SENTINELCELTS

Morning,all.

We knew we had a big week ahead of us heading into Saturday, three games in eight days encompassing three different competitions at different stages. I was kinda hoping that Saturday would give us a bit of a confidence booster, a nice wee stroll in the park against this season’s whipping boys. It didn’t quite turn out as I expected. 

Sure,we returned them to the bottom of the league. And yes, many of us are still trying to figure out just how Kyogo managed to score his goal, probably will be no matter how many times we watch it. But as a confidence booster for the next two games? Hmmm, well…

What can we take from it? Well,three goals and a clean sheet will do me, and it is what the record books will state. But those who watched it will have been shocked at the lack of cohesion in each department of the side. Except perhaps the one that we all overlook, and it might be the most important of them all. Not for nothing did Cloughie go all in to persuade the best keeper around to sign for a second division side when he twisted the arm of Peter Shilton, this was a manager who knew the importance of every department to allow the team to function as a unit. It might only take a second to score a goal, but saving it at the other end is just as important. 

Nine times Kasper Schmeichel broke Hibs hearts. (Sorry.) There wasn’t one player on the pitch who had a more significant role in deciding the final result, not even the three goal scorers. MOTM by a country mile,and deserving of every accolade and the extension-unless Real Madrid come calling!

But tonight will be another game entirely, and maybe just another game to him. If we had got the lucky draw against Fraserburgh-no disrespect-he would still prepare as methodically as he will have done for tonight against Dinamo Zagreb. As will all of the squad and all of the coaching staff. Taking things one game at a time only goes so far, and I’m sure that time will have been spent at Lennoxtown going over strategy and tactics well beforehand. 

What can we expect from tonight? Well,a crowd every bit as passionate as our own is a given. A team who for years who have steamrollered the domestic opposition is a fact. A side in apparent decline and on a poor run of form is a matter of opinion and statistics. The bald fact is that they have seven points already and will be looking for another three. They’ve long banished their first day blues, an absolute thrashing by Bayern and have actually scored more points since than us. 

It’s a game of football, and we all know that anything can happen. Hibs can visit the perennial champions and force the keeper into nine saves. Teams can win with 12% possession. Or from two down heading into added time. What can’t happen is for every department bar Kasper to be as dysfunctional as on Saturday. We need to be on our A-game from the off, and no excuses. No passengers either. Top form and top of the class all round and I reckon we can do this-and bag the next round into the bargain. Anything less and we will be biting our knuckles going into the new year. 

No pressure then…

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Above article by BMCUWP