Celtic v Elfsborg - CL Qualifier - Wednesday 31 July 19.45pm (NOT ON TV)

Thats the team I'd go with also, Commons isn't as effective away in Europe.

 

Good summary of the match I feel

I hope so, but we musn't be complacent as that is a good home record, and they will fancy their barra.

 

Didn't think they were all that, with us being a bit more match fit and them having to attack in Sweden we should win comfortably. W

Would play

Forster

Matthews Wilson Mulgrew Izzy

Forrest Brown Ledley Derk

Commons

Samaras​

Maybe change it if we sign a striker

 

Good to be back at Celtic Park tonight,thought the whole atmosphere and display on the pitch was full of anxiety.

To on the field matters and firstly Elfsborg. I thought the manager got their line-up/tactics spot on in terms of trying to stop us playing. They frustrated and stifled our main threats in Forrest and Samaras for large chunks of the game. Doubling up on both players at all times and in particular when we looked to switch play to Sammy(Blonde headed lad at RB and Keene were always within 5 yards of Sammy). They made our play predictable but we should have dealt with this better( Will expand on this later). Although the over compensation in trying to stop us playing meant they had little to no threat coming forward. It would appear they don`t have much going forward and I think what we saw tonight might be replicated in the 2nd leg.

As for us, we fell into the trap of playing how they wanted us to do. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, they were well disciplined in dealing with our threats. However I thought we could do a bit more to increase the spaces for our forwards in a couple of ways.

1.) With them having so many behind the ball, I would like to have seen Ambrose and Wilson try to step out from the back with the ball. Make them have to make a decision on whether to press them and leaving space for others to work in.

2.) Better movement from our forwards and runners from midfield. We needed Stokes or Sammy to be a focal point in terms of attack by holding the ball up and bringing others into the game. Also I would like to have seen them extend the back line with runs in behind creating spaces for midfielders like Commons/Forrest to drop short into.I thought Kayal and Brown in particular could have got forward from midfield on more occasions. Late runners from deep can often be difficult to pick up and give the defence one more problem to resolve; even if they are only decoy runs they still create spaces for others to utilise.

We still created some very good chances despite this and it showed tonight the need for a replacement of Hooper`s ilk.

The ref annoyed me tonight, in particular his lenient manner in dealing with the persistent fouling of a few Elfsborg player (No.8 and 21, whom he booked for fouls after 70 mins even though they had commited several beforehand).

Final mention for Sammy, showed again the value he brings to the team. Seen guys who berated him week in week out over the last few season, stand to applaud him off tonight.

 

You could also argue the last time we played in Sweden he scored in first couple of minutes and he got our winner tonight. It would be a big decision to bench that.

 

Aye, its funny because he often has under par games like tonight but he is capable of creating, scoring or getting a ball in for someone else to score.

He's very dangerous but can be a passanger, always a gamble to leave him out as he does consistantly score and set goals up. Would be a toss up between him and Kayal, id play Kayal as I think not conceding is more important than scoring in this game and with Brown, Kayal and Ledley then they would be lucky to score.

 

I know he's a tough player to bench, but we're going into a 2nd leg with a fragile lead. We will probably soak up some pressure and counter, and extra man in the middle with Forrest and Boerrigter wide, would probably be best for that. I wouldn't be against Commons starting though.

 

I'm happy with 1-0 even if we lose 2-1 over we would go through on away goals. Im hoping we go there and score first so they are left chasing the game.

 

Where did the stat about Elfsborg not losing at home since September 2011 pop up from?

Allsvenskan

Sat 06/07/13
Elfsborg 0-1 Åtvidaberg

 

Would have been great to get a second goal but overall 1-0 based on where we are in our season compared to them isn't too bad. The first half was pretty shaky. Some scary screw in our own half almost presented them with a couple of chances.
Second half was much better as I felt we finally got control of the game and started to get at them a little bit. Superb cross from Izzy to Commons for the goal.
If we can score first in Sweden I don't see them getting 3 goals against us so that clean sheet was big for us as well.

 

Here is Elfsborg's entire Champions League qualification ties:

Tue 17/07/07
UCL
Linfield 0-0 Elfsborg

Wed 25/07/07
UCL
Elfsborg 1-0 Linfield

Tue 31/07/07
UCL
Debrecen 0-1 Elfsborg

Wed 08/08/07
UCL
Elfsborg 0-0 Debrecen

Tue 14/08/07
UCL
Valencia 3-0 Elfsborg

Wed 29/08/07
UCL
Elfsborg 1-2 Valencia

Wed 17/07/13
UCL
Elfsborg 7-1 Daugava Daugavpils

Tue 23/07/13
UCL
Daugava Daugavpils 0-4 Elfsborg

Wed 31/07/13
UCL
Celtic 1-0 Elfsborg

Wed 07/08/13
UCL
Elfsborg ?-? Celtic

Furthest Elfsborg have ever got Champions League wise is the 3rd round, where Valencia beat them 5-1 on agg.

 

Spot on! We needed a playmaker and a striker/winger making decent runs off the ball.

 

I suppose we could do damage with Sammy, Boeriggter and Forrest whilst having Broony, Kayal and Ledley to stabalise our midfield. I think we will score and I just cant see Elfsborg score 3 into us unless we have an absolute shocker.

 

I'll take that. 1 goal in Sweden and they'd need 3.

 

Just realised...

3-0 Cliftonville
2-0 Cliftonville
1-0 Elfsborg

...We are getting worse. Sack the board!!!!!

We miss u Mo

 

While I agree with the additions of these types of players. I feel we have players who are able to do what was needed.

Joe Ledley is really good with late-runs from midfield and thought we might have seen some of this when he came on. However he played similar to what Kayal was doing beforehand but contributed with better use of the ball.

Forrest will develop and become smarter with his movement, would like to have seen him position himself at times on top of his marker and then spin-off and in behind. He tends to drop short and try to face up his defender too much; while that isn`t such a bad idea with his ability. He will be more of a threat by keeping them guessing.

Stokes seems to get disheartened when he does make good runs at times and isn`t spotted;he tends not to make them and goes searching for the ball. With the addition of someone he can link with, be it a strike partner like he had with Hooper or previously mentioned creative player then we can benefit more from him.

 

It was imperative that we won tonight and didn't concede and we achieved both. We will be a little sharper next week and hopefully have a few more options available for team selection. They were semi-organised but will have to open up at home and that will be there undoing IMO ..

Bangura is a *!

 

Spot on

 

Stokes, Kayal & Forrest were *. Sammy tried hard but didn't get anywhere. Wilson and Lustig were good. Commons absolutely outstanding. The only one in our team, and the only one on the pitch, with footballing intelligence, technique and a bit of a magic touch. We played incredibly obvious and boring flat 442, passing sideways forever like Barcelona except we didn't have a Messi to actually score. Seemed scared to shoot as well, must have had about 2 shots on target the whole game ffs.

Job done though, we'll win over there as we're more suited to away games these days.

 

I thought forrest was awright, he was trying passes and there was just noone there to get them, i'd blame stokes for that, few times he tried to pass in and stokes wasnt in the box or if he was there he took a heavy touch.