SENTINELCELTS

Jeez, it feels like only yesterday we failed to peel those Tangerines, mind you the game was at their midden, and was technically last year, so the chance to set the record straight has fallen pretty quickly which is timely.

As is the weather, temperatures will swing a massive 8 degrees between daytime and nighttime, which is one way of saying it will be Baltic at Parkhead tonight, today, until Spring at least.

While conditions may be poor, there’s always something special about a midweek game under the floodlights. Nighttime games just have a nostalgic feeling, and the pre-match libations usually help deliver a lively support seeking that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with watching us play the Celtic way. How we play, how we are playing I should say, has been somewhat of a source of debate even spilling over into a bit of public spat, which by itself makes tonight’s clash that bit more interesting.

Brendan made a rod for his own back in hitting out (in his own way) at the support, which in turn leads me to believe the support will hit back (in their own way) should the occasion call for it. A Green Brigade banner reminding those in the corridors of power the Celtic support are permanent whilst they are temporary wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest. Dull uninspiring play may well draw statement howls from a support feeling entitled to hit back, as would another bit-part post match lap of honour.

There’s one way to cast all that aside though and move forward, literally and figuratively. A rip roaring performance that leaves no questions, fast free flowing football that’s pleasing on the eye, a plain old fashioned thumping of the opposition would really help everyone to get back on track and send a large message of reassurance that this squad is getting better and the good times will roll on despite our nose being bloodied at Ibrox and the verbal slap down that’s got Celtic cyberspace in a tizzy.

Easy enough then, one really good game to reset the narrative and leave all feeling rosey again, football’s equivalent of buying the missus flowers and/or a box of chocolates. But as some idiot once said, when it comes to chocolates you never know what you’re going to get, and that’s certainly the case in football with its beautiful unpredictability.

Having got my team selection completely wrong at the weekend, it’s time I just acknowledge we don’t have a settled 11 you can hang your hat on, Kasper aside nothing surprises me anymore. I suppose that’s a good thing, we have more depth than any other team, perhaps more depth than any other time from the past, but there’s various angles at play with regards to team selection. I’ve a feeling the manager needs to see his summer purchases really shine in order to continually assure those holding the purse strings, plus the Greg Taylor situation has been allowed to snowball into a potential problem. Here’s my take on that.
Basically KT’s desire to come home would have been known, was known, which lead to no agreed fee to buy Valle, no pay rise to top tier wage bracket for Greg as he will be second choice behind his fellow Scotland International, and EBT Arteta is loathe to help out the Leather Belts by accepting any fee in January. It’s not an ideal situation, was such events are part and parcel of football. But I do hold a degree of sympathy for GT here, any subpar performance will be met by critics saying he’s protecting himself to get a big Bosman, any top drawer performance will be met by critics saying he’s only playing well to get a big Bosman, any backpass rather than forward pass gets met with howls of derision. Its a bit damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t, while the threat of injury and unemployment if injured hovers. But if KT and new back up (he will be needed) turn out better than GT and Valle, then alls well that ends well.

Call me old fashioned in my belief energetic players are called for on a frigid night, call me naive if I say it might be a game to rest a few legs as we approach our biggest European games in years, but given all the current circumstances and side-angles involved, this game has taken on more importance than usual,
Eagerly awaited?
Aye, sounds about right.

By Mahe
sentinelcelts@gmail.com