After yesterday’s 2-0 win at Parkhead against Norwich City completed what has been an excellent pre-season for Celtic in many different ways, I thought I would give a bit of a synopsis regards the main things we can take away from the past few weeks.
In the six matches we have played during our pre-season campaign we have picked up three wins and three draws. Let’s be honest however and say it now, results don’t really mean anything at this time of the year. It’s all about getting the players up to speed and having them peak just in time for the first game of the season which is of course next Sunday against Aberdeen. Under Jim Goodwin the Dons will surely be a different animal than the side who were so underwhelming last season.
In that regard I have to say I think we have had a fantastic pre-season. I have watched all the games and it’s been clear that the team have been in an upwards trajectory in terms of their fitness and sharpness.
Some of the football we played yesterday and in the first half against Legia Warsaw on Wednesday looked very good and I’ve been really impressed by the pace and precision of the passing amongst the players. At certain times we have had the opposition chasing shadows. It’s clear that Ange has been working on implementing ‘passing in triangles’ as when a player is on the ball he always has two players available for a pass. It’s looking extremely effective.
I’ve especially noticed the fact that this isn’t just done in midfield and on the wings but that we are now doing it further up the field, players remaining calm and sticking to this way of playing even when in and around the oppositions box, something you only really see the top teams being able to do. This calmness on the ball to pick the right passes further up the field will prove especially valuable against some of the domestic opposition who like to sit in against us and try to defend a 0-0.
I think the fact that we have got through pre-season without anyone really breaking down injury wise is another huge bonus and also points to the fact that this season will hopefully see less injuries than last year, where at times it seemed like we were losing one player after another to injury. This was obviously due to the players in question not getting a full pre-season at Celtic and struggling to keep up with the demands expected of them under Ange Postecoglou. Their bodies will now have adapted to withstand the rigours of such a hectic workload and hopefully should see us suffer less this season it that regard.
Some players have really stood out for me during pre-season and I can’t wait to see them in action as the real stuff kicks off next Sunday. The first of those is Reo Hatate. Anyone who has been watching the pre-season fixtures can’t not have been impressed by the Japenese midfielder. After a fantastic start at Celtic, I was disappointed by his performances in the last few months of last season. It was clear he was exhausted after a basically a year and a half of non stop football, and we all hoped that was the only reason for his drop in form.
Thankfully it looks like it was. Since enjoying a few weeks off and spending time recuperating back in his homeland he has come back with a bang and I think he has been the star of pre-season. He has looked fantastic so far and seems to be everywhere on the pitch, looking especially menacing in the more advanced areas. I feel like he’s got a big season in front of him.
Hatate isn’t the only player to have impressed me. I have also enjoyed watching both Matt O’Riley and David Turnbull impress in the more advanced midfield position. I said in my end of season review that im looking forward to the battle between this pair to replace Tom Rogic as Celtic’s number one in that attacking midfield position and predicted that the competition would bring out the best in both players. It seems like my prediction wasn’t far wrong. Both have performed well so far and it will be interesting to see who gets the starting spot against Aberdeen.
A few mentions as well for the likes of Daizen Maeda, Liel Abada and Jota who have also looked sharp in pre-season. The latter two have looked like they will be carrying a serious goal threat from the wings this season. In regards to Jota he has dazzled with some of his skills, although one criticism I would have of our Portuguese star would be that his final ball must improve going forward. He seems to do the hard bit then fluff his lines delivering what should be an easy cross or pass.
A few things I’m quite worried about as the real stuff comes in to focus is how vulnerable we can look at the back. We have shipped a fair few goals during pre-season, and had our opposition been a bit sharper in front of goal it could have been a lot worse. I fear without a proper defensive midfielder we will be carved open with ease against some of the better teams in the Champions League. It was the main priority as the transfer window opened and it’s still to be filled. I really hope we don’t dismiss how important getting someone in capable of playing that position well really is.
I’ve also been surprised that Cameron Carter-Vickers, who looked impenetrable last season, has looked rather average so far in pre-season. It could be that he is struggling adapting to playing without his usual partner Carl Starfelt by his side but he has definitely been underperforming for whatever reason. I actually think Stephen Welsh has looked well standing in for Starfelt so the blame can’t be laid at his door. Hopefully it’s just pre-season rust and he will be back to normal soon.
Just a quick note on our new signings too. I feel Alexandro Bernabei looks like he’s still getting to grips with how this Celtic team plays and I feel that Greg Taylor will be our starting left back for the foreseeable future until the Argentinian is fully up to speed. It’s a big change coming from Argentina to Scotland, with both cultural and language differences and I think it will take our South America a while to settle in.
We got our first glimpse of both Aaron Mooy and Moritz Jenz yesterday and I have to say I thought the German looked a lot better than I thought he would. Now we didn’t get to see too much of either but from what I saw of Jenz he looked like a better version of Christopher Jullien. Same type of stature but evidently quicker and a lot more confident with his passing. A pleasant surprise from someone I wasn’t expecting too much from.
Mooy on the other hand looked exactly like I expected. What I mean is unlike Jenz he hasn’t had a pre-season so looked a little off the pace which is to be expected. From what I am reading from former teammates, managers etc it seems like he’s the type that will work hard however to quickly reach the levels of his teammates so I have no worries in that regards. He will definitely be a valuable member of this squad going forward.
Anyway to summarise I think that pre-season has gone about as well as expected. We have looked better each week and we seemed to have upped not only our workrate from last season but also the sharpness of our passing, something that is going to have to be near flawless if we are to compete in the Champions League. We have made it through pre-season pretty much injury free (apart from Starfelt who got injured on international duty with Sweden) which is a huge bonus and it is clear to see that we have a competitive squad with two quality players in almost every position.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who can’t wait for the real stuff to start next week.
Conall McGinty
