SENTINELCELTS

That’s all she wrote for this year, and the mighty Glasgow Celtic finished this one as they mean to start the next, with a victory.

They weren’t the most vital three points ever, but after a draw and the lead at the top being stretched earlier in the day it was important to come out as victors to enter the break with some positivity and preserve our now double digit unbeaten run.

This team is getting used to coming away as victors, no matter the injuries, no matter the shuffling about. The biggest reason is goals, they are spread throughout the team and this particular game proved that once again.
Liel Abada was in the habit of chipping in with plenty goals once, quite a while ago though. There’s been many a spurned chance, many a disappointing performance from the young Israeli, so it was important for him to repay the faith shown by Ange in giving him a shot as the emergency striker.
He did, and the gaffer can be pleased he’s made another correct call, his gamble paid off.
The young man can hopefully use those goals as a springboard and get his mojo back, and use the break to focus on the flaws in his game.
He started the first half of the season well, can he start the second half with a bang? That’s what he should be aiming for.
Given the upcoming window, we shouldn’t see him deployed up top again, it’s nice he did the job when needed, but that right wing is his natural home and he must try to make that berth his own no question.

Nir’s goal was well executed, and unexpected. He doesn’t score much, he didn’t seem to do anything much but just be in or around the squad for years, was considered unsuited to Angeball yet somehow he’s producing form that might gain a contract extension.
Of all the players to suddenly excel, he surely was once of the least expected but here we are.
Scoring, smiling, passing forward, we are witnessing the emergence of Nir Bitton Mark 2, ten years after Mark 1 failed to inspire.
His upturn is pleasing to watch from the outside, and his task now is to move from backup to first choice.
Turnbull and Tam aren’t nailed on guaranteed starters, Nir can push them hard and goals always help your cause.

Overall though it’s nice to finally have a decent breather.
They say a rest can work wonders, well let’s hope so. It’s been quite a season already with very little chance to analyse events, only react to them.
Ange and the team have reacted to events much better than expected, now comes their first period of R&R together as a group with very little indication of how the time shall be spent.

Lenny would have the troops in Dubai no doubt and around this time last year the famous pints by the pool photo emerged to completely derail the season at the halfway point.
Thankfully I just can’t see our Greek Australian going down that route.
I expect some training drills alongside monitored relaxation, some tactical team meetings alongside a friendly table tennis competition or the like.
Individual assessments for each player and what they should focus on of course, but also a few weeks of good team bonding.

Ange is somewhat lucky in this respect. Before the shutdown was moved, of course the break was due after the top of the table derby clash. Realistically there was a large chance of heading into the winter break on the back of a stinging defeat or draw. That would have left Ange picking up the morale of his squad, and new arrivals walking into a dispirited dressing room.

Instead the big man has a happy bunch still used to success, there’s plenty of team morale to foster, and any new bhoys are walking into a relaxed camp.
This freak turn of events gives us more time at the drawing board preparing, and also pushes the fixture to a tantalizing midweek night time slot, a fact I truly believe we shall benefit from.
There’s nothing like a big game under the floodlights, the atmosphere building all day long, the crowd extra boisterous roaring every tackle and cheering corners like goals.

Assuming of course there will be crowds allowed. Yesterday’s match took me back to the bad old days,,, empty seats, individual voices, the training ground match feeling. Ange already admitted this group of players feeds off the supporters, I think it’s fair to state we would be placed at the largest disadvantage should crowds be banned again.

At this halfway stage, although there are issues to be addressed, there’s plenty to be upbeat about.
“Within touching distance” was uttered in hope, deemed unlikely six months ago, but that’s exactly where we find ourselves.
Blips, injuries galore, many unwanted players and many brand new ones, not to mention officialdom intending to steer the title, yet we hover around the top and still hold our destiny in our own hands,,always preferable to the alternative.
We have become so accustomed to winning even without a striker that a draw feels like a defeat, viewed now as points dropped and never a point gained.
And the Cavalry’s allegedly over that hill, about to make an appearance just when needed.
“Within touching distance” was far from assured and it deserves a lot of credit.

It’s a fantastic bonus for those such as myself who wrote off title hopes during a huge transitional season.
It’s a great platform for this special group to launch a second attack on the rest of the league.
It’s halftime folks and its shaping up to be a season to remember.

By Mahe