Three points tomorrow, and no excuses, we have left ourselves with no room for any further mishaps if we are going to win the league this season…
Tomorrow late afternoon kick-off sees Celtic take on Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership in our final match before club football is once again interrupted by an International break. I don’t need to tell you how vital it is that we collect all three points against the Ayrshire side who will come to Celtic Park to frustrate with their low block and look to take advantage of any set pieces that the get.
Currently Celtic are a rather concerning nine points adrift of current leaders Hearts, albeit we do have the advantage of a game in hand – that’s against Dundee United at Celtic Park – so a win tomorrow is a must in our quest to defend our title.
With Hearts playing at home and theRangers also in action, and a win likely for both teams, it’s important we don’t give either side further encouragement going forward in regard to our recent vulnerabilities.
In our last six match’s we’ve lost three, and more worryingly we done so in such a pitiful manner. So I can’t stress how important it is that we show the ability and desire that seen us beat Sturm Graz, Falkirk and theRangers, and not the lacklustre effort we witnessed on Thursday night in Denmark or in the defeats against Dundee and Hearts at Dens Park and Hearts respectively.
We may have our injury problems to seek with the likes of Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota, Kelechi Iheanacho, and now Callum Osmand set for a spell on the sidelines with doubts also lingering over the fitness of Arne Engels, but we can’t use that as an excuse if we fail to triumph tomorrow.
We still have more than enough to take care of Kilmarnock. We must win, no excuses.
As fast far as the team that Martin O’Neill will pick, in what could be his last game in charge, I reckon he’s select the following starting XI from the available players.
Predicted Celtic team to face Kilmarnock – Schmeichel; Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Saracchi; McGregor (c), Hatate, Nygren; Maeda, Kenny and Tounekti.
Engels might make the bench and I can see Shin Yamada getting a half hour and a chance to show to Martin O’Neill, Shaun Maloney and perhaps the new manager in waiting that he’s well worthy or playing for Celtic.
COYBIG!
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Agreed that anything but a victory is unthinkable tomorrow.
The last game of the 3rd mini period of matches, distributed by these international breaks, and we are still searching for a run of consistency regarding results?
We know better than anyone in Scottish football, that it requires that consistency factor, to win league titles.
Even been extra challenging to date this season, with not being able to find a consistency factor in team selection, with a injury list as it is, which continues to grow moreso than seeing the likes getting resolved.
Regardless, would take a victory tomorrow, by any means, then looking to press the reset button over the international break.
Also think MoN and Maloney might freshen up the team, especially as we looked fairly leggy on Thursday, which can be understandable with the whirlwind changes within the club, over the previous number of days. So very challenging for so many of our players mentally, that seemed to take it’s toll on Thursday also imo?
Despite the amount of injuries, still have a number of selection issues for MoN to get right for ourselves, all the same?
Personally wouldn’t have any issues if Donovan and Saracchi were to replace ralston and Tierney imo.
Paulo would be my preferred choice for replacing Engels.
Think nygren might do with a rest, so think McCowan could provide the extra energy in the position imo.
Agreed upon the starting front 3, and may well have to look for balikwisha, shin and forrest, to provide later on also, but hopefully not in a manner where we are chasing a goal.
Still think that we have more than enough for a 3 nil victory, before all of the events of this international break can begin.
How they will all unfold, remains as a total guessing game at present imo?