SENTINELCELTS

So Glasgow Celtic suffered one of their three or four domestic defeats that shall occur this season.
 
These defeats were always on the cards, another invincible season was always highly unlikely. For starters they are rare as hens teeth hence can be counted on one hand, secondly our minimum of six high octane European clashes plus the travel involved usually means facing fresher opponents upon return to domestic duty, who usually have the added bonus of some squad shuffling rather than the full first choice eleven of the day.
This is exactly what happened yesterday.
 
St. Mirren was simply the wrong team at the wrong time. Now I fully understand why Ange dipped into the squad and made those six changes, but even if he hadn’t I sense we would have struggled, just as we did when just about full strength at the end of the game.
 
I sense that defeat was down to motivation levels, exertion, and their tactics.
After a string of big performances a drop off had to happen at some stage, and with the first eleven tired this was the likely time for that to happen.
 
Their tactics were spot on, not just for us, but in general, hence being third in the league after that victory and having notched three nice scalps in a row without conceding.
The reason is obvious, a back five that actually stay back and defend, defend, defend. And a simple but effective goal scoring system.
 
That rearguard is very hard to penetrate, and seem to have a decent keeper behind them. Six warriors in defense, never easy to score against.
The front two are a throwback but a very effective one,,two big strong blokes who love headers and plenty of crosses to leap at. And smaller defenders like Stephen Walsh who I thought was clearly pushed in the back for their second, that or there was an offside.
Even still they had the first and were worthy winners, we could have played another 90 and not scored to these eyes.
 
In my book this defeat comes at a good time. While most of the squad jets off for International fixtures, Ange and his staff have time to analyze our blip, and maybe hit the drawing board.
 
There’s certainly lessons to be learned, like every defeat.
I thought G-Mak would be the wiser choice for such a defensive setup.
Calmac looked ineffective on the right of the midfield, whilst Mooy took up a great position on the park plus showed a good range of passing as the deeper lying player in the first half.
Do we need another option at defense who offers more than Walsh?
Is six changes too much?
These are now Anges dilemma for the next couple weeks.
 
As the old saying goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and I fully believe this group will come back stronger.
The hunger, the drive and desire, shall be reignited and we will become Champions again.
One defeat to St.Mirren ain’t stopping that from happening.
 

By Mahe
sentinelcelts@gmail.com