Celtic head to Rugby Park tomorrow in what is the last leg of an intense week, which has seen us battle it out across three different competitions…
We started the week by putting a high flying Aberdeen side to the sword at Hampden Park which put a dramatic halt to Jimmy Thelin’s excellent start at the Pittodrie club.
After flexing our muscles at the National Stadium we then headed back to Celtic Park where we conquered high flying Bundesliga side RB Leipzig under the disco lights as we restored our clubs reputation across Europe after that night of horror in Dortmund a few weeks beforehand.
To finish we now take on Derek McInnes’ Kilmarnock side, who will be looking to do a Glasgow double after beating our city neighbours on their plastic pitch earlier in the season.
Tomorrow’s tie will certainly be a tricky one, although our recent form has been decent at Rugby Park it’s a place where we have previously struggled due mainly to having to negotiate their plastic pitch as well as a side who tend to sit in and make themselves hard to break down.
Much discussion has been around what line up we will go for, with our preferred starting eleven having run themselves into the ground over the last two fixtures. In recent games against the likes of Dundee and Motherwell manager Brendan Rodgers has chosen to utilise his squad but personally I think we should go full strength in this one.
My reasons behind this aren’t anything to do with not trusting the squad, which has proven more than capable at times already this season, but more to do with the fact that this is one of the more tricky ties we encounter throughout our domestic season. As mentioned previously we have at times struggled on the plastic pitch and we know Kilmarnock are no mugs, especially at home.
I feel however that with the international break coming after this fixture that we should throw all we have at this one, claim the three points and move into the break on a strong footing. Obviously if the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers or Auston Trusty are struggling fitness wise then we should take precautions with them, but if the manager thinks they are fit and ready then we really should play our strongest stating eleven. If we build a lead early then absolutely utilise our bench but until then i would want to see us go with all our big hitters.
Celtic are in a great place at the moment. The annihilation of Aberdeen has proved that we are a level above the competition domestically. Beating the team currently situated second in the Bundesliga, and doing it in style, shows that we have learned our lessons on the European front and that we are a different animal now on that stage.
We can’t however lose focus in the bread and butter environment of the league. At this stage many envision us romping home in the league this season but these things can’t be taken for granted. A few slip ups will change the mentality of our challengers, who will perhaps think that we are more focused on our European campaign, so this mustn’t happen. Taking three points and moving into the International break on a high is vital.
When we return to action we find ourselves right back up against it, heading to Tynecastle in what looks a seriously dangerous tie against a rejuvenated Hearts side. We then have a crucial Champions League tie against Club Brugge, before taking on Ross County at home then heading to Pittodrie to challenge a wounded Aberdeen side out for revenge.
It’s imperative that we keep the foot on the pedal and that means throwing everything at Kilmarnock tomorrow and keeping our imperious run going. It’s vital we don’t show any signs of weakness domestically. We have won nothing yet so to steal the words of Brendan Rodgers, it’s all about talking one game at a time. Starting with three points tomorrow. No matter how it’s achieved.
Conall McGinty
Still believe that games such as kille away on that monstrosity of a pitch, are potentially tougher games for Rodgers to negotiate, than what we can face in a CL match for himself imo?
Completely different type of match, especially with the surface, along with players with possible fatigue and niggling injuries as factors tomorrow for Rodgers in team selection?
Would be surprised to see CCV and Hatate start, and kuhn may also be a risk also?
Think scales will start tomorrow, and potentially Trusty as his partner, due to that surface not the best suited for CCV, even moreso with returning from injury?
Taylor has far more experience upon the surface than valle, so think Rodgers will give Taylor the starting role?
Paulo could be the replacement for Hatate, who may need resting also, especially after playing the full 90 minutes in the last 2 games?
Idah had a fantastic game at kille last time, and Rodgers could well take the same approach tomorrow also?
Kuhn is undroppable at present on current form, like Hatate, but a cautious approach could well be taken, especially with him having the ice pack on the hamstring, after subbed off against Leipzig?
Forrest still remains as Rodgers go to wide man, within the SPFL, and could well be the case again tomorrow?
Might well be another case of winning a match from the bench with the likes of subs such as kyogo, kuhn, Hatate, McCowan, valle and yang available from the bench, to make an impact, against a tiring kille side, who we should be dominant in possession?
Think Rodgers will stick with his successful approach to date, after big CL matches imo?
Adding a bit of freshness within the starting line-up, and still can call upon the extra quality if required from the bench, against teams we ware down with our possession game, that keeps ourselves as a full 90 minute team this season?