SPFL Huns V Celtic Sunday April 7th kick off 12PM Sky Sports football

Their biggest and probably only threat is something we’ve been poor at dealing with which is crosses into the box from wide men whether it’s wingers or full backs. We stop that and I honestly don’t see them threatening much

 

The media here go over and above to make them look better. I seen a snippet from bbc gossip column that was a quote from the scotsman, it went along the lines of "rangers manager clemente celebrated his 50th birthday in his native belguim but was still on active rangers duty"
What the * does "active rangers duty" * mean? He is at the end of his * phone if something happens? Their manager goes home for his birthday and the press try and make it some sort of a positive about the huns

 

More important than Cal just now

 

This is about as much of a "must not lose" game as a I can remember. Will be absolutely thrilled with a draw, but quietly hoping that Rodgers brings "big occasion Celtic" back in style and we skelp these pretenders

 

I agree with this. Gives us much more control but can't see him doing it.

Iwata, McGregor, O'Reily gives us more control.

 

Midfield so, so crucial, if CalMac fit he plays - but as a 1st game back it's tough one for the captain and they'll definitely man mark him (sterling?) after last time
Team is a really easy one to pick with Iwata making way for CalMac or if he's not fit, it's the same as yesterday. Hattate for me, must play.

We have the players to win, so it's all about raising our game above where we've been recently and to play with high intensity, be brave and play forward and then defend with discipline (no daft free kicks or chances for ref to give pen/red card).

It's a huge test for everyone, I'm hopeful rather than confident - at minimum must avoid defeat.
If we score first and unsettle the natives, I think we'll be fine.

 

Controversial but I wouldn’t go Maeda

 

This is what Rodgers was brought here for,these are his games.

The fact that we are being laughed at and fired out of the betting is what makes us shine. When everything and everyone is against us we prevail.

We do on paper have the better squad.

Going to Mordor with the noise and these refs is going to be tricky....But again we have done it before and can do it again.

Let them and the media dismiss us yet again....and hopefully the team will back Rodgers with the way he has been hounded recently.

Survive the first 15 we should be ok imo

 

Lol cant wait to phone the police when we go 1 up to report a hate crime under the new law. Yes officer 40 000 huns singing anti irish catholic sectarian racist songs. Bring a big van lol HH

 

Midfield will be the big decision for Rodgers, really hope he sticks with Iwata. Hatate to make an impact off the bench since I doubt Cal will last 90 mins.

 

Tough choice but Maeda totally nullifies their biggest threat and also he will actually have the space to exploit their backline. Just hope he can at least do something in the positions though.

 

Hatate is our best player when he’s on form. And looking at him yesterday he’s right back at it. He must start. If Mcgregor is fit it will be him Hatate and O’Riley. I would also like Iwata to start maybe in place of O’Riley but don’t think it will happen and might suit O’Riley this game. Our midfield is way too sharp for theirs. Seen all the delusional mutants are out in force on social media writing us off as an easy win. If we defend well for first 15 we’ll turn them over. If we score early they’ll crumble. Can expect some dodgey decisions though. Nervous and * buzzing. This week is gonna drag

 

Agree I think maeda gives them serious trouble. If they play a high line his pace will destroy them on the break with a ball over the top from say Hatate… can kinda see maeda winning us a peno.

 

I am not so sure that’s their only threat runners of the ball is also something we don’t deal with well, whether it’s a centre midfielder or a winger coming in.

However, as much as they are a threat at set pieces they are not the best at defending them despite being a big side. They often win first contact but often give up chances either on the edge or just inside their box. See Bernardo’s goal last time.

They are also very susceptible to our best attacking approach, balls inside their centre back and full back for people to run on to and cut back. I was disappointed in Maeda vs Yilmaz in that last game. I have not seen anything of Yilmaz to suggest he can defend and they got constantly troubled against Benfica by play down their left. Hopefully Kuhn can carry his form on. If Yilmaz is out then we know what to expect from Barasic, decent delivery but capable to get in behind him.

Maeda suits playing against Tavernier, as he is better off the ball than on it but also is then afforded a lot of space to run into and good opportunities to get in a foot race with him. It also drags Goldson out there and leaves room for Kyogo and our right winger to come in the box 2v2 against Soutar and their left back.

In midfield they will play, Lundstrum, Diamonde and Lawerence or Cantwell. Cantwell does a lot of running around, mainly headless chicken stuff but neither he nor Lawerence are particularly effective off the ball. In that last game it was Sterling instead of Diomande and although Diamonde is more technically gifted he isn’t as strong as Sterling. We dominated the midfield for most of the game at New Year hopefully having a full compliment of players to choose from allows us to do that again. It was a big positive that Hatate didn’t show signs of rust yesterday, I know it’s only Livi but you can say to him go give us an hour and then bring either Iwata or Bernardo on for fresh legs.

I can see them playing Sterling right wing against Taylor and to help cover Tavernier. On the left it will either be Silva or Sima, so another fairly tall, physical player. With Dessers or Silva down the middle, so they will have a lot of size and physicality in their team.

Having a fit CCV for this will be huge when it comes to helping deal with that.

Lastly Kyogo has come up big time for us in this fixture over the last season and a half, hopefully he is right up for it and can do it again.

I can imagine we will be up against it when it comes to officiating. All the wee petty stoppages and fouls against whilst they are allowed to get away with being physical. Also as shown at the weekend half a chance to give a decision like a penalty or sending off it will be like Tyncastle again.

 

Yeah I agree with you there actually about runners in behind, I think previously when playing them though we’ve dealt with that well, Iwata is great at it but I reckon he’ll be dropped for Mcgregor who I think will be fine tidying up n tracking back. They like to whip balls in to the box from deep out wide though which I feel is where we are the weakest. We’ve seen it in most games and in Europe where we’ve conceded most goals from them.

That and then Taylor at left back when he gets high or goes inside can get caught out quite easy so I’m hoping he’s fairly disciplined and maeda can help out.
Having Reo back is huge. He gives us creativity none of the others are capable of in terms of first time through balls with both feet that can completely take defences out in an open game, think he will work really well with Kuhn and maeda if they’re making runs, kyogo aswel actually has missed him. I do expect them to be very physical in the middle as they can’t match us skill wise so I reckon a lot of bad challenges from the likes of diomande and lundstram so hopefully reo doesn’t pick up a knock. I’m confident we’ll beat them. I haven’t been impressed with them last few games and were starting to hit a bit of form.
Our defence is main issue basically as yday was first clean sheet in quite a while

 

On paper I think we win majority or even all of the key battles on the park. Just depends if we turn up on the day, or if we allow the ref to influence the game

 

It’s such a non-quantifiable but probably the most important thing having the right mentality. Hopefully if McGregor makes it him, Hart, Johnston, CCV, Kyogo for the Japanese contingent can bring that. Real leaders set an example.

As I said before in great the team talk is written, we have been written off by everyone, let’s go prove them wrong.

 

I think the team that started yesterday will start at the shitpit, with cal or iwata being the only possible change.
I see people saying reo might be better of the bench and before yesterday's game I would've agreed but he looked much sharper than anticipated therefore he has to start imo.

Bottom line if we turn up and perform we should have too much for them.

 

This is how the game will depend on.

If we play to 85% or above of what we are capable of, we win this game.

No doubt about it.