Red Star Belgrade V Celtic Wednesday September 24th kick off 8PM TNT Sports 2

They're sitting on top of their domestic league with seven wins out of seven so its going to be right toughie and Id settle for a draw

 

Schmeichel
Donovan CCV Scales Tierney
Engles McGregor Balikwisha
Nygren
Maeda Tounekti

Think that's our best side for this tbh

 

Little pafos beat them we shouldn't be feart of them

Play 4312

Donovan ccv scales Tierney
Engles McGregor balikwishka
Nygren
Tounekti maeda

Cmon

 

Went to their qualifier Vs Pafos, they were awful.
Seems they've found form since though.
Barring the front three the team's been picking itself.
Personally think we should try Maeda on the right. He can run in behind & win loose balls. His crossing is rank so it shouldn't matter which flank he is on.

 

Before today, I’d have said a very different team. But I think things clicked a bit better.

Schmeichel
Donovan CCV Scales Tierney
McGregor
Nygren Hatate
Maeda Iheanacho Tounekti

2-1 Celtic

 

Got next to zero confidence for this

Team just seem nowhere near Euro level

- Cal another year older and has never been a convincing sitter at European level anyway
- If it's to be Yang or Forrest at RW then we already know neither will cut it
- Hatate far too inconsistent and quite frankly has never been good enough in Europe save for one or two performances
- Nygren has been poor in his three biggest tests so far this season (Kairat twice, huns), so we'll see how he does on Wednesday
- CCV has had his head in the clouds this season, far too many uncharacteristic brain facts
- Asking a lot of Donovan to step up here which whilst he's done a job since filling in looks way too raw for Europe
- Brendan won't change a thing with the formation, system or tactics, it'll be the same as always

With Red Star being a pretty solid outfit in my opinion this all spells a defeat, probably a resounding one

Now, if Brendan were to make a few tweaks to the system, personnel and formation, then I'd have a bit more confidence in getting a result, say something like a 3-5-1-1

Schmeichel
CCV Scales Tierney
Donovan Bernardo Cal Saracchi
McCowan
Tounekti
Maeda
​

Donovan and Saracchi as wing backs, Bernardo sitting alongside Cal to give him extra support, Tounekti in a free role behind Maeda, personally also think McCowan deserves a start over Nygren and Hatate

Obviously Brendan won't do anything like this though

 

They are on a incredible run of form so i can't see us beating them away from home. A draw would be a good result.

 

This is what I’d like to see! Don’t see iheanacho getting dropped, his link up play is pretty good and Tounekti is our most in form player, be strange if he doesn’t start lw.

 

Would snap your hand off for a draw tbh. A tough place to go and they’re in very good form.

 

My main concern is that the players will think that they are going to play a wee EL game. If they have that mindset we are in for a severe pumping.

They are flying like we did pre Bratislava.

 

That goes for there team aswel. Hopefully they know its just a we europa league game

Maybe play the kids etc its just a we team from scotland who couldn't even beat goat farmers..

 

This is the first time we've played a Serbian (or Yugoslav) side since 1989, surprising when Red Star & Partizan are in the group stages almost every year.

 

We have to play Engels or Bernardo next to Cal otherwise we will predictably be overrun in the middle. I would play Nygren on the right also.

 

Any positive result without further injuries would be a bonus. For once lets have a good start to the campaign.
Going to a good test of our resolve against a confident opposition. No passengers, everyone has to step up and put in a full shift. You never know, things could click in to place.

 

Engels will just dissappear as usual so, even though he's not been great, Id go for Bernardo or McGowan. Still so weak in that department

 

Be disappointed if Donovan gets dropped.

We all know what Ralston brings or more importantly what he doesn’t bring.

Donavon looks better all round, will only fulfil that potential by continuing to get gate time.

 

Not sure I thought Engels was decent in Europe last year especially with his defensive work. We need 2 holding for this game surely

 

Donovan is completely unproven defensively. Games against Killie and Partick are good for building up his experience but I'd have serious questions marks defensively about him that I would not have with Ralston.

It all depends on how fit Ralston is but I think if he's fit enough for Wednesday he should and will start. This game has came too soon for Donovan IMO.

 

First and foremost, Rodgers needs to be pragmatic with team selection.

Our downfall in these games is midfield. Not protecting the defence but also wasteful on the ball.

Engels or Bernardo must start this game, most likely Engels - his best games last season were in Europe. He has legs to get up and down the pitch and he’s more aggressive than the rest which highlight how soft we are in that area.

Hatate will probably start but I’d drop him, he’s far too wasteful and been out of form for as long as I can remember. The flashes of brilliance are happening less and less.

I’d go with 2 sitters and one 10, that gives us a lot more balance than one 6 and two 8’s.

Schmeichel

Donovan CCV Scales Tierney

Engels McGregor

Maeda Nygren Tounetki

Ihaenacho​

Wouldn’t be surprised to see BR bench Ihaenacho and keep him as an option off the bench. However I’d rather start with a striker on the pitch, try get a lead and then put Maeda up top to press when we are holding a lead. Ihaenacho also looks to be a safer option for holding the ball up and linking with midfield/wingers - Maeda’s first touch is woeful and his finishing isn’t much better.