Celtic face another difficult challenge in the Europa League against mid-table French outfit Rennes. The Glasgow side have taken only one point from their opening two games and will be looking to break their away game hoodoo. They'll have to do it however without the services of forwards Gary Hooper and Georgios Samaras and midfielder Kris Commons. Badr El Kaddouri is cup tied but Glenn Loovens, Mark Wilson and Thomas Rogne are all available for selection. Confusion hangs over the group with the continuing legal saga involving FC Sion but Neil Lennon will be urging his players to concentrate on this game and come away with a positive result. One thing's for sure: if they play as badly tonight as they did against Kilmarnock last Saturday what slim chance they had of qualifying for the next stage will vanish faster than a tax return at Ibrox.
See few of the kids have travelled to the game - 5 or 6 from that under 19 squad. There is a centre half and a left back - along side the wee lad Paul George I'd throw them in, see if they can push for a place. Centre half cant do any worse than what is ahead of him in the pecking order thats for sure
I fear the worst , could Celtic surprise us tonight and have a clean sheet after ten mins away from in europe!!! Think Danny looks if he is going to be dropped , Rogne chance tonight ???
Can't do any worse than the back four did against Killie. Maybe we might unearth a defender who can head a ball punted into our box.
Celtic are poor away from home in Europe , 1 win in 31 games , Rangers have won 1 game in 28 games in Europe this includes HOME games , how any hun can have a go at our record in Europe is beyond me
Its all over for getting out this group now, play the youngsters with some old heads beside them and lets get a look at what's coming through.
Who to play up front though? Play Stokes on his own? Or let Bangura run around for 90 minutes? Or play both?
Well thank God I won't have to read your damning verdicts of Samaras tomorrow. If big Dan and Loovens are left out as well you lot will have to find someone else to "encourage".
Team: Forster; Cha, Loovens, Mulgrew, Matthews; Kayal; Wanyama, Ki, Ledley; Forrest; Stokes Subs not used: Zaluska, Majstorovic, Wilson, Bangura, McCourt, George, McGregor
Nice balance to the side. I don't know about Matthews at LB and I know Stokes hasn't shown much up top on his own.
Doing ok so far alongside the Kenyan Fenian. I like the idea of that partnership. If we were allowed 12 players, we'd have the makings of a decent side.
