I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that this weekend’s Scottish Cup Quarter Final against Hibernian is the biggest game we may have this season.
A Tough Tie For Celtic and Hibs
Hibs are, in my opinion, the toughest draw we could have got of all the teams left in the tournament, the mighty Queens Park notwithstanding, of course. They’ve beaten us fairly recently, albeit with one almighty assist from VAR.
We can’t deny though, that Hibs outplayed Celtic in that first half at Easter Road last month. Even in the second half, when Celtic utterly dominated, Hibs’ defense was resolute and stood up tall against an unending barrage of attacks.
Home Advantage is Crucial
With that being said, Celtic have the undoubted edge going into Sunday’s game. Playing the match at Celtic Park gives us a massive boost. Easter Road has been something of a bogey venue for Celtic in recent times, but at home, our record against Hibs is outstanding.
I think Brendan Rodgers summed it up best in his press conference yesterday when he admitted it would be a hard game for Celtic but then, with a cheeky smile, he added: “It’s a hard game for Hibs too.”
A Thrilling Match is on the Cards
In any case, both sides are in great form. Hibs are now unbeaten in more than a dozen matches, whereas Celtic, that blip in Edinburgh 2 weeks ago aside, have also been showing all the signs of champions elect.
This promises to be an open and enthralling game of football, and possibly a high scoring one too.
Celtic Have the Right Kind of Selection Dilemma
Brendan Rodgers has a number of difficult choices to make for his starting line-up tomorrow. But, not de to poor form or injuries. Quite the opposite in fact.
The only fresh injury problem for Celtic is Liam Scales, who Rodgers confirmed will miss the match despite playing on with a facial injury against St. Mirren last week.
It’s still unknown whether he’ll go with the tried and tested Greg Taylor at left back or the ever-improving January arrival Jeffery Schlupp.
The midfield probably picks itself, with Callum McGregor, Arne Engels and Reo Hatate likely to start. Luke McCowan continues to impress however, and don’t be surprised if he sneaks in there somewhere.
Front Three Uncertain
Up front is where the real questions lie. Most fans and pundits agree that Celtic’s strongest attack at the moment is Kuhn on the left, Maeda through the middle and Jota on the left.
However, Yang Hyun-Jun is in a rich vein of form at the moment, albeit as an impact player from the bench. Additionally, there’s the question of Adam Idah playing up front. The big Irishman has had an up and down season since Celtic made his signing permanent in August.
It is clear to see that Idah is a confidence player. If ever someone could do with a couple of goals in a crucial cup tie to kick start his season, its him. And I’m sure that’s something as Celtic fans that we’d all love to see.
Play To Our Strengths
However, with Celtic just 270 minutes away from a treble, I don’t think now is the time to change things. We need to play our strongest possible team. That is why I believe Schlupp, who is the in-form player of the moment, needs to start at left back. Likewise, I say we go with Hatate, Engels and McGregor in the midfield. I fully expect McCowan to play his part from the bench though.
And the same goes for Yang. He was outstanding last week, and for me, he has shown enough to prove that he deserves to be part of this Celtic first team squad moving forward.
However, he still has a long way to go before he displaces Kuhn or Jota on the wings.
As for our striker, well, I’ve been following Daizen Maeda’s career since 2018, and this is the best football I’ve seen him play in all that time. He must start upfront for us, without question.
Again though, Idah is a great option to have from the bench if we find ourselves chasing the game and needing goals.
Predictions
Here’s my predicted starting line-up:
Schmeichel, Schlupp, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Johnston, McGregor, Engels, Hatate, Kuhn, Maeda, Jota
Scorecast: Celtic to win 3-1, but Hibs will score first.