This afternoon’s friendly against Tottenham Hotspur gives Ronny Deila a dilemma. Last weekend he played a second string against St Pauli, but with things going so wrong in Warsaw on Wednesday, the pressure is on to pull a game plan together which will work at Murrayfield.
Our other concern is that the squad, without Ambrose, Brown and Forrest, is already looking threadbare. We simply can’t afford an injury to afflict Commons, Griffiths, Stokes, Johansen, van Dijk, Matthews, Lustig or Izaguirre.
The suggestion was put to me this week that we should play Lustig with van Dijk in central defence on Wednesday. Lustig can play there, but would Ronny trust them on such an important occasion without a warm-up game?
If I was taking a risk with first-team players this afternoon it would be to pair these two. If we’re going to get the required result on Wednesday the most important area of the team to get right is the defence.
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just another tim
They’ll be annoyed about the score but I’d hope the youngsters would be thrilled to come up against better players. They’ll learn more from this game than a closed door friendly against Falkirk’s youngsters
Is that a Celtic tie Martin Johnston has on??
the spirit of arthur lee
14:47 on 2 August, 2014
Away to get my Abacus
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You counting the toes on yer left foot?
I like Craig Gordon, there I’ve said it…
You really wonder why club arrange these friendlies all over Europe while CL qualification is in full swing. Reserve Team similar to last weeks XI v St Pauli and short changing the public who are expecting to see a true Celtic team.
The team today is full of kids.
A hard lesson is on the cards.
Looks like a training game for spurs…. The only time we get possession is when they hash the last ball and it come to CG….
Opposition should not matter – we should have a better first touch
St Stivs
No they are not hurting. I have long advocated that what they need after results like Morton Killie etc. is to be compulsorily dragged into the average fans workplace and listen to mockery and derision being flung in the direction of anyone suspected of being mildly interested in Celtic.
I think we were committed to play this game as part of the deal struck when Pukki signed. The original opposition was to be Bayer Leverkusen rather than Spurs but they pulled out.
Its just another crazy friendly in a long list of chase the money friendlies and tours arranged over the last ten years. Look at the game v Real Madrid in Philadephia 2 years ago played after the league had started and in between CL qualifiers. Both Stokes and McGeouch picked up long term injuries in that game.
Corner ‘tic
Paddy Barnes ahead after 2 rounds
Bada bing
Those are the attributes Forster lacks. He could have done better at the fourth goal the other night if he’d have came off his line.
Remember when the kids gubbed Liverpool with an Amido Balde special ?
Those were the days.
Apart from young uns getting game time against seasoned pros playing at half pelt these games mean nada. Win, lose or draw.
Lighten up ffs.
corkcelt
Of course, but no one will notice except Celtic fans. Some Spurs fans will get excited until they see the first line that says they beat a young Celtic team. :-)
The Spurs game obviously got organised not knowing we couldn’t send out a strong team as the first 11 were needed in Glasgow to get the tactics sorted.
Good for our young Bhoys to play against a classy Spurs side…how else you gonna learn?
Come on Barnes!!!
seanoc
14:57 on
2 August, 2014
Yeah, I completely agree it’s good experience for the youngsters. I would have thought though building up first team players fitness, especially after wednesday would have been more appropriate though.
Saint Stivs
I don’t support the board in many of their actions, in particular the treatment of our support and their “silence will not do” to use the words of a song, over the Huns.
But in the environment, what more can they do, tinker around, maximise this n that, but ultimately we will continue to fall further and further behind the big leagues, no ?
Who would you see appointed that could and would make a difference ?
Watching Celts in Helsinki
I have been a critic of our youth policy for many years , mainly because I believe we are actually worse off now than we were 10, 15 or 20 years ago, in terms of players coming through.
I certainly don’t expect our youths to be able to beat a Spurs first 11, but equally, in a friendly I would hope we could compete.
Sad reality is we can’t , we are 2 nil down after 30 minutes, and, unless Spurs are kind, we will get beat by 6 or 7.
overseasbhoy
14:56 on
2 August, 2014
We just can’t control the ball – wat are we doing at the town of Lennox?
Very good point.
Only last night I found myself thinking that Celtic training sessions should consist of little else but perfecting even the shortest of passes.
Brilliant Barnes!!!!
Paddy Gold Medal
on the evidence so far, the first team would also be getting pumped !
Podium chasing?? Never took you JAT as one o them. Close but no cigar ;-}
H(a)H(a)
Why do we moan about being disadvantaged when drawn in European qualifiers against Scandinavian and eastern European teams already into their league campaign when we postpone the start of our league campaign to travel the globe to play stupid friendlies?
We can`t have it both ways.
chrisvancoupon- like SP ,I am warming to Gordon
Well done Paddy Barnes
Wee Oscars mate Paddy Barnes wins gold!!! Go TeamOscar!!
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
15:02 on
2 August, 2014
Saint Stivs
I don’t support the board in many of their actions, in particular the treatment of our support and their “silence will not do” to use the words of a song, over the Huns.
But in the environment, what more can they do, tinker around, maximise this n that, but ultimately we will continue to fall further and further behind the big leagues, no ?
Who would you see appointed that could and would make a difference ?
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auldheid as CEO, expenses only.
serioulsy at the very least, why does PL get £1m a year ?
running a succesful PLC, I wonder if any other group on only a £70m turnover have a CEO gets that amount of money.
Mon The Hoops!
lmao! I saw the 0 and went for it!
HH
Jude
Yesss, Fanning on Fire! :)))
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
15:02 on
2 August, 2014
Saint Stivs
I don’t support the board in many of their actions, in particular the treatment of our support and their “silence will not do” to use the words of a song, over the Huns.
But in the environment, what more can they do, tinker around, maximise this n that, but ultimately we will continue to fall further and further behind the big leagues, no ?
Who would you see appointed that could and would make a difference ?
For a start, given how vital every penny is, downsize in Boardroom. For example just what do the various board members contribute.
I see Jackson Irvine is back. Efe can go now!!!
Well done paddy. Two in a row eight to go.
Liam Henderson looking good again, I like this Bhoy..
Kevtic 14:58 on 2 August, 2014
“You really wonder why club arrange these friendlies all over Europe while CL qualification is in full swing. Reserve Team similar to last weeks XI v St Pauli and short changing the public who are expecting to see a true Celtic team.”
We can’t play at Celtic Park at the moment. Friendlies are part of the pre-season schedule to sharpen the players up.
Anyone who goes to a friendly and expects to see a full-team hasn’t been paying attention for the last 15 years. Hardly any club fields a full-team in any friendly fixture.
No one is being short changed.