Efe Ambrose

I see what you mean now :smiley-laughing002::smiley-laughing002:

 

Fair enough. I hadn't seen your other posts - and yes, he was fine on the deck.

I still cannot see Efe as a CB as he lacks any ability to deal with balls above the height of his head!

 

But I would say it was only aerially that he struggled on Wednesday. Nobody could fault his work on the deck I don't think. And done very well on a number of oocasions to not put it out for a throw in, deep in our own half.

So in my opinion, it was only when the defending high balls he looked a bit vulnerable, and I think Forster could have helped the defence out, and avoided having to defend high balls. Because they were a very big side, and unfortunately, if most of their men timed the jump well, it was going to be almost impossible for us to win the first ball, as they had a few giants in their. Second balls were the main concern, scraps that we didn't deal with.

 

You * miserable *!:smiley-laughing002:

Ach well - for me, it was a vast improvement Scootz. Probably best shown by the fact it was a clean sheet. Shutting out a team (literally no chances) for 90 minutes is not going to happen, and I think they largely managed the attacking threat well, and also sparked our own attacks by passing through the back well - this did us great service.

 

That's why I don't see him as a permanent cb either - perhaps a sitting midfielder?

I don't think he's up to much at RB either tbh......

 

No negativity here. Just calling it how it was!

I said we would progress after the first leg (whilst many others were wailing that we were all doomed!).

 

Imagine your reaction if we didn't qualify

 

Aye... the adrenalin has subsided and I'm back to the cold hard facts! :smiley-laughing002:

 

I think the fact he let a Tahitian score in the Confed showed that his aerial prowess is a major flaw. Because it is. All-round, for me that was one of his better games by far.

 

I'd like Efe as a holding CM. He spends half his time up the pitch anyway...

 

I would have been * raging... so would you!

But as I said before on the away match-thread... I actually thought we were unlucky in Kazakhstan. Two defensive howlers cost us, but our overall play was deserving of a win.

I also mentioned in the match-thread that I was confident we would beat them in the second-leg (not many were!), but there's no heresay in stating after the event that we made hard work of it by not turning up with CB's who could fulfil the requirements of the role!

Listen guys... I'm not trying to be Mr Negative man - I just enjoy talking about the bones of a fitba match. I love Celtic and I wish every game was sweetness and light, but it's not! There are points up for debate after every match (even those which open the doors to the finest club competition on the planet) ... and we're not all going to agree! The defence against SK (in both legs) was awful and Efe was an integral part of that defence. We won.. yahoo... I'm delighted (and relieved) as much as the next bhoy - but the defence needs to be sorted (moreso than our striking conundrum) and I won't shy away from taking about it. Neither should anyone else as we'll be ripped apart by Barca, AC and Ajax unless we put some steel in there!

 

Yes I would have been raging and we would have been entitled too..

It only fair however to give credit where it's due,and for me efe more so than most deserves a pat on the back..
Was it perfect,no..
But it was close,he flapped at a couple of long balls,throws,the whole defence did..
It wasn't helped however by big forsters inability to come off his line and clear his lines,the one time he did really come out apart from right at the end he * it and almost cost us...
But apart from that,for me he was faultless and showed signs he's took a couple if things on board from the back room staff..

There's been cause for concern and a good old moan has been due,the other night for me wasn't one of them..

Get a big no nonsense defender in beside efe and it could be a good partnership for now,or maybe big van dijk Can be that man,time will tell..

 

I actaully think Efe is more suited to play against the less physical strikers in Ajax and Barca. He's very good on the deck.

I would have him nowhere near Balotelli though.

 

That's a fair point!

 

I thought he was very good on Wednesday night, along with Lustig.

However, I think against better opposition he would be punished when playing at the centre of defence and exposed, as the Juventus game last demonstrated.

 

He did just return from the African cup of nations though, I still think that had a big effect on him.

 

He makes far too many mistakes, so often caught out of position, caught on the ball or making poor passes. He should be nowhere near the central defence where mistakes often end in goals. He's more suited to RB where his mistakes are less problematic and his natural tendencies to get forward can be utilised but we already have 2 players ahead of him in that dept (Matthews n Lustig). He's a bench warmer for me which means we still need another centre half. Personally I'd play Mulgrew as first choice LB with Matthews at RB (Lustig for European games, especially away) with Van Dijk at CB and one other. Ambrose, Izzy and Mouyokolo squad players.

 

Our whole team were Jet-Lagged during that game mate

 

Heard the same * last season before the group games.

 

Ambrose first goal in the San Siro you heard it here first