SENTINELCELTS

I won’t be penning a match preview today, but I shall instead share my prediction.
With seven games gone, just after a depressing defeat and with players looking unsure of our system, I foolishly posted an article called ‘thats that then’.
I wasn’t alone in those thoughts, many outlets felt the campaign would be a long slog, however many comments did point out it was much too early for such talk.
Ange agreed, you guys call it early here he opined.
Well, he was right and ‘we’ were wrong.

This weekend’s clash is the culmination of his body of work. Firstly the existing Champions and their runaway train needed to be caught. After a shaky start, a run of victories began to arrive bringing much needed confidence, and shortening the gap.
First act compete.
Then they needed to be overtaken, preferably in style, and of course that happened with the 3-0 victory at Paradise.
Second act complete.
Sunday offers the opportunity of a rousing finale, bringing down the curtain to a standing ovation, third act successfully completed.
And Ange doesn’t spurn opportunity.

Two weeks ago I realized GVB and his team would give it their all, their very best. It was their big shot, they took it.
Conditions were favourable, the team with other fish to fry succumbed.
This weekend offers Ange and his team his big shot.
For Celtic, conditions are favourable, and I predict once again the team with other fish to fry shall succumb.

The Ibrox mob are favourites for the Scottish Cup, and still in the hunt for another cup, a final appearance would be considered a success under a new manager who has yet to mould the squad to his requirements.
Regardless of Sunday’s result, that team should lift silverware, always a success.
Throw in the fact they recently bested their rivals for some bragging rights and maybe self esteem, and there’s a few reasons a defeat on Sunday wouldn’t be completely crushing in that dressing room.
This game isn’t the classic ‘be all and end’ all’. Its not their ‘one big push’ fixture.

For Sellic, it most certainly is.
Our manager is 90 minutes away from becoming a legend. His team are at home and virtually full strength. The support adore him, with a new breed of player entertaining them, and are truly ecstatic about finding themselves on the cusp of glory when slow pain was the vast prognosis last summer.
The man needs one win, and lo and behold fate has conspired to bring the clubs biggest rivals visiting.
It goes without saying the support won’t need fired up for this one.

Ditto the team, infact I could easily speculate it’s the worst possible time to play this Celtic side given,,,
a,,the sting of defeat still rings bitter
b,,the title was always the holy grail
c,,the chance of a famous victory

I’m almost forced to add Calmac to the list. Our Captain has worked his socks off this season, never let his head fall and kept driving on the team, now has a dream debut season as Captain within his grasp.
“It’s one big performance away, one final push” I expect him to instruct the dressing room before leading by example. If there’s one player I fancy to show up, it’s our Captain.

Given fate has conspired, given what’s at stake, and especially given our manager, this has ‘a day to remember’ written all over it.
I predict the Bhoys will deliver.
In Ange We Trust.

By Mahe
sentinelcelts@gmail.com