Soap opera instalment, Throwing under the bus episode

The Celtic soap opera season continued through the weekend.  We were taken to the school of St Mirren on Saturday, then watched incredulously as a central defender we knew little about but who Sky incorrectly reported had signed a pre-contract, was instead heading for Liverpool.

Vasilis Barkas was dropped after the 2-2 draw with Livingston, he would be forgiven for being grateful as Scott Bain was given the unenviable burden of coping with a level of defending unseen at Celtic in decades.  For the good of the player as well as the team, Neil Lennon has to accept Shane Duffy does not have what it takes at this level.  A midweek pantomime against Hamilton went unpunished, while St Mirren fully exploited his meanderings.

In early December, I was assured Neil Lennon had the full support of the dressing room.  Speaking in the heat after Saturday’s defeat, he questioned the players’ attitude and behaviour.  There was no containment of the problem, no deflection of pressure off the squad and onto his more capable shoulders.  Whatever goodwill exists must be under strain.

It must be difficult to find the words for so many post-match failures but throwing players under the bus is not the received wisdom.  You and I are left to ponder what direction our season will plunge towards next.

Deadline Day in the ‘January’ transfer window leaves us with little to get excited about.  We can hope for a central defender to fill the gap left by Christopher Jullien and a right back to allow Kristofer Ajer to move back into the middle.  We cannot, though, buy confidence.