[Mik]

Decent draw against the Swiss outfit......HOME leg first on the 18th

FC Sion have played 3 games so far in the Swiss super league. W2 D0 L1

edit: home leg first due to Rangers being drawn away first

This post has been edited by Mik: 08 August 2011 - 08:42

[joejag]

Gotta get my Swiss flag out for this. And get myself a Toblerone.

[M0rtonfc]

Decent draw but still very tricky, I fully expect Celtic to lose 3-0 away from home

[ScottMc77]

With Rangers drawn away in the 1st leg too, this tie will be reversed with Celtic playing at home first.


99% certain of that, but I may be proved wrong, especially if Celtic try to switch the second leg to the Tuesday (or something!).

[craigkillie]

ScottMc77, on 05 August 2011 - 12:22, said:

With Rangers drawn away in the 1st leg too, this tie will be reversed with Celtic playing at home first.


99% certain of that, but I may be proved wrong, especially if Celtic try to switch the second leg to the Tuesday (or something!).

If they move it to a Tuesday then they have to play it at 5:30pm, so I doubt they'll do that.

[paddymcp]

ScottMc77, on 05 August 2011 - 12:22, said:

With Rangers drawn away in the 1st leg too, this tie will be reversed with Celtic playing at home first.


99% certain of that, but I may be proved wrong, especially if Celtic try to switch the second leg to the Tuesday (or something!).

I was wondering about this? What will happen - and how do you know it will be Celtic who have to switch opposed to Rangers?

[Mik]

ScottMc77, on 05 August 2011 - 12:22, said:

With Rangers drawn away in the 1st leg too, this tie will be reversed with Celtic playing at home first.


99% certain of that, but I may be proved wrong, especially if Celtic try to switch the second leg to the Tuesday (or something!).

Right enough, never thought of that....we'll find out soon enough I guess

[paddymcp]

Mik, on 05 August 2011 - 12:49, said:

Right enough, never thought of that....we'll find out soon enough I guess

I expect both ties to go as normal with one of the OF playing on the Tuesday the week after. I have no real prefrence although if the Killie fan's right and its a 5:30 kick off then the Thursday option wins.

[HibeeJibee]

The situation is almost always leg reversal, IIRC. Also if they had to play Thursday-Tuesday then the weekend SPL game would have to be postponed, too, which isn't useful.

[TheScarf]

All the best to FC Sion.

[Liam.]

HibeeJibee, on 05 August 2011 - 13:18, said:

The situation is almost always leg reversal, IIRC. Also if they had to play Thursday-Tuesday then the weekend SPL game would have to be postponed, too, which isn't useful.

Tony Hamilton's just confirmed on Twitter we'll be at home for the first leg.

[ScottMc77]

paddymcp, on 05 August 2011 - 12:45, said:

I was wondering about this? What will happen - and how do you know it will be Celtic who have to switch opposed to Rangers?

Rangers first out the hat/bowl - so their game stands.
Celtic second out to the hat/bowl - so any change will affect them.

Just the way it has been done in previous draws, affecting other cities with 2 or more teams in the draw.

[cheesy]

They look like a decent side and I don't want to underestimate them, but Celtic should still progress through this one without too much trouble.

[scottishfitba1982]

Celtic and thier fans CANT be overconfident for these matches. Sion are a decent team. Neil Lennon knows that hes under pressure to have a run in Europe this season...Europa League group stages are a must for him and Celtic this season.

Tough games but Celtic should have enough quality to get through.

[scottishfitba1982]

Any news of this game being on TV???

[CityDave]

Celtic will win at Celtic Park, but lose the away game. It will come down to who will score the most. Should be Celtic.

[Liam.]

scottishfitba1982, on 09 August 2011 - 11:44, said:

Any news of this game being on TV???

Pretty sure I read that neither leg would be.

[CityDave]

Liam., on 14 August 2011 - 18:09, said:

Pretty sure I read that neither leg would be.

I only see that the 1st leg won't be, as confirmed by the official club site. Don't know about the 2nd leg.

I checked the MyP2P free live sports site not up there either at the moment on the weekday guide. Maybe later.

Tickets still available though.

This post has been edited by CityDave: 14 August 2011 - 18:26

[Mik]

Gary Hooper ruled out for Thursday

[CityDave]

Sion face expulsion from Europe over transfer ban after flouting an embargo imposed on them by FIFA after naming 5 summer signings in the squad to face Celtic. FIFA have imposed a two window transfer imbargo due to end in January due to the clubs illegal approach and signing of Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary in 2008.

[Mik]

All is happening is that Uefa will decide this week if the 6 players they have signed are eligible for Thursday....I highly doubt they'll be kicked out of Europe.

[11thHour]

Well if they're ineligible that can only be good for Celtic.

Im fully expecting a 4-4-2 this Thursday with Sammy in for Hooper. If Lennon goes for anything else he's an idiot.

I also hope he goes for it in the away leg as well, im sick of Celtic always going so defensive away from home and trying to win it at Parkhead, its a very dodgy system to rely on. I've been saying it for years, some of the teams Celtic have been drawn with were easily beatable but they sat back and invited pressure and ultimately crumbled. I would have much more respect for Lennon, or any Celtic manager actually, if they attacked away from home and lost rather than sit back and get battered and still bloody lose.

But in saying that I fully expect a 4-5-1 away from home, which doesnt necessarily need to be defensive. usual back 4 with ledley ki brown and forrest across the middle with commons just sitting off of Stokes.

This post has been edited by 11thHour: 16 August 2011 - 12:01

[Long live the 69]

Celtic will pummel them, couldn't have asked for an easier draw.

[paddymcp]

Long live the 69, on 16 August 2011 - 13:22, said:

Celtic will pummel them, couldn't have asked for an easier draw.

Ive heard that one before.

[baillieinleeds]

Long live the 69, on 16 August 2011 - 13:22, said:

Celtic will pummel them, couldn't have asked for an easier draw.

Nah, routine win for Sion, here's hoping