Forrest, Ledley and Kayal are all missing today. Ledley out for Tuesday too apparently, the other two are doubtful for Tuesday apparently.
After the disappointing result midweek I don’t think we can afford to rest too many today. I assume Charlie will be playing midfield on Tuesday so I’d start him there today beside Brown. He played wide against Barca last year but that would probably mean Stokes and Samaras couldn’t both play. And in the absence of Ledley the need I’d much greater in the middle.
Anyway, today we’ll probably restore most of our first choice front 4 with Stokes ahead of Commons, Samaras and then either Boerrigter, Pukki or Matthews. Lennon gave an interview at that UEFA coaching seminar where he said Adam Matthews is the best 1v1 defender that Celtic have had in a long time and was crucial to our system and success against Barca. Interesting to see if he plays him more advanced this season. I think we’ll get an indication from the selection today.
We should definitely be resting Brown for today - give some youngster a game or try someone like Rogic in a deeper role. What difference is today’s game going to make at the end of the season? None, we should be winning the league by about 20 points so when we have a crisis in midfield like we have at the moment we should be protecting the only fit and available proven performer we have there.
Think today is a good game to give the likes of Fisher, Balde and Atajic a run out.
[quote=“Rudi, post: 837853, member: 1052”]We should definitely be resting Brown for today - give some youngster a game or try someone like Rogic in a deeper role. What difference is today’s game going to make at the end of the season? None, we should be winning the league by about 20 points so when we have a crisis in midfield like we have at the moment we should be protecting the only fit and available proven performer we have there.
Think today is a good game to give the likes of Fisher, Balde and Atajic a run out.[/quote]
I agree with you to some extent but we can’t just turn it on for Champions League matches without players getting themselves into form. Stokes has been in good form and I’d be loathe to give him too much of a break because he was thriving on his confidence. Sane with Commons who is a real form player.
I’d certainly like to give Brown a rest if he needs it now that you say it. Highly unlikely to happen though.
Brown was plagued with that hip injury last season, taking injections to get through games and there was a lot of mumbling about his career possibly being in jeopardy due to it. He has pretty much being playing twice weekly for the last two months with out European commitments and international games, as well as 120 minutes in midweek. To my unqualified mind, it seems retarded that we play him in a game we don’t desperately need him.
I can see your point on Stokes and Commons but I think the squad does need freshening up. I think we should have had a much more experimental team out against Morton. Commons has really faded in the second half of a lot of our games this season so I’d keeping him as fresh as possible for Barca. I’d also like to see Mulgrew and Matthews rested as we will also be requiring big efforts from them on Tuesday.
Team I’d go with:
Zaluska
Fisher Ambrose Van Dijk Izzy
McGeouch Biton Rogic Boerrigter
Pukki Balde
While you can pick holes in its balance and inexperience, it should still be enough to beat Kilmarnock.
[quote=“Rudi, post: 837855, member: 1052”]Brown was plagued with that hip injury last season, taking injections to get through games and there was a lot of mumbling about his career possibly being in jeopardy due to it. He has pretty much being playing twice weekly for the last two months with out European commitments and international games, as well as 120 minutes in midweek. To my unqualified mind, it seems retarded that we play him in a game we don’t desperately need him.
I can see your point on Stokes and Commons but I think the squad does need freshening up. I think we should have had a much more experimental team out against Morton. Commons has really faded in the second half of a lot of our games this season so I’d keeping him as fresh as possible for Barca. I’d also like to see Mulgrew and Matthews rested as we will also be requiring big efforts from them on Tuesday.
Team I’d go with:
Zaluska
Fisher Ambrose Van Dijk Izzy
McGeouch Biton Rogic Boerrigter
Pukki Balde
While you can pick holes in its balance and inexperience, it should still be enough to beat Kilmarnock.[/quote]
Agreed completely on Morton. That was a game to make 8 or 9 changes for.
Brown seems to dictate himself when he plays. Lennon was complaining a couple of years ago about Brown lying about his injuries. I would rest him today but I don’t see it happening.
Bit slack defensively so far. Ambrose beaten on the ground by Gardyne there and Boyd had a chance early on when Matthews allowed him win a header at the back post.
That’s fairly mad. Celtic were horribly sloppy all over the pitch for the first 20 minutes but 3 quick goals then. Terrible goalkeeping for the first one but Samaras took both his goals superbly.
Great ball there from Stokes. Sammy has really kicked us into gear here. His run for the first goal was fortunate but important, since the last he’s lifted the whole team.