Elfsborg vs Celtic,Wed 7th August'13 KO 6.45pm (BBC Scotland)

That pitch was a * nightmare. Spread uncertainty through the entire team. Not making excuses we should have been better, but bearing in mind this is still preseason we did ok over the tie. Having said that, we got to improve very quickly because we won't get through the next round otherwise.

I just want to see us playing with a bit of zip, going through some passing combinations and building attacks. Too often we're just giving it to Forrest or Sammy, hope they run down the wing and get a cross in. Our build-up play should be much more methodical.
Having said that, I think Lenny's trying to achieve that and a couple of new players might help.

 

It didn't work,well actually it did but not very well..
We just let ourself get pushed far too deep defending long balls,we were actually defending as a straight 4-4-2 though..
You could see any time there goalkeeper was kicking out sammy and commons were the 2 up top pushing high while the rest were far too deep..

A lot of lessons learned tonight I think..

 

Are you seriously glad Wilson's going, though!?

 

Now that ive calmed down. Terrible performance thats all.

 

I told you this game would be difficult on the surface against that opposition. I told everyone but no. ''We will pump them'' bla bla bla. I was right. * brutal as usual.

 

Worst I've seen us move the ball in so long. We never strung more than 3 or 4 passes together all night, players never looked in good positions to recieve the ball bar a handful of occasions, and we couldn't get to grips with the midfield. The pitch we can blame to an extent for the passing, but the movement wasn't good enough.

I actually thought Elfsborg's tactics were spot on, just no end product. A lot of "hoof the ball" which is often frowned upon, but the pitch clearly isn't made for passing and it took advantage of their two strikers who got in about it (Keene, who looks a limited footballer but really impressed me with his work ethic) and Bangura (who's strong and movement was excellent and who has a few tricks up his sleeve...shame we wrote him off). Critically though, their midfield seemed to get straight in our faces whenever we cleared it with a header or tried to pass it out and counter attacks were nullified by their at times relatively deep defensive line.

Having said that, as the score suggests, we defended fairly well, especially out wide and despite our CBs at times not coping well with Bangura's movement I don't remember either striker really having a clear cut chance besides the overhead kick (which is never really a "clear cut chance"). A few dodgy tackles flying in at times which could've led to free kicks and penalties with a different referee but some you win some you lose in that respect and I felt they got away with a few in the first leg.

It was worrying to see us so lacking in attacking spark but we progressed away from home early in the season on a dodgy pitch so won't worry too much. Might actually learn something from it given that now and again we may face opponents on artificial pitches and might be more ready to adjust the gameplan accordingly. Furthermore, tonight's lacklustre midfield performance was evidence of just how much we need a replacement for Wanyama and perhaps we'll look more seriously at it.

 

Probably the most boring game in the history of football.
Both teams complete and utter *, don't think either side completed 10 consecutive passes all match.

Elfsborg were * dreadful though, we never even got out of first gear and they still were zero threat to us.

Onto the next one.

 

anyone know is 5 teams we could meet. is there pitches grass or fake ones


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I think I remember reading that Elfsborg are higher ranked than any other team we can face in the Play Off round, correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyway, what a frustratingly boring game. Glad it's over.

 

Was murder to watch but job done...

 

Not 100% but think they are all grass pitches.

The teams we can meet and capacity

Austria Vienna 12,500
Legia Warsaw 31,103
Maribor 12,994
Ludogorets 8,000
Shaktar Karagandy 19,000

 

We are currently ranked 62

Elfsborg were Ranked 174

Teams we can face in next round and rankings

Austria Vienna 114
Legia Warsaw 126
NK Maribor 156
Ludogorets 295
Shaktar Karagandy 324

 

I will never in my life understand * who moan just so they can be right when Celtic get beat. You were genuinely sitting there hoping we lost tonight, weren't you?

Difficult game my *.
That was the shittest we've played for donkeys and Elfsborg still never looked like scoring. They were hilariously bad infact considering they were at home, this was their biggest match of the season and we inexplicably gave them 99% of the possession and merely gave it away when we did have it.

We're on the road again.

 

Had to work during the game, so I recorded it and watched it afterwards. Only just finished.

Over 90 mins of my life I'll never get back. Truly awful game of football. Dead chuffed we're through, though. One more tie and we're there.

 

Just hope we dont draw Austria Vienna or Legia Warsaw. When is the draw btw?

 

Same day it always is. Before Saturday and after Thursday.

 

This Friday

Agreed about those two teams, anyone but them. Think we could beat all of them though.

 

94 mins of sheer terror lol

Looked a team pretty devoid of confidence.