Champions League Play Off Round, 1st Leg: Celtic v Astana. 16th August 2017, 19:45. BT Sports

for once....please finish the game at home tonight and get on with the speculation of transfers.

 

for once....please finish the game at home tonight and get on with the speculation of transfers.

 

This. Would be nice to have watched the game tonight and go home knowing we've all but qualified and comfortably for once.

 

I think them playing here is approx 02:30 their time and us over there is around 16:30 our time. In theory we should be better prepared for both games body clock wise

 

And who could forget...ZADOK THE PRIEST! Always love hearing that

 

that looks a good team to me, Gamboa might be a bit rusty though.

 

Is there any point in having Gamboa in the squad at all,if he's not going to get a game now then he never will.Waste of a wage.I think he's an able enough playrer but BR obviously doesn't rate the guy.

 

C O Y B I G

 

Could be a very interesting team selection tonight. Loads of different potential combinations in the team.

Centre-half will be interesting. Will it be a partnership of Bitton,Ajer or Lustig with Jozo. If its Lustig then could young Ralston be put into such a high profile occasion, if so then it's a fine endorsement of his abilities. Or Gamboa, longer shot I think due to missing pre-season through injury and international commitments. Or the possibility of playing 3 at the back, Lustig,Jozo and KT.

Similarly the selection in defence could lead to a multiple combinations in the midfield. Ntcham and Brown would offer more in the way of security in the midifield. McGregor and Rogic are for me a more adventurous combination in comparison. Armstrong has been somewhat off the pace and even to the extent of Brendan speaking out about it. If it's 3 at the back, then who features in the wide areas. Hayes offers both a solid attacking option and defensively more than adequate. Although he hasn't looked settle in his appearances so far.

Griffiths looks almost certain to start up front, so no particular worries in that area in terms of ability to fulfil the role.

I would seriously consider a back 3 tonight. Although this is based without knowing anything at all about Astana. I do recall the centre-forward being a bit of handful, whether he's still at the club I do not know.

Gordon
Lustig-Jozo-KT
Brown
Forrest-McGregor/Armstrong/Bitton-Ntcham-Hayes/Sinclair
Rogic/McGregor/Sinclair
Griff​

I reckon Brendan will stick with the 4 and continue with Bitton and Jozo at the centre.

Gordon
Lustig-Bitton-Jozo-KT
Brown-Ntcham-McGregor
Forrest Sinclair
Griff​

 

I guess the big question is Armstrong or Ntcham in the middle?

I'd play Rogic over MacGregor, everyone else is a stick on

 

reckon uv nailed it with the 4 at the back

 

I personally think Gordon, Lustig, Bitton, Jozo, KT, Brown, Ntcham, Forrest, McGregor, Sinclair and Griffiths will be the team.

I'd rather have Ajer or Ralston in for Bitton (in Ralston's case moving Lustig central) and I'd play Rogic over McGregor.

 

PRIEST ye say Timmy ... aye, well us Protestants will be huvin' nuthin' tae dae wi that. In fact we should just lose in the first qualifier round and save oorselves fae yon Priests

 

Will definitely be Ntcham starting as Brendan has said a couple of times now in relation to Armstrong that he will be in the squad for tonight meaning he will be on the bench. I'd prefer Armstrong start personally surely on a night like to tonight in that atmosphere it would make you forget everything happening off the pitch and allow you to thrive on it. But anyway it's a big night for Ntcham hopefully he has a stormer.

As for Rogic or McGregor behind Griffiths for me it's an easy decision, Rogic all day for me brings so much class to that position and we're gonna need that creativity tonight not to mention Rogic has a keen eye for a goal and scored in the home leg of last years CL Play Off.

 

The team I think Brendan will go with...

----------------------Gordon-------------------------

---Lustig------Bitton-------Jozo--------Tierney-----

------------Brown-----Ntcham----McGregor--------

--------Forrest-------Griffiths-------Sinclair---------

 

No, he was MOTM in their last game in the league.
TOP-5 voting:
1.Marin Tomasov 48.6%
2. Junior Kabananga 18.6%
3. Nenad Erich 8.5%
4. Srdjan Grahovac 5.4%
5.Dmitry Shomko 5.2%
A total of 4,882 people voted .

 

Yeah he might be, although before his injury he was playing in that tournament for Costa Rica so he might be been at a higher fitness/sharpness level than the rest of the squad not long ago.

Playing him in the home tie isn't much of a risk imo, same as Ralston. We will dominate the ball I imagine. He's looked tidy everyone I've seen him, unlike biton.

 

Perfect selection ,this will probs be the team tonight

 

Think this will be it, too. Bitton the only one I wouldn't be chuffed to see.

 

That's why the huns boo it.