League Cup Celtic V the Dirty Orange Bastards Sunday November 2nd kick off 2PM premier sports 1

Full update from MON on the squad ahead of the weekend



Kieran Tierney sat out Celtic’s midweek win over Falkirk with Marcelo Sarrachi starting instead - but the Uruguayan missed training, although O’Neill expects both to be okay while Daizen Maeda will be assessed after he returned to action in midweek off the bench.


O’Neill said of Sarrachi: “I think he will be okay. He'll be okay

 

Sarrachi for me needs to start. Has that aggression and energy needed...and hasn't shown that stereotypical south American full back red mist....yet. Sunday might be different. But hes a top player.
If maeda isnt 100% dont think MON will risk it. Kenny probably gets the nod. Same team as Wednesday for me....but don't bring hatate on

 

a win over them * is long over due. but 5-0 would be nice.

 

3-1 to us with theirs being a penalty.

 

Some people must be watching a different rangers to me...they beat Kilmarnock FFS and Hibs had a few chances not to mention the penalty miss...we have a manager who completely changed the way we played..I know some will say aye but it's only Falkirk but before that we created * all going forward...the Huns in defence are * garbage with no pace...we can really exploit that lack of pace...I'm really optimistic about Sunday.

 

3-0

They miss the penalty.

 

3-0 VAR cancels the penalty and we all laugh

 

That’s more than likely exactly how they’re working it. O’ Neill is there for a bit of guidance, and has provided a bit of good PR for the board (as they perceive it).

 

I honestly can't see anything other than a Celtic win. I said 2-1 initially, but now think 3-1.

 

Hope we've been practicing for a penalty shootouts cause were honking at them.

 

Confident bout this one, dont know why, just am..

 

So what do we do if KT and Sarrachi are both out? I'd probably put Hatate at LB.

Ralston should be at RB as I don't think this is a game for Donovan. Scales has to stay at CB. I'd be very worried if we threw Inamura in for this. Could MAB do a job there? Or Pusey?

 

They’ll both train today


Martin did provide another update in the late press release


Daizen Maeda is in the mix to start tomorrow’s clash after a second-half appearance off the bench against the Bairns.

O’Neill refused to rule out a return for Kelechi Iheanacho and Kieran Tierney, but Marcelo Saracchi is definitely available despite missing training on Friday.

 

In that case best option I think would be 352, probably Balikwisha as the wingback but I’d probably still opt for Tounekti even then. Or if sticking to a back 4, it’s Scales on the left with Trusty and Murray in the middle.


Trusty has also played at LB, only 10 games or so in his career but he’s played there.

Under BR Scales would move to Lb, MON I suspect would change the formation. Maeda would also probably be viewed as a wing back option, we tried that once and he was abysmal so I’d rather not that, but with all Maeda’s attributes, it feels like he’d be great there.


O’Neill had Thommo at wing back successfully for years, and it worked, until McLeish realised put a rapid * behind him because he’s never a defender in his life. MON is one of they managers that does weird *, and it just works.

 

More confident with anyone other than rodgers in charge thats for sure. Just win celtic COYBIG HH

 

It’s the only time to my memory that neither team can go into it with a solid idea of how the other will approach it. They can’t prepare a sure game plan to stop us like they have for the last year.

We don’t set up to stop them as a gameplan ever anyway, that suits us.

 

I see most of the hun * in the media have predicted a win for the huns. Hope to * we turn them over tomorrow.

 

I'd probably start the team from the other night... only change could be daizen for Kenny but I think that would be really harsh on the boy. Would I start Forrest or balkwisha on the right? Probably James as he'll attack the full back more...for me the guy who will make the difference is nygren played as a 10...they won't cope with his ability to find space.

 

Same as that. Same starting line up as Wednesday. The only tricky bit is right wing. Jamesy was great v Falkirk and you’d definitely get a good half hour from Jamesy v the huns. Is it better to start him or bring him on? Can Tounetki play right wing. Supposedly he can but Brendan never started him there. If he starts right wing then Balikwisha or Maeda can play left side.

I wouldn’t start Maeda through the middle ever again, he’s back to missing sitters again for the last few months going right back into the last few months of last season. If he plays from the start or off the bench it should be wide and just get him to do his pressing thing.