Celtic’s depleted side limped to a draw at home to Livingston as they passed up the opportunity to put pressure on Rangers ahead of their trip to Fir Park tomorrow. Despite coming into the game on the back of a draw to Hibs on Monday, there was a hope that the team could pull off a win against David Martindale’s high-flying Livingston.
The season was dubbed as a season like no other as Neil Lennon’s side looked to better Jock Stein’s record from 1974 of 9IAR, which was matched by Walter Smith’s Rangers in 1997. However, this season has lurched from one disaster to another.
Despite fans buying in, selling out season tickets for an online stream. Buying the new Adidas kits in their thousands. They were backed to the hilt during these difficult times.
Lennon inherited a winning machine and was then provided funds to enhance it. In the space of 18 months he has managed to do more damage to Celtic than most. Lawwell and Desmond have allowed it to continue, resignations and sackings required immediately.
— 4 Tims and a Podcast (@PodTims) January 16, 2021
A draw to Killie was a poor result and we looked as if we didn’t really have any plan. This was August and these things happen, it is a marathon not a sprint. It then comes out that Bolingoli was away in Spain and the wheels started to come off.
Being put out of the Champions League by Ferencvaros was a sore one. But the league was all to play for. The Europa League is a better route for progression anyway.
Scrapping past Dundee United at Tannadice was a laboured watch but it was all to play for. The team rallied and got some points on the board heading into the international break but there were cracks appearing to show.
COVID-19 robbed us of players against Rangers at home in October but we managed to register 0 shots on target. Since then, Celtic have won just six games in twenty. There have been times that the club could have changed the manager and they may have managed a tighter tally than we currently see now at the top end of the table. The league wasn’t done then.
The league wasn’t over after 4-1 defeats home and away to Sparta Prague. Nor after a League Cup defeat at home to Ross County – who at that stage hadn’t beaten a Premiership team all season. The league was still very much all to play for. In our own hands. Draws to St Johnstone, Hibs and Livi whilst Gerrard’s Rangers continue to win games mean that the League is all but over.
Six wins in twenty games. That is where Celtic currently find themselves. Out of Europe, out of the League Cup and seemingly out of the title race. As it stands, Celtic need to drop just two more points assuming Rangers win all their games from the League being won at Celtic Park in late March.
The management and players are partially accountable; however, the real route of the problem is in the boardroom where they have been reluctant to make any sort of decision this season. Glaring defensive insufficiencies have continued whilst the gap between 1st and 2nd grows.
The links to any recruits or replacements have died down. The club have missed out on Filip Benkovic and Mark McKenzie whilst there has been a small amount of chatter about pre-contracts for next season. The clear out should start now.
A new Director of Football, taking control from the current Chief Executive who can ease the pressure on his own role by cutting the management team loose. Players should be sold and a rebuilding project undertaken.
A new manager is a must. Brendan Rodgers showed us what could be achieved by going after a big name. It is the example of Leicester that Celtic should follow, cut loose from the failing management team and give the new manager the chance to get his feet under the desk. Go get Eddie Howe or a name that inspires the supporters and players.
Ten in a row promised to be a season like no other and in many ways it has been. Sadly, it hasn’t transpired how we all hoped it would.
