Hoops must get recruit
HIBERNIAN 2 CELTIC 0 Captial punishment shows how reliant Rodgers is on productive January window
DO you want to know who needs a good January? Lee Congerton.
The man in charge of discovering hidden gems for Celtic needs to start earning his money because Brendan Rodgers’s squad needs help. If he can’t do that then a second question would be asked. Why is he at the club?
Because right now there is a chance, when there should not be even the remotest chance, that the biggest, richest and best team in Scotland won’t win the league if two, probably three, first-team players are not signed in the next transfer window.
Celtic will in all liklihood make it eight in a row regardless. And most likely by a fair margin. They could even win the Scottish Cup and a third successive Treble. You wouldn’t bet the family fortune on that not happening. Plus, today the supporters will start to plan their next away trip on the continent when the draw for last32 of the Europa League takes place.
It’s not doom and gloom, far from it, but Celtic are nowhere near where they should be.
The reason so many players looked tired during the hectic schedule is that the squad may be large in terms of numbers, but it’s lacking in depth. There are firstteam players not good enough to play for Celtic.
That we are even talking about the possibility of someone else winning the title in this era of utter domination is a shocking state of affairs for everyone at Celtic Park.
Congerton better come up with something. Sunderland fans couldn’t believe a man they claim was mainly responsible for filling the squad with hugely expensive flops, as their club plummeted from the Premier League to League One in successive seasons, was
‘‘ It’s not all doom and gloom but Celtic are not where they should be
given such a big job.
But besides any hint of a malaise at Parkhead, Hibernian were brilliant here. That has to be said. They thoroughly deserved to win. Craig Gordon was faultless, James Forrest showed up as he always does, while Lewis Morgan at least came close to a goal when he got on at 2-0.
Hibs keeper Ofir Marciano did not have to make a save.
I do not agree that Scott Brown’s legs are gone. But he and Olivier Ntcham can’t seem to play in the same team. It worked for a while but these two are not compatible.
But Brown should have been sent off for a shocking tackle on Vykintas Slivka.
Ntcham, meanwhile, had a dreadful afternoon at Easter Road. Two of his free-kicks hit the Hibs wall and one even led to the second goal.
The second-half was 13 minutes old when Celtic won a foul in what is a great area. The Frenchman’s effort was poor, the ball fell to Scott Sinclair who was easily dispossessed. Hibs sub Sean Mackie claimed the ball, Ntcham chased and had three opportunities to tackle or foul his man. He failed, Mackie’s cross found Florian Kamberi and the Swiss striker’s finish gave Gordon no chance.
From that moment, the game was gone. Celtic never looked like scoring.
It is difficult to watch Sinclair at the moment. I cannot recall any other player suffering such a dramatic loss of form. So, too, Jozo Simunovic who was all over the place at the back. He seems devoid of confidence.,
Dedryck Boyata is a huge miss. Celtic need him back – and there is a chance he