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

Gordon

Gamboa
Boyata
Simunovic
Tierney

Brown
Armstrong

Roberts
McGregor
Sinclair

Griffiths

Rogic, Forrest and Dembele off the bench.

 

Huge game.

Would take a draw but absolutely no reason why we can't aim for a win.

It will be difficult but doable.

 

McGregor has great ball retention very un-Scottish in that respect.. both are dangerous, Rogic is more skilful but both have an eye for the goal..

McGregors mobility and how he gets from box to box makes him just edge it away from home in Europe..

BR may go with Ntcham, Brown & Armstrong again tho, not as if they are up against the same quality as PSG..

 

No chance Gamboa would be thrown into this..

 

I know Brendan won't play him. I would like to see him play because he is more likely to support Forrest or Roberts further up the field than Lustig or Ralston.

I really like Lustig but it has really become obvious the last few games especially when Roberts has been playing (against PSG, the huns) that Roberts has been isolated and having to take on two or three guys at once which is difficult, even for a player of Roberts' ability.

Gamboa also has a lot of pace so would be more likely to match Onyekuru for Anderlecht more than Lustig or Ralston.

 

Wasn't my favourite player but the total change in the final 3rd & he is starting to grow on me

 

Aye I can see what your saying I think a lot of us would have liked to have seen more of Gamboa..

Ralston will get forward too tho he just needs bled in slowly. I think Forrest will start tho as he takes less chances with ball and ball retention is so important away from home in Europe. And is better tracking back than Paddy..

 

You are desperate to get Gamboa into the team
But the problem is Gamboa has no defensive qualities whatsoever.

 

Might not be as solid as Lustig defensively. But I was pleasantly surprised when Gamboa was in the team last season how good defensively he was as well as going forward, mind you most of his appearances were in the league but still.

 

OK I get it. You like the guy and that is fair enough.
You do know though that Pullis didn't rate Gamboa either ?
He scored an own goal there the other night too.

 

Mind you I thought Forrest was definitely going to start today and he didn't so I'm never too sure

I agree that Forrest is better defensively, although Roberts did start against PSG who are a much better side than Anderlecht so I would surprised if Brendan played the better defensive winger against the team that we have a good chance in beating, compared to PSG which was always going to be a tough ask.

 

We have quality options in every position..

Big night for the Boyata/Simunovic partnership tho..

 

Lustig scored an own goal the other night too so what are you getting at

I saw the own goal that Gamboa scored, I think that Gamboa was going to clear the ball but Navas made that a lot more difficult when he went and pushed the ball against Gamboa, whereas if Navas had not interfered Gamboa would have cleared it off the line.

Pulis didn't rate Gamboa because he wasn't over 6"3 and good in the air. Plus it wasnt even Pulis that signed Gamboa in the first place, so it isn't a surprise that Pulis didn't play him.

 

Depends on how we want to start, do we start attacking or begin with keeping the ball and being a bit more solid as its away from home. The decision is whether to play the more mobile 3 centre mids being 3 of the following; Brown, Armstrong, Ntcham & McGregor or if we put Rogic in the hole behind Griffiths.

If we play Rogic then i think Forrest should play just to offer extra protection on the flank for Lustig. Forrest also offers that blistering pace that can get us up the pitch quickly. If we go with Brown, Armstrong & Ntcham then i would start Roberts for the extra creativity and ability to beat multiple players.

Same back 4 for me and griff up top with Sinclair on the left. Dembele isn't match fit yet to start.

 

They came from 1-0 down to win 2-1 tonight.

 

But they were pretty lucky! Equalised through a corner that never was one(a shot hit an Anderlecht player and they got a corner for that?!). Then two massive massive saves from the Anderlecht goalie, before at the end Beveren never got a stonewall penalty.

Even after the change if manager things still dont add up, defensively they are defo for the taking. Up front pretty harmless too. I would say after watching both teams today Celtic are favourites. Then again i am biased lol

 

That's good to hear. We need to win if we have any pretensions of finishing second in this group.

 

This will be a very different game for us. We can afford to drop off a bit and hit on the break and that should suit us. Sinclair, Griff and Roberts have enough pace and ability to really hurt Anderlecht. With the ball retention of Brown, Armstrong/Ntcham and Rogic in midfield I think we can go there and win I really do.