As Ronny Deila chose to leave first team players to their training duties, instead taking a fringe squad for Saturday’s friendly against St Pauli, Norwegian compatriot, Henning Berg, had a league game in Cracow, which Legia won comfortably.
Playing games is the best way to improve fitness but two games per week comes at a cost, fitness metrics are never as high ahead of the second game as they would be if pre-match preparation was a week long. With a day already lost to travel, Ronny clearly decided the players needed preparatory work for Warsaw more than the disruption caused by the pre-match-day preparation for St Pauli, the game itself, then post-match rest-day brought about by Saturday’s match.
Henning Berg rested most of his first team ahead of their second leg against St Pat’s (resulting in a home defeat in the league), and, perhaps mindful of not showing too much of his hand to Celtic, rested four players on Saturday. His team are also a couple of weeks’ training ahead of Celtic, which will be the major benefit Legia will hope to exploit.
While Celtic moaned about having to play three qualification rounds I’m sure Ronny will be happy he saw his team in competitive action against KR ahead of tonight’s game. There was enough about the first half in Iceland two weeks ago to remind him that an edge is needed, and it is not straightforward to find, even against such lowly opposition.
While Celtic progressed to the group stage in each of the last two seasons, the corresponding fixture to tonight caused some concern on both occasions. HJK Helsinki were eventually overcome 2-1 after taking a lead at Celtic Park two years ago, while we took an equally narrow 1-0 to Elfsborg last season. Celtic would go on to produce memorable and record breaking seasons, but the preparation gradient has proven to be steep.
Celtic’s major advantage could, conversely, be the partisan home crowd, who are sure to be switched on from kick off, but Berg’s team have not won any of their three home games this season. The natives are getting restless and could easily become frustrated, increasing the tension already evident on Legia. The first goal could be crucial.
No passengers tonight, Celtic, especially late in the game, when limbs tire.
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Then u need to shell out.
setting free the bears for res. 12 & oscar knox but saying no to cqn racists
Being an experienced international, Berget should cope ok….
the live updates article has started bhoys
Stringerbell – There’s a VIP box with a dot in the EU….. :-)
live update is open for comments….
It’s worth remembering that both big Derk and Stokes have been carrying knocks.
Drambowiecelt – strange, the extension uses encryption but would expect Celtic TV to still recognise your login credentials?
Commons to score anytime ….0-2 to the Hoops ….be a strange one tonight ,without phoning Papa Braw ,,,,,,,am thinking he will be nodding his head and lifting a big dram …..come on the Celtic
Braw
4-3-2-1 to me.
Pukki up front, KC and Jo just behind.
Guess our ignorance(mine anyway) of Jo is the key to the formation, although young McGregor could be getting deployed anywhere…..right mid is what i think with Stefan left and CM centre.
What can this bhoy Jo do????
We are about to find out!
Not sure it’s wise to play two left footed players in the holding roles. I guess we will soon see.
NervousCSC
Oh I was tryin Hula tv.
Do you have Celtic tv mate?
I will have as soon as processed.Just thought id tryout Hula to see if extension worked first. Nae worries thanks mate.
No probs mate, enjoy the game! HH
Got Premier Sports sorted @ £7.99.
Just seen the team selection and all I can say is, Wow.
Ronny Deeee certainly isn’t scared to make big decisions, Good.
A score draw would be good but I think it may well be Legia 1 Celtic 3.
Come on you Bhoys in Green. It is ShowTime.
Game’s on Setanta Ireland
A cracker. Well Done young man.
paid the minimum £19.98 to premier sports an hour ago and it hasn’t come through. Phone the helpline and you are in a huge queue.
Anybody else being fecked about like this?
Got the Premier picture on just in time to see return of the sieve.
Lack of cohesion throughout the whole team. Too intent on playing the direct ball rather than assessing the risk of losing possession especially from defence. Midfielders first touch woeful. I will take a 2.1 defeat home with us as I think we cam take them but we lack a clinical hit man. The sending off might concentrate our minds more.
HH
All over now
Deary me…… And so, let the inquest begin.
Peter, Peter, Peter Lawell… What do we have here.
Do you take all Celtic fans to be daft or something.
Where’s the money gone, and what are you doing to our club????
Just in from watching the game. Will read back comments after I post this.
I’m a happy clapper, but even I feel downhearted after that. The Celtic TV stream froze just before their second goal. At that time it looked a certainty. But when I saw the replay I thought Efe had been fouled. Still 2-1 was ok.
Celtic TV froze again and didn’t see the sending off. Have now seen the replay and their is nothing more to say. Red it is.
Now, here comes the crucial mistake. Why did we think we were good enough with 10 men to get more out of the game than a 2-1 defeat ? And the re-shuffle of the defence wasn’t what I would have done.
I would have moved Lustig to centre back, Izzy on at left back and Matthews to right back. Legia were pacey up front and Charlie was going to be exposed.
Two penalty misses and two point blank saves from Forster leaves us with a feint, maybe futile hope of a 3-0 win at home.
Realistically it’s Europa League time for us. And that may just be a good thing.
Lennon said “I think last night’s result may have been on the cards. There has been no investment in the team.”
Quite telling that statement.