These will certainly be interesting times for Celtic Football Club. There is no doubt that they are the superior team in the country, but what will life be like in the SPL without checking Rangers score and figuring out the points gap between the sides every week? Craig Fowler writes.
Last season
Things went according to plan as Celtic snatched the title back from a weakened Rangers side and were kings of Scottish football once again. What wasn’t quite as expected was their biggest rivals going into administration, prematurely ending any title challenge. However, they do deserve praise for hauling themselves off the canvass and surpassing their bitter rivals when there was a fully functionally club still to be caught; October’s 0-0 draw with Hibs left them ten points behind, but by the time the New Year rolled around the were top of the table once again. What was disappointing was the failure to clinch the title at Ibrox after a 3-2 defeat, in which a couple of late goals spared embarrassment, and losing two Hampden cup games. All in all, you cannot argue with a title victory, but it should have been the least of what Celtic achieved last season.
Summer Activity
The ever-improving Fraser Forster finally made the permanent switch to Celtic Park after two successive seasons on loan from Newcastle. This is Celtic’s only delve into the transfer market, which tells you a lot about their current situation. With no realistic league challenge they have to be careful about overspending in their search for European glory, given the current uncertainty surrounding SPL TV and sponsorship money. Forster represents a safe bet; he’s someone the club knows well, and they can likely sell him on for a healthy profit somewhere down the line.
In the opposite direction went Daniel Majstorovic, Cha Du-Ri, Efrain Juarez, Glenn Loovens and Mark Wilson among a few others. It’s a lot of depth for Celtic to be losing, and may have some ramifications on their European campaign, but letting this type of players go is not going to stop them repeating as champions. Last season they would’ve had to juggle which players to use on a Thursday night in Europe and which to use to ensure three points on Saturday. This season that’s not much of an issue, therefore those fringe players were no longer required.
Key Player
Scott Brown – Motivation, or a lack thereof, will be the only thing that could possibly stop Celtic from taking this title at a canter. Scott Brown will have more influence on the club avoiding such a scenario than any other. He’s the heartbeat of the team in Celtic’s midfield. He may not have the technical ability of Ki or the presence of Wanyama, but he pushes the team forward in attack and sets an example for his teammates with his work in defence. Peak physical condition, momentum, and player form is what Celtic will need every week if they are going to progress in Europe. The mindset and form of Scott Brown will go a long way to ensuring they are that.
Manager
Neil Lennon has the backing of the fans, the players and the board. His league record speaks for itself – he’s won 80% of his league matches as Celtic manager since taking over two-and-a-bit years ago – and it was fair that he finally managed to get his hands on the title (as a manager) to celebrate the work he’s done. However, there is still the nagging criticism that he struggles to win big games: the League Cup final defeat, the Scottish Cup semi defeat, the loss to Rangers in what looked like the title clincher at Ibrox, winning only one of four Europa League games at Celtic Park; these are all examples to be added to those from previous seasons that say that his team don’t perform when the pressure is on. This season he’ll have four less pressure games to worry about, but the criticism may still remain should there be an unforgiving draw in Europe and failure to win both domestic cups along with the title.
Projection
Celtic will be title winners who’ll have it all sewn up by Christmas. You cannot see it any other way: Hooper, Stokes, Brown, Mulgrew, Wanyama and Forster are all still around; players who are the best in the league at their respective positions. This type of quality may peter away over the coming seasons, but it’s still here now and the gulf is still too wide. There will likely be a league cup triumph as well, along with a return to the group stages of the Europa League. Another run in Europe could be vital to their financial projections over the coming seasons, but they cannot take the chance of nipping in through the back door again, i.e. the Sion debacle.
The second half of the season will be interesting, and may determine if another side will get the opportunity to make a run at the presumed champions over the two succeeding seasons; because there is one team who will truly determine whether or not we have more than one champion during Rangers exodus, and that’s Celtic. With a title in the bag, presumably an exit from Europe and only the Scottish Cup in which to play for, will Celtic let their guard slip and be caught with another Kilmarnock/Hearts style upset that we saw last season?
Verdict
A treble win and a 30-point cushion atop of the SPL is more than likely. Also, for them to be drawn against Rangers in one of the cups.
All Terrace Team Members: 1st
20/20 Hindsight
What we got right and what we got wrong
Right: Celtic did win the title. Even if they didn’t have it completely wrapped up by Christmas there was no clear favourite to finish second that you thought even had the smallest chance of pushing them all the way.
Wrong: They did advance in Europe and did the majority of their good work this season without the services of Scott Brown, who lost most of his campaign to injury. Lennon still has the “big game” question mark in domestic football after the League Cup defeat to St Mirren but he went a long way to quashing that criticism with the team’s performances in the Champions League group stage,