SENTINELCELTS

Morning,all.

After the general gloom of the last two years or so as we witnessed a spiral into mediocrity,few of us were optimistic heading into the new season. Most were happy to give AP and Dom time to get things right,as we knew from the evidence witnessed by our own eyes how much of a turnaround was required.

The fact that AP and Dom weren’t able to take up position until around the start of July added to the gloom,as did our failure to win any of our first three games-including two which saw us binned from the Champions League at the first hurdle.

Some signings were made,including the thankful addition of an experienced spine including Hart,Starfelt,McCarthy and Kyogo-but we were miles behind,miles off the pace,certainly not fair to expect the newbies to make the difference overnight.

Give them time to get used to their surroundings,their new colleagues,the particular “demands” of football in Scotland. Muddle through this season,make sure we are ready for the one to follow. That was certainly my thinking,and I don’t think for a second that I was alone.

And then,two terrific performances on Thursday and Sunday bring out my inner Celt-the irrational optimist! 4-2 away from home to the team who finished third to the two teams in Czechia who knocked us and the huns out of Europe was certainly a fantastic result and performance.

Sunday,on the other hand,was as good as I’ve seen for some considerable time! Twelve would hardly have flattered us,and I’d had done it simply as a GIRUY to certain pundits and the ref who handled the match with a typical “lenient” and laissez-faire approach.

That Ryan Christie engineered three assists from nothing and still didn’t win MOTM seems harsh. For David Turnbull to barely rate a mention,despite having a major hand in three of them,sounds ungrateful. CalMac ran the show,an outstanding midfield performance,such as we have been missing for some time. Nary a word.

The kudos were for Kyogo,our new Japanese striker-and deservedly so! Not only a hat trick in his first game at Celtic Park-I’ve trawled the record books for the last person to achieve that,and I’ve come up blank-but also the most humble yet appreciative acknowledgement I can recall of the announcement that he was,indeed,MOTM.

This lad’s finishing for his hat trick was terrific. The chances that didn’t go in-including missing by a whisker,having sent the keeper the wrong way-showed his willingness. He never hid,his running on and off the ball,the ability to find space,peel off,nail it-well,they kinda reminded me of someone.

But one swallow doesn’t make a summer! Any team can get a result in a one-off match,and if I’m honest,I think we will play a few teams better than Dundee in the season to come. However,no Celtic fan who witnessed that on Sunday could possibly still be in the dark place we have been for so long.

As Bob told us,Don’t worry ‘bout a t’ing-cos everyt’ing gonna be all right!

Bob Marley & The Wailers – Three Little Birds (Official Video) – Bing video

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Minor complaint though relates to the potential loan deal for Ben Davies. The fabled left-sided centre back-and Halleluia indeed! Loan deal with a £3m option to buy,which sounds decent enough-except…

We could have got him for nothing in January. He was desperate to sign from Preston,but apparently grew tired of the haggling over personal terms as a certain smartest guy in the room played his usual hardball. Chiselling over a few quid a week. Let’s say he offered £10k over four years,and Davies wanted £15k.  A million quid of a difference over the length of his contract.

I very much doubt he will join permanently for less than £25k,and we will have to pay the £3m plus a loan fee to sign him.

Smartest guy in the room has just cost us another eight million quid overall if we sign him. Yet certain sites/posters still fawn over him. Sure beats the f..k outa me,that one.

Above article by BMCUWP