SENTINELCELTS

It’s a thigh-rubber!
It’s probably the only unbeaten top of the table clash left in European football.
It’s today,,,and it gives me the utmost pleasure to type Aberdeen shall be the opposition rather than another club who thought they invested wisely enough to ensure the Dons would be looking up not down.

I’ll hold my hands up and admit I haven’t watched them, no highlights or anything but of course I’m well aware of their results and consistency. It’s my opinion the three games after today’s clash are their most important, because they will set the tone for the rest of their season.
If they win, will they slacken off a bit or push harder?
If they draw, do they take heart and keep picking points?
If they lose, do their collective heads go down or is the manager good enough to pick them up and get back to winning ways?
Is this a George Burley style Hearts title tilt, or a genuine emerging force?
If the latter, their manager deserves keeping tabs on when the hotseat becomes available.
If the former, keep eyes on him anyway.

A big part of the beautiful game is the unknowns, with today being full of them. It’s good timing all around for once,,,well done the board for not scuppering that sacred 3pm on a Saturday timeslot, thanks UEFA for the break the team needed.
But what I do know, is that there’s much anticipation for this clash throughout the support, traveler and native alike. The players shouldn’t need fired up for it, but it helps to know the Tims are as the team usually responds.

It’s warranted, that’s for sure. Brendan shall surely deploy what he considers his best team available which these days means a formidable lineup, and in theory we should be fresh.
In reality Brendan also got more tactical and training time and perhaps some man to man time with several of the uncalled starters.
That great timing all around extends to the fact we can play our best together against good opposition domestically before another big European tie.
And given that fact, it’s probably going to be a full use of the substitutes situation, the supporters will probably get a view of quite a few.

Given the stakes and the amount of football on TV it’s quite incredible the match isn’t televised, but I won’t get hung up on the issue. Ibrox leaning eyes will pay attention though.

I personally cannot see anything other than a Celtic victory and I’m of the belief the game goes one of two ways,,either a cagey affair or a home side romp. Given that after the last break we had scored one goal until the 89 minute, which was a penalty, so I understand a romp is unlikely, though I maintain someone is going to get an absolute pasting because on song this team can do the business.
That leaves a tight cagey affair. And I just cannot see past our depth and personal stories in that instance,,like Valle playing for a start and a move, like Idah needing to score if Kyogo does or doesn’t, like Big Liam facing his old side. Bernardo, Forrest, McCowan, Yang,,they would impact any game.
Engels can also.
He’s highest on my watchlist because that fading away after initial impact concerns me. If you read my Efrain Juarez article, you’ll understand why.

The Dons have done fantastic but are expected to fall at this hurdle, and it’s players like the above that force the bookie to make Celtic the favourites,,,the gambler in me would back Kyogo to score. He’s just spent two weeks working on his game and should be absolute mustard for that defense. I reckon he will breach it, not only because of thus game, but he will be desperate to start the next game,,he really wants to score in the Champions League and scoring today more or less guarantees his start in Italy.

I just cannot wait to see what evolves.
Up The Hoops!

By Mahe sentinelcelts@gmail.com