John Kennedy may not be many supporters’ idea of the next Celtic manager, but in terms of an interim appointment there is no denying the strides the side have made since he took over.
Incremental improvements were evident immediately against Aberdeen as an undoubtedly nervous side stepped out of the shadows of Neil Lennon and adopted a more possession based and patient, probing style of play.
A goalless draw at Dundee United was also a step in the right direction. Defensive weaknesses and a lack of stamina to last 90 minutes remained evident, but Celtic were now creating chances, they weren’t converted, but the signs were there that the players were comfortable with their instructions, yet a lack of confidence and composure remained.
Then came theRangers at Celtic Park, where after a lukewarm start, Celtic dominated a game they took the lead in before the only goal of Kennedy’s time in charge was conceded and again from a pitifully conceded and dreadfully defended corner kick. Once again, the players appeared to run out of steam for the final quarter of but such was the dominance for huge parts of the game that confidence was inevitably building within the group, and within sections of the support. A draw was the least the team deserved that day, they really should have won.
The Cup-tie, and a 3-0 win against League One side Falkirk, was the first sign things were really starting to click. The first half performance was good yet chances were squandered, but in the second half Celtic were far more clinical and didn’t appear to run out of steam as the game progressed. This was tempered of course with the standard of the opponent who rotated their own side on the night as the Bairns prioritised promotion from the third tier over any hope of progressing in the Scottish Cup.
Last weekend however for Celtic the incremental improvements being made under Kennedy bore fruit. Livingston, somewhat of a tricky opponent for Celtic in recent times, were thumped with six goals and no reply.
There was little defensive discomfort on show, for Celtic at least. This despite an aggressive press from the front from Livingston, and Celtic’s movement and variation in attacking play meant, despite a strict man for man marking system adopted by Livingston, Celtic found space, created chances and were now relaxed and confident enough in their jobs that chances were no longer being snatched at, instead they were converted with apparent ease.
This game seemed a turning of the corner, where the Falkirk game appeared at least a negotiation of a bend. The players once again lasted 90 minutes with the assistance of suitably timed substitutions and were aided by the returning James Forrest and an on-fire Moi Elyounoussi, as Celtic’s 4-2-3-1 formation returned and with it the much-missed width Celtic fans like to see.
One thing that also stood out was the steady stream of conveying information between staff and players during the game alongside ongoing communication from the whole interim management team on the bench. On the park things clicked whilst off it there also appeared a certain cohesion emerging.
For a demanding support all that has happened in recent weeks is a returning of Celtic to close to acceptable standards. Expectations have dropped somewhat this season as week after week of lacklustre performances have impacted morale within the camp and the support. Kennedy at least has addressed those issues. Celtic are looking confident, but this week will see just how strong those foundations are.
One of the criticisms thrown at John Kennedy so far has been that the pressure has been off in recent weeks, I’d tend to disagree given pressure at Celtic is not a tap that can be turned off, Celtic are expected to win – and with style – every time they enter the field, no matter the competition or standard of opponent, yet there are clear merits to the ‘pressure off’ argument.
Sunday’s Cup tie at Ibrox will be a big test for John Kennedy. It will gauge how far Celtic have come and whether the confidence apparently regained is reinforced or remains a delicate work in progress. If Celtic emerge as winners, it will go a long way to bringing silverware to a dreadful season, but it will also lay down a marker for next season and leave doubts in the mind of an opponent who probably feel unbreakable at present.
Kennedy will be tested at Ibrox, he will feel the intensity of the pressure he’s been told from some quarters that he’s not faced to date. His formation, team selection and in game management will be pored over prior to, during, and post the match itself. Good or bad that public analysis will last for days. For those who doubt at this juncture, they will soon see how Kennedy responds under genuine pressure.
Celtic’s interim manager will already have the same questions all Celtic supporters have. Will he risk a less than fit James Forrest in what could well be the last important game of the season? Will a 4-2-3-1 formation suit the occasion as well as it does the players, particularly given theRangers have more than comfortably bypassed this formation in previous encounters, granted against different managers? Or will he revert back to the narrow Diamond formation, one that has caused theRangers difficulties and shown Celtic as the better side in the last two Glasgow Derbies, yet still has only brought one point from an available six?
These will only be a few of the considerations that will give John Kennedy food for thought for Sunday afternoon. He will of course be focused entirely on this one-off game, yet he will also know that defeat will likely end any hope he has of achieving his ultimate dream of becoming Celtic’s permanent manager. Yet win this game and subsequently the Cup, then he must know the improvements he has made to the Celtic team will be recognised and his stock will rise, be that as a future Celtic manager or as a main man elsewhere.
To do that, whoever is chosen to represent Celtic on Sunday will have to put their money where their mouth is. We’ve heard rumours of discontent all season and too many players haven’t performed even close to their abilities. We now hear there is a more contentment within the squad and the players want John Kennedy to have a chance at his dream job on a permanent basis. If that is the case, they have an opportunity to show that backing for the interim manager, where for some it was lacking for his predecessor.
This game, a one-off cup tie, can go a long way to regaining Celtic some credibility from a season we’d all rather forget. It can go some way at least to building bridges and giving the support hope for silverware this season and a challenge for next. It can also plant seeds of doubt in an opposition who still have clear fallibilities.
If John Kennedy and his players have turned a corner, they will now have a chance to prove it under both pressure and intense scrutiny on Sunday at Ibrox. At the moment the Celtic support will have hope, and even a little expectancy may be creeping in by now. It’s up to John Kennedy and his team to show they can deal with both on Sunday. A win away from home in a Glasgow Derby will go a long way to determining a place for many in Celtic’s future plans.
Niall J
