Celtic v Maribor - Official Match Thread (UCL qualifier, 20th Aug, 19:45 SS5)

Easy peasy mate.

If there is one thing I can do it's hold the drink.

I'll be * slabbering by about 11pm tonight though. :smiley-laughing002:

 

Nothing new there then

 

Denayer made the same mistakes Ambrose makes ocassionally, in his first game.

Ambrose * up maybe two three times a season, Denayer has one game and 3 mistakes under his belt already.

You've got to really hate Ambrose to want a 19 year old with one top flight game under his belt. :smiley-laughing002:

I'd maybe even play Lustig in the middle and Ambrose out right before I would throw a kid into an away european tie.

 

:smiley-laughing002:

Get it up ye straw baws.

 

#LAD

 

If being able to hold a drink makes me a #LAD then so be it.

Even huns can hold drink and they don't have opposable thumbs.

 

i would put Denayers few mistakes on saturday down to nerves they all came early on and once he was settled he was the best player on the pitch

wouldnt you have a couple nerves playing in front of 45000?

now i believe he is settled you will see very few if any mistakes made by him for a long time. but thats just my opinion whether it is correct we will need to wait and see

 

Posted this the other day and my team hasn't changed

Gordon
Lustig Ambrose Virgil Izaguirre
Kayal Biton Johansen
McGregor Berget
Stokes ​

Think this is too big a game for young Denayer. He had a great debut on Saturday but remember is still only 19 and still looks a bit raw (ergh). Experience is needed in a game like this IMO. Ambrose is a good player and has performed well for us many times in Europe before, one half bad game does not make him *.

I don't want Mulgrew anywhere near the midfield for this because he's a disaster in there. Strolling around easily in Scotland does not cover up the fact that he is * poor in Europe. 3 midfielders will be needed though which means an attacking player has to be sacrificed. For me this player should be Commons. We'll need energy from middle to front and he won't offer much of that. Stick Berget in there instead and see what he can do. His strength and physical presence will be vital I think, he offers good passing, nice link up play and seems quite intelligent. Also, as we all know Stokes forgets he's a striker sometimes and likes to drop deep and out wide which leaves massive gaps up top everywhere. I noticed on the weekend that Berget likes to drift around and vacate those very spaces. This will not only help Stokes but the team too on the night. Plus he can actually head a ball. He's an asset.

For me this is Stokes' last chance to prove himself in Europe to the manager and the majority of Celtic fans. I personally don't think he's able to cut it, because I've been watching him for years. I would actually rather Pukki in there but seeing as he hasn't played for a while his confidence is probably shot again and we all know how a low on confidence Pukki plays. Stokes had a good game on the weekend too so is our best option right now.

If we remain defensively sound, strong in the middle and take our chances up front I can really see us nicking an away win here. Everyone needs to give 100% though on the night. The 2 games vs Legia were embarrassing and it looked like half the team weren't playing for Deila. I'm praying it isn't the same vs Maribor.

 

If Ambrose is going to start I hope it's right back with Lustig in centre, I have given up all hope with Ambrose as a centre back to be honest, too much of a bombscare.

So nervous for tonight, terrified after what happened in Warsaw.

 

Central midfield is a tough one. Kayal should be a definite for me, but I can't decide between Johansen and Mulgrew. I like a bit of height and strength in midfield, but I feel much more comfortable with Johansen in posession - Mulgrew is looking a little like Ambrose this season in terms of errors.

If we played two holding midfielders instead of three then I'd probably go with Kayal and Mulgrew for the experience.

 

Can't see Denayer or Biton starting, think it will be Ambrose & Mulgrew instead

 

Gordon

Lustig Denayer Van Dijk Izzy

Mulgrew

Johansen Kayal

McGregor__________Commons

Berget​

That's the team I'd play... 50/50 in my head over Berget or Stokes but plumped for Berget in the end because he has more presence up there, even if he hasn't got Stokes' skill.

 

I wouldn't say he was the best player on the park but I get your point.

Don't you think he will be suffering even more nerves though if he is thrown into such an important game tonight?

 

Ciftci shoved him off the ball way to easily for me. Not sure I'd start him tonight.
Has no experience what so ever.

 

i seriously hope mulgrew doesn't play

 

I don't hate Ambrose at all, I just don't like him at centre half really.

Denayer made a few errors in the opening stages on Saturday, which is only natural in my opinion considering that is by far the biggest crowd he has played in front of. He said as much himself. However, after the few shaky moments, he breezed through the game. Hence why he was MOTM.

As for Lustig at centre half, I wouldn't mind that either if I'm honest, as it would mean Ambrose wasn't.

I'm not sure what you are classifying as a mistake, but if Denayer had 3 on Saturday, Ambrose sure as * has more than that in a season.

 

I thought Ambrose looked decent at right back on Saturday, is that his position for Nigeria? Cant wait for this match now....work is dragging in!

 

It is.

Didn't offer much in the way in an attacking sense but he was assured defensively.

Could be the way to go tonight, with Lustig at CB.

 

That's what I want to see too.

It's early days for Denayer and I think we should know by now what happens when we fling new signings into a first 11 for a European game