The emergence David Turnbull and Ismaila Soro are perhaps the only bright spots in what has been a season to forget as quickly as possible for the Celtic support.
Turnbull could have arrived a year earlier and would have got the chance to experience a more ‘business as usual’ Celtic steamrolling their way to a ninth consecutive title and belatedly completing a fourth successive Treble.
Twice before teams have started a season looking at winning Ten-in-Row but when Celtic walked out at Hampden to face Hearts in the Scottish Cup Final last month, no team had ever walked that path – a Quadruple Treble will never be won again. Perspective.
Turnbull, like the rest of us, is shell-shocked by this season of unfortunate events and poor decisions that has derailed Celtic’s season and ended the Ten dream. After yesterday’s frustrating goalless draw against high-flying Livingston, another two points were shipped meaning the Dubai fiasco had cost us four points – those Rangers supporters who took the photos of the Celtic players in the hotel lounge and the manager and captain at the pool will no doubt be feeling rather pleased with themselves today. Or maybe not.
Incidentally Davie Provan makes some very good points about the Dubai trip in his newspaper column today and if you read that then consider the impact that those two photos have had on Celtic, then you will get a better appreciation of the impact these dirty tricks have had.
David Turnbull sees no other way forward than to keep going. “We are just focusing on each game and not looking at the gap too much. We will keep fighting and trying to win matches,” the Celtic midfielder told the media, as reported by Scottish Sun.
“With the coronavirus and everything that’s going on, nobody knows what is going to happen. Not just football. It’s the same for everyone in life.
“We will keep pushing as a team and look to win as many games as possible. That’s what we will try to do. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We have another game against Livi in midweek and we know how they play. We need to go there and show fight.”
Turnbull recognises that yesterday’s performance from a weakened Celtic side was not up to scratch. “It was a tough one to take. It wasn’t a good game but we have to dig these results out. We didn’t do that, which was sad.
“We are missing bodies and it’s tough, but we just need to get on with it. We need to keep fighting for everybody. Livi came and played the way they always do. It’s tough but we need to handle that a lot better.
“It’s tough not having any strikers available and it’s meant playing boys who haven’t played there before. We had wingers up there against Hibs and then Tom as a striker against Livingston. It’s always going to be tough but we just have to cope with it.”
Turnbull also accepted that missing both Neil Lennon and John Kennedy probably has had an impact on the players who were asked to play against Hibs and Livingston. “It’s been a weird time for everyone with the gaffer and John not here, and all the boys. But it’s one of those things. Everyone is back in midweek and that will be a boost.
“The staff and players are going to be back training in the next few days. They will add a lot to the squad and I am sure a few will be involved.”
