Watching a much-depleted Celtic fight out a creditable win on
that ploughed field of a pitch at Perth a few days ago, it struck me that it
was the last match the club would play in 2021. The year began with a 1-0 loss
at Ibrox in a match Celtic dominated. Indeed, the home side didn’t have a
single shot on target in the game but such was Celtic’s ineptitude in front of
goal, they let them off the hook and kissed their title hopes goodbye.
The Celtic side that day was Barkas, Frimpong, Ajer, Bitton,
Laxalt, Soro, Christie, Turnbull, McGregor, Griffiths and Edouard. Of that
eleven, six are no longer at the club and only McGregor, Bitton and Turnbull would
be considered first team choices a year on. Neil Lennon hung on until February
but a 1-0 defeat at Ross County coupled with a collapse in the standard of play
the team was producing sealed his fate. Players get managers sacked and often
don’t have to deal with the vitriol they endure.
The arrival of Ange Postecoglou wasn’t greeted with universal
acclaim by the support though most were happy to give him a chance. The
Scottish media in their own inept way began by asking him how it felt to be
second choice for the job. We warmed to Ange instantly when he took them to
task in his own inimitable way. Here was a man who’d hold his own in press
conferences and call out their bullshit when he hears it. He has demonstrated
on several occasions since that he can see through their baloney and will skewer
them with his straight talking and caustic wit.
The turnover in players at Celtic has been relentless and was
perhaps undermined initially by the ridiculous hanging on the club did for Eddie Howe. At a
critical point in the club’s history, we should not be waiting over a hundred
days for a manager to agree to come and take the reins. Postecoglou brought
with him a knowledge of the J League in Japan and a clear blueprint of how he
wants Celtic to play. His relentless brand of high press, possession-based attacking
football was not initially fully successful. The first three away games in the
SPFL were lost and Celtic were knocked out of the Champions League by a team
with a fraction of the resources the Hoops have at their command. Still the
fans were patient though, as they knew progress was being made and the new boss
required time.
The consensus that Postecoglou needed time to develop the
side and bring in new players was pretty general among Celtic fans. Few who saw
the wreckage left behind by the previous administration thought he would build
a side capable of challenging for the title in his first season. However, as
players like Kyogo, Abada, Carter-Vickers and Juranovic settled into the side
and old hands like Rogic, McGregor and even Nir Bitton, rediscovered form and
confidence, it was clear that real progress has been made.
The Manager’s style of playing the game has slowly been taken
on board by the players and when it clicks it can be joyful to watch. There remains
though, a fragility about the team’s defence at times which is exploited by
more streetwise teams, especially in Europe, but supporters generally feel that
once the right personnel are in place that will lessen. Another concern is the
failure to kill teams off when Celtic is clearly on top in games and a noticeable
number of games have been won by just one goal this season. In mitigation, the
injury list has been a long one this season and some of the key absentees have
been goal-scorers like Kyogo, Jota and the as yet untested Giakoumakis.
The two great arts of football are scoring goals and stopping
the opposition doing likewise. If Celtic are to put in a real challenge for the
title after the winter break, then they need to up their game in both those
areas. Ange knows this and is already looking to strengthen the depth and
quality of the squad. His brand of attacking football is inviting lesser sides
in Scotland to ‘park the bus,’ and hope for a goal on the break. His tactical
thinking will need to evolve to counter this. Watching Celtic have 80% of the
ball, 30 attempts on goal and still need to rely on a 97th minute
winner at Ross County should signal to him that he needs to consider
alternatives in some games.
That being said, the guy stepped off a plane six months ago,
adopted a coaching staff left by his predecessor and a team totally lacking in
confidence and direction. He reinvigorated the team, brought in some very
useful additions and gave them a pattern of play which is already proving
successful. The League cup is in the trophy cabinet and while the team are six
points adrift in the title race, there is renewed hope for the second half of
the season.
Most Celtic supporters realise that Ange Postecoglou is only
at the beginning of his journey with Celtic and his team is far from the
finished article. Given time and backing it’s exciting to imagine where he will
take the club in the next few years. Yes, he has given the team shape,
confidence and the freedom to express themselves, but more importantly, he has
given the supporters back their hope and that is a precious gift indeed.
