Udinese vs. Celtic 15/12/11

Can I just say, I think the amount of teams who field reserve sides in this competition is disgusting. When I was a kid I used to stay up late to watch the Champions League because there is something a bit magical about European football, and it's a shame we've lost a bit of that.

The UEFA Cup provided us with some of the greatest living memories some of us may ever have as Celtic fans, such as:

- Outclassing Blackburn after their 'Men against boys' comments.
- Winning at Anfield, one of the most famous grounds in the world.
- Beating Barca at home, and then shutting them out at the Camp Nou thanks to some great performances by guys from the youth team.
- The win away at Boavista to get us to our first Euro final in over 30 years.

Anyway, onto the Udinese game...
I'd drop Stokes to the bench for this one. He's gone off the boil a wee bit of late and maybe it's because he's been playing a lot of games. Front line of Samaras, Hooper and Forrest for me. Good mix and the potential for goals there.

Midfield, Wanyama and Kayal MUST play. Not sure whether I'd have Ki or Brown in there, maybe Brown as he'd press higher and better than Ki would - although he isn't as good with the ball.

At the back, (if fit) Matthews/Majstorovic/Loovens/Mulgrew. Matthews has been one of our best this season, and we should try to keep the CB's the same. Mulgrew is so solid, and adds a set-piece threat.

So the team would look like this:

Forster

Matthews Majstorovic Loovens Mulgrew

Brown Wanyama Kayal

Forrest Hooper Samaras​

 

Izzaguirre is travelling, but won't play.

 

Big night for the bhoys and i have belief we can do it, although this udinese team are a awesome force at home so will all depend on team they put out. as much as we are in to play best sides in compition would love for them to drop a few regulars like di natale.

my team would be:
forster
cha maj wanyama mulgrew
ki kayal
forrest brown samaras
hooper

subs: zaluska wilson twardzik mccourt george stokes bangura

hope we do qualify because as much as it'll be good to play in europe past new year, we badly need the co-eff.

 

Think this would be my team as well

Free role for the wee man.

 

Looking forward to this one. Always hopeful we can pull off a shock and a win would boost the Bhoys confidence no end.

 

I'd say he's sick that he's missed all the matches in Euriope, lets hope we can pull it off for Izzys sake.

 

The script is written for bangeura

 

I would also hope lennon has stressed the importance of keeping 11 men on the pitch .

 

Your right, I think the "Europa League" nowadays only gets good attendances, teams playing their best players, and exciting football once it reaches the Quarter Finals. When you watch something like the Road to Seville DVD, it really brings back memories of how good this competition once was.

Obviously, as with any Celtic European game, I am very excited for this game and hope we can pull something off. I'd take a Di Natale own goal in 95th minute of the game to win this for us.

 

Good man

 

"Attack Minded Approach"

I saw where Lennon stated he will take an "attack minded approach" to the game with Udinese. It seems to me we have no choice, since its win or go home until next season.

Just curious as to what some of you think this actually means in practice. What potential lineup changes, formation or tactics might we employ that are different? Does Paddy get a start? I for one, would love to see that, but I don't want that to be the focus of the thread since it's been rehashed so many times.

What should we expect to see on the pitch that is DIFFERENT than usual?

 

We've played 433 every game anyway.

 

Attack minded could be anything, from all-out-attack to sitting deep and breaking at pace. Impossible to tell really, since Lennon is hardly likely to give up his gameplan to the press (and therefore the other team) before the game.

 

It has to mean hooper and stokes starting surely?, I think it will be 4312 with forrest just behind hooper and stokes with Wanyama, Kayal and Brown all defensive midfield.

 

Either Hoops or Stokes will be rested I think.

 

I think we'll go .

Forster
Cha Wilson Majstorovic Mulgrew
Brown Kayal Wanyama
Forrest Stokes Samaras

 

Saw Mjallby talking about him earlier on SSN. Great news for us, as it must mean that he is nearing full fitness again and will hopefully be back in a couple of weeks, even if he comes off the bench as a sub.

 

I'd be happy if we played our customary 4-4-2 against them.