Celtic v HJK Helsinki - Wed, 1 Aug K/O 19.45 - Live on Premier Sports.

I really don't see Neil deploying a 3-5-2 formation. I'd play a 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation which served us reasonably well in the Europa League last season with something like this:

GK - Fraser Forster

RB - Adam Matthews
CB - Thomas Rogne
CB - Charlie Mulgrew
LB - Emilio Izaguirre

RCM - Scott Brown
CDM - Victor Wanyama (Unless Beram is fully recovered, I'd leave him on bench)
LCM - Joe Ledley

RF - James Forrest
LF - Georgios Samaras

CF - Gary Hooper

7 Subs - Zaluska, Lustig, Toshney/M.Fraser, Kayal, Commons, McCourt, Stokes

 

I have a feeling we'll win the home leg 3-1, however lose 1-2 away in Finland but go through 4-3 on aggregate.

 

I will be seriously disappointed if this isn't a sell-out.

 

kieranc

I'd say 50,000 is a realistic and respectable aim, you have to remember that many people can't make it because of work and being abroad on holiday.

 

Really like the look of that team

 

The attendance for midweek games is always a difficult one.

For me, my bus leaves at 4.30 which means i have to get off work.

For people who live even further away than me and also have season tickets i can see why they cant make it.

 

especially it being on the season ticket.
I'm expecting about 45k.

 

Today 4 teams from Finland have played in Europa League qualifiers. All 4 of them have lost. All 4 of them have failed to even score. Total goals 0:9.

I take it as a good sign before our games with HJK

 

Here's hoping it's an omen

 

There are still plenty of seats available and even then that assumes everyone with a season ticket turns up. I am expecting about 45000 or so to be honest.

I will hopefully be taking my girlfiend to her first celtic game so hoping for a decent turn out

 

45k would be a pretty pathetic turnout. Not every Celtic fan in Glasgow is away on holiday. Some people only bother turning up for the "big games" and that's the problem. Even when this is really one of the biggest games of our season.

 

It isn't that bad though. There will be those on holiday, there will be those who can't travel midweek from Ireland, highlands, and England.
So 45k for a Wednesday night isn't too pathetic.

How much are public sale tickets btw?

 

We should look for at least 50K for this one.

 

I agree that half full and below would be pathetic but 40,000 and above is reasonable altho I'm hoping we get near 50,000 because if we're winning it could be a great atmosphere.

 

I'd forgot we had the home leg first... Still just as nervous though because if we don't get a comfortable home win then I doubt we'd be getting through.

 

£20 & £10 mate

 

is this game free on the season ticket?

 

Yes, yes it is.

 

In all Lenny's 2 leg ties in Europe we have been poor and conspired to fk it up somehow.

Braga. The game was finished in Portugal. Lack of experience and no-how was there for all too see.

Utrecht. An average side. Comfortably beaten at Parkhead to then have one of the most dis-jointed performances seen by a Celtic team in Europe.(and thats saying something)

Sion. Too tentative at Parkhead, lack of cohesion was clear. Majstrojovic exposed in Switzerland (as he always was going to be against the quick & nimble-footed Sion' attackers)and uphill battle from then.

I feel from the Manager to the players we have been shown up at times in these ties. be it through lack of experience, no-how, tactical naivety or players just not been up to it.

I think Lenny has learnt his lessons though. (or hope).

 

What's this talk about it not being televised? Surely it will be on CelticTV, why wouldn't they have access to a feed of a home game?