Deliver the Knockout Punch

By: Matt | March 21st, 2009

On Sunday, Celtic travel up to Dundee to take on Dundee United in the SPL. After Rangers and Hearts drew 2-2 today, Celtic have a chance to go five points up on their city rivals. After last weekend’s CIS Cup victory, a trip to Tannadice is a tough task for the Bhoys. Dundee have defeated both Celtic and Rangers at different points this season, and while Craig Levein’s team has seen a dip of form lately, they will be looking to get back on track at home. With a win, Celtic can continue put pressure on Rangers and perhaps with a win on Sunday, can put the crushing blow on Rangers title hopes. Celtic will also be looking to put some consistency forward. After winning two SPL matches convincingly, Celtic faltered in a cup tie against St. Mirren, and then won the CIS Cup last weekend against Rangers. Gordon Strachan said of this, “You try to hopefully get a consistent run going. We’ve being trying to do it since the start of the season. We’ve had periods where we can and can’t do it, which is where the inconsistency comes in.”

After just getting a minute in last Sunday’s Cup Final, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink continues his season long search to find his previous form. The big Dutchman has only netted a goal this year and has now been dropped from the Dutch National Team. Yet Gordon Strachan has said that he wants Big Jan to stay at Celtic after his contract runs out this summer. Strachan said “Of course I want Jan here next year. I want all my good players here. It’s not really my task. I indicate who I want to stay and that’s it. I’m the guy who wants him, but if he wants 100 grand a week I’m not the guy who decides it in the end. But we like Jan here and want him as long as he enjoys it and can be part of things.” Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has certainly scored some clutch goals in his time at Celtic, but unless he sees a return to form soon, I would be more inclined to give younger strikers a chance.

Coming into Sunday’s match, Celtic are starting to get more healthy. Lee Naylor and Koki Mizuno have recovered from their various injuries and will be in the squad against Dundee United. I would not expect either to be in the starting XI, with Darren O’Dea playing well in the left back spot and Scott Brown, Aiden McGeady, and Shunsuke Nakamura putting forth some good performances lately also. Then again, with Gordon Strachan, it seems like many times his squad is chosen by throwing darts blindfolded.

Last weekend, Gordon Strachan went with a 4-5-1 formation, with Aiden McGeady pinching up and helping lone striker Scott McDonald. However, Gordon Strachan has called it a 4-4-2, saying “One or two ‘voices of football’ – I’ve been told – said that we played 4-5-1…I must be really ordinary because I sent out a 4-4-2.” Whatever you want to classify the formation as, it created a decent amount of chances for Celtic against Rangers and I would expect to see that same formation on Sunday. While a trip to Tannadice is always tough, Celtic are at least getting Dundee United on a bit of a down slope and hopefully can continue to play well and extend their lead in the SPL.

TAL