SENTINELCELTS

I recall about a decade ago closely following a certain Dublin based MMA fighter,,if he beats ‘him’ he’s the real deal I recall thinking, opponent after opponent. That’s actually a bit unfair, at some stage you’ve gotta call it,,,and I’ve reached that juncture with our current team and manager.
If we dismantle Germans, if the Italians can’t beat us, if we batter the Slovaks, whilst being an unstoppable force at home,,,at some stage the decision needs made about whether we are a very good side or not.
Tonight’s the night to settle it.

This is a fearful fixture, for to take any points shall force Celtic to raise their game and forgo any sense of being the matchday favourites within touching distance of a last 16 slot. It’s a tricky fixture given Brugge arrive with confidence alongside nothing to fear having beaten much richer teams than ourselves enroute to this massive fixture. Its sprinkled with intrigue for both sides look like they are playing a level above themselves in Europe this season, and naturally that cannot last, earth awaits with a bump.

I’m sure the Slovan and Leipzig ties were great affairs, but this tie in particular captures my imagination for the simple fact it’s so unpredictable. I get the feeling it would take a monumental effort to win, while being a monumental mistake to expect to win. I foresee an incredibly hard game, with both teamshape and individual performances equally important. I imagine the fine margins being decisive,,the first to have an opposition player on ice, the first to force a player into becoming a passenger not a contributor etc. We’ve displayed different colours in this continental campaign, and to emerge with the points must take a little bit from each game so far,,the mindset of Italy, the pluckiness of Red Bull, the drive shown against Bratislava.

I watched the Brugge vs Villa highlights and saw what I view as our Belgium doppelganger. Both have young exciting managers playing a 4-3-3, tricky wing play feeds the striker or trailing midfielder, central midfield easy to bypass, both score lots of goals.
Their positives also include drilled set pieces.
Their negatives include the fact they ship way too many goals, over a goal a game domestically,,they can be physical and silly leading to cards,,they tend to get cut open like a knife through butter.

I could bring up ‘wilting in the atmosphere’ or their 44 year old gaffer being clueless to alter a game when it’s getting away from his side,,but I know nothing and such beliefs would be grasping at straws. It’s true we have a tendency to start games slowly, but it’s also true the manager has a great knack for gee-ing the players up for the BIG games, and under the lights backed by the crowd the team generally responds.

I’d certainly start Arne Engels against his compatriots, for the old Jim Bowen ‘here’s a look at what you could have won’ factor,,,I hope he grabs the game by the scruff of the neck.

But I cannot call it, the only result that would surprise is a goalless draw. I’m off work (thankfully) and will be watching live, but anything could happen here.
It would be so Celtic-like to get beaten by the ‘lesser light’, but this team is as likely to romp home.
I’m stumped on this one, and I’m really looking forward to it.
Up The Hoops!

By Mahe sentinelcelts@gmail.com