Alashkert (Arm) - Celtic (Sco) 10 Jun

[Wilson]

9.09 4.76 1.30

[litost]

this one is very interesting from huge underdog perspective that may surprise....


Alashkert is usual suspect at uefa early stages...

they often struggle even vs andorian sides .. probbaly dog rol suits them better with spaces ahead ..... armenaisn usually can run forwards ...

...... they seem to be boosted lately by signiing some serbs ..even some 2nd rated brasilians ...

now key factor may be heat ..it shall be 30-35 celsius by KO ...
at who knows what pitch conditions..this sure doe snot benefit ...
fast tempo from sc football ... guest coach and players talk about thinking of 2nd leg ... saving energy through game ...

it all looks low scoring affir .. draw maybe surrise.. we all know celtic away in europe aften falls big time ...

scots miss a number of players from last season best due to wc - boyata rogic and bustig - or injury - griffiths -....


anyone with more insight cheers

[MarianoV6]

Celtic has sign a youngster from PSG (he was on loan last summer but he has been bought now so he has to commit completely), Odsonne Edouard, and now coach Rodgers can play with two forwards, something that was tested at their last friendly at which Celtic won 7-0. The score doesn't mean anything but a) Dembele is not alone now b) their power is much much stronger now up front if you count Sinclair also and c) Dembele will find a motive to play better since the youngster Eddie seems to be very hungry

Celtic mostly promoted youngsters so far from their academy, couple of them look pretty good. Kierran Tierney who seems to be a target for big clubs in England (Everton and some others) has sign a new 6 year contract so he will remain at the moment. Of course new contracts don't mean anything as anyone can be bought, but as long Celtic has him, they are stronger in defense.

The total average age in the team at the moment is very low which means Celtic plays with good physical game.

The main attack of Celtic at the moment and should be a fear for every defense at least for the domestic league is Morgan (good speed and pace), Dembele with Eddie (Edouardo) up front and Sinclair on the right, while Ntcham is also helping coming from the midfield line. It's a very fast attacking line and in counters they can do much damage.

Griffith being injured doesn't mean much as he wont get many games this season since big Eddie came. Eddie has good skills and he is good with the ball on his feet.

Celtic's defense is missing Lustig at the moment, maybe a couple more signings too in my opinion but their midfield line is strong to keep opponents away. In my opinion also Celtic need a new keeper too and a better one from the ones they have now (one is 37 years old, another one is 35, third is 20 and they signed and they signed with free transfer a 26 years old keeper from Dundee).

[MarianoV6]

As a betting opinion (i wont bet on this game but on the second leg) i think Litost is right, Rodgers will take it slow as they have more games to come and will play as CELTIC at their own ground where they dominate their opponent. So yeah, a low scoring affair is the expected one. Of course, this doesn't mean anything if the host defense is very bad and plays with defensive line high, cause at this case, Celtic will score at least 3 with Dembele and Eddie together. I have no opinion tho on the home team which is why i will skip first leg and prefer to watch it only so i can have a better opinion. GL with your bets!

[MarianoV6]

The few things i managed to read about host team in the few minutes that i had free



this is one of the Brazilians they signed

Reis is one of two Brazilians to sign on along with former Atletico Paranaense playmaker Gustavo Marmentini. Mexican hitman Cesar Romero completes the recent signing spree.

Last week the Armenian champions lost key defender Dino Skvorc, who almost signed for Celtic six years ago, as he moved on to Honved.

Former Slovakia Under 21 defender Oliver Praznovski has been signed from Senica while Serbian ace Goran Antonic has also been added.

Nenadovic, a 24-year-old Serb, leads the line and scored three of his club’s four goals in last season’s Champions League qualifiers.

Alashkert skipper Yedigaryan. Capped 40 times by Armenia, the
tough-tacking defensive midfielder’s job is to sit in front of his back four and nip attacks in the bud.

[litost]

ok so the guy has anger management issues - ball boy probably is a dick as well-

this guy was on his way to becoming new thago silva .. but issue labelled him and had to leave the country ....

believe me in armenia he shall do not such things ...

[litost]

quite open thus far ....

celtic on top and using freeway at left flank ... but host had their chances ...


however fitness level of locals amateurish .. 30 mins allready struggling ...

heat probably goes against host .....

green whites probably win it on 2nd hf

[MarianoV6]

quite open thus far ....

celtic on top and using freeway at left flank ... but host had their chances ...


however fitness level of locals amateurish .. 30 mins allready struggling ...

heat probably goes against host .....

green whites probably win it on 2nd hf

I wrote about Morgan's speed and pace earlier and their young average age which means good physical. That's the tactic i believe from Rodgers, to put fresh leg on second hand (Morgan most likely) and hit when home will be tired

P.S.: Forgot Sinclair also who's speed is unmatched...

[MarianoV6]

you like Edouard and Dembele together litost?

[litost]

i cant even spot them from the others ....

i do not follow celtic that much ... ( not at all tbh )

just watching partly as i watch .... the other games

[litost]

of course they are big black dudes upfront .. i know that ...

i think next week diference will shown ....


but armenians may even win this ..danger on break ....!!

[MarianoV6]

Taking out heat and the unknown factor about Alashkert, i can say that Celtic will completely dominate the second leg , there is no doubt about that in my mind.

The better weather, the usual Celtic style which is more aggressive and with much more pace, the fact that there is a difference in height (set pieces will give chances for Celtic to score), the more complete squad with Sinclair from the start and some other factors will simple give Celtic full control of the game.

I didn't saw anything special in the home team, just one overweight defender (looked nothing like athletic football player), a team that lucks a lot in fitness which is the biggest advance for Celtic, much lower quality.

Celtic corner race and goals are my two options already on my book

[MarianoV6]

And since we are talking about Scottish team here, every year there is one team to watch out. As i wrote back then at my POD 2-3 years ago it was Dunfermline to watch out, last year it was Alloa and for this year i recommend Clyde. And btw, erase what you knew about Dunfermline, situation is not what it used to be and they will be bad.

Sorry for the off topic, just took the opportunity to write it as Scottish leagues are one of the very few i bet on