One of the most frustrating elements of the first leg against AEK Athens was that the visitors left Glasgow with an advantage without convincing anyone they were the better team. Celtic played poorly in many aspects: our passing in the final third was not precise enough and we were shaky at the back for much of the evening, but we know we can play much better.
That result will make AEK supremely confident. They coped with what we threw at them, scored a goal, and will plan to defend tonight and counter with effect.
If Celtic are to progress into the final qualification round, they will need to be better in possession, and that will require getting things right in central defence.
I’m trying to avoid mentioning our unavailable Belgian friend right now, but with Kristopher Ajer suspended, we will have to perm two from Simunovic, Hendry and Lustig. The latter can be used with Cristian Gamboa filling in on the right, just as he did when Mikael was rested for the away leg against Rosenborg. This decision will be the key to our prospects.
Last week we were very left sided. James Forrest saw little action, but his pace is perfectly suited to the wide-open areas of the former Olympic Stadium in Athens. Few defenders can live with James’ speed. He will get down the right, deliver crosses or cut inside to pull defenders out of place.
I don’t think it matters greatly who we play in the striker role, all three candidates are capable of playing at this level, but if his hamstring is safe to play, I would give Moussa 60 minutes.
There are many examples when we have won through after drawing the first leg at home, but this task most feels like the Dynamo Moscow Champions League qualifier in 2009, when we lost 0-1 at home before winning 0-2 away.
Like AEK, Dynamo deserved their result in Glasgow without looking anything special. Celtic have a straightforward opportunity to put things right.
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4-4-2 tonight please! agree on gamboa
You Bhoys in Green.
Come on!
Mick Lustig will be vital tonight.
You know, the hopeless Swede who spent his summer guiding his country to the World Cup last eight at the expense of Mexico, Korea, Switzerland and reigning world champions Germany while today’s blog experts were sweating over their sticky keyboards in their lucky rocket ship Y-fronts..
Aye, that streak of pish.
Accompanied by another imposter, big Jozo – Both of them switched on, that experience and savvy, gives us a right good shout tonight. Fact.
But you may feel you deserve better. In which case, bless; not used to this long-term Celtic involvement are ye?
Intae them, Celtic.
Sandman 5.33pm
PC Lustig gets some grief on these pages, I actually think he is a better centre half than full back but I don’t really know much
Think he has been and still is a great Celt :-)
Shouldn’t have called big Jozo a dick. I take it back. Sorry. C’mon the hoops.
Dilligafbhoy
My point is that some people just want an excuse to stick it to the man.
John McGinn signed for Villa because Peter Lawwell undermined Brendan Rodgers with the biscuit tin in order to keep the old firm bigot buck flowing in.
That’s the truth even if John McGinn says something totally different.
new article posted.
Gordon
Lustig Suminovic Hendry KT
Brown Ntcham
Forrest Rogic McGregor
Griffiths
Some of the language re our defenders is childish and offensive
Statingthebleedinobviouscfc
Gordon, Lustig, Hendry, Simunovic, Forrest, Brown, Ntcham, Tierney, Rogic, McGregor,Griffiths
Bain,,Kouassi, Gamboa, Hayes,, Sinclair,, Johnston, Dembele
Good evening CQN from a damp Garngad
I don’t know who is fit and who isn’t, as I have not had time to look due to busy workload, but whoever gets a starting Jersey I just hope they do all they can to get us through.
COYBIG
HH
D. :)
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 14TH AUGUST 2018 5:23 PM
And the nitpicking begins. Was wondering why u weren’t ripping my posts apart all day as you clearly like to. Everyone else just reads on beyond me. Why do you feel inclined to nitpick me ? Is it the name or the way I post my opinion ? Just wondering.
Time for Griff to get goal 99 & 100…
Embramike just recieved the team in a text after my last post
D. :)
Hopefully Brendan reminds Griffiths he’s a striker so stay in and around the box and stop wandering deep and wide getting into the creative players space.
Succulent
Maube you should put up a reminder to everyone.
Something along the lines of:-
“Feel free to agree with this post but say nothing if you disagree, however, I reserve the right to comment on anyone else’s post (as you did earlier with scullybhoy and now me)
BTW- it ain’t nitpicking- that would be picking you up about unimportant parts of your point. I went straight for the heart of the matter- you chose not to debate or rebut.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 14TH AUGUST 2018 6:01 PM
Aye whatever you’re the man.