For a season which started out shambolically, and threatened to descend into abject mediocrity before Christmas, Celtic have finished sitting fairly pretty. An obligatory league title was accompanied by a league cup, and somewhat miraculously, European football which stretched beyond the New Year.
Ronny Deila’s Celtic side lurched out of the Champions League qualifiers twice in a month thanks to defending only equalled in comic calamity by Legia Warsaw’s administrative skills.
At home it was far from plain sailing either as Deila struggled to impart a new high intensity system and a stronger emphasis on fitness. Fast forward to the end of the season though, and the improvement under the Norwegian has been marked in several players who appear to have bought into his philosophy after some initial hesitation.
GOALKEEPERS
Craig Gordon – 8
A comeback story of almost fairytale proportions. 12 months ago, Gordon was contemplating early retirement and weighing up the option of an insurance payout after years of injury hell. But Celtic decided to bring him into the fold and the former Hearts keeper appears to have put his fitness issues firmly behind him. His displays in the Europa League group stages showed he still possesses genuine class, even if he had an absolute horror show of a performance against Inter in the last 32 clash at Celtic Park.
Fraser Forster – 8
The big Englishman was only around for a handful of the early season European qualifying disasters, before being snapped up by Southampton for £10 million. Played a pivotal part in Ronald Koeman’s side vying for a top four finish before a serious knee injury finished his season in late March.
Lukasz Zaluska – 5
Since his arrival from Dundee United in 2009, the Pole has very much deputised for the first choice keeper of the day. That continued when Craig Gordon stepped into the breach for Fraser Forster. Fleeting performances, minus any major clangers, which hasn’t always previously been the case.
DEFENDERS
Adam Matthews – 6
The Welshman with a penchant for a long throw, an overlap and the occasional wonder goal had a reasonable season in the Hoops. He’s had better, but injuries played their part.
Mikael Lustig – 6
The right back may be blessed with a sweet right foot and Johnny Depp-esque looks, but yet again the injury curse struck just as he looked to be getting back to his best.
Darnell Fisher – 4
Asked to deputise at right-back in the absence of Matthews and Lustig, but was never anymore than a stopgap.
Virgil van Dijk – 8
A Rolls-Royce of a defender. His chief problem at Celtic seems to be actually opening those big engines up often enough. As a result, looked suspect occasionally in Europe, but has done more than enough over the piece to suggest he’ll have departed Ronny Deila’s squad for a bigger stage come September 1st.
Jason Denayer – 8
The Manchester City loanee struck up a formidable partnership with van Dijk and never really looked back. Occasionally shows his inexperience, but certainly appears to be on course to return to City and try his hand at somehow dislodging Vincent Kompany and Co.
Efe Ambrose – 4
Bombscare. Requiring Efe Ambrose to fill in at centre-half or right-back is a bit like deciding whether to be waterboarded or electrocuted. In fact, it’s like both at the same time. Heart in the mouth stuff.
Emilio Izaguirre – 7
Encouraging to see the Honduran recapturing some of the form he enjoyed three years ago. Still lightweight when tracking back and tucking in, and has his moments of petulance, but can be very good going forward.
MIDFIELDERS
Charlie Mulgrew – 5
If his score was awarded solely on presentation of hair, Mulgrew would be a solid 12. Injuries and a changing emphasis on the type of midfielder preferred by Deila unfortunately let him down. A fairly indifferent season for him, without doing a whole lot wrong.
Scott Brown – 8
Does his job every time. Simple as that. Breaks up play, gets physical with the opposition midfield, looks up and finds a pass, and continuously recycles possession out wide or into the channels. And apparently is a master of a jägertrain and a pizza in cup final week. Consistency personified, and has grown into a huge figure at Celtic over the years.
Nir Bitton – 7
Contender for Celtic’s most improved player this season, as he slotted near-perfectly into a holding role alongside Scott Brown. Underrated by many Celtic fans, but does the simple things well.
Stefan Johansen – 9
A metaphor for Ronny Deila’s time at Celtic so far. Arrived last January when Neil Lennon acquired him from Deila’s Strømsgodset, and looked okay in the holding midfield role he’d played back in Norway. But Deila saw something else in him when the pair caught up in Glasgow, and his decision to shunt Johansen forward into an attacking midfield role was a masterstroke. Became the benchmark for the rest of the squad in terms of fitness, mentality and attitude. Kept last season’s Player of the Year, Kris Commons, out of the side for much of the season and has scooped his award in recent weeks to boot.
Stuart Armstrong – 7
Arrived in late January as one half of Scottish football’s best loved double act. He and Gary Mackay-Steven had both enjoyed promising seasons, injury aside. And they didn’t miss a single beat upon their arrival at Celtic, endearing fans with their unassuming and intelligent media appearances, while the goals initially flowed for the pair. A full season next year will be the acid test.
Gary Mackay-Steven – 7
Interesting fact: has never been seen in public away from Stuart Armstrong. Coincidence? You decide. For more, see above.
Derk Boerrigter – 3
I would slate him for his downright embarrassing spell at Celtic, but I’d probably injure him in the process. Not called ‘Sicknote’ for nothing.
Beram Kayal – 4
Mumbled and grumbled about leaving Celtic for what felt like an eternity. After little more than a handful of cameos, he finally disappeared to Brighton and Hove Albion in January, helping them to retain their English Championship status.
James Forrest – 6
Yet again, injured for much of the season. But Deila’s intensive fitness regime and his recruitment of new physios from his homeland appear to have worked in Forrest’s favour. Played a number of games as winter turned to spring, and has finished the season looking sharper and fitter than he has done in a long time. Promising.
Liam Henderson – 5
Has featured sporadically in midfield, and hasn’t looked too shabby. Still very raw, but plenty of midfield experience around him to nurture his talent.
Callum McGregor – 6
Banged the goals in during European qualifying last summer, and looked like he was set for a massive season. But then he faded away, and Ronny Deila told the media that he was ‘very young, and we must be careful not to overload him with games.’ Celebrated lifting the league trophy while in crutches after picking up an injury, but a good pre-season could see him come back strongly.
Kris Commons – 6
Simply wasn’t fancied by Deila initially, it seems. Threw his boots to the crowd in January in what appeared to be a goodbye gesture as rumours circulated that Neil Lennon wanted him at Bolton. Then, suddenly, his stalled contract talks were back in gear and he had committed to a longer stay at Celtic. Has featured more as the season went on, and still had goals and experience to contribute. There is still a place for him under Deila, it seems.
Wakaso Mubarak – 4
The Rubin Kazan loanee scored a very handy debut goal against FC Salzburg in the Europa League group stage, and that was about as good as it got.
Aleksandar Tonev – 3
Did he? Didn’t he? The footballing authorities reckon he ‘probably’ did. Tonev’s loan spell at Celtic following a period of anonymity at Aston Villa will not be remembered for his footballing ability. Instead, he’ll be remembered for a rather messy and ugly allegation of racism, following an altercation with Aberdeen’s Shay Logan.
Tom Rogic – 3
Does anybody even know where this guy is? Won a Nike football reality TV show in Australia, and arrived talking about the benefits of futsal for close control. That’s been about all from him.
STRIKERS
John Guidetti – 6
Signed on loan from Manchester City last September and immediately set about notching the goals up, making himself an instant hit with the Parkhead faithful. But tailed off badly after New Year and hasn’t looked the same player. Likely to ply his trade in Holland next season.
Leigh Griffiths – 8
The last man you’d expect to have graduated from the Ronny Deila Clean Livin’ Academy with distinction, and yet, just as John Guidetti’s brief but lovely light began to face, Sparky burst into the room with some floodlights and proceeded to swing from the proverbial chandalier in the second half of the season. Improbably, has established himself as the main man upfront.
Stefan Scepovic – 5
At £2.3million, the Serb was Deila’s major summer signing, but seemed reluctant to commit to Celtic until he was sure there was no hope of a better offer elsewhere. Has scored goals when he has played, but has seldom been good enough to be included by Deila.
Jo Inge Berget – 2
Yes. This happened. Signed from Cardiff City. Shocking hairstyle. Even worse striker.
Anthony Stokes – 5
Has played a reasonable amount of games under Deila, and looked to be proving his critics wrong at the turn of the year when he hit a rich vein of form. In true Stokes fashion though, he stupidly returned late from a trip home to Ireland just 48 hours before Celtic’s Europa League tie with Inter. Kept at arms length to an extent by Deila since.
WRITTEN BY MARC McARDLE
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