Aberdeen v Celtic Preview: Post Euro Hangover?

By: JT | August 18th, 2007

Once again I have failed in my mission to locate an Aberdeen supporter to preview this weekend’s match, but this time its my fault. The sordid combination of job hunting, beach time, Celtic in Europe, and general laziness contributed to no attempt being made.

Matches after European adventures are always an interesting proposition. Considering what the squad went through with the travel, heat, pitch, and draining nature of their defensive play, it would make sense that some players get the day off. The question is how many. Celtic have an enormous squad, many of whom are young and experienced, so this would seem to be the right ocassion for WGS to give them a run out.

Next weekend sees Hearts visit Celtic Park a few days before the decider with Spartak Moskva, so the importance of how this match is handled can not be understated.

Artur Boruc is in the squad and faces a fitness test before the match. Its not hugely important that he play this week, so I wouldn’t mind seeing Mark Brown for one more match before The King returns.

Its about time that Gary Caldwell gets a full ninety minutes, and I can see him spelling Mark Wilson at right back. Steven Pressley is also due for a match and he’ll likely be partnered with the ever present captain, Stephen McManus, in the center of defense. At some point Lee Naylor has got to get a rest, and there is no time like the present. Darren O’Dea is healthy again and in need of a match.

Nakamura and one of the central midfielders should get bench roles. Evander Sno came on as a substitute in Moscow and looked fit. Scott Brown is a guy that I’d expect to see play, along with Aiden McGeady and Paul Hartley.

Up front, its really anybody’s guess. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink looked whipped at the end of the Spartak match, and really didn’t do all that much to look so knackered. He’s been a bit of a disappointment in the three matches thus far this season. If Kenny Miller passes his fitness test, I’d expect to see him partner pint-sized powerhouse Scott McDonald in attack.

Here’s how I see the First XI looking at Pittodrie:

————–M Brown————–
Caldwell–Pressley–McManus–O’Dea
-S Brown–Sno–Hartley–McGeady–
———-Miller–McDonald———-

Not a bad looking squad at all, and certainly no one can have any complaints about the strength of this group.

Aberdeen currently sit tenth in the Scottish Premier League, having drawn with Hearts at home last weekend, and losing a frustrating opening day match to Dundee United on the road. The Dons look to be struggling for leadership at the moment after the departure to Sunderland of Mr. Aberdeen Russell Anderson. Midfielder Scott Severin is now the captain, but you’d think that someone with the experience of former Celtic skipper Jackie McNamara would be a great candidate to be the locker room leader.

A Celtic team that hasn’t played much together may struggle early on, and perhaps concede a goal, but their overall quality should shine though and win the day. 3-1 to the Bhoys with McDonald grabbing a brace, and Hartley making it 2 in 2.