Damage Limitation?
After an inauspicious start to the new campaign, Inverness travel to Glasgow to face Celtic in the faint hope that we can get our season kick-started. I won't be holding my breath on that one given our inability to create sufficient opportunities for our front players, and their inability to convince the fans that they have the necessary credentials to fill the vacant strikers roll.
There is no denying it has been a poor beginning for Yogi's men, although closer inspection will show that we have had a tougher than normal start to the season for various reasons. The major issues are obvious. No replacement striker since Billy Mckay left and multiple injuries to key players. With our budget, a wafer thin squad is easily exposed with a handful of injuries. We almost had enough injured players to field a team of crocks. There is also the millstone of expectation hanging round the players necks. In all honesty, some folk need to re-adjust their sights and get back to reality. Yes we won the Cup last season, got into Europe by finishing third and had players and manager of the year accolades etc. But, all that is history. We need to get back to business, and get back to it quickly, or this season will pass us by.
You don't get a tougher place than Parkhead to try and get your first win of the season. Unfortunately, that's where our makeshift side will have to try and do the business. The back line in front of Fon Williams will most likely be Raven-Draper-Devine-Williams or Tremarco. Now, a lot has happened since the start of the season and midfield is anyone's guess, but with the return of Iain Vigurs, we will at least have someone who can spread the play and take free kicks in the vicinity of the goal area. So possibly Vigurs and Tansey in the holding and dispatching slots with Mutombo, the much wanted Christie and Williams or a fit again Doran foraying forward with last chance Lopez needing to up the pace. What better stadium than Parkhead to do this. Jordan Roberts is hoping to be fit and Vincent is another option if he is repaired, and the same for Meekings, who I'm sure will get a wonderful reception from the Celtic faithful.
Celtic have signed Scott Allan from Hibernian overnight. What a surprise that was not. A bonus for us though is that Scott Brown is injured. Kris Commons is ready to go and that is a negative for us as he is usually a problem for our A defence, never mind our thrown together rearguard.
tm4tj prediction:- Our least favourite away day is coming along at the wrong time for us and I can't see anything other than damage limitation today. Celtic in full swing is a dangerous beast. Their pace and movement in attack could prove too much for our deputies. Our best hope is that Josh Meekings recovers in time and takes Ross Draper out of the centre back position. Nothing against Ross, but he might get turned too easily and that would leave Fon Williams exposed. It's all ifs and buts at the moment, however, we can cling to our memories of the Scottish Cup semi-final and keep dreaming along that lines. That just leaves me with a prediction to do, and it irks me to say we are on a hiding to nothing.
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