SENTINELCELTS

Sunday afternoon brings our second competitive outing of the 26/27 campaign as the Hoops hope to once again take all three points on offer to stay in or around the SPL.

This is a strange match to preview as its shrouded in uncertainty. Shaun has been this weeks temporary manager and he may or may not have Martin beside him in the dugout for the tie. In a normal week one imagines they would have analyzed our opening performance and made decisions based on their conclusion after watching the game back, but thats been thrown on the scrap heap by the unexpected illness which forced Martin into hospital and under the scapel. Given this unexpected turn of events our ex winger has been left to his own devices and presumably will try and put his own imprint into our style of play, he may even have picked the team himself.

I haven’t a clue what to expect. I’m unsure how exactly the shoehorn the two strikers into the team without Duran being wasted out wide unless we rip up 4-3-3 for either 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 which both have their own pitfalls. 3-5-2 sees KT and AJ not playing or not playing to their strengths, 4-4-2 would weaken the middle of the park and leave last years top scorer Nygren in limbo, and losing his goals just to play the two strikers together would be an act of folly in my opinion. Fixing our dilemma was surely setback by the unexpected illness, now its Shauns turn to try, or heads could just mind the shop and change nothing hoping the 6 days training together helps everyone gel and improve.

Who plays as our right winger best enjoy it while they can as they will soon be second fiddle to the incoming Hasseim Hassan and if it is Duran again he can breathe a sigh of relief that he’s unlikely to play that flank again.

Kasper Hogh admitted he’s getting used to real grass and theres a dollop of irony in realizing that last seasons pitch would probably suit him better, but the images I’ve seen show a quality playing surface and I’m glad Killie have finally joined the 21st century in forking out for grass. The weatherman says it will rain before and after the match with a two hour break coinciding with play, so it will be a beautiful but slick surface come Sunday afternoon which should in theory benefit the better footballers, and thats clearly us.

We all await the clash with eager anticipation and we all want to be watching when Hogh scores his first for his new club, lets hope its this weekend. I’m confident we have enough in the tank to win and next week shall see reinforcements arrive.

3 points please and another clean sheet would be nice.
Up The Hoops!
By Mahe
sentinelcelts@gmail.com