Celtic v HJK Helsinki - Wed, 1 Aug K/O 19.45 - Live on Premier Sports.

I wanted HJK Helsinki. No team would have been easy for us but HJK was probably our best option so the feeling is mutual.

 

As of right now there are still 12,229 tickets still available. And that's assuming that every season ticket holder turns up. Don't want to see empty seats.

 

is game on TV??

 

I hate being a pessimist but after Ajax and Norwich I really can't see them beating Helsinki. This is the same team that was 15 points behind Rangers by Guy Fawkes night last year and we still have the same strikers and defence. Going to be a long time before we ever see the group stages again...

 

We don't know either way B/FAST HOOPY, they'll be an update on that front soon enough.

 

I'm gonna give a wee over-view of how i see Lenny shaping up for the game.

Forster will play of course.

The back 4 will be Matthews, Wanyama, Mulgrew & Izagurrie.

People may ask why Wanyama over the more natural CB Rogne. Wanyama would be in midfield usually but Lenny definetly likes Scott Brown in for these games. Kayal will definetly play (if fit) and Ledley also (for reasons i explain further down). This leaves no room for him in midfield.
Wanyama has to be accompanied in the team though. He will be - in defence - thus giving us pace and solidity.

If Izagurrie plays then the disciplined Ledley will be just in front of him and will sit & protect when Izzy does his runs forward.


The midfield will consist of Kayal, Brown & Ledley to a more left position but coming in when needed. Forrest more wide with Samaras on the other.

This is liable to change though and vary. I expect a lot of interlinking play between Forrest, Sammy and Hooper. There is tactical flexibility within Lenny's tactics which i like.

Samaras is absolutely key to our chances IMO. If he gains confidence early in the game then his dynamism will cause them all sorts of problems.


Hooper will be up front. He's a good player but looks un-fit and slightly over-weight too me. He will be the one who the chances fall to in all propability so hopefully he's sharp enough to take them.

The only way i see us not winning if we miss a truck load of chances.

Sometimes i feel Celtic & Scottish teams in general have an inferior complex when playing in Europe. Against AC Milan maybe but not Helsinki. We have internationalists all over our team and are paid big money.
No excuses.

Forster
Matthews Wanyama Mulgrew Izagurrie
Brown Kayal Ledley
Forrest Samaras
Hooper

Celtic 3-0 HJK.

 

trip2themoon

It's natural mate, I'm feeling the same way. All we can do is hope and pray our board's gamble will pay off but it's certainly a worry.

 

thanks bhud

 

paddymcp

I totally agree with your team except I'd keep Rogne in the defence and with Kayal's fitness an issue, either him or Wanyama alongside Broony and Joe in a 3 man central midfield with Forrest and Sammy supporting Hooper will suit me just fine. Hope your scoreline prediction is also correct.

 

It isnt really that much of a gamble as regards Helsinki. We have players who earn as much as their whole team and players who are worth (supposedly) more than their whole team. If we cannot beat Helsinki it cannot be blamed on a lack of financing.

Different case altogether perhaps in later rounds, but that argument cannot be made just yet.

 

The lack of pace with Mulgrew and Rogne worries me though. They are both as slow as a week in the jail and i feel that Wanyama gives the whole team security to go forward with purpose knowing one long ball behind isn't likely to cause us problems.

 

APOEL Nicosia reached the Quarter Finals of the Champions League and their highest wage earner earned roughly £7,000 a week. To show such arrogance against any team in European competition nowadays is not acceptable and to say not strengthening isn't a gamble when quite clearly we are still far away from the finished article and are crying out for 2-3 quality additions, against a team no worse than Utrecht or Sion and one who is 18 games into their league season is delusional.

 

Forster
Matthews Rogne Mulgrew Izzy
Wanyama
Brown Kayal Ledley Sammy
Hooper

Zaluska, Lustig, Paddy, Ki, McGeouch, Forrest, Stokes
​

 

I wasnt being arrogant. What I am saying is that if we do not get by Hensinki it cannot be blamed on a lack of spending when we are already have the more expensive players on bigger wages. We also just cut our squad because we had made too many signings - they just werent very good ones!

I agree we are not the finished article and I hope we spend money on a decent defender at least. But that is not with Helsinki in mind. If we dont get back Helsinki it is because the players didnt show up, simple as that. You cannot blame a board for not spending when our team is already worth multiples of our opponents.

 

This team still leaks goals faster than a sieve leeks water. I doubt there will be any fear in the minds of the Helsinki players. They just have to look at how we got in to Europa last year. We are a top SPL team and nothing more. The board doesn't seem to believe in strengthening: * it, the defence is good enough in Scotland it will just have to do in Europe. As far as I know the Helsinki fans were delighted they got us.

 

The club who are top of the Finish League lost 5-0 tonight at home to FC Twente in their Europa League qualifier. 6-1 on aggregate. Helsinki are second in the league.

This should be a slight pointer as to the level of this team. Should really thrash them to be honest. Still, knowing our away form in Europe, winning comfortably and keeping a clean sheet at home is a must.

 

I'll be happy with a score draw in Helsinki then a home win but our team just can't handle any kind of pressure, winning only 2 of 6 tournaments over the last two seasons. The pressure was well eased by Rangers going in to administration and the subsequent loss of 10 points. I really hope they don't bottle this one.

 

I,m thinking the same thing mate

We should have a much better squad than this lot
The only thing thats worrying me is they're 18 games into their season
Would have preferred playing away first tbh, but im gona predict 3-0 at home and 1-1 over there.

 

trip2themoon

Just checking but do you know we're at home first? For the record of course we shouldn't be scared of HJK Helsinki but I would take any win on wednesday and likewise only a 3 goal victory or better would leave me feeling comfortable going into the away game and even then, we can't rule anything when it comes to us away in Europe.

 

I think Lenny will go with the 3-5-2 but personally I'd set up with a 4-4-2.

Forster
Matthews Rogne Mulgrew Izzy
Brown Kayal Ledley Commons
Hooper Stokes

If Kayal isn't fit then Forrest on the right and Brown in the middle.