NINE STARS WHO WERE KEY TO NINE IN A ROW
A curtailed campaign cannot hide the impressive nature of Lennon’s work. A depth of managerial skill was combined with resilience when leading Celtic to another position of dominance. Let’s not forget that a fair chunk of Celtic fans harboured significant doubts about him replacing Brendan Rodgers on a longer-term basis. Some viewed it as a regressive step. And that criticism reached a crescendo when Parkhead was stormed by CFR Cluj to bring an end to Champions League ambitions in the third qualifying round. Lennon, though, proved he was anything but yesterday’s man. A 2-0 win at Ibrox soothed the European storm. Further questions were asked when Rangers turned the tables at Parkhead in December but, again, Lennon came up with the answers. They won 12 out of 13 domestic games after the winter break to open a 13-point gap and reach the Scottish Cup semi-finals. It was a textbook example of how to reassert authority.
ODSONNE EDOUARD
Edouard’s status as Celtic’s next huge sale was confirmed during a season of outstanding growth. The speed and deceptiveness of his footwork is outstanding. His intelligence on the pitch is at odds with his youth. A cool, unflustered streak runs through his whole game and carries particular value when it comes to finishing. Those qualities contributed to a haul of 28 goals before the game was put on hold in mid-March. The steep upward curve of his career will surely continue when action resumes.
SCOTT BROWN
The captain continued to set the tone for Celtic at the centre of the pitch. His controlled aggression was crucial to securing a vital win at Ibrox and was highlighted afterwards by some Old Firm newcomers. For the likes of Christopher Jullien, Boli Bolingoli and Hatem Abd Elhamed, seeing Brown thump into challenges made it clear what was required on derby day. While not exactly famed for his goalscoring, Brown can lay claim to one of the most important goals of Celtic’s season. His stoppage-time winner against Hamilton on December 4 ensured Rangers would be punished in the title race for letting slip a two-goal lead at Pittodrie.
CHRISTOPHER JULLIEN
The centre-back checked in last summer with a £7million price tag after a transfer from Toulouse. That brought with it pressure, but Jullien has coped well to become established as a key component in another successful Celtic season. There have been times when he has looked less convincing — notably against Livingston — but his prowess in the
opposition box adds another notable plus to his game. Seven goals, including the winner in the Betfred Cup final, is an excellent return.
RYAN CHRISTIE
Outstanding in the first half of the season, Christie hit 17 goals for Celtic prior to Christmas and was a central driving force in the attacking style demanded by Lennon. A freak injury in the December 29 defeat to Rangers was a setback for the 25-year-old. The subsequent change to 3-5-2 also saw Christie having to operate in a slightly different role when included from the start thereafter. Even so, his excellent input into Celtic’s success cannot be in any way overlooked. His status at the club has been firmly cemented. The value of such lethal finishing from a non-striker is immense.
CALLUM McGREGOR
The Scotland man’s consistency and quality is almost taken for granted these days. As is his remarkable durability. He started all 30 of Celtic’s Premiership matches, contributing nine goals. The subject of interest from Rodgers and Leicester City last summer, a new five-year deal signed in November put paid to speculation about his future. It goes without saying that it was money well spent by the Parkhead board.
FRASER FORSTER
Five years after Celtic sold him to Southampton for £10m, Lennon welcomed back Forster in a loan deal that swiftly bore dividends. The 31-year-old brought quality and assurance as the last line of defence and created demands for a longer-term stay. His finest moments may have come outwith the Premiership — an incredible display in the Betfred Cup final and brilliant late saves against Lazio in the Europa League — but Forster was an essential contributor to a table-topping position.
JAMES FORREST
Like McGregor, Forrest racks up performances and numbers without any fuss. He scored in five successive games across four different competitions in the month of August, a statistic that confirms the 28-year-old winger as the man for pretty much any occasion. Twenty-eight Premiership starts brought ten goals. Now he has another medal to add to his tally as one of the most decorated players in Celtic’s history.
LEIGH GRIFFITHS
Griffiths only came to the fore after the winter break, but he made possible the change of shape to 3-5-2 that drove Celtic clear of Rangers. Combining instantly with Edouard, Griffiths contributed eight goals as the Parkhead side racked up 12 wins and one draw from 13 domestic assignments. A hat-trick against St Mirren on March 7 showed a player back in form before the season was cut short a few days later.