The realistic Neil Lennon refused to gloss over his side’s miserable defeat to Rangers, but the Hoops boss sought consolation and firmly believes things will get better.
The 49-year-old pointed to his team’s injuries, covid absenteeism and the fact that some of his players had just returned from a triple header on international service.
Sure, Celtic could write off the lifeless 2-0 defeat as a bad day at the office, but fans have been ringing alarm bells since a dismal 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock in August and the Rangers have now scored a four-point gap above.
A supporter on social media summed it up by rightly pointing out that autumn titles won’t be awarded, but fans have usually seen their team perform well on this side of Halloween.
The march towards Ten In A Row was forged because of their unwavering trust, but even the most ardent follower can see things are not right.
Celtic’s dominance in the 21st century is illustrated by the fact that for each of the last 20 seasons outside of the 2009 Tony Mowbray disaster, they have either won the league or forced a final day decision.
They’ve been there or around every time since John Barnes’ site collapsed around the turn of the millennium.
But Saturday’s shock has seriously worried Hoops supporters that this Rangers squad is darned to leave no doubt as to who the best team in the Premiership is.
Record sport executes the rule of the 6 executing actions that are required to stop an alarming form run.
Discover an identity
The rediscovery may be more fitting, but it has been a long seven months since the Hoops rocked when they beat St Mirren 5-0 in their last pre-lockdown game. Even the most defiant Celtic fan sees that when it comes to a clear style of play, Rangers must beat their rivals. Steven Gerrard’s men know exactly what to do while the current Hoops squad appears rudderless and sees a team with no ideas for much of this season. Lennon’s squad produced football that had fans purring for much of last season, but the current price tag is cumbersome and predictable. Yes, Lennon was right to talk about the Hibs win, but this enthusiastic look back only shows how arduous the rest of the season was. This has to change quickly and goes far beyond the form in which the Premiership champions line up.
Find a 3-5-2 alternative
And the first action brings us to another important change. Lennon excelled as a player in a 3-5-2 and hit the jackpot to Dubai when Celtic put the opponents under pressure before the lockdown – but the current version doesn’t work. Scott Brown’s form will always be the subject of much debate, but it was only in the last few minutes that he played St. Johnstone in shock. Nevertheless, the 35-year-old plays deeper than ever and is part of the monotonous building game. The 4-3-3 was a Lennon favorite, but it’s currently less appealing to Mikey Johnston and James Forrest on the sidelines. There is no easy answer, but tactical inspiration is required.
A final decision by Shane Duffy
Anyone can see it’s not working out yet, and the childhood Celtic fan himself looked dejected at the final whistle as he hugged former Brighton pal Connor Goldson after his Rangers double. After the game he apologized violently. The imposing Republic of Ireland international is increasingly looking like a man cast on the wrong show. The 28-year-old is a serious threat in both boxes, but even his aerial skills have been compromised as he insisted on using his opponent as a launch pad. Duffy is great with his back to the wall, but he doesn’t seem suited to making attacks and dealing with skilled players who are able to spin at his pace. Rangers aimed at him and that’s another worrying sign.
Keep believing in Klimala
Who could have guessed that Celtic’s raw 22-year-old forward would face Ranger’s best central defensive pairing in a decade? Klimala was a victim of a performance without ideas. The Polish youth international shares the same qualities and flaws as before the game, but his bleak performance shouldn’t lead to a lack of opportunity. His finish remains unpredictable and seems more suitable for an opposing team, but his skill-posture and searing pace gave Celtic a spark at times. Expect Odsonne Edouard, Leigh Griffiths and Albian Ajeti to overtake him. It’s hard to shake the feeling that Kilmala offers an X-Factor despite its current limitations.
Get Jullien back quickly
The £ 7m defender is the prime example of a player better than his reputation. Scottish football fans saw Lyndon Dykes and Nicke Kabamba rough it up to leave it snorting and puffing. His body language is terrible at times, but he’s Celtic’s best defender when he’s fit. A back complaint put him on hold but it’s easy to forget how well he played on long stages last season.
Jullien was brilliant against Lazio and his performance in the stubborn 1-0 away win over Aberdeen could have rivaled Johan Mjallby when it came to putting his body in danger while the ball was being pulled out from behind. His social media silliness undercuts a steely operator who can do the Toling champions better.
Release Turnbull
The Scottish U21 international is waiting for his big Celtic moment. He couldn’t use his 45 minute cameo against Hibs. He was among his best at St. Johnstone, like many, but his ability to break the lines will be of the essence as the games come tight and fast ahead of a brutal 10-game stretch. Celtic isn’t short of opportunities in midfield, but since Stuart Armstrong left in 2018, he hasn’t had a player like Turnbull. Lennon was wary of the £ 3million man, but the 21-year-old seems like a sensible solution to addressing the need for more ingenuity in the midfield.
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