SENTINELCELTS

I want a knockout alright, and some Hearts broken in the process. I bloody hate the Jambo’s and certainly don’t rate their manager in case you didn’t know.
 
They have two small advantages today,,
home advantage and the whistler, both are linked in my book. At that old fashioned, stands almost on top of the pitch stadium, the home support seem to revel in the physical side of the game and the more the hefty tackles fly from their side the more venom rains down upon the Bhoys in Green and white, which usually results in the whistler aiding and abetting this rambunctious approach.
Pity, but it is what it is.
 
The world famous Glasgow Celtic on the other hand have two large advantages in my book,,the midweek victory by a pretty decent margin provides a timely confidence booster, plus the return of the A-team.
I’m not talking Face, Hannibal, and Murdoch here, rather Hatate, Johnstone and Hacksabanovic.
 
Our own MVP needs the occasional bench time in my humble opinion, but not for the usual reason. Resting him affords eyeballs to access other squad members, and leaves him fresher for the next clash, plus he doesn’t seem to mind unlike CR7 for instance. Last season I kinda felt a trend of five or six good games and one poor, this season he’s much more consistent, hence his runaway lead at the summit of the POTY awards.
The bhoy was saved midweek for a reason. This clash is that reason.
Great news for the Tims, good management by Ange is resting his most important player and still bringing home the bacon which is the perfect scenario, but bads news for our opponents.
 
If Hatates bad news, I’ll file the other two under nightmare.
Firstly the Canadian, the Tim Terrier also got a rest, and to be honest was probably one kick away from staying on the bench, for if Anto had scored that overhead kick after his slide rule assist, he would be on such a high it would be foolish not to give him the nod once again. It wasn’t his finest game but in the end he did the business, young Alastair will be aware of that and now must respond with his own 90+ minutes of demonstrating why that slot should be his. I’m enjoying this wee tussle, driving each other on.
 
Unfortunately for the Jambo’s and their crowd, he takes no shit, no Sirree, so if they roughhousing does commence he will do more than stand his ground, but that’s when the whistler comes into play. If my arm was twisted to confess which Celtic player is most likely for a red card tomorrow, he tops my list because of said attributes.
If I know that, Ange knows that, and although he might walk a tightrope he can waltz down that wing very well. He’s danger for Hearts, on a couple of different fronts.
 
They say sometimes danger lurks around every corner, but occasionally true danger is to be found on the Tims left flank.
Saed Hacksabanovic is a man on a mission as we all just witnessed. I feel like a kid who found a wrapped gift under the sofa, almost giddy at the thought of this new toy to play with. We’ve seen so little of the lad, but what we’ve seen leaves me in no doubt whatsoever that somehow we’ve enticed this raw diamond into the ranks, and his unleashing upon the footballing world has been building.
The moments here. Daizens misfortune is another man’s opportunity and I’ve no doubt he will thrive with game time.
I say man, but he’s still only 23, incredible, I actually thought he was older.
He tops my ‘tie down on long contract list’ and if this team are going to progress in Europe it’s players like Saed that will be at the heart of that progress. Technically excellent plus brave on the ball, being left footed only sweetens the deal as they are few are far between plus very easy on the eye.
His Robben-esque goal with the right tells me he has worked on improving his weaker foot plus he’s confident despite playing much recently, mark of a good player.
He’s got a free run at becoming the first choice in his position, surely the chance he wanted, and such is his quality I don’t think we shall look back at the Maeda injury woefully at all. If pushed for today’s MOTM, he would get my nod.
 
When an Ange team takes to field I’m generally confident, and thats where I stand. With good (and some bordering on great) players all over the park, it’s hard not to feel anything but confidence these days, mark of a good (bordering on great) manager.
I’ve read how most of the Lions needed to show up, and those that didn’t will get carried by the others quality, and that’s how I’m feeling these days.
The core have never had a ‘mare, shipped 7 like Man Utd, this team never seems to lose its head. Perhaps the five subs help in that respect, half the outfield players bringing a new mindset to the proceedings, and I like to think overcoming occasions such as today form the bedrock of such collective morale.
 
We suffered a slight scare in October yet scored four goals and changed the defense since, Jenz is away following that poor performance which sealed his fate imo, and I suspect Ralston shall give way to Johnstone while Starfelt has discovered his best vein of form in the Hoops. Big Cam has got better throughout the season just to put a cherry on the icing.
Also, Kyogo will lead the line, not G-Mak, big big difference.
And if Greg Taylor makes it he will want a repeat goal at that ground, his first in the league arriving there and a winner at that.
 
It was a bad day at the races, but still the Bhoys walked away victors, mark of a good team, and we have improved since. It’s the wrong time to play this Celtic side (again), brimming in confidence and who can kill off a team with just twenty minutes of football, boom three goals and usually different.
Take us down the long stretch and the ten quality legs from the bench up the tempo. We don’t stop, as everyone has realized by now.
 
And we are a team of unlikely heroes,,,you just never know who will pop up like Greg Taylor ala October. Time for a Forrest reminder or an Iwata opener, maybe a Johnstone dream game? Liel makes up for a couple underpar by over performing, or CCV via a corner header?
All sound plausible, that’s our team right now.
Goals come from everywhere, and today that’s Hearts biggest problem.
One they just can’t solve as we keep putting numbers of goals past them.
Their rearguard are weak, and there for the taking.
 
I don’t know the result but I do know there’s gonna be a show as the old song says, and this version of Glasgow Celtic being there is enough for me.
And too much for Hearts I expect.
 

 
By Mahe
sentinelcelts@gmail.com