Lille v Celtic - Match Thread

Gary67

Well-known member
Having watched Lille's last 2 games on BT Sports I think we are in for a very difficult game on Thursday. They play a very attacking, high pressing 4-4-2 and are still unbeaten this season. Lennon's dilemma is go as strong as available or do what Rodgers did for Leipzig away a couple of years ago (when we had the Hearts semi at Murrayfield 3 days later) and play fringe players, youngsters and those needing game time.

Given the strength they have in wides areas, Aroura and Bamba the wingers linking up with Celik and Barbaric their attacking full backs, and Renato Sanchez the playmaker from central midfield, I'd be tempted to either match their 4-4-2, if Eddy available, or go with a 4-1-4-1 if he's not. I'd double up the full backs, Frimpong in front of Elhamed (if fit) and Laxalt ahead of Taylor.
I'd rest McGregor for Sunday and play Bitton (again if fit) sitting in front of the back 4

Barkas
Elhamed Duffy Ajer Taylor
Bitton
Frimpong Ntcham Turnbull Laxalt
Ajeti
 
Having watched Lille's last 2 games on BT Sports I think we are in for a very difficult game on Thursday. They play a very attacking, high pressing 4-4-2 and are still unbeaten this season. Lennon's dilemma is go as strong as available or do what Rodgers did for Leipzig away a couple of years ago (when we had the Hearts semi at Murrayfield 3 days later) and play fringe players, youngsters and those needing game time.

Given the strength they have in wides areas, Aroura and Bamba the wingers linking up with Celik and Barbaric their attacking full backs, and Renato Sanchez the playmaker from central midfield, I'd be tempted to either match their 4-4-2, if Eddy available, or go with a 4-1-4-1 if he's not. I'd double up the full backs, Frimpong in front of Elhamed (if fit) and Laxalt ahead of Taylor.
I'd rest McGregor for Sunday and play Bitton (again if fit) sitting in front of the back 4

Barkas
Elhamed Duffy Ajer Taylor
Bitton
Frimpong Ntcham Turnbull Laxalt
Ajeti
I'd put Rogic instead of Ntcham
 
It's not a competition I would normally lose any sleep over, but it's now important to stop the bleeding and start regaining a bit of confidence.

Griff and Ajeti (along with Klimala, Turnbull and Rogic) need minutes under their belt and I reckon we go as strong as we can, albeit fighting fire with fire and reverting to a 4-4-2.

The result is irrelevant........it's the pride and performance that matters.
 
It's not a competition I would normally lose any sleep over, but it's now important to stop the bleeding and start regaining a bit of confidence.

Griff and Ajeti (along with Klimala, Turnbull and Rogic) need minutes under their belt and I reckon we go as strong as we can, albeit fighting fire with fire and reverting to a 4-4-2.

The result is irrelevant........it's the pride and performance that matters.
4312 for me

any first team players will do as I rate all our players

But 4 at back

with 3 centre mids protecting a channel each in our half

let number 10 link with 2 strikers for a classic bounce back to form against the odds
 
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could be good

but I prefer 2 strikers one dropping deeper rather than am who canny strike so well as striker
......................

The 4-3-2-1 is a more defensive setup.....but it allows the high press and quickly become a 5 in midfield when defending.....it also allows for the quick counter.....I don’t think we’re playing well enough right now to play 2 up top against a very good European team who are on song and have pace and excellent technical ability.....but it’s all about opinions...
 
Having watched Lille's last 2 games on BT Sports I think we are in for a very difficult game on Thursday. They play a very attacking, high pressing 4-4-2 and are still unbeaten this season. Lennon's dilemma is go as strong as available or do what Rodgers did for Leipzig away a couple of years ago (when we had the Hearts semi at Murrayfield 3 days later) and play fringe players, youngsters and those needing game time.

Given the strength they have in wides areas, Aroura and Bamba the wingers linking up with Celik and Barbaric their attacking full backs, and Renato Sanchez the playmaker from central midfield, I'd be tempted to either match their 4-4-2, if Eddy available, or go with a 4-1-4-1 if he's not. I'd double up the full backs, Frimpong in front of Elhamed (if fit) and Laxalt ahead of Taylor.
I'd rest McGregor for Sunday and play Bitton (again if fit) sitting in front of the back 4

Barkas
Elhamed Duffy Ajer Taylor
Bitton
Frimpong Ntcham Turnbull Laxalt
Ajeti
I quite like that line up, doubling up the full backs/wing backs but still keeping an attacking threat. If Bitton is fit I'd also play him as DMF. I'd change out Christie for Ntcham (he plays with a lot more urgency and energy) and Griff for Ajeti as I think Leigh is a better lone front man but he desperately needs the attacking midfielders to charge up in support. That front 5 are fast and can press Lille to defend from the front. Rogic, Ajeti, Klimala, etc, can come on later as an attacking threat as required.
 
Some say this game is unimportant and the performance is what they are looking for. Not for me. I don't want us to become the dog that keeps getting kicked. I have pride in beating any team and don't believe in friendlies either. I want us to win every match. Preferably with style. Not content with 2nd best and a " good performance ". Fuck that. A win for us would be a terrific confidence booster and give us some pride back.
 
Is Hamed even fit? A fast team and we're putting someone recovering from covid on? That's insanity. If totally fit then maybe, but how can you be ready to play after a fortnight? My team would be

Barkas
Diego
Ajer
Walsh
Frimpong
Calmac
Turnbull
Christie
Rogic
Ntcham
Griff

Fucking no chance of ththappening though. So probably more like this.

Bain
Diego
Ajer
Duffy
Frimpong
Brown
Ntcham
McGreggor
Christie
Ely
Ajeti

Either way, is going to be difficult. To put it mildly.
 
This match for me is a great opportunity for lenny to use this match wisely.
On a personal level for lenny, I would guess Sunday's match holds far more importance, and in some ways he has bit of a free pass as the expectations are nowhere near so high. I would like him to give an opportunity to the fringe players to stake a proper claim for 1st team opportunity's and to rest some of the starters for Sunday. It is also a brilliant game for us to address our defensive frailties. I hope our missing 3 of EL ham Bitton and eddy are available to play some part in the game maybe a half or half hour from the bench. So to start the game I would go

Baine
Welsh. Duffy Ajer. Taylor
Frimps. Soro lax
Turnbull. Moi
Griff
 
This match for me is a great opportunity for lenny to use this match wisely.
On a personal level for lenny, I would guess Sunday's match holds far more importance, and in some ways he has bit of a free pass as the expectations are nowhere near so high. I would like him to give an opportunity to the fringe players to stake a proper claim for 1st team opportunity's and to rest some of the starters for Sunday. It is also a brilliant game for us to address our defensive frailties. I hope our missing 3 of EL ham Bitton and eddy are available to play some part in the game maybe a half or half hour from the bench. So to start the game I would go

Baine
Welsh. Duffy Ajer. Taylor
Frimps. Soro lax
Turnbull. Moi
Griff
I like the idea of doubling up wide. Spent quite a bit of time watching them today for a preview. They are frightening out wide. I thought milan were good but in full flow this lot are some outfit.
 
Lennon's PC today was like a list of the wounded. Jullien and Forrest both seeing specialists so not expected back anytime soon. Johnston still not close to returning. Elhamed not available for Thursday. Decision on Barkas tomorrow. Good news is they hope to have Edouard and Bitton available for Thursday.
Doubling up on the right with Elhamed/Frimpong not an option now so would probably have to ask Christie to do a job there in front of Frimpong. Taylor/Laxalt on the left should be a serious consideration by the management.
 

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