Postecoglou roadshow off And running at last
Rogic, Jota and Turnbull give us plenty to ponder as Celtic rack up back-to-back away wins
CELTIC seem to have solved their travel sickness issues with back-to-back wins on the road. The win over Motherwell was a fairly routine afternoon for the Parkhead side who have cut the gap between themselves and league leaders Rangers to four points.
The next challenge is to prepare for the Europa League with the visit of Hungarian champions Ferencvaros tomorrow afternoon as Celtic look to kick-start their campaign. Certainly, the clean sheet and the win at Fir Park ensures they go into the game in a positive frame of mind.
Here are five things we learned in the 2-0 win over Motherwell on Saturday afternoon.
Reasons to be cheerful
“I thought the league was over, mate.” Ange Postecoglou continues to offer amusing oneliners that are lapped up by a watching Celtic support but the word “mate” in answering a question tends to offer the impression of less convivial relations. In short; you hear the word “mate” from the Greek-Australian and the suggestion is that the question was of the kind to invite quiet exasperation.
Still, if Postecoglou had much to tear his hair out about earlier in the season, there is a feeling that there are more reasons to be content after recent performances. Just four points off the pace after a difficult start to a campaign that has necessitated ample reconstruction of the side, and with key players to be brought back in as Christopher Jullien and James Forrest edge closer to fitness, the Celtic manager will feel his side will be stronger as the campaign starts to go deeper.
The Parkhead side, too, have the resources to strengthen in the January transfer window as they look to wrestle the title back from Rangers.
No doubting Thomas
Tom Rogic’s quality is key for Celtic. For the first half hour of the weekend game, Rogic was outstanding as he pulled the strings in the middle of the park for Postecoglou’s side. The midfielder, just back from his travels with Australia in World Cup qualifying duty, was the architect of a fine opening goal when his pass in behind
Stephen O’Donnell sent Jota through.
It was a similar story at Pittodrie a fortnight ago when he came off the bench to set up the winger for a late winner in a stuffy contest against Aberdeen. There is always a danger of Rogic being overused but his ability to create something out of nothing makes him a formidable contributor.
He and Postecoglou already had a working relationship from their time together with the Socceroos, and the midfielder’s start to the season suggests a sound understanding between the two.
Defence still suspect
Celtic remain a work in progress defensively. It seems churlish to speak of the fragility in a back line that were rarely troubled on Saturday but there are still moments of anxiety. Joe Hart got through the game without having to muddy his gloves, although one antsy side-step in the opening stages of the match offered brief encouragement for Motherwell.
Similarly, the distance between Boli Bolingoli and Carl Starfelt hinted at joy for the hosts albeit that they struggled to exploit it. At one stage in the first period, Anthony Ralston showed good awareness and composure to scoop the ball out for a corner after Tony Watt had nicked in behind them and pinged an inviting ball across the six-yard box.
Interestingly, though, only Dundee United – with the stingiest defence in the league with just five goals conceded in nine games – have lost fewer goals this season than Celtic. Hearts, like Postecoglou’s side, have lost six goals and Rangers seven, stats which probably alter the perception of Celtic and their defensive issues this term.
Jota bargain
The £6.4 million option-tobuy in Jota’s loan deal looks increasingly likely to be taken up by Celtic at the end of the season. The winger’s goal to break the deadlock was a sumptuous finish but the shift with the ball from right to left in one fluid movement was equally impressive. The 22-year-old has netted three times since his arrival at the end of the transfer window and his overall contribution has been impressive.
Certainly, from middle to front Celtic continue to look like a team who are capable of causing problems with Jota and Liel Abada intent to add to their goalscoring tally in every game.
Jota was effusive in his praise of the club when he first arrived from Benfica but he has shown that he is as effective with a ball at his feet as he is with a microphone in front of him. More of the same over the next few months would surely result in a permanent switch from Portugal to Scotland.
Turnbull on target
David Turnbull’s decision not to celebrate a stunning goal against his former team would have been appreciated by the Motherwell support but his finish was something to behold.
The likelihood is that he will be well into double figures this season when it comes to his goal return – his strike at Motherwell was his seventh, just three shy of last season’s total – and there is a feeling he could eclipse his season best of 16 that he clocked up three seasons ago as he first broke into the Motherwell set-up.
Consistency will be key for the 22-year-old who has been a key part of the Celtic midfield over the last 10 months.