[11thHour]

Couldn't see one so thought I'd start one.

Personally I would like Lennon to field a slightly weakened side as I feel Sunday is far more important but we shall see. This whole "scum" argument could fire up Athletico which is bad news for Celtic. Apart from a weakened side I would field a more attack minded squad as we really don't have a great chance of going through so I say go for it and try and get a scalp or two.

Apparently stokes and brown haven't travelled which doesn't concern me regarding tomorrow nights game, but it does concern me for Sunday. Lennon looks to maybe be either resting stokes for Sunday or more than likely getting sammy some game time before his start on Sunday. If the latter is true I give up.

[Mik]

I can see Celtic putting out a defensive side against Madrid for damage limitation purposes. Apparently El Kaddouri isn't eligable which makes our back line hard to set up, we could even see the return of Loovens!

Think something like this might happen: (assuming Radio Scotland are correct that Brown and Stokes didn't travel)

Forster
Wilson - Loovens - Wilson - Mulgew
Commons Ki Kayal Ledley
Samaras
Hooper


Is yer man, Mo Bangura available?

I wonder if he'll even be tempted to stick Matthews in at RB allowing Wilson to play at LB and Mulgrew to move into LM? Or even fit Wanyama in there someplace....it's a lot of juggling. I really don't know what Lennon is going to do with this one.

But i'm with 11thhour on the fact that the league is far more important and I don't want to risk key players before such a big game. Afterall, we're only in the EL by default.

[banterman86]

I might as well quote a post from the old firm game thread

banterman86, on 12 September 2011 - 13:02, said:

Lennon was quoted in the sunday as wanting to keep most of the team together to retain momentum between games. Whilst i think this is understandable, i'd prefer it if Lennon had two disticnt teams between thursday and sunday

Against Madrid I'd go
-----------------------Forster----------
---------Loovens----Wilson-----Mulgrew--- -
Matthews--------------------------------- ---------Wilson
------------ Brown-----Ki---Kayal-----Ledley----------
----------------------------------------- -Samaras------------

Backs to the wall stuff, look to keep posession and try to nick something. Worse case scenario, we don't get proper thumped.

the against Rangers I;d retain the team from saturday, meaning Stokes, Hooper, Forest and El Kadduri will all be fresh for the game.

I'd normally suggest a more cautious approach going to Ibrox, but Celtic's preffered team generally - with 3 centre mids - isn't madly gung ho anyway

If Brown is out I;d suggest Forrest right midfield, which was always an option anyway, as he and Samaras can run with the ball to allievate pressure.

I wouldn't read too much into Samaras starting in Spain as a clue for the Old firm game, he's pretty much our only otpuion if we play one uo front.

[Mik]

hmm, we could use Forrest's pace though for hitting on the counter attack, which is probably the game we'll have to play to nick it.

[11thHour]

I'm fine with playing sammy up front on his own against Madrid in. 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1 but I dont want him anywhere near the starting line up on Sunday. Coming on as a sub is fair enough but not from the start.

Tomorrow I would use as another apportunity to test Hooper as a lone striker. If it doesn't work its not majorly important and it'll slightly more confirm that he can't do it, as right now the jury's still out on him I'd say.

[banterman86]

Mik, on 14 September 2011 - 09:28, said:

hmm, we could use Forrest's pace though for hitting on the counter attack, which is probably the game we'll have to play to nick it.

Yah, plus I think Forrest should start on Sunday, so a run of games will be good for him

11thHour, on 14 September 2011 - 09:39, said:

Tomorrow I would use as another apportunity to test Hooper as a lone striker. If it doesn't work its not majorly important and it'll slightly more confirm that he can't do it, as right now the jury's still out on him I'd say.

Blame Fraser Forster I say!

The Cup game at ibrox last eyar technically saw Hooper as a lone striker, with commons in the hole and the usual suspects in midfield. was a nice idea, but obviously fell apart when Commons had to be subbed to get a Goalie on. Hooper toiled a bit after that, coming into it when samaras came on to partner him.

I can't remeber too much of Hooper's perfoamnce before Commons went off, but I'd imagine he'd be alright with a 4-4-1-1.

[11thHour]

banterman86, on 14 September 2011 - 09:50, said:

Yah, plus I think Forrest should start on Sunday, so a run of games will be good for him

Blame Fraser Forster I say!

The Cup game at ibrox last eyar technically saw Hooper as a lone striker, with commons in the hole and the usual suspects in midfield. was a nice idea, but obviously fell apart when Commons had to be subbed to get a Goalie on. Hooper toiled a bit after that, coming into it when samaras came on to partner him.

I can't remeber too much of Hooper's perfoamnce before Commons went off, but I'd imagine he'd be alright with a 4-4-1-1.

Forrest should be a stick on for Sunday, if he's not Lennons an idiot. And again I fear he might be dropped for Brown to come in. Injured or not so that he can run about and do nothing.

I would definitely try hooper up front himself with someone sitting behind him again.

Tomorrow I would line up with

Forster
Wilson loovens Wilson Mulgrew
Forrest ki kayal Ledley
Samaras hooper

The thing with that is it will essentially be a 4-4-1-1 anyway even though it's lined up as a 4-4-2 as Samaras always ends up sitting really deep so he can possibly provide help to the midfield and try and drive forward to link up with Hooper.

This post has been edited by 11thHour: 14 September 2011 - 10:01

[Busta Nut]

Hope this half of the filth get pumped

[SampFan101]

3-0 Atletico.

[Mozzamozza]

SampFan101, on 14 September 2011 - 10:20, said:

3-0 Atletico.

At half time.

5-0 full time.

[paddymcp]

Atletico Madrid aren't invincible - they're in the Europa League for the reason.

They've sold their two best players in Aguero and Forlan, obviously they've signed Falcao and Diego as replacements but they're not as good as the afore-mentioned departees IMO. Diego in particular has been off the boil for a couple of years now.

They were knocked out at the group stages of the Europa league last year and finished a distant 7th in the La Liga last year.

If our better players like Kelvin Wilson, Kayal, Ledley and Ki show their qualities and step up to the mark then there's no reason we can't get a result here.

Samaras infuriates me but he has to play tonight IMO. He is an outball and has genuine blistering pace. ( when he wants to )

With Brown and Stokes both being out, who i'd be inclined not play anyway in this game as i feel both are limited at this level. Ball retention is key at this level IMO.

Forster
M.Wilson K.Wilson Loovens Mulgrew
Forrest Kayal Ki-SungYung Ledley
Commons
Samaras

Subs. Zaluska, Matthews, Wanyama, McCourt, Keatings, Hooper, Bangura.

- Loovens starts in CB for me , for some of his concentration lapses - he has pace. Something we're not blessed with.

- I hear Mark Wilson could be out, Matthews comes in then. Inexperienced but you can only pish with the cock you've got.

- Commons has been off the boil this year so far but has a cutting edge and on his day can be a match winner. Him playing off Samaras could be positive.

- Samaras infuriates me but he's our only striker who is an out ball and has blistering pace when he's in the mood. He plays IMO.

Fairly even game with them edging chances, possession and getting a 1 or 2 nil victory.

I'd be delighted with a draw.

This post has been edited by paddymcp: 14 September 2011 - 14:05

[Long live the 69]

Atletico 4-1 Celtic

[dirtydave]

come on athletico

[Adolfo Rios]

It's ATletico, Not ATHletico.

[itzdrk]

we are all sion

athletico 6-0

[Scary Bear]

11thHour, on 14 September 2011 - 09:13, said:

Couldn't see one so thought I'd start one.

Personally I would like Lennon to field a slightly weakened side as I feel Sunday is far more important but we shall see. This whole "scum" argument could fire up Athletico which is bad news for Celtic. Apart from a weakened side I would field a more attack minded squad as we really don't have a great chance of going through so I say go for it and try and get a scalp or two.

Apparently stokes and brown haven't travelled which doesn't concern me regarding tomorrow nights game, but it does concern me for Sunday. Lennon looks to maybe be either resting stokes for Sunday or more than likely getting sammy some game time before his start on Sunday. If the latter is true I give up.

I would love that too. The score would be somewhere between 4-0 and 8-0. Are you ready for love?

[seamus]

Its really heartening to hear all Scottish radio journalists get behind their only national survivor in a European competition.
We have heard that this campaign will be embaressing to Celtic and that it will impact on their league ambitions.
YNPT

[Jacksgranda]

Adolfo Rios, on 14 September 2011 - 18:51, said:

It's ATletico, Not ATHletico.

The "h" is silent. As in this example: "Bhitter bhigots bheaten bhy bhetter theam."

[Disco Dave]

seamus, on 14 September 2011 - 21:22, said:

Its really heartening to hear all Scottish radio journalists get behind their only national survivor in a European competition.
We have heard that this campaign will be embaressing to Celtic and that it will impact on their league ambitions.
YNPT

YNPT?

[aidan-bufc]

is this on tv tonight, might give it a watch

[Mik]

aidan-bufc, on 15 September 2011 - 11:16, said:

is this on tv tonight, might give it a watch

ESPN 8 o'clock mate

[11thHour]

Scary Bear, on 14 September 2011 - 21:13, said:

I would love that too. The score would be somewhere between 4-0 and 8-0. Are you ready for love?

I'm always ready for love.

[aidan-bufc]

Mik, on 15 September 2011 - 11:30, said:

ESPN 8 o'clock mate

cheers bud

[fueradejuego]

paddymcp, on 14 September 2011 - 14:04, said:

Atletico Madrid aren't invincible - they're in the Europa League for the reason.

They've sold their two best players in Aguero and Forlan, obviously they've signed Falcao and Diego as replacements but they're not as good as the afore-mentioned departees IMO. Diego in particular has been off the boil for a couple of years now.

They were knocked out at the group stages of the Europa league last year and finished a distant 7th in the La Liga last year.


Fairly even game with them edging chances, possession and getting a 1 or 2 nil victory.

I'd be delighted with a draw.

Atleti have looked decent already this season despite drawing and losing in their two league games so far.

They finished last season 7th despite being in a fair bit of turmoil for the entire campaign and with their usual useless defenders who have now been offloaded.

Manzano has come in and does what he does. Brings stability and organisation. The defence looks better already.

I don't think Atleti will thrash Celtic but it lokos like a comfortable victory for them. They will certainly have greater possession and chances.

paddymcp, on 14 September 2011 - 14:04, said:

If our better players like Kelvin Wilson, Kayal, Ledley and Ki show their qualities and step up to the mark then there's no reason we can't get a result here.

If they are your better players, then maybe you will get thrashed. They are lower level La Liga players at best (nice aliteration there)

[IainMorton]

Just noticed that Majstorovic is suspended. I though he would have been able to play as he was sent off in a game in which the result was annulled (meaning his red card was too...)