The Champions League is a level above what our lads have played at. I like to think I have a fair idea of how good our players are (new signings excepted) and how good they can be. I think that at this level there are a few who if they play to their optimum will do ok. There are others who I believe can shine and prove that this is the level they should and could be operating at every year. I don't believe there are too many of us who don't think that Big Victor has the tools to cope, so I'll not include him in this. Who do you think can step up to this level? I mean consistently over the 6 games show us something that we haven't seen from them yet. I want 3 names and your 4th wildcard choice that you have to justify. 1) Forster 2) Forrest 3) Ledley 4) Kayal- I think he has the tools to be the metronome of this team. We have to keep the ball and we have to keep it moving. If he is fit....a big if. I think he has the tools to shore up the middle of the park. Against Helsingborgs away he was not fit and he tried to do the role that Wanyama did in the 2nd leg. With Wanyama in the side to do that I think he'll be able to destroy higher up the park and get us going forward. You don't have to play but I am interested to hear your opinions. Particularly on the 4th spot. I don't want to do one on who I think won't cut it.......but I do have a few hunches.
Forrest, Ledley and Victor are the obvious ones. 4th - Mulgrew. Although he's done well for us domestically, he's yet to be tested at anything like this level. Time to step up Charlie!
I have a simple theory if slightly fantastical I believe ER will do well in Europe because the DOOM of Scottish Football is dead The negative team, the negative press the negative songs have either been killed or shown for what they really are and it was the whole of Scottish Football (bar the baddies) that done it I'm don't think I'm explaining it right...its like the end of Star Wars...yeah we know they are trying to rebuild the death star but they're going to get pumped off hairy wee midgets soon enough and as Darth Vader shows us, turn on each other It's like a curse has been lifted Does that make sense?
i think generally most people will have the same three as you. I would probably stick my three as sammi, forrest, ledley my wild card would be hooper. I really believe he can shine in the champions league as long as he is given support up front. Barcelona aside hopefully we play hooper upfront with the support from miku (who although i know nothing about i have already decided he is the business!) I still fear for us at the back chico could really get found out. hope that ambrose is what we have been looking for. Any chance him and wilson form a solid partnership? I feel that wilson still has a bit to offer and was pleased he didnt leave in the summer
I suspect forster might have the steepest learning curve, in terms of the opposition retaining possession/attacking around his area being more sustained than he may be generally used to. I also have a sneaking feeling that we will see the very best of sammi, especially if he has more mobile players to interchange with or target such as miku or lassad. My wild card ; Wilson.
1. Ledley 2. Forster 3. Forrest Wildcard: Kayal. Aye, so about the same! I'd love to see Beram boss a game in the CL.
I didn't want to be negative...so I won't be, I'll just say that I think Matthews will learn the most from this campaign.
McGeady disney play on the left wing all that much for the Ruskies. Something about Matthews and Forrest breaking against Jordi Alba (if he plays) at Barca gives me a notion that maybe they can be effective.
D'yeez want a graph of this? ;p I'm not so sure about Forster - he's the most improved but I don't think he can get down quick enough for shots from the likes of Barca and Benfica (I know this isn't in the spirit of the thread) and, although I rate him, I worry about Wanyama's inexperience for a holding role against the best players in the world. I'd say 1: Commons 2: Kayal 3: Ledley My wildcard is also Hooper - he requires service and he's not been at his best this year but he can get us goals - Miku/Ambrose might even turn out to be a hero. Dunno yet.
I reckon that the three who will make the grade easily enough are; 1) Sammy 2) Mulgrewinho 3) Izzaguire Sammy knows the score, Charlie will relish the challenge and Izzy wants to play at the top level, so I'm sure he will put a shift in. For a wild card, God knows. Tell you what, Paddy McCourt; so far off the radar for most of our opposition, stick him on just to confuse the hell out of them.
1. super joe 2. hooper (i dont think euro teams like plaing against him - physical and irritating for them) 3. forrest worry about wanyama - he can easily play at this level but might forget that not everyone around can quite as comfortably and start rattling passes around
I was at a pre season friendly. I can't remember what year. It seemed we played QPR and/or Fulham every year at Loftus road. I am sure this is not what happened but it is what I remember. Pre match warm up, Lenny and Petta were whacking the ball at each other and it was just being killed stone dead on the first touch. Some QPR lad mis-controlled the ball and it rolled towards Lennon. He whacked the ball back to the QPR player and it rebounded off his shin and flew off in another direction. Lennon just looked at him like he was the most useless **** he had ever laid eyes on. I am sure that isn't what really happened and Lennon was very apologetic to the Hapless Blue Hoop.........but it is how I saw it. Much like the Di Canio story on his first day training with us he was reputed to have said "I cannot play with thees sheet"
1: Sammy 2: Ledley 3: Forrest 4: Hooper. Just got a feeling that he could show his real worth in the CL, hopefully he'll score a few.
1. Sammy - has played and held his own at the euro's already and has all the tools even if some are from Poundland 2. Ledley - Workhorse that every team needs (still can believe some people don't rate him). 3. Mulgrew - He has a left peg that could turn a tight game in our favour I hope he can produce something with it more than once. 4. Forster - he has progressed so much in the last 18 months and I'm hopeful that he be the differance between either 1 point or 3 points in a few games. 5. Others - Forest and Mathews will progress so much after these games but not convinced they will make a major impact in terms of providing points.
Consistant performers and good enough for 'this level': Foster Wanyama Ledley When on their game: Sammy (is suited to European football) Matthews Kayal Broony Hooper Mulgrew Needs to step up: Commons Forrest Rogne Wilson Lustig Izzy Not likely to make an impact: Stokes McCourt
True. Imagine this thread in 2003. Larsson Petrov Sutton Larsson Petrov Sutton Larsson Petrov Sutton etc. I haven't decided if it's a good thing or not yet <waitsforresults>
