Hope

 

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 97^th 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.