CELTIC have been branded dull and boring by former frontline hero Chris Sutton.
The champions’ strike force have struggled for goals this season and have fired blanks in their past two encounters, the scoreless stalemate against Hibs and the 2-0 Europa League loss to Sporting Braga, both at Parkhead.
Brendan Rodgers has seen the form of his team dip alarmingly with a mere three wins in their past nine games – the home Premiership victory over Livingston (3-0) and two Premier Sports League Cup successes over Falkirk (4-1) and second-tier Partick Thistle (4-0).
As the Irishman prepares his squad for tomorrow’s visit of Motherwell, they face the prospect of going into the game FIVE points adrift of Hearts if they win this evening’s derby clash with Hibs at Tynecastle.
HEADSCRATCHER…a concerned Brendan Rodgers after Braga defeat. Image courtesy Celtic TV.
One-time England international forward Sutton said: “At least, Brendan Rodgers has admitted there’s a problem and it’s up to him to find the solutions.
“He’ll be in the firing line as well as the board, but it’s going to take a lot to win over the supporters again.
“Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay meeting representatives of fan groups is a positive start.
“The supporters want dialogue and transparency so it’s a step in the right direction.
“But what are they going to tell the fans? That they promise to spend £30m in January to fix things? I doubt it.
“They can’t avoid the biggest question, which is why is there nearly £80million in the bank and a severely lacking team on the pitch?
“There are no easy answers at Celtic right now.”
It’s the same situation on the pitch as Sutton pointed out: “There are a zillion issues with Celtic right now, but I can’t get away from the most damning thing about the side right now.
“They are boring. That’s not something I say lightly or for effect.
CONTROVERSY…Kelechi Iheanacho heads the ball forward on his way to his remarkable VAR no-goal decision against Sporting Braga.
“Celtic are just dull right now. The performance against Braga was just so flat yet again – and there are serious problems to be addressed.
Yes, the disallowed goal was shocking. It might be the worst VAR decision I’ve ever seen and Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal should have stood.
“Would it have changed the game? Quite possibly.
“Celtic were on top at that stage and going level would have built on the momentum and they could have gone on to win the game.
“But they didn’t. They eventually lost to a Braga team that has been having a shocker in Portugal and look no more than decent at European level.
“And the manner of the defeat was just so demoralising.”
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Almost a year ago, Celtic were running rings around a RB Leipzig side that arrived in Glasgow unbeaten in the Bundesliga.
“Eight months ago, they were going toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena.
“This current Celtic team is a million miles away from that. Livingston have scored more in the Premiership, for goodness sake.
TOILING…Kieran Tierney has still to prove himself second-time around.
“We’ve gone from the thrill ride of Angeball, to the high-scoring Brendanball of last term to this.
“It’s slow, negative, disjointed – and so predictable. That’s the biggest thing.”
Sutton added: “Rodgers is having to cobble things together and he’s now trying anything and everything.
“The problems in the attacking third are clear, but now there are headaches all over the pitch.
“There’s the goalkeeping situation with Kasper Schmeichel struggling for form. His position must be under threat.
“I’d excuse the centre-backs, but there are questions over the full backs. Alistair Johnston’s dynamism is a huge miss and, while I love Kieran Tierney, he’s not yet proved to be an improvement on Greg Taylor, who brought a lot to the side when he stepped into midfield.
“The middle of the park isn’t working. Benjamin Nygren has shown positive signs in Scotland, but he wants too much time in Europe. You need to think and move quicker.
“Reo Hatate isn’t as effective as he has been and while people are pointing the finger at Callum McGregor, I actually have sympathy for him.
“He likes to take the ball on the turn and knit things together, but he clearly doesn’t trust the players around him because they keep losing the ball and he’s the one who has to mop up.
MAKING A POINT…Callum McGregor offers guidance to his team-mates.
“You can’t blame him for taking safer options.
“And then you get back to the serious lack of quality up front. It’s a concerning combination and on current viewing you can forget any notion of going deep in the Europa League.
“Celtic should be worried about Scotland. There are some people who dismiss the idea of a Hearts title challenge.
“They shouldn’t. Hearts are a danger, especially when Celtic are struggling to score goals that will win games.
“Rangers are in a total mess, but they might get their act together.”
It’s too early in the season to say Celtic are at the crossroads, but it’s clear they have to get on course as swiftly as possible.
A few goals and three points against Motherwell tomorrow would be a welcoming guideline.
