Yeah it's a matter of time at the moment.
Greece are far better than us unfortunately.
Best case from here is get to half time and hope that we can come out similar to the second period in Finland.
I don't think their players are that much better than ours. They just seem really well coached and all know what to do, when to do it and where. They also have a few attacking midfielders finding the pockets of space, whereas we just don't have the midfielders to cope. And their press is well drilled.Originally Posted by yurt
But they look much better as a collective and it is a matter of time.
Feel like Smodzics is really lost out on the left. Just doesn’t have the right instincts for the position. Still not sure how Ferguson misses that chance early on. We’ve pressed well at times but the scrambles are breaking better for the Greeks. Parrot is a little bit panicky. I think a Taylor or Molumby might help out instead of Parrott and maybe a more natural midfielder for Smodzics too.
The Greek keeper has had more touches of the ball than Knight, Ferguson and Szmodics. And tbh I don't remember the Greek keeper doing anything in this game.
Whatever about Ferguson and Szmodics - who we can't get the ball to - Knight is really struggling to make an impact.
Fortunately (for now) their finishing is as weak as the last time we played in Greece
Like how we are giving up the width locking up the middle and dealing with crosses that come in. Exact opposite of the Kenny time where we were so open through the centre by getting pulled out wide constantly
We're set up to counter attack, but so far there hasn't really been much in the way of counter attacking. If we're sticking to that plan I'd be looking to get McAteer or Johnston on for Szmodics. And yes, Molumby into midfield for Parrott to try to break up their play. Three attacking players is probably enough for what we're trying to do here. Two wingers and Ferguson until he runs out of gas.
Knight hasn't done anything. Ferguson and Szmodics are suffering as a result of the lack of supply. Knight is guilty of contributing to this lack.
Molumby at half time if I were picking.
Yeah I'd agree on that.
Keeping a good shape and sitting deep is working in terms of keeping them out. We'd be losing this under the previous regime, of that much I'm quite certain. A work in progress but some encouraging signs.
Always a risk to complement a keeper or defender at half time, but Kelleher was outstanding in that half. Has come on massively in the last year, that run in the Liverpool team last season seems to have been the making of him.
Completely agree. Scales and Kelleher have been immense which is part of it. But there's a lot more belief than we've seen in the team for a long time.
He was poor against Finland. It's not been a good window for him.
Greece are much better than us.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
Said something similar elsewhere. Came under a lot of pressure that half - more than I had expected - but we were almost two banks of four at times. And yet somehow, also think we did ok to work a few frees and chances further up the field.
To those suggesting it, I’m not sure what Molumby would fix out there tonight. He’d bring different problems. At least with Knight and Cullen, they’ll sit and try and press or break it up. Does Molumby have the discipline? Maybe he does.
Kelleher has been excellent.
Disaster to start the second half! Hard to see another comeback from here. Scales unlucky there to deflect it in throwing himself at another block. Will be interesting to see if changes are made early now.
Ho hum. A deflection does for us. Probably reflective of how desperate our defending has been.
At least it's only three days since we last came from behind to win, not 12 years!
Can't really say that Greece don't deserve to be ahead. We've defended really well but it had to come.
Sounds like Festy is coming on.
Taylor livening things up a bit
Well pleased with the changes he's made. Ferguson looked like he had imposter syndrome the whole game
The extra man in midfield has made a difference. We're in the game now in a way we weren't before the substitutions.
Playing really well since the changes. There’s potential to get something from this. Taylor and Festy have given something different.
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