Celtic v Barcelona UCL 7/11/12 KO 7.45pm

I'm betting Hooper will start, along with Sammy. Mind games, ladies and gentlemen.

 

If there is indeed no Hooper, then I'd gladly put Watt in that position. Inexperienced yes, but the lads got some strike on him, and is very creative on the ball. Second best striker at our club in my honest opinion.

 

Izzy will be strutting his stuff and forrest will be the sub that wasnt meant to be there we can all dream.

 

If we somehow do win this game, I honestly believe that would be our greatest ever result in the Champions League so far.

 

Pretty surprised people would play Miku over Watt in the event of Hooper not making it. Inexperienced or not, Watt is far more dangerous and I love that lack of fear he plays with.

Felt we lined up pretty strange in Barcelona, with Samaras up top. If he's going to do that then I'd have an actual attacking midfielder behind him, not Hooper.

I'd personally have Samaras out left.

 

I Don't think he would start Watt, simply not experienced enough. Miku has played and scored against Barca so if Hooper isn't fit he should start, hopefully with Sammy behind him.

I'm quite worried now we have all these injuries.

 

Excerpts from Barça's pressy in Glasgow:

Tito:

"Celtic was defensive, true, but that does not mean they did not do well. They were close to getting points at Camp Nou."

"The match against Celtic is possibly the most important match we have left in 2012. If we win we'll be in the next round."

"The players are aware of how difficult tomorrow's match will be. There will be a great atmosphere in the stadium. This motivates the players."

"We know how dangerous Celtic are. We need to be wary of their set pieces and their counterattacks."

"Pique has been out for a long time. He could play, but there's a risk he gets injured again. I will decide tomorrow."

"The sooner Pique and Puyol are back, the better for the team. They are used to playing at centre back, which is a crucial position."

"We congratulate Celtic for their 125th birthday today and we're happy to play against them at such a special moment."



Song:

"The coach helped me a lot to improve defensively. I'm only here for 3 months and I try to get better and be more confident every day"

"We shouldn't be focused on Celtic's game plan. We need to be focused on our own game plan."

"We're lucky enough to get to play in Celtic Park. We have to make sure the fans enjoy our football."

 

We have to be pragmatic, we have to be sensible, same approach as in Spain. That said, we might try and break out more. When we lost Samaras at the Nou Camp, we lost our only "out ball", so hopefully he should be fit for this one.

 

If no hooper why not Watt he chases everything and has very good all round ability,he's a unknown quantity for Barcelona and will make their back line work.

 

Forster
Lustig Ambrose Wilson Matthews
Commons Brown Wanyama Ledley Mulgrew
Samaras

Tough choice at LB weather to stick matthews in to keep up with their pace etc would worry about him being turned inside out too easily playing on the left side, so he might play mulgrew LB and put kayal into the middle.
Also can see him playing a 75% condition samaras over watt/miku on an occasion like this. Time will tell!

 

Forster
Lustig, Ambrose, Wilson, Mulgrew
Wanyama, Ledley
Brown, Commons, Samaras
Miku

Subs: Zaluska, Matthews, Chalmers, Kayal, McCourt/Ibrahim, Watt, Hooper

With all the injuries, that would be my lineup.
​

 

So we're without Izzy, Lassad, Forrest, Rogne and maybe Hooper and Sammy?

Should be an easy game then.

 

with all the injuries,we should play the kids and let barca have a chance for a change

 

5-0 Celtic, Ambrose with all five.

Put your house on it. :icon_mrgreen:

 

What I think it'll be...

Forster

Lustig Ambrose Wilson Mulgrew

Wanyama

Brown Ledley Kayal Samaras

Miku​

What I want it to be...

Forster

Lustig Ambrose Wilson Matthews

Wanyama

Brown Ledley Mulgrew

Samaras

Watt​

 

*

 

I think we'll lose by a couple of goals tomorrow. I don't like saying that but that's what I think.

 

love that photo

 

Iniesta has a permanent look of confusion on his face

 

Is Hooper confirmed to be out?

all the others apart from Sammy we can live without for one game, Sammy is one of biggest threats against teams in europe.

Izzy is obviously a tricky one because he was just starting to get a good run of form back, however I don't think a back four consisting of Lustig Ambrose Wilson and Mulgrew would be the end of the world all are big guys 2 really good ball playing defenders in Ambrose and Mulgrew and all strong defenders.

gonna be a tough old game and I do worry after our display in the Nou Camp Barca will want to set a few things straight and get their mandatory free flowing high scoring game in the CL which gets everyone talking about them.