SENTINELCELTS

Im delighted with the buildup to Monday’s top of the table clash.
 
Taking the timing into account, the extra rest should obviously suit the pressing team more.
 
The extra time also affords the media extra copy to hype the affair, fine by me. We all know which team shall be the recipient of such hype, which manager shall have praise heaped upon him, fine by me once again.
Keep telling Beale he’s the bee’s knees, and talking up players, it merely increases the expectation come match day.
 
Facing the Champions with only four games under the belt is far from ideal. All victories yes, but the Bhoys can derail that ‘juggernaut’ pretty early into the new man’s reign. Defeat for the blues would scream ‘not this year’ while defeat for the green and white would only delay the title coming to Parkhead again.
A draw favours Celtic, our rivals can’t afford to let this rare opportunity pass them by if they have genuine title aspirations.
 
Footballing wise a more open game would suit the Bhoys a lot, and for once we face an opponent that must try to win which adds to the excitement and intrigue. Rock and a hard place for Beale, music to Ange’s ears.
 
Personnel wise there’s only one team with negative selection problems, late fitness calls and shuffling the pack through necessity, whilst the other team enjoys the pleasant dilemma of choosing which players suit the occasion.
On this front it’s my belief their manager erred in selecting a youth player in midfield last time out. Mondays game is not for youth players,,dropping the player tells him he isn’t fully trusted, starting the player would be a mistake. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. If he is to be benched the incoming midfielder was just denied a nice run out against a poor side at home, great opportunity to attain match fitness and confidence.
Beale might believe he’s holding the player back for this occasion, but is a week of rest the ideal preparation? Not in my book.
 
The ‘fact’ one side can field ‘Scotland’s Messi’ doesn’t tip the scales,,this player in particular must live up to the hype which is music to my ears. There’s also a chance it will be JJs last game in the Hoops, and going out on a high would be just his style, bad news for Kent.
Spare a thought for Juranovic though, keeps coming up against a Messi of some sort.
I’d still back him for a farewell goal though.
 

Tactically the pressure is one sided. It goes without saying the team coming up to a century of games under the same system should know their roles better.
It goes without saying you would rather have the man who’s been there, seen it, and done it at the helm rather than the man with it all to prove. Finally one would much rather have players who have delivered over those that haven’t climbed that mountain.
 
The fact Beale is considered a master tactician only adds to his pressure. He can’t afford a run of the mill performance, his team must not freeze on the day, while playing for corners and/or freekicks around the box would simply expose his myth.
His side must show something different. Onus, and pressure, firmly placed upon the Englishman’s shoulders.
 
I like to believe the VAR team and all officials on the day are under more pressure than usual to behave given the nation’s flagship game draws a lot more viewing eyes. I guess we will soon find out if that’s true, but playing to the refs would be a poor show by a true master tactician.
 
The pressure is building nicely. I want Ange and the Bhoys to put their feet up for the rest of the weekend, bond more as a team and help the new players settle, watch videos and relax. Every interview should exude confidence in the squad plus the path we are on. Show the cameras were are genuinely a happy camp, with not a hint of pressure about the place.
And come Monday, show everyone why we are the Champions.
 
By Mahe
sentinelcelts@gmail.com