Muzzy_Larsson

This is it exactly, the latter approach is exactly how we beat them that time at Celtic Park.

That infuriated me tonight and made me think back to CL nights when we got a tonking and still insisted on trying to pass it around our own 18 yard box, inviting pressure. It infuriated me so much I was shouting at the tv tonight in the second-half. Was as plain as the nose on your face in the second-half the way to beat that press was to go direct and in behind to Vardy. Rodgers needs to sort that out, never seems to learn and blindly sticks to the same principles.

stats are like mini-skirts, they hide the most important bits.

Superb from Barnes!

That was some ball from Grealish.

Need to up a gear here, expected more of an onslaught after opening 5 mins of second-half.

Goal’s coming lads

What are the centre back’s doing there 🤬

For feck sake

started well here, Maddison looks more like his old self.

I think it’s time to let it go mate, heads have gone now.

He goes down there that’s a pen.

I'd have him on loan up here for 6 months for sure, he'd be the perfect foil for French Eddy. Doubt we'd be able to afford his wages though, even for 6 months.

He’s different gravy, Liverpool meant to be sniffing around too which shows the level he’s at.

That is what you call a clamping My point exactly, thank you, Scottish League is poor yes but nowhere near the exaggerated claims made by the football snobs.

The point about AIK was simply in reference to you saying Scandinavian leagues are stronger which they are patently not. Of course there’s a few seasons we’ve underperformed in Europe, that’s par for the course when every few years we are in transition, I’m not disputing that, my general point is if we qualify for the champions league and/or stay in Europe until after Christmas that’s fairly decent for the level we play at and I’d take that again in the next ten years, particularly if it’s peppered by the odd great season in Europe as has been the case. We’re similar to a lot of clubs in Europe throughout Europe round about our level, we’ll have a few good years in Europe then a few lean ones as we rebuild/are in transition. Clubs like Ajax etc are the same, before their golden generation of the last few years I don’t think they won the league or have qualified for CL in a few seasons. I’m not trying to argue the Scottish league isn’t poor, or is but we’ve done fine in Europe, probably better than the likes of non top 4 teams from England do like West Ham, Burnley, Southampton et al.

Hahaha of course mate, just say the word!

His first touch is exquisite, one of his biggest strengths. He does both, he'll peel to the left to pick up the ball and turn and run at defenders but when we play in Europe and teams play with a higher line he'll look to run in behind and use his pace, he's lightning quick.

It is a poor league, I'm under no illusions it's not. That said, it's regarded as stronger as all the Scandanavian leagues bar Denmark (which we should surpass next season after this season's results are taken into account) when you look at the European co-efficients, statistically it's the 16th best in Europe. We have Copenhagen in the next round who are probably Scandanavia's top side who we'll probably eliminate without much bother, Midjtilland the other next strongest side probably, Rangers have already spanked home and away this season, AIK, the champions of Sweden we also put out 6-1 on aggregate earlier on this season. It's easy to deride it as much worse than it actually is when you don't watch it or check the facts. Your point about the last ten years in Europe I'm not so sure is valid, looking at Celtic and Rangers the past two seasons, both have done very well in the Europa League, beating some very good sides, (Porto, Lazio, RB Leipzig, etc). In that same ten year period we have qualified for the champions league I think around 6 times, qualifying for the last 16 once and more often than not still being in European competition after Christmas. Given the population of our country, the weakness of the league and the financial disparity with clubs from the big leagues I'd say that's a pretty decent level of performance in Europe.

I think between Denis O'Brien and Dermot Desmond their combined net worth isn't a kick in the back side off King Power, that's before you mention John Fisher of GAP who owns a significant stake in us. Anyway, relative wealth of the owners is totally academic as that wouldn't be the reason Celtic would sell players to Leicester. We could have Sheikh Monsour in charge and we'd still lose players and managers to Leicester and any other EPL club as they play in a better more competitive league and can offer far more money in terms of wages.

I'd say that says more about the halfwits that tend to infest social media than the Celtic support in general. I can only speak for myself, those in my own social circles and the general consensus of the majority of match going fans and there really isn't a lot of ill will towards Rodgers left, the timing of his exit hurt yes but all he done and achieved at the club is most folk's lasting memory now. Obviously the club harbour no resentment either with that tweet and Lawell's comments at the last AGM.

It's a funny one, as no doubt the Scottish league isn't the strongest, but we're still in Europe so he'd get tested there and there's the element of playing in games that will mean something and with pressure every week as we are in a title race, which he won't get at somewhere like Derby, where come the end of March they'll likely be in mid-table limbo playing a series of dead rubber type games. We'll also play far more games in terms of volume between now and the end of the season in all likelihood. The championship is a competitive league for sure and a very tough one to get out of but I think sometimes that compensates for a lack of quality, there's been some average players from even the SPFL went down there and had great careers. The gap between the championship and the EPL is monumental imo. Ideal move for Benkovic would be to go to someone like Norwich on loan if they would take him. I personally can't see him coming back to us and as much as I loved him first time around I'm not sure I'd want him back on a 6 month loan right now given how little football he's played, could see him playing a couple of games and getting injured and missing the rest of the season or something like that.

As great a player as Ilicic is I think Serie A suits him in it's slow, more technical in nature style. I think he'd struggle with the athleticism of the premier league, especially given his age. Furthermore, I don't think he does enough going back the way to be someone Rodgers would have in his side.

Always struggled at EPL level for me, misses too many chances. £40m would be woefully expensive for him imo.

Couldn't have said it better myself