SENTINELCELTS

Its starting to look that way.
Its taken one game but already some familiar complaints about the team have resurfaced, and this from people who are delighted to see action return, but now just cant not speak up about what is seen to be a glaring deficiency in our set up, the shape and roles within it.
I blogged I would take these games as fitness only, maybe a bit of shop window, but not judge the results. I will stick to that, but it’s hard to ignore the concern expressed.

It’s fair to say that Lenny is a motivator rather than a tactician, no one could claim anything but I believe, which is at the crux of our tactical issues. The man at the top read the game so very well, it’s ironic the fans are calling out for a modern day clone. The Scot and Calmac axis has brought comment after comment on how they don’t utilise space correctly leaving huge gaps, and they aren’t playing a conventional deep lying mop up man plus a good passer with scope to move forward, but we seen either allowed to support the attack resulting up the Captain being caught upfield out of possession and behind the play, so therefore out of the picture as his 35 year old legs aren’t sprinting back to much effect.
Why he doesn’t sit and stay 15 to 20 yards in front of the defence to provide a final midfield layer of protection is beyond most, but must be laid at the managers door.

The defence could do with it, as its light on numbers plus has a kid who cant eradicate one consistent flaw in his game, which even if the manager has attempted to coach out of him keeps returning plus we can’t afford to take him out of the side for extra sessions as we are light on bodies. I’m with my partner in crime here thinking what exactly are people seeing that warrants the rumoured continental mega bid, and if he wasn’t absolutely needed I would probably endorse cashing in on the young Viking.

So we head into crucial ten season flawed aye, but it’s not all doom and gloom.
For starters we are primarily concerned with the title this year, and over the course of the 38 games the best squad, if motivated enough, should bring home the bacon, and Lenny has done that for us numerous times.
Having the best players in the league, fired up, has been a winner for us so far and remains to be bested.
That’s not to say that’s a pure winning formula we should stick with, as Celtic by Numbers has shown our rivals are closing in on the field of play so it doesn’t keep us ahead of the game but leaves us vulnerable to be caught.

But the motivator has a new card to play, and quite a card it is.
You don’t need me to tell you but you must imagine him wanting that ten worse than anything else yet, urging the players to cement their names in the boulevard of Celtic fame by taking this one, ramming it into them time and time again that all those other titles were merely the build up to this one, this one that we must and cannot drop.
Its a card there to be exploited and I fully expect the manager to do so.

Those calling for the Captain to sit out many a game this year may not get their wish. I recall Elvis explaining that he needed to slowly come up to speed then play and continue to play in order for his physique to handle it. He couldn’t just slot in and out as needed, and everytime he stopped playing, getting back up to shape was a little bit harder.
I suspect our Captain may fall into this category and asking him to become bit part would not get the best out of him in what may be his ultimate campaign.
I also suspect Lenny has to much admiration and respect for him to drop in the season of seasons, for if anyone deserves to be there its the skipper.
Its a conundrum, ask him to give it all one (last?) more time or blood the future?
I think its the former, we will hang the lot on his shoulders once again.
Its not only Lenny that could go down a legend this year.

The above is by Mahe. Please consider writing a little something for the site.
sentinelcelts@gmail.com