If there’s one thing we know about today, it’s that our treble dream is up for grabs.
We can barely guess the team, we can’t be certain what the performance will look like, but one thing is crystal clear: we’re coming up against a manager who thinks he knows how to thwart us—and who would love nothing more than to do it.
Derek McInnes lives to beat Celtic.
Before I say another word, let’s clear something up. McInnes also enjoys beating the club across the city. Yes, he likes beating us because he once played for them, and it’s widely presumed he’s a fan. But he’s also pragmatic and professional. I don’t rate him all that highly as a manager, but I’ll concede this much: he always sets out to frustrate both Glasgow clubs. If he were facing them today instead of us, I’d be just as convinced that he’d be utterly inspired to win.
But let’s be honest—none of us wants to wake up tomorrow and see his grinning face on the back pages of the papers. That would mean something had gone very, very wrong this evening, the kind of wrong that would only increase the jitters around here, and which would bring our treble quest to a shuddering halt.
We need to win today. And it would be very nice indeed if it were a statement victory, the kind that leaves scars on the opposition.
We’ve been a bit Jekyll-and-Hyde against McInnes teams. There have been times we’ve turned up and absolutely routed them, and others when he’s managed to get in our heads, taken points off us, or knocked us out of a cup competition. It’s those results that lead people to talk about him as a future Ibrox boss. Of course, he’s already turned that job down once, and if he’s smart, he’d do so again.
I expect a tough game today, largely because we are our own worst enemy right now. We look vulnerable, and McInnes is exactly the kind of manager who will have studied that and will believe he can exploit it.
On the right day, with the right luck, and if enough of our players aren’t on form, he might. So every player must be at the top of his game today. No excuses. No passengers. We cannot afford them. Everyone must be focused.
Much depends on the lineup. The manager has some big decisions to make. If he goes with Austin Trusty, it’ll be a huge vote of confidence in him.
If he doesn’t, it’s not a sign he’s writing the guy off, just an acknowledgment that Liam Scales might be the stronger option right now. It’ll also be interesting to see who he picks at left-back. I expect Greg Taylor to play, but if Alex Valle gets the nod to silence some of the rumours swirling around him, I won’t be shocked.
Kyogo will play—of that, I have no doubt. It would be madness not to start him with Idah still lacking confidence and sharpness. But if we’re comfortably ahead, it would be ideal to bring Adam Idah on and hope he can find the back of the net.
I caused a bit of controversy yesterday with my piece on Callum McGregor, mainly from people who read the headline but didn’t bother with the article. I expect Callum to play today; it’s a cup tie where the stakes are winner-takes-all. But the makeup of the midfield will be fascinating. Personally, I’d go with Paulo Bernardo and Arne Engels alongside him, but we’ll see what the boss decides.
One thing is certain: if Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda are fit, they both have to play. Without question. Nothing less than our best—our best players and our best performance—will be enough to get us into the next round.
The win is all that matters. Right now, I don’t care how we achieve it. A scrappy, ugly goal deflected off a Kilmarnock player will do fine. As long as our name is in the hat for the draw tomorrow, I’ll be happy. Of course, we’d all prefer to do it in style, and this team is more than capable of that when it’s on form.
Here’s hoping that’s the kind of performance we get today, the kind where Celtic show up and blow them off the pitch. But at this moment, I’ll just take the win. That’s all that matters—there’s a treble at stake, after all.
Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images
We all know how Killie will approach this, physical and aggressive. There motto “never mind the baw, git on wae the geme” Bearing this in mind we of course want to win, but looking at the big picture whats the most important game, tonight or Young Boys.
You think McInnes always wants to win against Sevco when the last time they played Sevco won 6-0.
Nah I think McInnes is more than happy to help Sevco out when they need it.
OH OH OH James we got him back then:)
Wednesday is much more important and will have a bearing on January signings especially if we win.
James you have contradicted yourself re Calum.
If he plays today he will struggle on Wednesday
Oh, oh. I am afraid it it not the first time an ex-player has been included in the line-up on this site. Maybe, just a wee bit of “if you know your history, it’s enough to make your heart go Oh, Oh, Oh…”
We all know how vital CalMac is to our team, style of play, tempo etc, but I’d hold him back today and play Engels, Bernardo and McCowan as our mid 3 !
Elsewhere, probably get our strongest team out there …Johnstone & Taylor, fbs, and CCV with either or!
If Maeda fit, get him in with Kyogo & Kuhn!
Important we get the win today, not only to progress in the cup and keep the treble alive, but to carry confidence into Wednesday night!
Let’s do it Celtic ! HH
Yes of course I meant Idah and not Oh! ?
I also need to stop working at 2am!
Thankfully we didn’t give him that satisfaction !