Celtic 2-1 Sporting Braga- more questions than answers?

Two competitive games into the new term and I’m not too sure how much we’ve learned about the shape of this season’s team.

The Champions League exit to Sporting Braga was inevitable after last week’s 3-0 defeat in Portugal, less predictable is the way that the team will line up when the domestic campaign gets underway.

There were conflicting opinions to be gathered from the Braga match. Cha Du-Ri and Efrain Juarez caught the eye, especially the speedy Korean, whilst Gary Hooper clearly has a nose for goal as he demonstrated with the equaliser from Marco Fortune’s pass.

Less pleasing was the nervous defending with neither Lucasz Zaluska or Glenn Loovens doing themselves any favours while Charlie Mulgrew found himself substituted and replaced in the team by Joe Ledley at half time.

Clearly the defence is a major concern and priority. Essential to any successful team is the relationship at the back and understanding with the goalkeeper, of those on show tonight only Jos Hooiveld looks like he could be part of the solution.

Usually a team has some sort of template, at least a couple of regulars who’ve been around for a few seasons who know the ropes and what’s expected/demanded of being a Celtic player.

The high turnover of players at Celtic over the last twelve months has denied Lennon that luxury with the new manager virtually starting from scratch building his own side.

The last Celtic manager to be faced with a similar turnover was Wim Jansen who stopped ten-in-a-row with a side built around Craig Burley, Paul Lambert, Henrik Larsson and Marc Rieper from the ashes and departures of The Three Amigos and retirement of Paul McStay.

With Aiden McGeady’s future far from clear the only players that Lennon can call upon who have been involved in a Celtic title winning side are Scott Brown and Andreas Hinkel although Shaun Maloney- injured again against Braga- has a few championship medals in his locker.

The exit door has been opened for Hinkel with the arrival and form of Cha Du-Ri while Brown must be getting concerned about the number of midfielders, all preferring to play in the centre that have arrived at the club.

Efrain Juarez, Joe Ledley and Berum Kayal have all been signed by Lennon to add to the existing midfield pool of Ki Sung Yeung and Marc Crosas which brings to six the number of players competing for two or at a push three places in the starting XI.

The signs are that Lennon is no advocate of the 4-4-2 system favoured by Gordon Strachan and Tony Mowbray which left the wide midfielders isolated and the central duo unsure as to whether they should be attacking or defending.

The lack of goals from midfield was a major concern with Brown and Landry N’Guemo contributing just one goal in the whole of last season- tonight Juarez matched that tally.

In the wide positions it may be unfair to expect too much from James Forrest but I feel it would be damaging to hold him back when he clearly looks ready to step up to top team football. Nial McGinn, Paddy McCourt and Maloney provide options although concerns about the fitness of the latter two are genuine.

Friday’s Europa League draw will naturally be of interest but finding the missing defensive elements in time for next Saturday’s opener at Inverness Caley Thistle is the immediate priority.

Substantial savings have been made from last season’s wage bill, surely enough to shore up the defence to some extent although the recruitment of quality which the £10m McGeady fee would bring would be welcomed.

No one will know better than Lennon what is required. Away from the glare of the Champions League the new Celtic manager is trying to put together virtually a whole new team.

At any other time in the recent past expecting an instant championship would be asking for too much- with Rangers down to a first team squad of 15 and with no sign of signings- winning the SPL is almost expected.

Every successful team is built around a solid defence, getting that part of the side right will go a long way towards settling the remainder of the team- and delivering the SPL title.

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