Luke McCowan deserves a start today, although it’s likely Paulo Bernardo will get the nod, or perhaps Brendan could start both?…
Luke McCowan hasn’t had much game time since his deadline day move from Dundee at the end of last month.
He’s had a few appearances from the bench and of course scored against Hearts two weeks ago, but unfortunately he was cup tied for the visit of Falkirk last week in a game he would otherwise have started.
So today is the ideal time to hand Luke his first start in my opinion. Reo Hatate will almost certainly start in Dortmund on Tuesday night, and he is due a rest so Luke is the man for me to take his place in the starting line up.
McCowan is a skilful player with an eye for goal which he’s proved consistently for Dundee so he should be the man to start against St Johnstone this evening. He’s itching for a start and will give everything for the jersey, so it’s a no brainer for me.
It’s very much likely that Paulo Bernardo will be given the nod, but we all know what Paulo brings to the table, so it would make sense to see what Luke can bring and find out it he can cope with the added pressure of playing for Celtic. Playing him is the only way we’ll find out for sure and this evening is the perfect opportunity for the Celtic supporter living our dream. He won’t let anyone down if he’s given the nod.
Perhaps Brendan will make two major calls in his midfield selection and leave Arne Engels on the bench alongside Reo Hatate with Dortmund in mind – still remarkable that they played their weekend game early last night with a home European tie against Celtic on Tuesday in mind, whereas Celtic are having to play later of a Saturday before travelling to Germany foe Tuesday Champions League match in Dortmund.
Here’s my own preferred Celtic starting XI for the game at McDiarmid Park this evening…
My side for today. Luke McCowan deserves a start. Reo will start on and Tuesday and maybe needs a rest, so Luke should be the man to take his place. Apart from that we should be full strength apart from CCV who will unfortunately miss out. pic.twitter.com/OEd0uP4MhL
— JustAnOrdinaryBhoy (@ordinarybhoy) September 28, 2024
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Would be surprised to see Rodgers go with 8 outfield players, that might be expected to start in dortmund, when we can only make the 5 subs?
With that in mind, would be surprised to see AJ risked imo?
Agreed that McCowan will hopefully start and available for the full 90 minutes also in mind?
Would opt for Paulo in the midfield also to start, and could allow for Holm to be his replacement, with all going well?
Could allow for calmac and Engels to share the position, with calmac starting and Engels as his replacement in mind?
Could also have Hatate upon the bench, if plans for the game aren’t going to plan, but hopefully it will be, so no need for Hatate to be used today?
Think idah, will be used to start today, against the expected low block also?
Again kyogo could be used later on, when the game becomes far more stretched and open, for kyogo to operate better with more space available to himself?
Again our wider options in Maeda and kuhn would be expected to start, and allows for forrest and yang as the potential replacements?
That would mean that no subs are available for changes within the defensive set up, if all goes to plan, hence why I would be surprised to see AJ used today imo?
The unanswered question still remains as to whether Trusty can play the right sided CB role?
Might be worth finding out, with dortmund in mind, if CCV wasn’t to make it?
Still think rocki is a better option than Welsh for the position, so still could be a case of rocki getting the position ahead of Trusty all the same?
Would mean that potentially scales and Taylor would have to do the full 90 minutes, but with ourselves expected to dominant possession, then should hardly be over worked this evening either?
It’s OK putting plans in place, but especially within the footballing world, it can never be totally sure of the outcome, with so many variables in operation throughout a whole match?
The ideal scenario for ourselves is to score a few goals early, to turn the game into a non contest, and just going through the motions of a game already won imo?