SENTINELCELTS

Morning, all.

There’s little doubt that Sunday gave us our best performance of the season, and probably the calendar year, so far. And it even gave us the chance to play our own Ode To Joy, the Theme from the Magnificent Seven!What was on paper a very awkward proposition turned into a stroll, and don’t be fooled by the SMSM pointing their fingers at a shocking defensive display. They are simply up to their old tricks of refusing to give us credit for anything while trying to sow doubt and discord in our ranks. 

The SMSM knives were definitely out leading into this match, with the chopping block being prepared for players and management alike. Had this game gone as they wished, it would have been a bloodbath with accusations being thrown at everyone. I mean, that daft old codger Keevins had us finishing the game in third place had we lost, blindly ignoring the facts as usual. Which were that no matter the result on the day, the league positions of the top three would remain unaltered with Celtic at worst maintaining a slender advantage. It takes a special kind of warped mind to make that the gist of your weekend article, yet there it was in black and white. Makes me wonder if they still employ proof readers at his failing rag. 

Callum Osmand again seized his chance to stake a claim for a regular starting position while assuring us that he can be called upon when required. Camilo Duran made his own point about where his best position is by turning his defensive opposition inside out. Total panic anytime those two got near the ball. Hassiem Hassan had his best game, leaving his markers for dead rather than simply running into blind alleys at every turn. 

But while Baur also had a game to remember, I thought the midfield and defence were guilty of allowing Hearts too many opportunities at goal. And the one they took was down to our old failing of leaving the D unmarked for an opponent to stride into and line up his shot while under no pressure. In other words, I think it’s too early yet to say for definite that we have turned the corner, that our frailties are behind us. But it is a helluva good start!

The games are coming our way thick and fast with the constant weekend-midweek-weekend programme which takes its toll on minds and bodies. Our midweek opponents will obviously face the same problems, but our domestic ones won’t-apart of course from Hearts, our weekend opponents just gone. In other words, every weekend will see us playing a fresh team, one which hasn’t had the grind of a long midweek flight plus a tiring ninety minutes against quality opposition. There’s little doubt that we need European football, nor that the players look forward to it-but ask them about it on a Friday morning and they might not be quite so enthusiastic!

But don’t think that I’m pissing on everyone’s chips after a tremendous display and trying to downplay it. Not at all. I’ll be rewatching Sportscene a few times come what may, it’s such a pleasure to hear the pundits congratulating our team through gritted teeth, etc. I hope it has given the players a real confidence boost for the weeks and months ahead, reminded them of who they are and why they are wearing our jerseys. I would certainly rather be basking in a 7-1 hammering than sulking after another doing! 

We move onto our next two matches, at home to Celta Vigo then away to Hibs, with a new found spring in our step. It may be too that MON has some thinking to do regarding his best XI, especially now that Jota looks ready for his first starts. I might be inclined to leave that for another week or two, but probably not if the only other option is Tounekti. Meantime, he can focus his attention on our midfield, which I don’t think is the finished article just yet. Put that marvellous old brain to work, Martin, and dredge us up a winning formula. There’s a good lad. 

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Above article by BMCUWP