[Official TC Thread] Anderlecht v Celtic, Champions League, 27th September, Kick Off 19:45. Live BT Sport

I'd rather play players who'll keep the ball away from home.

Would play Brown behind Ntcham and McGregor.

 

that nicoli stanciu looks dangerous.

 

I've no idea how good these are. I don't know any of their players!
Is this going to be a tough one?

 

They are a good team struggling with the loss of one or two of their better players sold in the summer. It also looks like they will be without a few of their first team players due to injury. I watched their EL run where they played Man U and Hanni, Stanciu & polish striker (name is too long!) are all good players. They have a solid team.

I think overall we have a better squad and should hopefully come out of these two encounters having bettered them on the head to head. They are not the whipping boys of this group however as a few like to think. They could quite easily beat us 2-0 over there if we don't turn up.

 

Aye, we should be smart about this game. It's important not to lose it.

I would go

Gordon
Lustig Simunovic Boyata Tierney
Brown
Forrest Ntcham McGregor Sinclair
Dembele
​

That team should do a good defensive job on them and as you said hold the ball better as Forrest never gives the ball away, compared to Paddy who does lose the ball all the time by running into dead ends or attempting dangerous passes. Forrest does the better defensive job. Same in the middle Armstrong can try to rush attacking play and lose it often as well and Rogic's lack of pace means he doesnt effectively shut down the opposition or get around the park.

That team should give us our strongest defence and our players best at holding possession plus Dembele to defend set peices.

Can always have the options of Armstrong, Roberts, Rogic and Griffiths depending on how the game is going.

 

I would seriously consider getting Ajer in the formation, if I was Brendan. Together with Brown. We need more than one defensively oriented player in the midfield. I do not trust our centre backs at all.

 

The same Ajer who hasn't played in weeks?

Ntcham can sit deep alongside Brown.

 

It's not just about merely sitting deep, the player must have intelligent defensive positioning, or overwhelming physical strength. It is absolute priority to minimize the workload of Boyata.

 

Well we ain't got that.

And a 19 year old with minimal experience at a high level who has converted to playing as a centre half isn't going to be a fix.

 

I heard both mbodji and najar are out injured, * is suspended and their polish striker is lacking fitness. Big losses if true, especially mbodji who is a monster in defence and will probably be in the premier league come january. I do think that coupled with their bad form, we could win. Stanciu is like a fast version of rogic for them so we need to be wary of him, other than that don't know enough about the other players.

 

Well, it will be another loooong CL night then. Ntcham is like a younger Armstrong. All fine and well, but we're playing in Europe, not Scotland. With a CB that needs immense protection to even look passable.

 

Anyone know of a good pub for watching game in Seamills area?

 

Very hyperbolic.

Ntcham is nothing like Armstrong, by the way.

 

So do you mean playing Ajer beside Brown in midfield? Surely if you wanted a more defensive minded midfielder Bitton would be a much much better option. And Ntcham is an inbetween type. He is not overly defensive or offensive. Playing Ajer in midfield in a game of this magnitude would be absolute madness.

 

Good shot, can run all day and pass well? Sounds like Armstrong. It's just that we need to defend more than attack in the next game.

 

Armstrong is a far more dynamic player. He makes runs from deep and commits defenders.

Ntcham tends to sit deeper and control the game. Yes he can get forward and has a decent shot, but he's nowhere near as attack minded as Armstrong.

 

Think we can win this and should go for it.

Would also take a draw.

 

That's the three I'd go in midfield but I'd expect both Brown and Ntcham to play quite deep next to one another..

 

Biton? Christ no. He's a creative player that actually doesn't do well in defense on a consistent basis. I guess Ralston would be an argument in your favor? Still, Brendan was OK with playing a kid in Europe. Over Gamboa. I'd play Ajer over Biton. Playing two destroyers also lets us use Rogić to the fullest, or unleash McGregor more- because ball-winning would be easier to do, which nets us more possession.