Benfica v Celtic, 20/11/12, 7:45PM.

well hopefully hes fit for the last 16 :icon_mrgreen:

 

happy 5000th mate

 

This is the Benfica and Europe chat for kick off and I don't really mind about the Spl results at the moment as long as we concentrate on Europe were still going to win the league easily and comfortably.

 

FFS, if Brown doesn't want to end up in a wheelchair before he's 30, somebody will have to have a talk with him. I mean, I appreciate that he wants to give everything for his team but risking your health for a football match is a bit too much.

 

It wouldn't be Celtic if it wasn't! :smiley-laughing002:

 

Hate to say it, but much of the blame has to be placed on Lennon tonight.

Some stupid choices in the starting eleven, and poor use of substitutions. It was clear by the 50th minute that Hooper wasn't himself. Get him off.

 

Neil Lennon on Scott Brown: "We're looking at surgery now. We'll assess it over the next couple of days but the signs aren't good."

 

I was happy with Hooper.

People seem to be * at him. Worked his * off and had a severe lack of service.

 

Ledleys not 100% hence his dip in form, id rest him this weekend and make sure hes in top shape for moscow, he and kayal have shown before they can be a brilliant combo.

 

Exactly ,no service ,no chance of scoring then that makes him a * player,never win.

 

Always a rollercoaster with the Tic...

 

Wanted to avoid the last day nerves, but I think we might do it.

We were * today though.

 

To be fair very few on here are calling Hooper *. People seem to be more taking issue with the fact that our approach wasn't working yet wasn't changed.

 

Are we thinking of the same player? Black guy, from Nigeria I think, centre back?
He's the most comfortable player with the ball at his feet and that's the one problem sometimes!

I thought he was good tonight no idea why people are slating him so bad.

Midfield was the main problem they just didn't turn up. Kayal was our best player when he came on though which is good to see, his first good game for about 6 months.

 

Not with the same determination they would have if they had a chance of getting anything. They'll want revenge, but our players will be wanting it a lot more in the end.

 

Dissapointed, though that shows how far we have come. Bring on the Spartak (who btw do not look like a decent side)

 

Don't normally slate Lennons team and tactics but he defo got it wrong tonight.Should never have started all 3 of the players just back from injury(Hooper,Brown and Ledley).It was obvious they were not fully fit.Tiredness and injuries are starting to kick in now and it showed tonight.
It's high time we started trusting Lassed,Watt,McGeoch,Kayal and Paddy to start games to rest the squad a bit.

 

Completely agree. I think Ambrose is one of our most reliable players.

 

I like to believe this narrative and I think recent results have maybe got my hopes up. We have a very young team. I just wish we could control the ball and play a couple of passes.

Benfica are a good team, but did you not think they were there for the taking tonight? And instead of going for the jugular we defended too deep, punted the ball up the park and froze completely.

I'm just extremely frustrated with tonights result and think that they deserve a good slagging for tonight's performance. They get the plaudits when they play well, so they need to get a rollicking when they fail to turn up.

 

You are right that he is good with the ball- however I don't think he actually knows when to release the ball.