Celtic v Hapoel Tel Aviv [all match chat in here]

I predicted 2-1 in another thread but I thought I'd better post in the official thread. I think we'll win comfortably. I know 2-1 doesn't seem comfortable but I'm only saying they'll get 1 because we can't keep a clean sheet and we'll only score 2 but we'll miss a load of chances as per usual.

 

Celtic: Win and win well.​

Celtic’s Europa Cup campaign has – at best – been a let-down of mammoth proportions. 1 point collected at home, and 1 on the road sees the Bhoys at the bottom of their respective group, with little chance of progression.

Nonetheless, while some may view tonight’s match as a dead rubber, I believe it is one of the most crucial matches of the season thus far.

The rationale behind this is simple: momentum. Domestically, Tony Mowbray’s men have been inconsistent in their performances and results. As a result, Celtic only possess a slender SPL lead over an abysmally poor Rangers outfit, at a time when they are there for the taking.

Saturday’s comprehensive 3-1 victory against a combative St Mirren side showed real signs of encouragement. Defensively – bar Marc Crosas’s moment of madness – we looked relatively assured, while our midfield showed both tenacity and guile. Aiden McGeady was a stand-out performer, while strikers Scott McDonald and Georgios Samaras were both clinical in front of goal.

Some may – understandably – view these factors as a one-off. I do not. I have every confidence that this Celtic side can produce a run of results that will confirm their status at the top of the SPL table going into the January transfer window, and the next Old Firm encounter.

However, Saturday’s result must be used only as a building block; tonight will provide a much firmer test, and I have every faith that the Bhoys will do us proud this evening – restoring some much-needed confidence at the same time. Patience will be key, and a previous profligacy in front of goal on this stage must be eliminated.

To quote Mowbray: “I’m just trying to win the game for ourselves, our season, and our supporters.”

Correct Tony, and in my opinion, it is absolutely crucial that we do just that – win, and win well.

DM
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Anyone heard any team news yet? I know it's a bit early but thought I'd ask anyway.

 

(GK) Zulaska

(RB) Hinkel
(LB) Fox
(CB) Loovens
(CB) Caldwell

(CM) Crosas
(CM) N'Guemo
(RW) McGeady
(LW) Samaras

(CF) Fortune
(CF) McDonald

Would be my ideal line up.

 

Not with this current crop of players we're not.

 

Any idea which channel it's being shown on?

 

ITV4.

Gonna be a cold night, think we'll win this game 2-1.

 

cheers Raz

 

I tink boruc is fit
50::icon_mrgreen:

 

Will be a rly hard game for us today i'd say. I just hope we won't concede an early goal. 3-1 to the hoops!

 

Have there been any reports of how many are likely to attend the match?

 

really dont know mate

so have we got to win and rapid has to win?

 

c'mon celtic i think we will win this one, im going for a 3.1 win and celtic
to play the celtic way with no pressure on us sammy and skippy to score
would be nice

 

yes theres no chance of us makeing the last 32

 

Aye would be nice that one , but would be even better if it was a goal for each of our strikers, Fortune, Sammy & Skippy :icon_mrgreen: (Prob won't happen tho)

 

The Offical Team line up

The team that plays tonight

24 Zaluska

2 Hinkel 5 Caldwell(c) 22 Loovens 11 Fox

46 McGeady 6 N'Guemo 17 Crosas 19 Robson

7 McDonald 9 Samaras

Subs:
1 Boruc(GK), 3 Naylor, 4 McManus, 12 Wilson,
14 McGinn, 20 McCourt & 10 Fortune
​

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Excellent, but I only don't like Robson on the wing. McCourt could've got chance. Apart from that, good choice from Mowbray.

 

only thing bothering me would be watching Caldwell giving away a own goal or a penalty of a start , having had all the experience of champions leagues football, over the years and the mangers saying it good for the players, then only then are they sold on, ffs some of the teams in the groups are no better that us but we have guys that always seem to manage to put us out of games early i would go as far as saying they are experienced at it

 

I am going for 2-1 celtic with a rare fortune goal and loovens getting a late winner hopefully we can put on a decent display and follow up saturdays result with another win and go on a winning run as results breeds confidence as thats what we are lacking just now..

 

live on tictalk...look at the opening post