SENTINELCELTS

Morning,all.

Last Sunday has gone,it is merely a matter of record now-and some no little regret. It is the two Sundays which follow it that we have to concern ourselves with now. The second one provides us with an almost immediate attempt at atonement and revenge against our soo’sider foes but the one in two days time is the one we must focus on in the meantime. 

“One game at a time” might be a cliché,but it is no less true for being that. RossCounty have probably been the surprise package in the league this season,and looked doomed to a relegation battle when Mackay took over. My opinion of him as a person is one thing,but there is little doubt that he has his cadre of journeymen performing to a level which has probably surprised even them. And we would do well to remember that they gave us a very difficult time of it the last time we visited Dingwall,with only a 97th minute winner from Anthony Ralston preserving all three points for us-and exploding a few hun heads into the bargain. 

Canny beat a bit of Fergie time,eh? Bobby Tait couldn’t have managed it better. (Spoiler alert-he arsed that up when he tried it against Killie!)

If we play to our best,there is no doubt that we will win. But while that word if might be one of the smallest in the dictionary,it asks the biggest bliddy questions! Will we have it in us to go straight back to the well so soon after the disappointment of last weekend? Will AP have the personnel he needs for a trip to Dingwall,the longest we have to face domestically? Will the players have their spark back,keen to show that last week was not one to judge them by? 

So many questions,and we won’t know the answers until early Sunday afternoon. It’s gonna be a nervy time for us,I suspect,and I won’t be making any predictions. As you know,ATHINGOFBEAUTY doesn’t allow me to do them,and my recent trips to the bookies suggest that it isn’t just Celtic games that I’m rubbish at predicting. But it’s hardly a prediction to state that I think Ange has some selection issues. 

The backline of five basically picks itself,fitness permitting. It’s the other six that are giving him,and the rest of us,headaches. Of them,only CalMac and Maeda are pretty much guaranteed starters,and I think the former is being played in a position which does him a disservice. Both have definitely played too much football and could do with a rest. They won’t get one until mid-May. 

The midfield option for the defensive role really is getting me down. I still think Hatate is our best bet,but he is close to burn out. If Bitton is the answer,then we might be asking the wrong question. I’d “phone a friend”,but he can’t play the position either! For the other of the three,I’d go for Matt O’Riley even if just to rotate the role with Tam,and freshen things up a bit. 

Up front,I wish G-Mak was likely to be fit,but we have had very little information even about the nature of the injury. Some say a hamstring,but I reckoned more likely a swollen ankle or knee from twisting his body unnaturally when he scored against St Johnstone. If it is the latter,he should be good for a thirty minute burst to get him up to speed for a certain match and opponents on Mayday. Me,I would go with Maeda left,Kyogo Central but swapping as and when,with Abada on the right. He hasn’t been at his best recently,but even then is still making chances while looking for opportunities of his own to score. 

This is a big big game for us on Sunday,make no mistake about that. And so is the one the following week,despite the one match at a time mantra. Because if we win them both,we are nine points clear with three to play. Dormie nine,as I said in an earlier article. And with a superior goal difference the equivalent of a seven goal swing in every game to further protect us. 

AP isn’t stupid. He can do the sums as easily as the rest of us in regard to the next two games. The players will know it too. But the theory only comes into play if we win on Sunday coming. So,what’s that cliché again? Oh aye. 

But I’ll tell you what,and its no secret. A couple of early goals for us would do my ticker a power of good!

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Above article by BMCUWP