Celtic 3 - 2 Real Betis

Ange has already said he will rest players for this one. So the only question is how many not if.

 

The board will force his hand and demand he plays the first string given the win bonus on offer.

Given how short sighted our board are, nothing surer than this.

 

Would much prefer this game still mattered…

… but a great opportunity to keep the ‘Rogics and McGregors and Kyogo’ etc ‘ on ice for the busy league schedule this month…

… and to give some peripheral players a bit of game time. * a few before offloading as well.

 

Oluwayemi
Urhoghide Murray Welsh Scales
McCarthy
Shaw Soro
Abada Ajeti Montgomery​

 

I expect some changes but nothing crazy. I think Ange and the players themselves would want to test where we are against tougher opposition. It would be good to show that we've improved since the away fixture.

 

Bain
Urhoghide Murray Scales Monty
McCarthy Soro
Abada Shaw Moffat
Ajeti
​

Bench : Oluwayemi, selection of youths

 

Barkas in goal just for the banter?


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And if he got injured and we were stuck with him .....

 

Nah, there's folk in Turkey meant to be buying him. Don't want to put them off

 

I'd rest Turnbull, Kyogo and McGregor for this one. Maybe give Rogic 50-60 minutes if he plays.

Result not important but for guys like Taylor, McCarthy, Ajeti, Soro etc it's a good game for some of these guys to try and fight for a place in the team or get some match fitness.

I'd start Bain in goals too.

 

Still important to test ourselves against decent opponents and learn where we need to improve, no point playing * like ajeti and bain as we aren’t going to learn anything.

 

Get as many rested as possible. A total dead rubber with very important games after it. Obviously would love to see us finish the group on a high, but if it is a toss up between a victory whilst risking important players or a defeat whilst keeping them wrapped in cotton wool, it’s the latter option all day long for me.

 

I agree, but I don't think we're going to see anything like the second string lineups being posted and I don't think playing a weakened team fits with Ange's philosophy.

 

I hope he recognises that we can't take much in terms of injuries to completely rock the boat.

If Kyogo is out injured along with Jota, it could completely derail our season. This month is incredibly crucial.

 

Kyogo and McGregor should definitely be a no go for this. CCV and Jota out anyway. Rogic and Turnbull I would leave out to, be good to get more minutes into Forrest and Taylor though.

Bain
Urhoghide
Starfelt
Scales
Taylor
McCarthy
Soro
Shaw
Forrest
Ajeti
Johnstone

 

I like his philosophy but sometimes common sense and doing the pragmatic thing is more beneficial. I sincerely hope Ange has learnt that by now.

 

Yeah it will be interesting to see which way he goes. As you say, not a situation he's been in with us before so we will learn something new about him either way.