Thread: Celtic v Utrecht

After a mostly impressive looking performance against Inverness Lennon's next big test is just a couple of days away. Knocked out of the CL by a fairly average Braga side we find ourselves up against the team who finished 7th in the Eredivisie, Utrecht.

I'll be open enough to admit that I know next to nothing about this Dutch mob. All I do know is that if we can't find ourselves getting through against them then I'd rather not see my team in Europe this year. If we fail to get to the group stages then Neil Lennon will find himself under an immense amount of pressure so early in his spell as full time manager.

Zaluska
Cha Jos Loovens Mulgrew
Fortune Brown Juarez Ledley Maloney
Samaras

Will McCourt be 100% (well, as fit as he can be) for this?

Looking forward to the game. Who else will be in attendance?

I heard Jos was injured? Anyway, Even if it is sort of a risk, I would throw the new bhoy Majstorovic in (assuming fit). Can't be worse than Loovens/Hooiveld anyway.
Juarez must start...I wouldn't mind if Ledley was left out tbh.

You want to play a 4-5-1 at home? I don't even want to play a 4-5-1 away!

I'm still not sure if we should just go for the 4-4-2 or even a 4-4-1-1.
this 4-5-1 pish is never effective especially when our lone striker is sammy who fannies about in the wing half the time. Maybe a 4-5-1 would work if we had a good goalscorer or could defend.

We'll see...

Same team but I think the new bhoy might get the nod infront of Loovens.

Good performance and a win is a must. If we cant beat this team over two legs we're doomed.

Zaluska
Du Rei Dan Jos Mulgrew
Fortune Brown Juarez Ledley Maloney
Samaras

Utrecht won 3-1 in the league on sunday, they're not gonna be pushovers.
Hopefully juarez can start, the new swedish CB as well. Du rei's a definite, dunno about the other CB.
The utrecht coach was at inverness on saturday and will have clocked mulgrew's early wobbles. Dunno if i'd prefer him or a debut for the Honduran.
Thought brown and ledley looked a decent pairing, thursday might be the kind of game for them to really gel, especially if the dutch are playing on the backfoot for spells. Maloney's a must and hopefully mccourt's over his whiplash ffs.
Upfront i'd probably favour fortune but i reckon samaras will start.

Gonna miss the game myself, think celtic have missed a trick by not making it a freebie for season tickets, they'll be getting dough from dutch tv and they'll end up with a shit crowd - that's not gonna put a dent in the debt.

Originally Posted by bryzo68

Utrecht won 3-1 in the league on sunday, they're not gonna be pushovers.

Gonna miss the game myself, think celtic have missed a trick by not making it a freebie for season tickets, they'll be getting dough from dutch tv and they'll end up with a shit crowd - that's not gonna put a dent in the debt.

Game v Braga was on the season book was it not? Doubt they were going to put both our qualifiers as free games. I actually think we'll get quite a good attendance for this one.

They beat NAC 3-1, a team that finished 10th last season, at home.

Game v braga was a lost cause but they were guaranteed a good atmosphere. This is a live tie and the atmosphere could die on it's arse.

Will the honduran guy be eligible if he signs on time? Anyone know? Could there be permit difficulties?

I know we had to submit a squad for the CL qualifier so I'd only presume we have to do the same for the Europa League qualifier. As it's in 2 days time I'd imagine a squad has already been selected.

Could be wrong though as I'm just speculating.

Originally Posted by RB

Same team but I think the new bhoy might get the nod infront of Loovens.

Good performance and a win is a must. If we cant beat this team over two legs we're doomed.

Zaluska
Du Rei Dan Jos Mulgrew
Fortune Brown Juarez Ledley Maloney
Samaras

agreed m8 i think big dan the man could get in the team instead of loovens

Zaluska
Du Rei Dan Jos Mulgrew
Fortune Brown Juarez Ledley Maloney
Murphy

Will admit know hee haw about this mob but wouldnt play sammy since he was shite against inverness would give murphy a chance.

A game we really need to win and you want to 'give Murphy a chance'? There's a time and a place..