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Post by Hollowgreen on Feb 23, 2020 20:08:50 GMT
Second leg. 1-1 as it stands. I think we have enough in the tank to qualify for the Last 16. Christie suspended for this one.
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Post by prairiebhoy on Feb 27, 2020 22:27:51 GMT
That went south in a hurry. I thought after the PK they were in good shape....then they kept losing balls, the defense lost it's shape and Forrester got toasted.
Have to give the tribute band credit, they did what they needed to do.
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Post by Hollowgreen on Feb 27, 2020 22:38:15 GMT
Hammered 3-1. Well I must admit I didn't see that coming. Why did Lenny change the successful 3-5-2 shape ? Jock Stein always said never change a winning team. Rogic, Simunovic and Forrest all posted missing. You can't win against a top European side with three players AWOL.
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Post by sireadh on Feb 27, 2020 22:51:05 GMT
Two teams, Celtic and Braga thought they had the ties won in the first half and relaxed to go through on the home ties, well there you go. I have said it too many times, Neill Lennon is tactically clueless and we win bigger games in spite of him rather than because of him. The team selection showed him up again with a strange back four, weak in midfield, Forrest being asked to come inside too often when we have no attacking full back on the right, cue Frimpong, Elyounoussi just returned from injury and no support for Eddie. Crosses from the left to a player not known for scoring with his head. crowding the box and no one coming from midfield to shoot on cutbacks cos there were no cutbacks. Don't think much could have been done to improve midfield due to injuries but Rogic was poor at the pace of the game, Brown was blowing second half, these didn't help Calmac who was not his usual self. Questions need to be asked as to why £5m spent on players that cannot get in the squad never mind the team, Why Jozo tries a pass back when out the park is choice, why do we not play for ET with 8 mins to go but play a forward pass to a man who looked spent. Why no Griffiths in a 3 5 2. I liked Lenny as a player and he did us a turn last season but he is not the man for the job IMO. A shambles tactically v Cluj, Sevco, Livvy and tonight. The players do not get off Scott free but what do we expect when our coach sets up a back four who have not settled together in the past. Is there ahyone out there who would have picked that team.
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Post by Hollowgreen on Feb 28, 2020 2:24:24 GMT
Two teams, Celtic and Braga thought they had the ties won in the first half and relaxed to go through on the home ties, well there you go. I have said it too many times, Neill Lennon is tactically clueless and we win bigger games in spite of him rather than because of him. The team selection showed him up again with a strange back four, weak in midfield, Forrest being asked to come inside too often when we have no attacking full back on the right, cue Frimpong, Elyounoussi just returned from injury and no support for Eddie. Crosses from the left to a player not known for scoring with his head. crowding the box and no one coming from midfield to shoot on cutbacks cos there were no cutbacks. Don't think much could have been done to improve midfield due to injuries but Rogic was poor at the pace of the game, Brown was blowing second half, these didn't help Calmac who was not his usual self. Questions need to be asked as to why £5m spent on players that cannot get in the squad never mind the team, Why Jozo tries a pass back when out the park is choice, why do we not play for ET with 8 mins to go but play a forward pass to a man who looked spent. Why no Griffiths in a 3 5 2. I liked Lenny as a player and he did us a turn last season but he is not the man for the job IMO. A shambles tactically v Cluj, Sevco, Livvy and tonight. The players do not get off Scott free but what do we expect when our coach sets up a back four who have not settled together in the past. Is there ahyone out there who would have picked that team. I have to agree with you Sireadh. Lenny carries the can once again for this cluster#### Cluj all over again. He never learns from his mistakes. Reminds me Lennon also played the blundering Efe against Benfica in the 3-0 defeat, after Efe had travelled half way around the globe the day before If only we had someone like Steve Clarke as manager.
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Post by sireadh on Feb 28, 2020 10:49:04 GMT
I don't like to come down on the players as they have won us more games than they lose but I question a coaching team where the head coach sits in the dugout with his head tucked in his collar and hands in his pockets. How after 15 mins could he not see what most fans saw, that his selection and formation was going to be scrappy at best.You must have a settled back line and not ask a plumber to do a joiners job or brickie to wire the house, if you do then the house will not function. Defenders defend first and must be aware that most goals are not scored from sublime bits of skill but because of basic errors, Jozo take note. Eddie can dribble and go past men easily but not so much in a crowded box, he is not one for attacking cross ball into the box like a Sutton or Jordan so playing him left of Griffiths rather than the ineffective Elyounoussi might have fared better, do the coaches not think of trying changes like this. If Elhamed is fit he should be with Julien in CD, Frimpong right wing back and Ajer left where he plays mostly and not right. Taylor left wing back. Broonie is slowing so we need to see if Soro has it in him somewhere along the line, If not ready to play he should not have been bought at this time same too for Klimala. We need a steady, calm player in midfield, Bitton at a push and not Rogic in this type of game, not that he had a stinker but he seems to not last the pace. Whatever, Lennon has to stop tinkering, get a first eleven settled and only introduce chance in this when a player cannot be left out due to performance. I am not going to list the number of players never seen but bought as we are aware who they are, are we stockpiling dross for tax purposes or trying to build. I know my view. Rant over till next time and there will be a nest time sooner than we think.
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