Internazionale vs. Celtic (26/2/2015, 6pm, BT Sports 1)

I would be tempted to start this team as well. Bags of energy, and a team set up to counter attack.

 

If we were in Inter's position i am sure we would be very confident..

I just cannot see us keeping a clean sheet.. would love the bhoys to prove me wrong but i posted in previous thread about our defense self imploding. (Though didn't expect the amazing fightback). BIG shout out to the support , especially for their support of our keeper immediately after their 3rd goal.

We need the first goal over there.. if we can do a quick fire double then i think Inter will throw in the towel.. I don't care when we score, but if do do score then i think we should go all out for a quick second..

IF we are going to go out then lets do it in a blaze of glory rather than a whimper.. the current team have very little experience of sitting in and keeping things tight.

I am sure our squad will go there believing they can get goals.. it is the defenders and Craig Gordon who will decide if we progress. I'm sure we will have a bit of support in the stadium so best wishes to all those making the trip.

Sing Loud, Stay Proud and enhance our fans reputation

 

Gordon

Matthews Denayer Van Dijk Izaguirre

Brown Bitton

GMS Johansen Armstrong

Guidetti.

Take the game to them from the first whistle!
​

 

GMS or Commons, Griffiths or Guidetti. Those are the only two dilemmas that I can see. Armstrong and Johansen will start for sure.

 

Wonder if Inter wil defend for a draw? If they do we will get a few chances for sure but if they go out and try score another they will leave gaps.

We say this before if Euro game but we can't concede early again. If we do we will need to go all out and try score 2 and that will leave us vulnerable at the back.

We really need to score first.

 

I just hope it's not an anti climax

 

I feared it in the 1st game and was right but we give away a ridiculous amount of early goals in Europe.

 

I don't think its such a big deal if thy score early. If it's only 1-0 to Inter for the majority of the game, heading into the last 15 minutes I'd fancy our chances.

 

You'd fancy our chances of scoring 2 in the last 15 minutes in the San Siro?

 

I think I would as well actually, looking at there defence they're a bit panicky.

Look how quickly we hit them for 2, they're rocky.

 

Their defence is really bad, we could easily hit them for 3 again if we don't get scared and play our game.

The worrying thing is they can also hit us for 3, and away in Europe our record is a joie. Its a big ask.

 

I don't have any real faith in our back four's ability to keep a clean sheet at this level so I think we'll have to outscore them, but that also means the back four will be more vulnerable to counter attacks and leaving huge holes in the defence as we push on for goals. To be honest if we are going to get through this tie I think it will be as much about hoping they are having an off day in front of goal and us riding our luck than anything else. They've hopefully used up all of their luck through Gordon in the first leg and we'll be due some on Thursday night.

 

I would still have hope we could turn it around, don't get me wrong, but if we're 1-0 down with 15 minutes left that's far from the ideal situation.. Bit of a disaster really. If we turned it around from there it would definitely go down as one of our most incredible results in Europe.

 

Btw- Calgliari v Inter is on tonight it might be worth a look to see if that defence is still as bad as ours.

 

We can do this. More than matched them at Paradise, all our goals came from genuinely good build up play, theirs came from luck and defensive/goalkeeping errors. We just need to keep it tight at the back, be adventurous going forward and really get in about them. 1-0 Celtic.

Gordon
Matthews Denayer Van Dijk Izaguirre
Brown Bitton
Commons Johansen Armstrong
Guidetti​

The front 3 was tough to choose, went for Commons as I think we will need his experience and composure on the ball, and left out Mackay-Steven as I think he showed a bit of naivety at times during the first leg, often lost the ball due to trying to take on too many players.

 

its not ideal, but far from a disaster. We know we can score against Inter, if we only need 2 with 15 minutes left I think we're in a decent position. There defending was shocking at Celtic park and I think the pressure would get to them.

Any victory at the San Siro would be one of our most incredible results

 

I think dropping griff and GMS leaves us short of pace up front. I think I'd let them tire them out for most of the game then bring on Commons and Guidetti at the end.

 

If big Craig had played as well as we know he can we would have likely won on Thursday. The likelihood of him having another nightmare is minimal so ... Same plan again and with luck we can win.

 

Forgot this was a 6pm kickoff. *. Will have to sort out a half day.