[Matchday] AIK V Celtic Thursday August 29th 6PM Premier Sports

Think we can score and end the tie..

Gordon
Ajer Jullien Simunovic Mbombo
Brown McGregor
Forrest Christie Johnston
Edouard ​

 

Gordon
Ajer Jullien Simunovic Mbombo
McGregor
Forrest Christie Johnston
Edouard
Bayo
​

Eddie just doing what he wants cos he's a * amongst men and Bayo up top for further physicality and pace.

Would put it on Bayo to be the man in the box when we're attacking because he seems to have that instinct as well as be the out ball when we're struggling to get it clear.

Also think Bayo would prove important, as he did yesterday, in defending set pieces. For whatever reason, Ajer, another * like figure, can't seem to header a ball, so for me Bayo has to start.

Edit- I tried to align Eddie slightly out to the left but it hasn't shown up on the post.

 

I'd just put out the same side on Thursday which won 2-0 against AIK last week.

Our mistake against Cluj was changing a side that got a 1-1 result away from home thinking we'd be smart and put a CM at left back etc.

Keep it simple and reward the side that got the job done last week

 

I would agree. Nothing fancy, get the right players in the right position and make sure they’re in the right headspace. Work on Boli to make sure he’s not rash and plays it cool.

I’d like to see us go out and own this game. Too often we go into away ties with a kind of nervousness, underestimating ourselves. I think that’s what really cost us against Cluj.

Short term we want to qualify but long term we need a new approach to away games in qualification and it should start in this game.

 

No question about that IMHO. If we score first I can see us winning comfortably on the night but if they score first anything can happen at that point. The main positive for me even if their best attacker is fit and plays is that they do not score a lot of goals so if we can score over there it is hard to see them scoring 4 times against us on the night. It will be interesting to see what their approach is from kick off will they open up and really come after us or will they go for a more patient approach. Personally I hope they throw caution to the wind and go for it because that does not seem to be in their nature and we certainly have the weapons to hit them on the counter.

 

Live on Premier Sports, I'm happy with that. Got the £49 for the year deal, pretty decent.

 

Gordon

Ajer
Jullien
Simunovic

Forrest
Bitton
McGregor
Christie
Boli

Edouard
Bayo

 

They need to come at us to try get an early goal which hopefully will leave space at the back for Celtic to exploit

 

I think when we are defending a lead 3 at back leaves us too exposed to long diagonals and the counter attack.

I don't think three at the back suits us in general to be honest and I've never been a fan. Switching to it when things are not going so well I don't mind but not starting with it.

For me, this is essentially a trial run for Sunday and about managing a game/lead under pressure in what will likely be a semi-intense atmosphere/environment. Think it's great preparation for the weekend and if we get it right I'll be really looking forward to Sunday rather than dreading it as I have been for the past 5 weeks.

 

That's all fair enough really. I'm just accommodating for Elhamed being rested with Sunday in mind. They were a pretty slow side so I don't think they'll trouble us too much..

Good points about the preparation though. They'll definitely have a go from the off..

I'd be tempted to play Bayo and Edouard in both game's still..

 

Good stuff Premier Sports has this on.

In from work at 5:45pm, 10min shower.....sorted.

 

A goal for us at anytime sends us through imo. Can't see them scoring 4 against us, that's unheard of in Europe...

 

Always hate when 2nd leg is away from home.

Memories of Utrecht under Lenny!

2-0 up similar game to the first leg against AiK.

We need to keep it tight for the first 20 minutes imo then play our normal game.

Forster ineligible so goalie picks itself.

Gordon

Elhamed Ajer Simunovic Bolingoli

Brown McGregor Ntcham

Forrest Edouard Christie
​

2-1 AiK but expect us to do the job eventually

 

Utrecht and Cluj....

 

Johnston has to play, they struggled to handle him in the last game.

Gordon Ajer Bitton Jullien Bolingoli Brown McGregor Christie Forrest Johnston Edouard

With that front 3 and Christie behind them, I really can't see us not scoring at least another goal.

 

I'm 100% wanting those two to start up front together.

Would maybe just stick with Ajer at right back for now.

 

I see us scoring over there and that should be enough, maybe a 1-1 or 1-2.

 

I love the optimism of folk wanting to play 2 strikers for an away game in Europe. Personally would play a 451 try be quite compact and hit them on the break. They will need to have a go at us being 2-0 down.

 

:lenny1: