UCL Last 16: Celtic v Juventus Chat

THE majority of Celtic´s first-team are away on international duty this week, with many friendlies taking place across the globe.

Efe Ambrose booked his place in the Africa Cup of Nations´ semi-final yesterday, (Sunday), when his Nigeria side beat one of the tournament favourites, Ivory Coast, 2-1. They will take on Mali on Wednesday evening for a place in Sunday´s final. Should they fail to win, they will play either Burkina Faso, (who they drew 1-1 with in the group stages) or Ghana in the third-place play off on Saturday.

Closer to home, Scott Brown, James Forrest, Charlie Mulgrew and Kris Commons have met up with the Scotland squad ahead of their meeting with Estonia on Wednesday. The fixture, at Pittodrie, will be former Hoops boss, Gordon Strachan´s, first match in charge.

Welsh duo Joe Ledley and Adam Matthews will come up against Austria in Swansea while the Israeli pair Beram Kayal and Rami Gershon are back home for their match against Finland.

Paddy McCourt is with the N.Ireland squad for their away game with Malta while Victor Wanyama will take on Libya in Tunisia. Miku has joined up with the Venezuelan squad for a training camp in Madrid and Mikael Lustig´s Swedish side welcomes Argentina to Solna.

Thomas Rogne will be representing Norway´s Under-21s in La Manga as they continue their preparations for this summer´s European Championships with a friendly against Russia, while Paul George will take on the Czech Republic in what is his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad since returning from his leg break.

Tony Watt, Dylan McGeouch, on-loan Celt Lewis Toshney and Robbie Thomson, who received his first call-up last week, will be in Korinthos City for Scotland´s U21 match with Greece.


It is a busy week for the Celts, and while Neil Lennon is pleased his players are being recognised at that level, it is also a worrying time for him. With the UEFA Champions League tie against Juventus just over a week away, he is hoping all his players come back unscathed.

"Of all the weeks to have it, I don´t know who puts these dates in place but we have the biggest game in four or five years at the club and we have players all over the world so it´s a concern," he said.

"I´ve spoken to Gordon, and he´s in total charge of his team. He understands my situation and I have every trust in him to deal with that problem.

"We have a number of other players on international duty as well which is also a huge concern for me. The timing of these games couldn’t have been worse for me.

"Hopefully, the international coaches will take that into consideration because we want to have a full quota of players going into the Juventus game next week."



Bad timing for these international games,Lennon none too happy about it either.

 

Could really be doing with Ambrose for this game! Its weird although i think he is a potential bombscare i also think he's the calmest player on the ball and his abillity to bring it out from the back is second to none.Juventus high pressing game requires cool heads at the back and Ambrose certainly comes into that category.

 

I think our defence has been * since he's been away.

 

Definitely, the team has a far better balance when both Ambrose and Wanyama are both playing as they can interchange with one another.

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Nervous as *, I don't think we will go through but I just hope that we put up a good fight and maybe get a goal or two, with the progress we have made this season I am just happy to be here, of course I will still still sacrifice a goat to appease the football gods :icon_mrgreen:

 

I think we will go through. You have to. No matter what. Its bad luck not to.

Come on man.

 

Anyone reckon rogic will be on the bench as a secret weapon if things aren't going to plan?

 

Im sure i read hes not been registered to play in europe this season.. so nope

 

Fair enough :smiley-laughing002: thanks :icon_mrgreen:

 

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnjvjsiJvVs"]Celtik vs Juventus Promo 12.02.2013 HD - YouTube[/ame]

 

Celtik and Bloemfontein badge

 

:smiley-laughing002:

 

I think our best play in attack is when Hooper, Stokes and Forrest are linking passes together, making wee triangles and cutting through defences.

Lennon never tended to play Stokes in games against Oldco for example, even when he'd been on form. Will Lennon play Stokes against Juve?

What team I'd like to see:

Forster
Lustig Wilson Mulgrew Matthews
Forrest Brown Wanyama Commons
Hooper Stokes

With Kayal, Samaras and Lassad all gettin game time

 

While from juventus side i just hope they're all fit and finally run as much as they did before Christmas athletic training!


----------------------Buffon-----------------
Lichsteiner---Barzagli---Bonucci---Chiellini
---------Marchisio---Pirlo---Vidal-----------
Quagliarella---------Matri-----------Vucinic

subs:
Anelka for Quagliarella
Pogba for Marchisio
Asamoah for Matri
so to change in second half of the game to :

---------------------Buffon--------------------------
--------Barzagli-----Bonucci-----Chiellini----------
Lichsteiner---Marchisio---Pirlo---Vidal---Asamoah
----------------Anelka---Vucinic--------------------


final 2-3 and tough game in Turin.
All depending on juventus physical condiction!
As last year in january we had 7 draws and in february we restarted to play and run and made 10/11 wins in the last games

 

That team would take a right beating

 

..........................................Forster

Matthews........Lustig..........Ambrose.....Mulgrew.......Izaguirre


............Brown.......Wanyama....Kayal........Samaras

........................................Hooper


Hope for a sneaky 1 nil.

 

GK Forster

RB Lustig
CB Mulgrew
CB Wilson
LM Izaguirre

RM Matthews
CM Brown
CM Wanyama
CM Ledley
LM Samaras (if fit)

ST Hooper

I wouldn't play Ambrose with him just being back from the ACON, Mulgrew has got to start somewhere on the park anyway IMO. His delivery could be crucial for us. Really hope Samaras is fit for this, although I don't bother about him being out in League games, he has been our star performer in Europe.

 

Very similar to my line-up. Wasn't sure about the Ambrose situation and although I don't trust Wilson, he does seem to be the only option.

Need to get as many workers and defenders on the pitch as possible.