The full SPL: Eddie Cassidy gives us the lowdown on Celtic

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Editor’s Note: Eddie’s analysis was written when Celtic were merely title challengers…rather than title certainties.

Before I start my analysis of the Celtic team, I should say had I written this article a few months ago, it would have made for very different reading. Celtic were miles adrift in the Championship race, and I for one would not have been sad to see Lennon walk. However, to his great credit, he and his players have turned things around and now look on course for a domestic treble. They also performed well in a tough Uefa section, and would have qualified but for a very debatable penalty at home to Udinese and one of most calamitous OG’s you could ever hope to see in Rennes (which bizarelly seemed to be the point the team said enough is enough and bucked their ideas up).

So, in line with the similar articles on this site, we will go through the team, step by step:

Manager (backroom team)

Lennon has had a torrid time since taking over the hotseat at Parkhead, all well documented already and we will not go over them again. I will say though, that I laughed at the press recently managing to turn the story of the situation at Rangers into another “isn’t Lennon a c*nt” 6-page spread.

His first decision was to bring in his own backroom staff, and he seems to have been following the O’Neill blueprint here. O’Neill trusted former teammates like Walford, a no nonsense centre-half, to work on defensive duties, and Robertson, a winger who was a great crosser of a ball in his playing days as his right-hand man. Sound familiar? He also wasn’t happy with the decor at Lennoxtown so brought in Garry Parker to decorate the place.

Mistakes were made last season but he seems to have learned from them, playing Brown in the centre with two out and out wingers was a recipe for disaster and regularly saw us outfought in the middle of the park and dropping too many points last season. Most notably the notorious game at ICT last year when a midfield containing Commons and Maloney was over-run, though things weren’t helped by Kayal being stretchered off.

My one big worry was a recent interview where he said “tactics are not important, players are”. I only agree with half of that statement, however a run of 15 domestic wins cannot be argued with. I hope he continues to learn and he has surely done enough to earn the full backing of the Celtic support at the moment.  

The Defence

I still believe that another centre-half has to play alongside automatic first pick, Tam Rogne, and hopefully Fojut can be this man next season. Majstorovic has improved but I would still allow him to leave when his contract runs out at the end of the season. Kelvin Wilson looks good… until he’s put under any sort of pressure (see Ibrox). Mulgrew can do a job there when needed as well as playing left back, though he gets caught out here a bit too much for my liking. Still a great guy to have in the squad.

Izaguirre looks a good bit away from his form last season, so Mulgrew and Ledley can cover this position ably until he is back up to speed. The return of Juarez means we now have Mexican, Korean, Welsh and Norwegian right backs on the books, plus Mark Wilson. Having not seen 6-foot plus Lustig as of yet, I’d play Matthews whenever possible. You would have to think that some will be moving out – Wilson and Cha surely being the main candidates – but I hope talk of a big money move for Matthews fails to materialise.

In goals “Fraser the giant” has seen his form improve greatly. I was one of many not at all convinced by him, howver recent form means we must try and sign him permanently. The guy has saved us from conceding goals that actually were goals for God’s sake! The defence can be improved, however you can’t argue with the number of clean sheets the team has recorded recently, mainly in my opinion due to the form of Forster and the return of Rogne.  

Midfield

Celtic have a wealth of riches in this area just now, with Brown finally looking like a £4m plus player, Wanyama looking like another great find, Ledley chipping in with more than his fair share of goals, and Ki being an option for when things are going well. Kayal was also starting to hit form before injury ruled him out for the season. If one has to be moved on for cash I’d say Ki is the main candidate. He sprays the ball about well, however I think he lacks the dig to make a difference when things are going against us.

On the wings, Forrest has continued his great development and Commons will hopefully rediscover the form that made him a fan favourite in 6 short months last season. A rejuvenated Samaras can also be deployed in these areas and we still have the Derry Pele and the intruging Ibrahim (the nigerian messi apparantly) to call upon should injuries or suspensions hit us in the run in to the season. All in all, I think the midfield has a good balance of steel and guile. Should we be able to hold onto them all it will be interesting to see how they fare in Europe next season after a good learning experience this season.  

Attack

Hooper is the first choice striker here and will normally play when fit with either Samaras or Stokes. Personally, I’d play Stokes as his link-up play with Hooper is excellent and both are always likely to get you a goal. Samaras remains an enigma but has improved recently. He is, however, still guilty of holding onto the ball for too long in my humble opinion. Should a decent offer come in, I would still look to move him on and wish him well.

We have a ready made replacement for him in a striker who rarely goes into the box in the shape of the much maligned Mo Bangura. He seems to have been written off already after 2 (yes 2) starts and a few sub appearances which I think is harsh in the extreme. Hopefully he is settled by next season and lives up to the Larsson-inspired hype that was around when he signed. Brozek, I believe, has been signed on loan as cover for Bangura until the end of the season, and I’ve not seen enough of him yet to form an opinion. Another who has returned from loan is Rasmussen, who also seems to have been written off without being given a fair crack of the whip.  

Conclusion

There are many theories for Celtic’s poor start to the season but whatever was the problem, they have certainly turned it around. A young team seems to be united again in the pursuit of domestic silverware. We’ve been here last season though and I’m sure lennon will be reiterating that nothing is won just now. I, and I’m sure the celtic support as a whole, are certainly looking forward to the business end of the season and beyond with a lot more optimism than a few short months ago. [Prophetic words… Ed.]

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About the Author
Eddie Cassidy (eventually) started Stand Up Comedy in Aug 2009, after many years of threatening to, and since then has reached the Scottish Comedian of the Year final in 2010 less than 18 months after his first gig, and has since performed all over Scotland and parts of England including a gig to the out their nut audience at scotlands (2nd) biggest music festival Rockness.

A lifelong Celtic fan and former regular at Pollok Juniors Newlandsfield Ground, situated in the shadow of the high rises in his native Pollokshaws in Glasgow (where he once witnessed a sub knock out a fan in a penguin costume while warming up), he is also a lover of all football and while Celtic will always be his true love, he views the rest of the football world as a copy of nuts magazine, something to look at and enjoy with no emotional attachment! A keen fan of the Premiership, European and International Football he has developed crushes on Parma (around 1994) Dortmund (around 1997) Croatia (1998) Valencia (2001) Ghana (2006) Brentford Town (2009) and still looks out for their results, and like any other football fan currently loves watchin the greatest team of all time, Barcelona. He also has a love hate relationship with Arsenal, however has recently been casting admiring glances at Spurs.

Eddie’s achievements in football include a u15′s medal from the goals 5 a side leagues with the legendary AC Pollokshaws, and once scored 19 goals when 21 years old playing against a bunch of children while drunk.

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