Celtic FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014/15 Mod Warning post #6011

Dempsey

Beram Kayal ruled out for 2 weeks

PauloMN

Dempsey wrote: »

Beram Kayal ruled out for 2 weeks

Well that makes picking midfield slightly easier for tomorrow night.

RoryMac

Maybe Shaktar's sheep killing has put an injury curse on us! They haven't ruled out killing another before tomorrows game which could spell disaster for us.

Maybe we should just give them Mouyokolo!

eire4

PauloMN wrote: »

Well that makes picking midfield slightly easier for tomorrow night.

Can't see how he would have been starting tomorrow night anyway.

RoryMac

Forster called up to the England squad, hopefully that will boost his confidence over the next few weeks

Dempsey

RoryMac wrote: »

Forster called up to the England squad, hopefully that will boost his confidence over the next few weeks

Delighted for him, hopefully he can make an impact of Hodgson. Some right piss poor defending going on in front of him but you do see the odd game changing save out of him still (e.g. Aberdeen recently)

cardwizzard

Nir Biton signs a four year deal with Celtic subject to a work permit.

Welcome to paradise Nir.

cardwizzard

Lazio defender Michael Ciani is reportedly close to joining Scottish champions Celtic.

The former France international only arrived in Rome a year ago from Girondins Bordeaux for €1.5m (£1.3m).

He was rarely first choice under Vladimir Petkovic, making 18 Serie A appearances, 12 in the Europa League and five in the Coppa Italia, where he also scored a goal. He still managed seven yellow cards and a red.

According to the latest reports from Sky Sport Italia, Celtic are prepared to pay €2m for Ciani (£1.7m).

As that would provide Lazio with a profit for the 29-year-old, it is very likely to go through successfully.

Dempsey

We tried to sign Michael Ciani before didnt we?

This Nir Biton fellow looks like an interesting player indeed

Question is, why couldnt they be signed before now....

blahfckingblah

im just happy that this is all happening at all

PauloMN

Two big lads, a bit more height in our team would not be a bad thing. Glad to see a bit of transfer activity.

Roll on tonight, won't be able to concentrate all day now! Early goal is the key, but given our lack of strength up front, we're going to need goals from everywhere - midfield and from set-pieces. I think we will win, the question is whether we can win by enough, and more importantly, keep a clean sheet.

How are we looking injury-wise? Are Sammy and Commons good for tonight?

Dempsey

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23852624

Shakhter Karagandy's ceremony of sacrificing a sheep will not be repeated before Wednesday's match against Celtic in Glasgow.

The tide is turning! :pac:

I dont think the progress of the bulk of players doubtful will be revealed before the lineup announcement for tactical reasons.

premierstone

Commons is key for me if he starts and is fully fit I am reasonably confident we will progress.

SomethingElse

Can't wait for the game to start. Hopefully NL's men can turn this game around. Would be massive to be back in the CL again.

PauloMN

SomethingElse wrote: »

Can't wait for the game to start. Hopefully NL's men can turn this game around. Would be massive to be back in the CL again.

Can't remember being this nervous before a game recently. Definitely the most important 90 mins of this season. Celtic getting to the CL groups is an achievement in itself, and last season was a reminder of just how good it feels to be involved with the cream of Europe in the CL.

I suspect the players will be really fired up for this, regardless of what Lenny has had to say to them. Have to be at our best if we are to give them a right going over, which we need to do. Even three goals up, we are not safe - one sloppy pass could ruin everything, so this has to be some performance.

fluff_daddy

SomethingElse wrote: »

Can't wait for the game to start. Hopefully NL's men can turn this game around. Would be massive to be back in the CL again.

We did really well last year in CL but without 3 main players this time around i would fear we could be shown up by most opposition. Saying that, qualifying itself and the money for doing so would be a great reap itself

eire4

premierstone wrote: »

Commons is key for me if he starts and is fully fit I am reasonably confident we will progress.

Stokes as are only current out and out natural goal scorer is crucial for tonight as well as Commons for me.

PauloMN

fluff_daddy wrote: »

We did really well last year in CL but without 3 main players this time around i would fear we could be shown up by most opposition. Saying that, qualifying itself and the money for doing so would be a great reap itself

I don't think anyone would expect a similar outcome to last season, even if we do make the groups, given the players we have lost. But even with the squad we have, we should be beating the likes of SK without fuss. No way should we be in the position we find ourselves in today, given that we got probably the easiest tie for the playoffs.

Qualifying is massive in terms of revenue, and in terms of giving the fans games against CL quality teams - also in attracting new players and keeping the players we want to keep. If we made the groups though, I'd be delighted to come third, just to get some European football after Christmas.

Actually feel sick here, this day has dragged big time. Roll on 7.45pm.

PauloMN

eire4 wrote: »

Stokes as are only current out and out natural goal scorer is crucial for tonight as well as Commons for me.

How many European games has Stokes started? I just don't see him starting tonight.

Balde upfront for me, with Commons playing off him.

premierstone

PauloMN wrote: »

How many European games has Stokes started? I just don't see him starting tonight.

Balde upfront for me, with Commons playing off him.

Any chance he might start all three with Sammy outwide aswell and go for it or are we expecting a measured approach and hope to get one before the hour mark and then go for it?

fluff_daddy

PauloMN wrote: »

I don't think anyone would expect a similar outcome to last season, even if we do make the groups, given the players we have lost. But even with the squad we have, we should be beating the likes of SK without fuss. No way should we be in the position we find ourselves in today, given that we got probably the easiest tie for the playoffs.

Qualifying is massive in terms of revenue, and in terms of giving the fans games against CL quality teams - also in attracting new players and keeping the players we want to keep. If we made the groups though, I'd be delighted to come third, just to get some European football after Christmas.

Actually feel sick here, this day has dragged big time. Roll on 7.45pm.

Your right, no one would expect the same but its a pity that we cant have that level of expectations. Yeah I would be happy with 3rd place and a wee run in Europa League [Ten Years on]. HEARTSONNNNN!!

PauloMN

premierstone wrote: »

Any chance he might start all three with Sammy outwide aswell and go for it or are we expecting a measured approach and hope to get one before the hour mark and then go for it?

Not sure what he'll do, but if he starts Sammy, I hope he doesn't play him as a lone striker!!

PauloMN

premierstone wrote: »

Commons is key for me if he starts and is fully fit I am reasonably confident we will progress.

By the way, I completely agree with this. An in-form Commons could cause these guys all sorts of headaches, so long as he's free to run about in front of midfield. I expect he'll be peppering their goal with shots all night.

Hopefully a few of them actually go in.

premierstone

PauloMN wrote: »

Not sure what he'll do, but if he starts Sammy, I hope he doesn't play him as a lone striker!!

Yeah completley agree with Sammy and personally I think he will adopt a more cautious approach, and as I say ensure we don't concede - which lets face it is curtains - and hope to nick one early in the second half and then last twenty really go for it and then and only then do I think he will introduce Stokes - historically Neil has never really trusted Stokes as the main striker in the bigger games and I cant see that changing tonight.

Fcuk I'm nervous as a stray sheep on the streets of Karagandy :eek:

PauloMN

premierstone wrote: »

Fcuk I'm nervous as a stray sheep on the streets of Karagandy :eek:

Ditto mate, head wrecked here all day waiting for tonight.

Fook it, heading out for a run for an hour, just to take my mind off it.

SomethingElse

PauloMN wrote: »

Ditto mate, head wrecked here all day waiting for tonight.

Fook it, heading out for a run for an hour, just to take my mind off it.

If us supporters are feeling like this can you imagine how fired up the players are going out on the pitch. Tonights a massive challenge for them and I'm sure they'll relish it. Lets hope an early goal for Shakhtar doesn't spoil the atmosphere and belief.

magherakid

Celtic starting XI: Forster, Matthews, Ambrose, Lustig, Mulgrew, Forrest, Brown, Ledley, Commons, Samaras, Stokes

Celtic subs: Zaluska, Izaguirre, Boerrigter, Van Dijk, Balde, Watt, McGeouch

RoryMac

magherakid wrote: »

Celtic starting XI: Forster, Matthews, Ambrose, Lustig, Mulgrew, Forrest, Brown, Ledley, Commons, Samaras, Stokes

Celtic subs: Zaluska, Izaguirre, Boerrigter, Van Dijk, Balde, Watt, McGeouch

Are we playing Matthews LB I wonder, strong team on paper. Need a big game from Forrest.

Dempsey

Celtic are going 4-4-2 tonight, again Samaras will be wasted up top, he generally makes no effort to get close to his striking partner. About time Izzy got hooked but another experimental back line. :mad: Forrest cant be fully fit if he's been diagnosed with sciatica.

What are the odds of Stokes getting booked for going up for a header leading with his elbow?

Not feeling very optimistic at the moment, I've little confidence in that front pairing tbh

RoryMac wrote: »

Are we playing Matthews LB I wonder, strong team on paper. Need a big game from Forrest.

Matthews is RB tonight, Lustig is CB

Pompey Magnus

Good to be back watching the game live, I am a little more confident now than I was after last week's game but I reckon we will need four, I shudder to think of having to watch the team at panic stations for the last 15 minutes leading 3-0 and not being sure whether to attack or defend .