SENTINELCELTS

It didn’t go according to the script yesterday at Celtic Park, the only winners on the day weren’t in the Hoops, both Tony Bloom and Michael Gray will wake up happier than Brendan this morning. The former looks to have the Midas touch and at least second is not a drunken boast rather a stunningly accurate prediction. The latter enhanced his reputation with a tactical masterclass, he was rewarded for his hard work on the training ground.

The teamsheet was welcomed, there were changes but importantly a different midfield, hinting the gaffer sees what we all see in the middle of the park. It was quiet at kickoff, we knew it would be, but I said to myself the roar/bursting into song around the 13th minute will kickstart the crowd into life. I then became engrossed in the game and only on the 16th minute realized no such roar was coming, pity.

It was engrossing as we opened more brightly than usual, there was better purpose, energy, and options with the new guys in the middle plus Kelechi dropping back to get involved. The replacement left back was also helping in that regard also producing his best display yet in the Hoops. In the first half we looked a different beast, a dangerous one,,,smacking the post a couple of times, forcing saves, goal disallowed, better corners than usual etc. It looked and felt like the breakthrough goal was coming, it didn’t arrive and the halftime whistle blew. It still hadn’t arrived when the full time whistle blew, a point apiece and demoted to second place in the league by two points and behind two on goal difference.

I don’t think it was as bad a game as is being made out. We saw flashes of great football when hitting the bar, and for me the tactics made it interesting. Hibs came with a game plan and executed it perfectly, the shape was excellent, the visitors had been perfectly drilled in their roles,,I was very impressed. A back five keeping their line well, two screening midfielders protecting them, and a big young enough to get down ‘keeper,, thats very tough to breakdown and so it proved.

The manager tried 3 different strikers, 4 different wide men, 5 different midfielders,,,the 300 Spartans would have been proud of Hibs resolute defense. Boyle and Bowie helped by being the outball, they are two players Celtic could actually do with right now, and the former had both our centrebacks yellow carded in the space of 5 minutes after besting each forcing the ‘taking one for the team’ foul from both.

My biggest positive would be Siracchi, I would say he’s a find but we were offered him which looks bizarre as he’s clearly a player and great around the camp according to reports. He has a lovely pass, a thunderous shot, good heart, football intelligence,,,I want to keep him.

Kelechi is another positive, he offers something different than Daizen and Kyogo, he looks very willing and determined to make an impact. The same could be said for Luke, he was the best of all 5 midfielders who took to the field.

The negatives,,,
This day last week I was pitching about Nygren’s terrible corners. Two minutes into stoppage time Celtic earned a corner, over he trots, the two big guys in defense come up to improve the odds of a late winner. It was a classic case of “you have one job”, get it into the zone those guys can attack. It didn’t beat the first man.
I’m sorry but he’s not worthy of being our set-piece taker.
Yang offers more than Balakwisha based on his outings so far, I’ve seen nothing to suggest he’s worthy of being a Celtic player.
There’s no place in the team for Daizen anymore. Tonetki is better wide left, Kels is better through the middle, he’s not the answer on the right,,,I just don’t see where he fits these days.

We’ve been in plenty 2 horse races before, but this seasons opponent isn’t the usual suspect.
Great, bring it on, we need pushed.

By Mahe
sentinelcelts@gmail.com