SENTINELCELTS

Morning,all.

A big few days ahead for our players and the manager as they continue the defence of the Scottish Cup. You might be forgiven for thinking that the emphasis would be on the midweek game when we host Bayern Munich, and I would agree that should indeed be the case. However, “the suits” in our boardroom, the people who control the purse strings whether we like it or not, clearly think otherwise. How else do you explain our failure to bolster our strike-force? 

Our spearhead in attack is now any one from three. Idah, who is looking sharper since the departure of Kyogo. Kenny, who has been out on loan for so long that some of us were wondering whether or not he had a future with us-and with only one short appearance since his return, that is still a valid question. And Cummings, who has decided that his future lies in those bright lights of London, and has rarely been trusted with an appearance. 

Additionally, it appears that Taylor has signed a pre-contract with Dinamo Zagreb and Adam Montgomery has gone on loan to Queen’s Park, leaving only the on-loan Schlupp as competition at left back. Of course, we know Scales can do a job there, but he can’t cover that position as well as centre-back. 

Anyway, there’s little point now in fretting over another shocking transfer window, is there? BR has effectively been left with a worse squad than at Christmas, despite “always aiming to come out of each transfer window stronger.” Laughable sentiments, to which they barely pay lip service. I’ll get over it eventually, of course. I always do. 

Doesn’t mean that I forget though. 

So a teatime kickoff for tomorrow against Raith Rovers, who are struggling a bit in the Championship. Nearer to the relegation play-off than the promotion one. It should be a comfortable enough evening, though we can never be complacent. Giant-killing still happens, and we’ve been on the end of a few ourselves. I think the manager will use the game to get some time into the likes of Schlupp and Jota, while resting the likes of CCV and Kühn. He might even take the chance to give CalMac a wee break, leaving him on appearance 501 until Wednesday. That’ll be CalMac, who scored for us the last time Bayern came to town. 

Apart from those and maybe a spot of mix and match in midfield, I don’t expect any tactical changes to the starting line-up. Just strategic ones, because whether the suits agree or not, our focus should be on midweek. Yes, we play one game at a time. And no,  we won’t be weakening our side too much by resting some players. Win the game tomorrow and get cracking on the plans for Wednesday. A big task is ahead of us, and we need to embrace it. But it should be about winning, not damage limitation. About results on the pitch, not on the Glorious Balance Sheet. 

I’ll always offer praise where it is due, but Celtic Fc is a football club, not a bank. The clue is in the FC part, it doesn’t stand for financial colossus. We know it, even if our board believe otherwise. 

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Above article by BMCUWP