SENTINELCELTS

Well it’s a theater of sorts and there will be a show, there’s evidence to say folks will be entertained,,,it’s close enough to the movies to qualify the article name.

It’s awfully decent of the fixture computer to consider us West Coast Tims, it’s will be nice having a few hours of life before settling down. I can only imagine the publicans will be rubbing their hands at the late start, the Tims will gather en masse to find a channel or stream and go through the drama together.

The lowly Saints don’t even have a manager, while Celtic have yet to taste defeat, on paper this is an easy away game, and of course we are heavily favoured by the bookmakers,,,but things were so simple as an automatic win the game wouldn’t be magical and addictive. There’s 3 points on the line yes, but also more.
Form, fitness, and continuity.

I would love a good all around team performance to signal form, and the key to that is individual performances. It’s that time of year when rotation and resting happens, and should anyone be wrapped in the proverbial cotton wool, their replacements simply must step up in order to stake a proper claim. With Dortmund on Tuesday, chances are at least one regular starter will get rested.
AJ is the obvious candidate, while the rearguard sees one enforced change. Two disruptions only then?
I’d say so.
Having been given a Cup fright with to many in hindsight, I believe the gaffer will get at least 45 minutes under the usual suspects belts, and if winning make wholesale changes taking the key personnel off early.
I would fully endorse that approach.

Daizen hasn’t played in two weeks, he’s a cert. It’s a pity Arne didn’t start against Falkirk because I believe he would have scored meaning today would offer the chance of hitting the back of the net 5 games in a row. Scales and Callum are nailed on. Kuhn is undroppable, and hopefully fired up to silence his compatriots come Tuesday having first silenced Mac Diarmid Park.
Kyogo should get the nod up front and hopefully a goal boost before we re enter Europe, although I wouldn’t be tearing my hair out if Adam started instead, no matter what they should both get minutes here.
Reo is a player that needs to play, he won’t improve on the bench, and with Dortmund losing 2 early goals yesterday hence looking vulnerable it’s probably best to go there with the intention of winning, a fit and firing Reo surely increases those odds. He needs to show consistency, tonight offers a good shot at that, let’s hope he scores or assists to force Brendan’s hand come selection time.
I’ve heard calls for Nawrocki over Trusty given he’s right sided offering more balance, I’ll trust the gaffer, but there’s no point playing two central defenders out of position so I cannot see past Scales starting on the left rather than Trusty. Plus I want the three main central defenders to get used to playing with each other and just cannot see Nawrocki starting in Germany. If Trusty has to be ‘sacrificed’ by getting pushed to the right of central defense then so be it, and he best get used to it because my fellow Irishman is rarely injured. He can start getting used to it now, today infact. Taylor, Ralston and Schmeichel round out the team.

I’ll take nothing granted bar the fact if we show up on the night we win, and in some respects the Champions League fixture hanging over us could be considered timely given the starters are further incentivized to perform and the ample (surely) subs should bring 16 Celts in total seeking glory under the floodlights. The fixture certainly hints at goals in both halves given the first 11 just wanna wrap it up and the rest want their name in the frame. Goals are excellent preparation for Operation C.L.A.W. (Champions League Away Win).

You might be in the last row of the balcony with your arms around your baby, but no matter where you are, enjoy the show.

By Mahe sentinelcelts@gmail.com