08 Aug 2016 15:59:22
So this Euro play-off against Hapoel Beer Sheva. . think we need to stop talking them up. What a chance to go through we have. I know they beat Olympiacos (and I think they were the highest ranked of the Champions route teams) but they are a lowly ranked team and we will have too much for them. Would have preferred second leg at Paradise, but apart from that we should be fine. What do others think?
08 Aug 2016 16:42:31
Think we really need players like Roberts against a stubborn defensive team. Need more creative sparks like him to break down difficult teams. I still fancy our chances would like more than a one goal lead.
08 Aug 2016 18:08:40
Don't think we need to talk down anyteam, complacency is the last thing we need, if the team plays to the best of its abilities it should go thru, but I think Celtic will have to play well in both legs to get through.
08 Aug 2016 18:10:07
Their ranking means very little though. At the end of the day they've won their league and knocked out Olympiacos. I still think we'll get past them though.
08 Aug 2016 18:15:26
We need at least a 2-0 lead to take over there! If we concide we are in trouble! I hope Rogers really goes for it at Parkhead! Remember last year we should of been 3-0 up in the first leg missed an easy chance then coincided late it cost us dearly!
08 Aug 2016 18:21:27
A think we'll do them at parkhead but think we'll struggle away. If we can take 2-0 over there we should be fine, think 1-1 over there.
08 Aug 2016 18:31:16
the tie against the Israelis will be all about "mentality" and discipline
they are (matter-of-factly) no better than us, albeit they will think likewise.
The worst thing we could do is assume they are this and that. They are what they are, as are we. We are playing a team that will no doubt play well "as a team" and judging by results (which can be misleading) ) they appear quite stuffy.
To reiterate, we need to take them as we find them and ensure that our plan is designed to achieve a solid home result.
I do not imagine the new 16,000 stadium they play in (even if full) will be any worse than tynecastle; also they are early in their season (which must benefit us)
greek football isn't what it was and as per the national team, Greek football is on the slide due to economics and so I wouldn't read too much in to Olympiakos either
CFC are very average at present; they will be average too….
remember Malmo …2-0 up after 8 minutes and then we (sort of) stopped playing …
……we couldn't shake them off and they kept coming because we gave them nothing to think about at their end of the park …we invited malmo back in
we cannot do this again…
full house…night of passion…. concentrated effort., …. good discipline and we should achieve a positive result…. if we do all of those things and still lose then it will be because of very unfortunate luck on the night (which can happen) and of course because they play a blinder (IE every one of them) which can also happen ….
08 Aug 2016 19:56:20
It's all about how we perform over the two legs - especially the goalie and defenders, who have made silly errors in the past.
The encouraging thing I have seen so far, is that BR is quick to alter shape, tactics and personnel if and when we need it and in previous seasons under NL and RD, we have been slow to go to 'plan B' - or C (if at all) and have suffered the consequences.
08 Aug 2016 20:25:59
Bhoys don't underestimate this lot. This is a very good team and if we beat them then BR is working his magic. I think these are the toughest opponents we have come up against in qualifying for 3 years. Worst draw we could have got. If we can sign a keeper before the game that would be fantastic, and Roberts needs to be back, then we might just turn them over but there won't be more than one goal in it. This is going to be a tough one but Hail Hail, we are Celtic so great things can happen.
08 Aug 2016 21:32:23
Johnnnymac in fact this was either the second easiest or easiest team we could have been drawn against . Dundalk are the only team with lower ranking points, but Dundalk are mid way through their season . This Isreli - team haven't started their season yet, so it's very unusual for Celtic to be further on in their preparation than our opponents . I would be shocked if any player or any of the management under estimated this team, surely we wouldn't be that unprofessional, I doubt if B R rests any players for the domestic fixtures😄😅.
08 Aug 2016 22:54:14
Your right not to discount this team, I know they beat the highest seeds in the last round but we must go into the games with belief remember this team lost two goals at home to a team lower ranked than the Greeks FC SHERIFFof Moldova who were leading before being reduced to ten men so we can score home and away. Things are starting to take shape we look like a football team with confidence I won't underestimate hapoel but I do feel confident so let's all get behind our team and get back where Celtic belong hail hail.