Inverness Caledonian Thistle vs. Celtic

1

Few injury doubts for tomorrow - Kayal, Ledley and Rogne all doubtful and I wouldn’t take any chances on them with Wednesday in mind. Murphy and Stokes are still doubtful but McCourt, Twardzik and Bangura should be back.

I’d go with the following side:

[soccer][gk]Forster[/gk]

[rb]Matthews[/rb] [rcb]Wilson[/rcb] [lcb]Mulgrew[/lcb] [lb]Izaguirre[/lb]

[rcm]Brown[/rcm] [lcm]Wanyama[/lcm]

[rw]Forrest[/rw] [cam]Commons[/cam] [lw]Samaras[/lw]

[st]Hooper[/st] [/soccer]

Subs: Zaluska, Lustig, Fraser, Twardzik, Bangura, McCourt, Watt.

2

That’s asking an awful lot of Mulgrew. But switch Izzy in to left back and I think I’d go with that team too. Would be good to get some time for Watt and McCourt off the bench, or Stokes if he’s able to play 15 minutes or anything.

3

Apologies to Mulgrew and Izzy. I would like to see McCourt being given a prolonged chance in the centre of the pitch in a competitive game. I would like to see Watt start up front as I think he is much more adept to leading the line on his own with his movement, physique and mobility but I can’t see Lennon dropping Hooper. Hopefully we play with a lot more urgency than we have this season.

4

Doubts over Commons, Samaras and Brown too now.

5

Kayal out for four weeks and Ledley out for a couple of weeks.

6

Team should be announced in next couple of minutes. I understand Watt will start.

7

Talk that Paddy might be starting too. Could be an exciting line-up.

8

[font=Arial]Forster; Lustig, Wilson, Mulgrew, Izaguirre; Matthews, Wanyama, F. Twardzik, McCourt; Hooper, Watt[/font]

[font=Arial]Zaluska, Irvine, McGregor, Bangura, Forrest, Slane, Chalmers[/font]

9

So some sort of 3-5-2 variant?

[soccer]
[gk]Forster[/gk]
[rcb]Lustig[/rcb]
[cb]Wilson[/cb]
[lcb]Mulgrew[/lcb]
[rwb]Matthews[/rwb]
[lwb]Izaguirre[/lwb]
[cam]McCourt[/cam]
[lst]Watt[/lst]
[rst]Hooper[/rst]
[lcm]Twardzik[/lcm]
[rcm]Wanyama[/rcm]
[/soccer]

Could also have McCourt a bit deeper beside Twardzik with Wanyama behind them both. I imagine ICT will target the area around Lustig for some long balls.

10

Really happy with that starting XI. :clap:

11

Rocko, are McGregor, Chalmer and Irvine all midfielders?

12

Chalmers is a defender.

13

stokes out for 3 months

14

I wonder if Stokes injury is related to the ankle injury he picked up against Inter Milan in the friendly at Parkhead where he seemed in great discomfort in the aftermath. Definitely means we need another striker.

15

I’m confident of a victory and good performance given the team selection.

16

McCourt’s first SPL start in 17 months. :o

17

Seems to be a 4-4-2.

18

Seems to be a 4-4-2 with Lustig at right back and Matthews at right wing.

19

Lovely touches from Hooper there.

20

Good play by Hooper forces Esson into a save.