St Johnstone vs Celtic (13th August 19:45, Sky Sports 5)

Zaluska
Matthews Denayer Virgil Izaguirre
McGregor Biton Johansen Commons
Pukki Stokes​

 

Exactly I really hope he doesn't take a silly risk like that again... still makes no sense to me why he dropped Izzy, moved Matthews into the left back slot despite never having played him there in preseason and then putting the newly signed berget in front of him. Looked like the most makeshift left hand side ever! Seriously what the * was going through Ronny's head when he decided that!?

 

Doubt Tonev or Denayer will start. Probably see Tonev come on in the second half.

 

I hope Ronny plays 3 midfielders, Biton, Kayal, Johannsen. He can then play his three attacking players. But playing 3 mids with 4 attackers is too weak a midfield.

 

hope Denayer starts at CB, good player who I've seen a few times now. Mulgrew & Efe depress me.

Looking forward to tomorrow night hopefully get a good result as well

 

After two poor showings against Legia, I think a couple of players need dropped to give them a kick up the *. Mulgrew being the main one... he was horrendous over the two legs, especially considering he was given the captains armband... I'm a fan of him though and feel he'll be an important player for us this season, but I think a little spell on the bench to signal to him that his place isn't safe would do him a * of a lot of good in the long run. I'd also drop Lustig... in my opinion he's one of our top players but I wasn't overally impressed with his contribution against Legia, meanwhile I've been quite impressed with Matthews over the course of preseason so I think he deserves to start on current form. Like Mulgrew, I think dropping him could do him a lot of good and help him up his game.

So the team I'd go for is...

Gordon,
Matthews, Ambrose, VVD, Izzy,
Kayal, Johansen,
Forrest, Commons, McGregor,
Pukki

Subs: Zaluska, Lustig, Biton, Henderson, Boerrigter, Stokes, Griffiths​

There will be a lot of movement in this front four which will open up space for others and themselves, which will help breakdown a very well organised defensive set up by St. J. I decided to go with Pukki in this attack as I think he deserves it on his performances since the new manager came in, although I wouldn't be against Griffiths being given his role aslong as Ronny plays him as the main focal point of the attack and not out wide right. I really don't think Stokesy deserves to start though after his recent performances- I would have him on the bench though as he can definitely change the game for us at this level if needed.

The main thing for me though is that I want to see Forrest get a couple of games under his belt prior to the Maribor tie, where he could be very important for us in terms of giving us that injection of pace and creative spark that we were clearly missing against Legia.

Also I decided to go with a 2 man central midfield of Kayal and Johansen, as I really want to see what they can do together. They're both workhorses and have enough bite and energy to make up for the one less man in midfield (if the wingers fancy putting in a defensive shift) to allow for the four pronged attack, in my opinion.

Like I said previously in this thread though, I don't want to see either of the 2 loan signings involved from the start tomorrow... Far too risky, especially starting the young Belgian lad at centreback.

 

Good team. But Lustig for Matthews and Biton for Johansen.

Matthews delivery has been rotten, could have been 2 up against Legia at Murrayfield if he could pick out an attacker. Johansen too small to play in a midfield 2 so I'd go with Biton.

 

Pukki

Tonev00000000000000000000000000Forrest
Izzy000Commons000McGregor

Mulgrew00000VVD00000Ambrose00000Lustig

Fasan​

 

Well done. Your last point has summed up everything which is wrong with Scottish football. How can you be too small to play a midfield 2?!?!???
As most were taught. * built pitches on the ground, so keep the effin ball on the ground!!!

 

I was at the Legia game at Murrayfield, he did not look like he could control a midfield. He was caught in possession countless times. I meant that rather than small..!

 

Want to see mcgeouch start cm

 

He also played as a left winger.

 

3-1 Stokes Pukki and VVD with the goals.

 

Getting the train up from Glasgow tomorrow, hoping its not a * dry train like for Legia game last week..

 

Couldn't agree more, he's shown glimpses of a really good player, has bite as well who'll fight for the club. Couldn't be any worse than what we already have, unfortunately can't see him starting

 

Id imagine all 'football fans' travelling have to be dry. If you don't show colours can't see what the problem is with a few beers of your own?

 

Be interesting to see what team he picks, you'd think that he should pick the same XI for the next 2 games and then the same against Maribor for a bit of continuity but you've no got a clue what it will be.

 

Had a bottle of buckfast on the train on way to edinburgh last week, was coming from Fife as opposed to Glasgow though.

 

Gordon

Lustig
Virgil
Day er
Izzy

Mulgrew would rather efe or Kayal
Henderson
Johansen

Forrest
Mcgregor

Commons