It is certainly too early to start using words like “crisis”, but make no mistake about it, this result spells big trouble for Celtic, and raises the ante “more than somewhat” for the game in Greece on Tuesday night. The result was narrow, and there were several points where it might have gone the other way, but it was hard to dispute the contention that Hearts just about deserved their win, although perhaps they will not quite deserve the adulation that they will undeniably receive from the Press for the benefit of the gullible of Edinburgh.
Celtic had too many players who let themselves down. Andy Walker is surely correct when he says that Eboue Kouassi provided very little and questions the £3 million, but to me, the big disappointment was Callum McGregor. I have always been a fan of Callum and will stay that way, but he was a non-contributor today, and that meant two weaknesses in midfield. Scott Brown is exempted from such criticism. He was superb.
Several others must have the proverbial long hard look at themselves. I fear however that it may be too late for that as far as Scott Sinclair is concerned who does not show any sign of returning to his great form of two years ago. The unfortunate Johnny Hayes continues to depress me as well. Yes, he was on the wrong end of some awful treatment from more than one Hearts player, but where is the form that he used to show for Aberdeen?
Leigh Griffiths dallied on at least two occasions when he had a reasonable chance to score and was rightly taken off, but I saw little from Odsonne Edouard to fill me with any kind of enthusiasm either. If anyone looked like getting an equaliser, it was Tom Rogic, and he really should have been on earlier as indeed should James Forrest.
The defence showed hesitation from time to time, but Jack Hendry is still learning. And what is going on behind the scenes with Dedryck Boyata? For a while I have suspected that all is not as meets the eye in that quarter, and we could have done with him today. And please don’t anyone take his agent seriously. Like all agents, he is looking for his cut.
And who should have been picking up Kyle Lafferty for the goal?
As for Hearts, you have to give them some credit, I suppose, but Steven Naismith did all that we expected of him. It is hard to accept James McFadden’s opinion that “he is a quiet lad off the park”! He faked that “push” on him in the first half, even though it fooled his Manager (you might say that that is hardly difficult – we are talking about a Manager who once sent Scotland out for a game without an attacker!), and I have to remain of the opinion that a kick in the privates is a red card. (Sorry if I sound a bit bigoted, on that one, but I am sticking to my opinion! Nor am I disposed to argue about that!).
A detestable little man!
And Hearts supporters!
You saw by their childish behaviour in not returning the ball to the Celtic how much 1986 and Albert Kidd still hurts, but let them enjoy being top of the League, with only 36 games left. We all know it won’t last, and we all know where Kyle Lafferty is heading.
Oddly enough coming from a supporter of the losing team, I thought that the referee Mr Beaton had a good game today.
It was feisty game, but it could have been a great deal worse, and when he sees the TV, I’m sure he’ll agree than Mr Naismith deserved the long walk.
The commentators? Dave Crockett mentioned at least a dozen times that Hearts ended Celtic’s unbeaten run last December, and why do Andy Walker and James McFadden have to bend over backwards to try to con everyone into believing they are not Celtic supporters? The lady is nice looking though – if I am allowed to say that without being accused of sexism.
So at the end of a depressing day, where does this leave Celtic?
In trouble. It is hard to over-estimate the importance of the game in Athens on Tuesday night. Lose that one, and the players, the Manager and the Board can expect a great deal of trouble. And yet the potential is still there.
David Potter
