Sunday’s game against Hearts at Tynecastle is for me definitely the most important one, but tonight the Celtic support under the lights at Paradise will demand a good performance and a positive result against SK Strum Graz in the Europa League…
Tonight sees Celtic take on Austrian side Strum Graz in match day three of our Europa League campaign, and it’s vital we get maximum points if we have any aspirations of making the knockout stages.
With just one point from our opening two matches against Red Star Belgrade and Sporting Braga, Brendan Rodgers understands the need for his side to pick up three points this evening or he can pretty much wave goodbye to what is looking like his final campaign as Celtic manager.
However, despite all that, it would be fair and reasonable to state that the game pales into insignificance compared to Sunday’s vital clash in the capital as we take on high flying Hearts at Tynecastle and that’s a real six pointer with the chance to reduce the gap to two points or if things go badly to fall eight points behind Derek McInnes’ side who would really fancy their chances of pulling off a shock title win, the first from a club outside of Glasgow since Aberdeen won the league in 1985.
Usually it’s Europe that’s our main focus, but Sunday now takes precedence as we can’t afford to give the Jambos any sort of title winning encouragement. It’s vital Celtic get all three points from a title perspective as well as a physiological one, although perhaps a draw would be acceptable in the wider circumstances.
That of course doesn’t mean that tonight is any less meaningful though, as we as Celtic supporters still demand a decent performance and long overdue good result, given the substandard football we’ve had to endure these past few games. We need to rediscover our form and that winning mentality, and fast. We badly need the confidence booster of a good win in Europe and that will stand us in good stead for the game against Hearts.
Improving in Europe is a major challenge for the club, but just this once I’d think you’d all agree that Sunday takes top billing in terms of its wider importance. Celtic should be good enough to win both these matches. Come 8pm tonight it’s going to be down to the players to show that’s an accurate assessment of their quality. Then all eyes will turn to Tynecastle.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Celtic in the Thirties in Two Volumes – Brilliantly researched and written by Matt Corr. An unmissable addition to any Celtic bookshelf. Click on the image below to order your copies…
Disagree, as been a while since the next game holds more importance and relevance, than it usually does for ourselves imo?
That is tonight, and for our club showing no form of unity whatsoever, is certainly not the Celtic way.
We may be spoilt for choice of culprits to blame for the current shitshow within our club.
Personally believe Rodgers has a lot to answer for, but is also in a position still to try and turn things around for ourselves.
To find ourselves heading into an important match tonight, without having a clue as to what our strongest 11 actually is, remains a ridiculous state to find ourselves in.
Are we actually looking at a change in formation, in order to get better performance levels from our players?
With a big test again on Sunday, the depth of our squad will be tested, especially with the effects of the Thursday/Sunday turnaround, going to have a bigger impact within this season now.
Confidence levels are currently very low, within our playing squad. To the degree it’s a growing concern as to whether they actually believe within our manager instructions at present.
We have turned into a team, where the 5 sub rule available, is struggling badly to make any real impact within games also imo.
Of course players have to take responsibility for their performance levels also, but that is hardly helped with the selection policy for starting positions currently in operation.
Felt for some time now, that the semi final could well be the deciding factor, upon Rodgers seeing out this season with ourselves.
Think that could be bought forward to Sunday afternoon now, at this stage imo?
Tonight result will be very telling as to whether our expectations can actually drop any lower upon this season.
The pressure is certainly growing upon results upon the pitch, so a response is desperately required for ourselves.
Bad result tonight, only increases the pressure within the playing squad, and reduces our unity levels in return.
With ourselves as a club in such a fragile state at present, would regard tonight as a massive match for ourselves.
Sadly we haven’t been able to win any of the likes yet, this calendar year.
The question remains as is tonight actually going to be the start of changes within performance levels for ourselves?
Wish I was more confident of the likes actually getting delivered for ourselves all the same.