SENTINELCELTS

It’s refreshing to head into this weekends cup clash relatively pressure free. After the season from hell, a(nother) defeat whilst always sore would be simply filed away with the rest of the failures that have been a trademark of this campaign.
No one will be talking about the cup this year, unless we win it.
 
 
So having been liberated from the pressures of a never done before ten, and a Lurgan mans methods, we suddenly find a spring in our step, hit a little bit of form, and can waltz over to Mordor with a bit of a swagger believe it or not.
 
 
Throw in the fact Broony will of course want to depart with ‘his’ cup tucked under the arm, an unprecedented five times on the trot which truly would be worthy of accolade.
 
 
Then there’s that rarest of finds, a youth team player who has made the breakthrough, just signed his contract extension, who is aiming to nail down one of those centre back positions permanently. And there’s no better game to stake a claim for Stephen Welsh to be the first name on the team sheet.
He isn’t alone in the fact, but he will surely give everything cone Sunday.
 
 
As should Greg Taylor who will understand that should he show a fair degree of competency, there’s a good chance the club might accept him as first choice left back next season, given money will be tight. This clash is the perfect platform to stake a very strong claim for the left back berth, I hope he gets the nod over a loaner so we all get a good look at him.
If he does play, and we go through, he’s not getting dropped again, will be allowed to see out the rest of the games there, maybe win something there strengthening his claims.
That should be his focus, and why I think he must play, and will bust a gut.
 
 
Kenny could also see this as a big opportunity although I think his reputed five million fee will be too rich for our liking. He makes himself essential to this team for the reminder and that could change.
This cup is his big opportunity to collect silverware and become a little piece of Celtic folklore, somehow I feel he will be up for it.
 
 
Milan’s scouts will be watching big Kris,
the entire support will be watching Jamsie Forrest, and Turnbull comes across as a winner full stop,,,mark those three down as up for it. I am expecting James to play, I suspect his injury isn’t as bad as feared and John wants them to overlook his pace.
It’s been a terrible season for the winger, surely he will fancy some proper action before the Euros, another reason an extended cup run would be beneficial.
 
 
Our current keeper has the opportunity to play an entire cup campaign, and therefore if successful can rightfully consider himself a key part of that winning squad, something I don’t think he would have seen coming this time last year, but he would be foolish to let slip away without giving it maximum effort.
He should be up for this, very much so.
 
 
And then of course there’s our current form player Moi. While five million might be a tad much for a decent right back, for a very talented International who gets the club and more importantly knows where the goal is, five may just be a bargain actually.
If there’s any of the loaners returning I suspect it will be the Norwegian. His goals would be priceless next year given we’ve have no strikers bar an uninterested Ajeti.
Moi could well be the first name on the team sheet next season, and a few goals against the meanest defense in the league helping deliver a(nother) cup would probably force the club to move for that signature, fast.
He doesn’t need us, but I sense he wants us. His form is saying you need me, scoring at the weekend would force the issue.
Would it be to simple to say he scores he stays?
I don’t believe so, and the chap will be aware of this.
He’s another name on the ‘will bust a gut’ list.
 
 
As for the main striker, at this stage I just want to see the back of him and suddenly turning it on would just upset me.
The manager was covered yesterday. He wins this game, he wins a job somewhere.
 
 
Of course our opponents won’t want to lose this game, but realistically they have every excuse in the book just waiting on them to use. No one will judge them failures at all should they fail to lift the cup, they are tired after the title celebrations, will just want the season to end to have that luxurious holiday recharging the batteries.
It’s actually a really good time to play them.
 
Or is it?
So they are tired, facing an opposition that’s more up for it than usual, yet have been instructed not to lose by the manager they love.
And they’re at home.
Solution? Boot us off the park and turn it into a battle knowing the whistler has their back?
I hope not but we must be ready for this, pressure the ref to clamp down if we see this tactic, and beat them at their own game,,be tougher than them if needed, and play better football than them if needed.
Be all round smarter full stop.
 
 
The 8/11 odds being offered for the light blues is crazy to my eyes, and at 19/10 the bookmakers see the mighty Glasgow Celtic falling at this hurdle, but not this Bhoy.
Not at all.
 
 
This teams turning up on Sunday, a blind man could see that, and they will be facing a different beast than before.
We will want it more, fight for it more, and finally give the fans something to cheer about.
 
 
Prediction – a famous victory.
COME ON YOU BHOYS IN GREEN!!!