by Joe McHugh
Celtic are first out of the blocks today at Aberdeen and that's the way that the new season has to progress.
The second half of last season is still far too fresh, the miserable draws either side of losing at Aberdeen and cash-strapped Rangers, threw the SPL title away with a host of problems and issues raised.
Every away game was viewed with trepidation despite on paper having eleven players better than the opposition.
When was our last convincing win away from home?
Not so easy to recall, we snarled and scrapped, huffed and puffed, slugging it out with sides like Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Inverness Caley Thistle without stamping our authority and class all over the opposition.
MOSCOW DYNAMO
Today at Pittodrie it's time to get real, to outfight Aberdeen and show the class and style that sent Moscow Dynamo into the Europa League while we prepare to face Arsenal in two eagerly awaited clashes.
I don't think that Tony Mowbray and his management team are under any illusions. Once upon a time going to Aberdeen was a tough assignment, a draw was a reasonable result, defeat wasn't the end of the world. Times change.
We've had some wild early season fixtures up there before, in 1996 a last gasp goal from Andy Thom earned the ten man hoops a point in a 2-2 draw, two years later it all kicked off with a pantomime including two missed Celtic penalties and a Regi Blinker own goal giving Aberdeen a bizarre 3-2 win but a year later things looked better as John Barnes kicked off his brief Celtic reign with a convincing 5-0 win with Henrik Larsson, Mark Viduka and Mark Burchill scoring with ease.
Aberdeen have had a hellish summer, any decent player has moved on with Sigma Olumouc, a competent but unspectacular side, hammering them home and away in the Europa League.
Any talk of Fortress Pittodrie and it being a difficult place to go can quickly be dismissed as media myth.
There is nothing for Celtic to fear today if they play their way and don't get obsessive about the opposition.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Yes pay them respect, it's the first league game, they have a new manager, they may have a few spells of pressure but we are the side gunning for a Champions League place, not a hopeful mid-table SPL side going to Aberdeen 'hoping to get a result'.
We don't need to have an eye on the Arsenal game, winning the SPL is crucial for ourselves and to pile pressure onto Rangers as they ship off players like there's no tomorrow.
Tony Mowbray's pre-match thoughts were hardly inspiring, that's done in the dressing room.
PLATFORM
The players have the platform now to demonstrate their ability, the game in Moscow hinted at what they are capable of.
Before the rest of the SPL kicks off we should be purring with excitement, talking about McGeady, Maloney and N'Guemo as well as discussing the new look striking options.
Last season is best forgotten, the best way to try and put it to rest is to start with a new slate going off on the front foot and create some much needed excitement and momentum.
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