depth we don't have that luxury.
12 Aug 2025 22:48:33
The game in Kazakhstan is advertised as a 5.45pm kickoff time.
That isn’t as bad as the 4pm I was expecting.
Hopefully we can Qualify on my Daughters 21st Birthday.
12 Aug 2025 23:19:01
Maybe I'm being harsh, but they're elite athletes and won't exactly be flying Ryanair. They'll also have physios and masseurs etc. They should be able to cope.
12 Aug 2025 23:49:04
It will be a bonus if it’s a 9.45pm local kickoff time because it will be a cooler temperature.
Also it’s 5 days between both games.
It would be worse if it was a Wednesday night and then a Saturday lunchtime but Tuesday and then Sunday shouldn’t be a problem.
12 Aug 2025 23:58:08
I forgot we travelled far to play Qarabag in 2015 when we Qualified 1-0 on aggregate.
Celtic came home and beat Partick Thistle 2-0 away a few days later.
13 Aug 2025 08:47:48
I watched the game last night and if we can't get by this lot then we shouldn't be in the competition.
We should be able to take 3 or 4 off them in the first leg then send our back ups over there to see the tie out.
If we can get a good lead in the first leg I would rap Calmac, CCV, KT, Maeda, Nygren and Idah in cotton wool and keep them here for the Orc game.
13 Aug 2025 10:27:54
@Donegalpol - I would not be so sure with our penny pinching, biscuit tin mentality board. :P.
13 Aug 2025 10:29:59
I have a bad feeling about this tie. I think we will win at home but doubt it will be a hammering, especially as we have been so wasteful in front of goal. Possibly 2, or maybe 3-goal advantage.
No chance of playing 2nd leg at less than full strength as it's likely to be the most important game of the season financially and we all know we are run on a financial priority basis.
13 Aug 2025 17:41:36
There'll be a conspiracy theory that Lawell is giving the massages to save money next ?.