Emirates Cup: Celtic vs. Lyon - soccer24-7.com Forums

***Celticrugby*** · Jul 29 2010, 11:19 PM

Watch our stupid team win this ******* meaningless game.

Emirates Cup
Sat July 31
K/O 1400 GMT, 9am EST, 8am CST, 7am MT, 6am PT

Line ups? Predictions?

***Celticrugby*** · Jul 30 2010, 11:54 PM

Lennon: emirates cup will be good test

Laura Brannan

NEIL Lennon will send his Celtic side out against two of the biggest clubs in Europe in a bid to prepare the players for next Wednesday night’s crunch match against SC Braga.

The return leg of the UEFA Champions League qualifier will be at the back of the manager’s mind when the Hoops line up against Lyon tomorrow (Saturday) and Arsenal on Sunday in the Emirates Cup.

The Celtic manager sees the weekend matches as far from meaningless and wants his players to use the annual four-team tournament as a perfect build-up to the midweek tie.

“This is only part of the preparation for Wednesday night,” he said, speaking at the Emirates Stadium. “We’ve brought 22 players and we’ll try and use as many as we can over the two days with Wednesday in mind.

“The players are still sore from Wednesday night. They are hurting and that has made them more determined to prove themselves and show the tie is not irredeemable.”

Lyon are first on the bill for Celtic and the Hoops will open the tournament against the French giants.

The 2pm kick-off tomorrow (Saturday, July 31) will be a difficult test for the Hoops following Lyon’s impressive UEFA Champions League performance last season.

Despite finishing six points behind champions Marseille, Lyon reached the semi-final of Europe’s top tournament, knocking out Bordeaux and Real Madrid in the process.

And Lennon is well aware of the problems the French side could cause for his Bhoys.

“It will be a tough test against them. They will be quality opposition,” he said. “This is a team that, up until a couple of years ago, were consecutive title winners for a number of years.

“I played against them myself. They were a very good team in 2004 and they have produced some good players over the years.”

While Saturday’s test against Lyon will be a challenge, Sunday will not provide Celtic with an easier run-out.

The holders, and hosts, Arsenal, will close the tournament against the Hoops with a 4.20pm kick-off on Sunday and Lennon is eagerly anticipating the tasty clash.

“Arsenal have a fantastic team,” the Irishman said. “I love the way they play, individually and collectively.

“You just have to look at the stadium and the pitch, it’s impeccable. It is a fantastic arena to play in and the players are all looking forward to it. They will be playing against a quality side.”

The trip down south has brought some fond memories back to the Celtic manager from his playing days in England.

Looking back to the 1990s, he is looking to build on the special moments which made him the player he was and will be keen for his side to enjoy this weekend in similar fashion.

“I didn’t have much luck myself as a player over the years,” the manager recalled. “But I saw a picture of Dennis Bergkamp as I walked in and it brought back memories of when he scored a hat-trick against Leicester.

“I was lucky enough to be on the pitch that day and witness it. How we got away with a 3-3 draw I’ll never know but it’s always a great occasion playing against Arsenal and I’m sure Sunday will be no different.”

Celtic76 · Jul 31 2010, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celticrugby

Watch our stupid team win this ******* meaningless game.

Emirates Cup
Sat July 31
K/O 1400 GMT, 9am EST, 8am CST, 7am MT, 6am PT

Line ups? Predictions?

Were gonna get pnwed by four or five goals.

Although you maybe right we seem to play up to bigger clubs.

SILVI0 · Jul 31 2010, 03:19 PM

Is the lack of posts on here due to the fact that Celtic are 2-0 down?

cherzo · Jul 31 2010, 03:41 PM

2-1 now, nearly finished

cherzo · Jul 31 2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SILVI0

Is the lack of posts on here due to the fact that Celtic are 2-0 down?

Is the only reason you posted because they were 2-0 down?

i see you lot only create threads for games were you won, where is the AEK athens match thread?

owned.

SILVI0 · Jul 31 2010, 03:44 PM

Nope! You're getting me mixed up with someone who gives a damn about the result, I just expected there to be more info about the line up and how things were going rather than no posts at all

Joe1888 · Jul 31 2010, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SILVI0

Nope! You're getting me mixed up with someone who gives a damn about the result, I just expected there to be more info about the line up and how things were going rather than no posts at all

Well, I didn't post because there wasn't much activity. I'm sure there are others that are the same. Vicious cycle.

cherzo · Jul 31 2010, 03:48 PM

2-2 full time

SILVI0 · Jul 31 2010, 03:49 PM

Yeah there probably is some people who think a friendly result means something

Joe1888 · Jul 31 2010, 03:59 PM

Good to have another look at the team. Still not convinced by Juarez; he doesn't look any better (defensively, at least) than N'Guemo did. Hooper didn't do a great deal, but at least he took his goal well. Forrest was impressive.

**Gunners/Gers** · Jul 31 2010, 04:12 PM

That Forrest looks like a good wee player

Obri · Jul 31 2010, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe1888

Still not convinced by Juarez; he doesn't look any better (defensively, at least) than N'Guemo did.

The way Juarez is being used by Lennon so far, I don't think he'll be expected to fill N'Guemo's role. Kayal is more likely to be that man. Juarez looked excellent coming forward today I thought.

James Forrest man of the match by some distance, it would be easy to get carried away, but it's safe to say that he might see more game time than we initially thought. He's certainly put himself into contention for Wednesday night on today's showing.

Joe1888 · Jul 31 2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obri

The way Juarez is being used by Lennon so far, I don't think he'll be expected to fill N'Guemo's role. Kayal is more likely to be that man. Juarez looked excellent coming forward today I thought.

I hope so. He gave away possesion a few too many times in dangerous areas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunners/Gers

That Forrest looks like a good wee player

Yeah, he's a Scot too, which is a bonus!

SILVI0 · Jul 31 2010, 09:22 PM

While watching the re run of this game one thing has come to mind, does McGeady look like a player who only a few days ago couldnt play cos of a back injury?

***Celticrugby*** · Jul 31 2010, 11:14 PM

First half thoughts...

So an attacking midfielder starts at LB.

Why hasn't the club brought in another player yet?

Great move to set up Fortune for the header....and his follow up 1v1 is ******* horrible.

Misun, fantastic clearance off the goal line.

Nice volley from McGeady, could have used that against Braga.

Fantastic goal from Lyon there. 0-1.

Cha, looking like a player for sure as is Forrest.

***Celticrugby*** · Aug 1 2010, 12:30 AM

2nd half....

Juarez looks like he's got a decent long shot on him.

Forrest looks even more insane, fantastic ball for the cross that led to Hooper's debut goal.

1-2.

Was waiting for the Samaras goal.

2-2.

Great finish, fun game to watch. I knew the team would show up more for this than they did for Braga.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SILVI0

While watching the re run of this game one thing has come to mind, does McGeady look like a player who only a few days ago couldnt play cos of a back injury?

CU a podcast/blog site talked about how before Thompson was sold a years ago they held him back from the US tour with a "thigh injury" the same thing they said about Aiden.

Really, they don't want him to be cup tied, and they want to do some sort of a deal. Same scenario.

What sucks is that he really would have helped against Braga, now the club may not have CL soccer because they didn't have a playmaker of his caliber in the team that day.

Is that worth 10m? We'll see.

IanArcherCSC · Aug 1 2010, 09:40 AM

Not much to take from that game, as when we went 2-2 Lyon didnt even resemble their 2nd string, never mind their 1st team.
Juarez for me at least turned the game round when he came on, had a couple of shots and got everyone around him playing a bit better.

Need a keeeper urgently, as this guy was all over the place for the free kick (although a great goal)

Misun could be the new L/B if lennon gives him match time ? forrest early days yet so no opinion as yet on him, Aiden well below match fitness which should surprise no one surely.

If aiden's in the line-up for the braga game he's going nowhere atm, but im sure PL will make that desision not NL, as he's done in the past with bobo/mc manus/skippy (all sold without the previous managers concent)

Moscow's not for Aiden i'm sure of that !!!!!!

we still require a no frills C/H and a proven goal-scorer, although hooper and murphy could very be the answer to the drout ?

On the braga 2nd leg, if we can manage to score 2 in the 1st 20 min's its game on, but i wont hold my breath for that to happen.