Dunfermline v Celtic, Monday 2nd January, 3pm. ESPN

This would be my team.

Tempting to include Lustig at RB and give young Matthews a rest, but we need as much familiarity in there as possible to avoid mistakes/lapses.

Do feel we should use a fresh Stokes, though, and give Forrest a rest. I don't want to see Jamesy out on the left again, either. It worked OK last night, but it is certainly not a position that suits him. Attempts to come inside far too often and becomes predictable.

 

literally impossible selection headaches now we have a fully fit squad near enough...

forster
matthews rogne mulgrew izzaguirre
forrest kayal wanyama samaras
stokes hooper ​

then again will he drop brown or ledley ....then there is Ki who he said he felt harsh leaving out , plus commons will be looking for some gametime...big kelvin wilson is a good solid defender too..

i believe he will sacrifice a striker ...either sammy or stokesy

forster
matthews rogne mulgrew izzaguirre
brown kayal wanyama forrest
stokes hooper ​

i cant see how he will keep everyone happy

 

My choice would be:

Forster
Matty Mulgrew Rogne Izzy
Forrest Wanyama Kayal Ledley
Hooper Sammy
​

think lenny will play:
​

Forster
Matty Rogne Mulgrew Ledley
Brown Wanyama Kayal Forrest
Hooper Sammy

​

 

It's a great problem to have, but we have way too many players competing for one place in this current squad. We all know Brown will play, as Lenny likes him and he is the captain, which means that there's a chance Forrest could be moved to the left again, sacrificing either Stokes or Samaras.

Hooper will definitely start up front, as he is our only striker that's guaranteed a starting place. Ledley may miss out if Izaguirre is reintroduced, as I think Kayal and Wanyama will play in central midfield. They are both great when they work together in there.

I don't know, but I would play this if I were the manager:

Forster

Matthews Rogne Mulgrew Ledley

Forrest Kayal Wanyama Samaras

Stokes Hooper

Subs:

Zaluska.
Brown.
Izaguirre.
Cha.
Bangura.
Ki.

K.Wilson.

We all know this won't happen, as I said, but I think that's our strongest team right there. If we're winning comfortably in the second half (which we should be), then I'd take Ledley off around the 60th minute mark and stick on Izzy, so that he can get some game time under his belt.

No matter what team we play for this, we should get the win. They are an extremely average side and we have more than enough quality to stick three or four past them with relative ease.

I just hope we don't get too complacent after our victory last night. A lot of work is still to be done in this campaign and it's our title to lose now.
​

 

Forster
Matthews Rogne Mulgrew Emilio
Brown Wanyama Ledley Samaras
Hooper Stokes

2-0 Celtic.

 

Agree 100% with your selection.

 

Forster
Matthews Rogne Mulgrew Izaguirre
Brown Wanyama Ledley Samaras
Hooper Stokes

Give Forrest a rest in this game and bring Izzy and Stokes back into the starting line-up

 

I'd go with the same team that played on the 28th, with Ki coming in for Kayal (if he is still injured).

 

x 2 for me

 

you could probably let kayal miss this game as we are well covered in that area and this is a game we should win comfortably with the players at our disposal

 

What a * nightmare of a selection headache.

We have far too many players vying for the same positions.

 

Got a real chance to increase the gap over the next two games I think. Dunfermline away and Dundee United at home are two games we should really be winning tbh. While Rangers have two tricky games against Motherwell (h) and St Johnstone away.

After that though we've got two dodgy games away to St Mirren and Hearts.

For Saturday -

Forster
Matthews Rogne Mulgrew Izzy
Forrest Wanyama Ledley Samaras
Hooper Stokes

Subs - Zaluska, Lustig, K.Wilson, Brown, Ki, Commons, Bangura

​

 

Next game after a Rangers game is a notorious liability for us.

It is also a game, I feel, where should be fielding our most motivated players, rather than our best ones. In fact this is one of the very few games where Scott Brown might be on my teamsheet. Ledley also, he is consistent from game to game. Stokesy too - I think he is eager for game time, and it's time to renew the Stooper partnership. Also want to see more of the Rogne Mulgrew partnership (as opposed to the Wanyama/Rogne partnership I made up last night What can I say...)

I'd maybe rest Sammy for this one, and possibly Kayal depending on his ankle situation. Our next game against Peterheid will provide an opportunity to give game time to Lustig etc.

Hooper Stokes
Ledley Wanyama Ki Brown
Emilio Mulgrew Rogne Matthews
Forster
.​

 

Forster up front, Hooper and Stokes in goals...I like it!

 

No point resting Sammy as he'd need to rebuild momentum.

 

So you'd play 4 center mids, would be very solid but would lack creativity and pace without sammy and forrest.

 

Very nervous about this game. I hope the players will not become complacent on Monday, we cannot allow the huns to reclaim the lead again...

 

I've been thinking about this I want us to rest Kayal for this game. Give his ankle a rest.

 

Looks like Kayal is out, Stokes will defo start imo.

If Izzy is back the team pretty much picks itself.

But, Brown is the headache for Lenny - he's not better than any of these players, but 1 will be dropped for him (hope he gets sold in Jan, I like him enough - he's just not better than many midfielders at Celtic).

I think Ledley will be LB again & Brown in the middle with Wanyama.

Forster

Mathews Rogne Mulgrew Izzy

Forrest Wanyama Ledley Sammy

Hooper Stokes
​

 

yes big time and we are still in for baba diawara. just on sky sports happy days:bbpd: