Celtic: Monday to Friday.
Tomas Cvancara may not be the answer to all our prayers, but he does fulfil a much needed role. Or fill a hole. Another striker who isn’t one of the ones we already have. And one that is fit. We think?
He is almost the minimum requirement and that’s a start.
The Croatian is coming in under a shroud of mystique. Things didn’t quite go his way in Germany; there’s plenty to suggest that he’s the main reason for that. He also suffered from injury but this a man and a player, looking for redemption. Goals can do that.
If Celtic can squeeze out the best, concentrated version of him; Cvancara puree if you will, then it will be a worthwhile gamble. The data doesn’t paint a pretty picture, neither do the anecdotal references but, as always, there’s a chance that this is a classic case of right place, at the right time.
Adam Idah’s loan spell had a very similar look about it, and he certainly grabbed the opportunity by scoring 9 - relatively important - goals.
Fingers crossed.
Bologna(A)
Last night was a real shot in the arm for our brow beaten players. Despite the concession of a two-nil lead, Celtic exhibited a robust backbone to come away from Italy with a point.
Desire, heart and resolution, when combined with technical proficiency will get you far, but on their own, they can still get the job done.
The result itself isn’t too much of a stretch. Our conditioned image of Celtic in Europe is one of an asinine and fragile team, when on the road. This incarnation though, have continued last season’s progress.
Of our last six away games, only Midtjylland have beaten us. Bayern, Almaty, Red Star, Feyenoord and now Bologna, have all failed to better this much maligned group. Added to clean sheets away at Atalanta and Zagreb, in this last season’s Champions League; this represents a massive departure from our European form, in the decade or so preceding it.
Long may it continue.
It would be harsh to chastise Reo Hatate too much for a mistake, most professionals will make at one point in their career. There was a touch of immaturity and self destruction about it. Celtic were forced to retreat into something like a 5-3-1 in the second half. Bunkering down, they faced an almost relentless Alamo, eventually succumbing to the pressure.
Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic has been a soft launch up to this point, but last night validated the credentials, we had hoped to see again. Defensive attributes such as tackling, speed and heading are only of much use when underpinned by something aligned, to a natural instinct or nous. A nose for danger. Positioning is what makes a defender and last night, Tierney was often, exactly where he needed to be. More of those in-swinging corners as well please.
He was not alone by any stretch. Donovan defended with maturity, as did Scales but the real shining light was the towering frame of Austin Trusty. The American seemed hell bent on coming away with something last night.
Despite the physical exertion, the hope is that last night’s performance can galvanise and consolidate the team spirit, that seems to be formulating under O’Neill, Maloney and Fotheringham.
Sunday looms large - Hearts(A).
This is not Hearts as we know them.
Going to a rival who have already beaten us twice and are currently enjoying a six-point gap over us and Rangers feels completely alien. Abstract from the reality we have become accustomed to. Our domestic dominance has been so all encompassing that trebles have became routine, leading to us as a support, becoming slightly softened to the throes of serious challenge.
The most galling aspect of this season has been that – all credit due to Hearts aside – we have gifted them and Rangers this opportunity. Celtic could have been relatively average and still won this comfortably. They could have signed just one functional, fit striker and still been out in front. We could have kept O’Neill in charge and it’s fair to say we would be on course for a title, or not in such a desperate position.
The fact that we have conjured up this situation and remain in touch, is testament to how easy we should have had it. Despite all the negligence and mismanagement, if he we had just beat Hearts at home, we would be level on points. One game, one result.
O’Neill hasn’t had a shot at Hearts yet, and that’s something to cling on to. Both contenders have to come to us in the split, and those games – if it’s not too late – could be a massive opportunity to clinch another title. We need to hang in there for the time being.
This season needs something special. A moment, a goal or a player to instigate it’s awakening. Both the team and the club in general. The support needs lifted, as opposed to doing the lifting.
Sunday would be the perfect time.