If Samaras plays on Sunday...

I think the suprise we can play is with maloney and commons on either side of ki kayal and brown, stretching them more than we usually do when brown plays right. Think we have to stick to what has worked for us at their place, they cant handle the possession we get from that system.

 

We do need to win. If they win, and assuming we win our game in hand against ICT, then they will be a point ahead. So we do need to win. And I'm pretty sure we will win. A draw would do us but a win is vital

 

If Sammi plays on Sunday were * ,they had Celtic down to a T in the Cup Final with Sammi and Hooper up front ,,Sammi was'nt up front he was 30 yards away from his partner on a wing ,,Hooper was left exposed and got slated on here for his worst game in the Hoops ,Sorry but if your meant to be a forward ,stay of the wings and support your partner ,Stokes along with Hooper and Commons backing them up is the way to go with this shower .

 

The best thing is they don't nave a scoob what were going to do

 

sammy is back to his old self, i wouldnt start him tbh

 

The only reason Sammy will play is because he can win headers against them from goal kicks, long free-kicks etc. With Stokes and Hooper we have no-one posing an aerial threat from these situations so their CB's will be launching headers forward which will put pressure on our defense.

 

how can people say 'if sammy plays we're *'. i thought that before but on the big stage at ibrox he tore them apart. i think he does well in the big games. i can guarantee that if stokes starts, he'll play pish just like he did in the only old firm he's played this season, the 3-1 game. sammy upfront himself worked before. i think they should stick to that tactic on sunday. no point in messing about and trying different things at this part in the season. sammy upfront with commons and someone else on the wings, brown, ki and kayal in the middle.

 

Whats it to be then mate?

A win would be great but we dont need to win technically - they do.

Just saying.

 

I dont think it will mate.

The midfield is the key to winning an OF match and handicapping us in there by having a man less will be to the detriment to our chances of winning.

I would honestly consider going 4-5-1 (or 4-4-1-1) to give us that extra solidity in there.

Rangers arent great but they are 10x better than the teams we face every week.

Samaras won us the game by himself in January and although he is inconsistant, the game on Sunday is the perfect platform for him.

He is quality - when he wants to be.

He doesn't have show it often enough - but he showed it when it mattered in January and i believe he should be given the task on Sunday too.

Stokes is a good SPL player and has scored alot of goals for us but to quote Lenny himself ''horses for courses.''

Sammy - although infuriating i admit at times - has the qualities to make the difference in games like this were the small details will matter.

I do still beleive strongly Samaras will play on Sunday.

So trust in Lenny as he knows more about these guys qualities, mentalities,etc than us.

 

What ever decision Lennon makes on Sunday, one thing is for sure it will be his biggest decision on a team line-up this season and he will not make his decision on a wim or a chance. He will look at every viriable possible. I also dont think he will be blinded by the Sammy performance of Jan 2, the line up should be for the here and now in that he will take in account how the huns are likely to set up and how they are likely to play. If Watty lines up in a defensive manner we will hump them with any combination up front as are two full backs, in particular Izzy will cause them no end of trouble but if he sets up to attack which you would feel he will do since a draw will be of no use to them, then five in mid feild is probably the more suited option. I would go with the line up of tonight because I feel Rangers will want to attack us so are counter attacking football with the movement of Hooper and Stokes will reap dividends. It will be a high scoring game but if the two CBs can keep Jellyfish quiet, we will win.

 

If he wants to go 4-5-1, I would not mind seeing Sammy start.

But Celtic can attack them and it would be great to see them attack them with 442 because there's been times where they havent been able to get out their half

 

From what i have gathered from watching them lately I dont think they have been that much better than the teams they have faced. Just my opinion, they have relied a lot of Jelavic and Gollum in the last few games. Dont forget Stokes played well against Rangers when he was with Hibs and Falkirk, he was hindered because of the first Old Firm where he played on the right. We havent played the Huns with the team like the one which usually dismantle other teams with ease. On the form of tonight I think we would hammer them we just have to be confident and move the ball ay pace which we are more than capable of doing.

 

Disagree mate. Naismith is just as important to them as Jelavic.

His pace and direct style of play causes us problems when we play.

 

it's all about the midfield, hemming them in if possible and not getting involved in their *.

cut off the supply- make them chase the ball

 

Rangers at times dont play that well - but are functional - and successful. ( a feature of Walter's Reign since he came back.)

They all know their duties - are very rigid and will fight for every ball.

We are more fluid and free-flowing than them but this isnt Kilmarnock were they're 2 CB's spread out the 18 yard box and look for the ball and give us massive space through the middle.

This is going to be a battle with no time on the ball with little differences settling the game IMO.

I think Stokesy's poor first touch could be a factor in him not playing in the OF games to be honest. I've watched him closely and it does let him down at times.

We can agree and disagree on the merits of Stokes playing but one things for certain Lenny certainly has reservations about AS's quality (or mentality or whatever it is) to play in a game like this.

 

I usually like Sammy against that other lot, but gimme Stokesy. He was great tonight and he and Hooper up front create so much room for Commons. Let's just roll them 5-0. Hail, hail!

 

You can guarntee this on a player who has only played once against them and that day we took a humping and every Celtic player was rank rotten ,Why is Stokes the fall guy in all this ?

We have seen it 1st hand what these 2 players can do to teams ,yet they don't play together against them ,Lennon needs to go for this and the way forward is his strongest team and not a team that suites there style .

 

i'd play a 4-5-1 against the huns. maloney must play in the hole behind samaras. commons, kayal, brown and mulgrew in midfield. wilson majstorovich loovens and inzagi in defence.

 

As much as I would love to see stokes and hooper upfront I feel we need to keep it tight to start with.we are in 1 of those positions where Lenny has a big decision and only the result will tell if it's the right 1