No excuses are possible for this performance, I’m afraid. It was totally unacceptable, and the “long hard look at themselves” is necessary for some of our players.
Being brutal about it, Sinclair, Ntcham and Edouard need a rest, although I hope they are good enough players to work on their game and come back to prove us all wrong.
I am reluctant to include Izaguirre in this category, but someone really has to tell him that there is no point in beating men down the wing UNLESS he looks up and tries to find someone with his cross. Belting the ball across the penalty area is worse than useless. On this performance, Celtic looked nothing like League Champions.
Yet a week ago, we were singing their praises. What has happened?
The real disturbing time was the first half. We were caught out badly (Izaguirre in particular) with the opening goal, but it did not need to be fatal, as long as we fought back. This never really happened until well into the second half, and there even seemed a lack of desire from some players to get involved.
All through the game, Hibs were always first to the ball.
We missed Kieran Tierney, no doubt about that, but some of our better players have had better days as well.
Callum McGregor and James Forrest were only ordinary today, when we know that they can do a lot better. At no point in the second half, although we were more in the game than in the first half, did I feel we were going to get back in.
We lacked domination and control.
It was frankly poor.
And please don’t anyone try to use words like “tired” to explain it all. If you cannot play two games in a week, then you shouldn’t be a professional football player, and you certainly should not be playing for Celtic.
I have said this before in a jocular sort of way, but can we do something about these urine yellow jerseys, which make us look like some team other than Celtic?
The players don’t feel like Celtic players, and don’t play like Celtic either.
Is a Hibs v Celtic game really a colour clash. It did not used to be (look at the the Dixie Deans Cup final of 1972 on You Tube if you don’t believe me) and I don’t see why it should be now.
Please let us have the green and white hoops. That strip means an awful lot to an awful lot of people, and Celtic without that strip is much diminished. Am I the only supporter who feels this way?
Well done to Hibs. We wish them well in their next two games.
So where do Celtic go from here?
Never one to advocate wholesale sackings, nevertheless, there must be a few changes in personnel for the game v Motherwell on Wednesday. Lewis Morgan and Mikey Johnston (and possibly Johnny Hayes as well) did enough to convince me that they are worth persevering with. At least one of them should get a start on Wednesday.
Some of today’s players need a either a quiet word from Brendan or perhaps a rocket. Brendan must decide which.
He also must decide who he is to go for in January.
I think that Lawrence Shankland of Ayr United is worth a look. In the absence of Leigh Griffiths we need someone to score the goals because (perish the thought) I fear that Odsonne Edouard is about to join the ranks of Scepovic, Pukki and Boerrichter. (Remember them?).
All is not yet lost, but any more performances like this one, and “eight in a row” will begin to disappear over the horizon.
Let’s have a good game on Wednesday.
David Potter
Would you like to write for The Celtic Star? You can write about any Celtic related subject of your own choosing and email it to us and we’ll do the rest, the email address is editor@thecelticstar.co.uk…
Also on The Celtic Star today…
Travel sick Celtic out thought and out fought at Easter Road…See HERE.
The End is Nigh! Exit door looms for Celtic’s forgotten man, Scott Allan…See HERE.
Rodgers targets mystery striker plus Shankland…See HERE.
Jim Craig – 3-1 down at Ibrox, Celtic come storming back…See HERE.
