Both Hibs and theRangers exposed our frailties, others will try to follow suit, it’s vital we combat that and Hearts will provide the opportunity to do so on Saturday…
In our last four league fixtures we’ve lost twice, one away to Hibs, and of course the most recent shock home defeat to theRangers.
Not the form worthy of champions
That is not the form worthy of champions, and we are lucky our consistency for most of the season has seen us command an unassailable lead at the top of the table, or we would be in serious trouble otherwise. Of course the other way of looking at it is that the substantial lead Celtic has build up has allowed some complacency to creep in and that’s an entire different concern. Both should be addressed by Brendan Rodgers and his coaching staff having had ten days to consider matters.
Hibs deserved their victory over us despite Alan Muir having a helping hand, as they exposed our frailties getting their just rewards in the end. Then theRangers done exactly the same thing at Celtic Park almost a fortnight ago, having implemented a similar plan in the new year game at Ibrox. The less said about that the better.
Inability at times to deal with the high press
Celtic’s weakness appears to be our inability at times to deal with the high press and being overrun in the middle of the park, it’s entirely obvious our opponents have done their homework and other sides will follow suit in a bid to emulate the Easter Road and Ibrox sides.
You can be sure other sides will be doing likewise, and with it now being the business end of the season they will working extra hard to get result, as they should.
Hearts will deploy the same tactics as Hibs and theRangers
Hearts our next opponents will deploy the same tactics when they visit Celtic Park on Saturday, you can be certain of that. It’s up to us to combat this and find the solution. If not we will endure a bumpy end to the season.
Saturday though is the perfect opportunity for Celtic to respond with an emphatic ‘that’s why we’re Champions’ victory and an excellent performance.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
I think we mustn’t forget that this is a problem basically existing within this whole year. We’ve conceded 20 goals this season now – which doesn’t sound too bad. But considering it were just four until the new year arrived, it means we’ve conceded 16 goals in the three months of this year so far. And it wasn’t just Hibs or the other team – St. Mirren scored twice and could easily have scored five, same goes for Aberdeen being beaten 5-1 at Paradise. We conceded three at Dundee, as well as several times (!) against them. This is more than a dip in form.
As for the reasons, I’m pretty baffled. Tactics won’t have changed this year, same goes for the personnel – if anything, Schlupp made us even stronger. So the only explanation that I have is complacency creeping in having such a commanding lead, combined with opposition changing their tactical approach when facing us, as they’ve seen it works time and time again.