Celtic v Braga post match chat.

I would like to see it again. But all of the momentum lies with the attacking player it was an unusual ball in and one that really showed up our defence, i defo thought Loovens could have been more aware.

 

Backward step playing Maloney ,was never a fan of his but after tonights showing the guy should never wear that hopped jersey again.

 

Have to agree that is a pretty good assessment of tonight although I would have said hoivelt was in the OK category.

I think the two * lads are just * but all the rest will contribute to a good season once they blend.

My main concern is the constant use of Broony as the holding MF. He was not bad tonight and in most of the friendlies but he is miles better let of the leash. He has to play there because all the others cant play the holding dirty role. I kind of hope we get some sort of formation that has the Israeli holding and Jarez and Brown free to attack more. I really do not know what to make of Ledley. He really has not impressed yet but needs more time.

Hooper is an excellent poacher but am a bit concerned that he tends to lose the ball when turning through defenders or with this back to the goal. He needs to work on that.

 

mulgrew shocking,maloney is finished,hooiveld no pace,loovens joke,no creativity and sammy cance in first half but blew it,lenny has to pray to * that mcgeady goes and he should spend 10 million on a whole new defence cos none of them are up to the job

 

Lets agree to disagree

 

Oh be fair, a blind man can see he is well behind the rest in match fitness, probably needs at least 3 more games before he is fit.

 

tbh, Hooper was ok getting his goal and that but a suppose thats decent because a cannit recall him having a shot on goal, other than his goal. He may have dragged people out-wide and around but he didnt get a chance to use his pace through the middle.

 

I doubt we will see Maloney for another two years now. That will be him back up on the physio's couch for the rest of the season.

 

We won 2-1. That would be a good result against a team with the best defensive record in Portugal. The damage was done in the away leg and we never really had a chance of getting through.

Over all I'm mostly pleased with the performance of the team, especially in the second half. In the first half we played like a rugby team, passing from side to side and backwards, then hoofing it up long. We didnt learn anything new either-we knew our defence was pish before the game, and now its just been confirmed. I'm not to sure signing new defender would immediately solve the problem either. One thing we did learn is that we need to get better at converting crosses and free kicks. With the amount we had we should have had another two goals.

Zaluska: Made a few good saves, not much chance for the goal he conceded.

Mulgrew: Poor in defence but wasnt troubled as much as he was in the first leg. Couldn't redeem himself with his free/corner kicks.

Charobably our best defender and excellent going forward.

Hooiveld:Average. Was a bit slow at times and almost got into trouble for it.

Loovens: Average again. Probably had a slightly better games over all than Hooiveld.

Ledley: Average. Didn't really have much of an effect on the game.

Brown: Average again. Probably get blamed for what ever people are unhappy with. Actually tried to bring the ball forward, unusual for a team that nearly always resorted to root one.

Juarez: Took his goal well and linked well with Samaras. Would have liked to see him try and drive the ball forward more like brown.

Maloney:Had a few nice touches but was mostly forgettable. I hope hes not injured for to long.

Samaras: Like in pre-season, played better when moved to the left wing. He should start most of our games there.

Hooper: Got his goal and looked sharp. Helped out in defence to which was suprising. Might have gotten more if the supply had been better.

Fortune:Suprised me by performing quite well. Like Samaras, seems to perform better on the wing. I would like to see him partner hooper up front.

Murphey:Average. Didn't do anything good or particulary bad. Would like him to get a bit sharper in the box and a bit braver. Hes a tall lad and should use that to his advantage.

McCourt:Not on for long, but immediately tried to bring the ball forward and had a few bice passes.

 

Just back from game..it was *..we were knocked out by the worst portugese team i have seen, they were poor, yet we huffed and puffed, hardly a shot the whole of the first half..sorry but this was a shambles, and i am worried about this season, i dont think lennon has a clue, why was fortune not on from start?....why oh why is maloney playing, he hasnt kicked a ball for 9 months, then gets to play in a vital game like this, when he couldnt beat an egg, and i cannot see where all the confidence in hooper comes from, i thought he was average, one more thing, as much as i am dissapointed in lennon being our manager, why did he not try and keep the spine of the team which did win the last 7 games of season?...anyway, the fans gave it their best shot, but were let down on the night, this was poor, no excuses please!

i think hooper will not be the golden goal machine everyone seems to think he will be...i hope i am wrong, but i cant see it!

 

Give the guy 3 years and he still wouldnt be in my team ,he is a lightweight player and always has been ,being a winger you are meant to take players on ,he cant do that and if your honest with yourself ,over the years he has been here can you honestly say that he is an out n out winger who can hack it ,i was going to say in the big games ,but Braga are not big ,he is a waste of space ,even when fit .

 

Mulgrew gave the ball away on the halfway line at the goal but Braga got the pressure from Cha giving the ball away seconds earlier.. as shown here..

 

agree for the most part

I may put sammy somewhere between ok and good. He was a threat for us throughout the game and provided the assist. But he does dribble with the ball wayyyy out in front toward the middle of the field which costs possession at times (but also draws defenders and opens up space for other.

I'd put Hooiveld between ok and bad. Had a few shaky moments but won most headers that came toward him and wasn't awful apart from those one or two weird moments that thankfully were not exploited

 

mc geady is already replaced JAMES FORREST better player already

 

think again we missed a player like mcgeady, somebody trying to make something happen. brown was the only one trying really, until sammy and fortune gave it ago, maloney just gets pushed off the ball. and he seems reluctant to play paddy

 

yeh hes played a few decent preseason games

 

I switched the computer off after they scored and went to the physio and when i came home and seen we had won 2-1 i actually felt a sense of relief..

Lets face it, we were never going to get to the champions league this year, even if we got by braga we were never getting past the next leg... After the disaster last season, the champions league should not have been a priority at all this year.. With a new manager and a new team that is only in the beginning of its foundations our main priority this year should be building a good solid team that will win us the league and get us in shape for a crack at the big time in europe next season.. I will gladly settle for the europa league this year, were i think we will do good in this time round, if that mean us winning the league and getting a good team together..

Back to tonights game, i cant really judge how anyone played tonight since i didnt watch much off it but one things for sure, we need a left back, 2 centre backs and a goalkeeper, they are our 3 biggest downfalls which need strengthening, BIG TIME, if we want to get far this year..

On the plus side cha, ledley, hooper and juarez all look like brilliant signings and will play a major part for us this year.. With a new goalkeeper and couple of new defenders i think this years team could be the business.. Although we have had another disappointing european night and the champions league gone for another year, i believe this season will be far from a disappointment.. Things will only get better from here on in.. Keep the faith, In Lennon we Trust..

 

Just back from the game. Disappointing result and very disappointing atmosphere, even before kick off.
Some good, encouraging performances and some bad. Thought Juarez and Sammy were good, Fortune changed the game completely when he came on and Hooper looked promising but needs to shed at least a stone.
Nobody was worse than Maloney for me. Did * all then went off with the obligatory injury- a complete waste of space.

 

To be honest Hooiveld was slow and shaky tonight. Loovens was marginally better. Whoever the new centre back is he better be good, I mean good enough for two, because he is going to have to be.