October was a weird one.
We played three league games and picked up seven points. Not as good as we’d have wanted but better than some of the hacks had expected.
We played two Champions League games and played far better than the media expected but didn’t get the results we had hoped.
Much of it was taken up with other matters.
But we sit atop the table by five points at its end and we’re entitled to feel pretty good overall. Some of the hacks continue to circle like vultures hoping for something to give. But I think we’re a little too good for that.
Our result at Easter Road was poor, but like every other time we stumble I can see us going on a winning run now.
Remember; the first team to put together a sustained one usually wins these. Five points isn’t nothing but it’s not everything either.
Had we finished the month with an eight-point lead – and John Beaton and his VAR boys are the reason we haven’t – we’d feel better. But we’re where we are and we won’t be looking behind us but straight ahead.
There are four league games in November and we should be seeking maximum points. There’s St Mirren at home and then Ross County away.
Following that we’ve got Aberdeen and Motherwell. We need those games at home considering that we’ve got two away ties in Europe on either side of them. The month ends in Rome.
At Ibrox their November looks interesting.
They have a Dundee away in midweek followed by Hearts in the League Cup semi. Then Sparta at home in Europe. Following that it’s away at Livingston, then away at Aberdeen and then home to Aris.
Their away game run in the league starts now and it gets no easier in December with Tynecastle, Betis, Motherwell, Easter Road and Celtic Park to come to. By the turn of the year I think we’ll know what we need to.
Which is this; what positions need strengthened in January to put another title – and thus another big chunk of Champions League money – in the bank?
The cash to invest in the team will be there, and we should not hesitate to splash it in recognition of the big event next season and how that will shake out. Think about next season’s team early, and start to put the pieces of it in place. Move out some of our own deadwood. Start the next rebuild.
It’s our most important January window in years, and now we know the route map we have in front of us to get there, and the lead we need to protect and even grow. That’s the challenge. I think this squad is up to it.
It had better be, because whether they realise it or not, some of these guys are already fighting for their futures at the club.
I think this January window will be critical in terms of BR deciding to bed in for the longer haul or bail out.
He’s made it very clear what he requires and if he would have been given it, last window, we’d certainly have more points in Europe.
I feel we will all be excited and encouraged when the window closes are have that horrible feeling of deflation and anger………..again.
Don’t blow it Celtic.
Don’t blow it Celtic…
Lawwell and his spawn of the devil Lawwell (Jnr) WILL blow it Jim…
Lawwell (Jnr) – His recruitment has been ABYSMAL !
Perhaps the players we bring in during January are the players we should have
brought in during the summer?
And that just might have helped with our CL results…?
Do you honestly think the January window will be a good one. I don’t. Just remember who is there. Lawwell and Lawwell. The worst double act in history.
Being (probably) out of Europe, I think that it’ll depend on how close Sevco are to us that determines what we spend…
If they fall behind with that run of away games then we won’t spend much – That’s for sure…
If we continue to repeat the performance v Hibernian then they aided and abetted by the usual suspects will very soon be on our tails – then what ?
I’d like to see us get Shankland – He certainly knows how to score in Scotland and goals win games and won games win cups and titles – and if we don’t get him then Sevco might (they always seem to find money) and he will score a barrowload for them – Boyd was certainly useful for them)
Plus – Scottish players just don’t seem so soft and pliable and prone to injuries as the foreign guys do !
Personally, I would rather we buy Miovski from Aberdeen over Shankland – his movement and link up play far exceed Shankland’s who can’t even get a game for Scotland ahead of Dykes!
Shankland’s only redeeming feature is that he is Scottish meaning he can be of the 8 homegrown players in a European squad but I’m not convinced he’s all that.
Yep – Fair point Woody – Miofski is decent indeed !
Seems every now and again we pull out a shocker and then, sparked into reality, we go on a decent run as stated and hoped.
That shocker only serves to highlight the deficiencies that the board helped create and that they need to support Brendan in sorting out during January. Saturday’s lacklustre performance surely done just that.
A little self critical and honest reflection is required after Saturday’s shambolic 1st team squad effort and the undeserved CL position we find ourselves in. Should we use that positively, rather than whinge and harm us, it will make us stronger.
We need then to look forward, because like with most disappointing negatives in life and no matter what role we have it in, don’t look back in anger, get your boots back on and get back to work.
Celtic simply need to get our heads down, work hard and with renewed vigour utilise the home games in November and December to our advantage and we’ll find we’ll still be in a fine position all said and done.
By the end of the New Year game against Clement Fraud’s magnificent chargers and the Jan 2nd game away to St. Mirren we’ll know exactly where the footballing side is at and what we need to do about it. Brendan’s no fool, it’s the board I worry about. HH
It comes as no surprise to me that Celtic dropped points to Hibernian. We huffed and puffed at Fir park and we extremely lucky to take all 3 points. The January window can’t come quick enough for me because this Celtic team lacks balance. Since Georgios Giamaukas was sold on there is no ariel threat in this Celtic team. The front line is too small which makes Celtic too one dimensional. We have far too many fringe players that are average players. Hence the reason Celtic can’t buy a win in the Champions league.
A very good point indeed Micheal !
strenghten in january window ? good luck with that james….with 2 lawwell’s in the building?
the time for strengthening was in june/july.
our squad depth was shown up for what it is in edinburgh….powder puff !
mikey johnson flatters to decieve….looks great until he gets the ball…james forrest is past it (if he was ever really there at all) yea, he did ok when he came on, he should have put his chance away…and as for oh…….bernardo too….
i still can’t get my head around the fact we have managed to weaken the collective quality of our squad even after signing how many players during the summer?
we need to get rid of a load of deadwood….but the lawwells will only go and sign more….
Is that going to be the plan now James?
Try to get through to January until we can flex our financial muscle, to land a league and cup double for the season now?
Saturday was an all round red flag display, that I’m not comfortable about whatsoever.
The past week, with the 3 games involved were always going to be very telling to where we were as a club?
2 fantastic performances, allowed for a slip up on Saturday, or does it?
We went into that 3 game run with Rodgers claiming that rotation would be needed?
Yet the only change was due to the unfortunate injury to Reo?
The subs bench has become a huge factor within today’s game, and even more so when you find yourself within tight games.
This now is the third time, where our bench has failed to deliver, where the need of finding a goal was required?
Yet our subs bench was set up in a ridiculous manner, with 3 wingers within it?
Only 2 midfielders within it, and this after the efforts shown a couple of days earlier?
Now a squad these days are formed by having at least 2 players in every position covered, with the option of changing formation with the 5 sub rule in play.
This still remains unresolved for ourselves, which is a worrying issue imo.
Also Rodgers seems only interested in experience more so than actual development, which is another concerning factor also.
How do you gain experience if unused as a player?
And even more so when the experience is generally classed as not being good enough?
The gap between first choice players and the back up ones, has always been to huge within the club, which in turn makes European football massive to overcome when injuries hit us.
Yet it still remains the case, and was expecting Rodgers to actually close that gap.
As of yet it hasn’t happened, which I remain disappointed within Rodgers for.
If development is going to be totally ignored for ourselves as a club, then that doesn’t feel right for ourselves in the longer term, where buying players has to be a massive success, but nothing is guaranteed with buying in the players either, especially with so many failing to hit the demands of the club with the quality required.
Some very strange decisions made by Rodgers over the past week, that I’m feeling a little bit uncomfortable about tbh.
So after any poor display, it’s the response that counts now?
Yet I still expect to see a subs bench used in a far better manner than what was available on Saturday?
3 sub wingers, really
Giving 3 CBs a go with Phillips in there is something I’d like to see. Also more of Iwata, Holm, Yang and 2 upfront too with Oh being given the longer opportunity and it can then be decided properly if it works with him alongside Kyogo or not. Callum moving forward to a more offensive role with O’Riley would be worth a go. Could have done something more like this over 90 minutes against the likes of a struggling Hibs. Mikey J did get a go and again with him he didn’t appear to take it.
I know this all involves a fair bit of hindsight but we could be giving Ali J a longer recovery time, same with Hatate (neither seem really fit or 100% recovered from injuries atm, not for continuous game after game I don’t think), Taylor too could be sacrificed to create space for them. This would have given freshness after our recent toils and been more progressive and energetic. Those Bhoys above would have done no worse than Bernardo, and Palma who looked worn after their CL efforts and also your namesake, no disrespect intended, but where’s the point in that. The replaced players would be available from the bench should it not or partly not work out.
I totally get the point re three wingers on the bench but I also get the sense that BR is getting the flak for AP’s, or someone else’s, project signings but rotation is what BR said so fair play on that front.
If we had drawn we’d all have screamed holy hell, but we should remember results and performances like this. Sure we’d say why did we change it but if we can’t try it when 7 points ahead then when do these guys ever get the experience to develop within. HH
Clach, the name Mickey Johnson springs to mind ,th oh s buoy gets injured thing his boot laces.
Strikers win games, defenders win trophies