Chris Sutton is waiting for the final two pieces to be slotted into Celtic’s double winning season.
At the end of March there has barely been a sustained run of form under Brendan Rodgers with a six match winning run either side of the winter break the most sustained run of the season.
So far it as been stop start and consistently inconsistent with points dropped to Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Hearts in recent weeks undermining the hopes of retaining the SPFL Premiership title.
Last week at home to St Johnstone Celtic looked more recognisable, 3-1 was by no means a fair reflection on the 90 plus minutes.
Kyogo Furuhashi and Cameron Carter-Vickers returned to the Starting XI while January signing Nicolas Kuhn showed that he has something to offer as the campaign enters the home stretch.
Looking forward to two other additions, writing in the Daily Record Sutton points out:
I saw a passage of play in that St Johnstone game when the striker made a brilliant run from deep which cut him straight through the visitors’ defence.
Had Iwata spotted the pass, Kyogo would have an age to go through on the keeper and pick his spot. Unfortunately for Celtic, he didn’t see it, but you can bet your last coin Hatate would have spotted it.
It’s not being harsh on Iwata, it’s just a fact. The tempo and fluency in Celtic’s play will rocket if Hatate, McGregor are in tandem again.
Keep Kyogo on form, keep Cameron Carter-Vickers fit and add that midfield trio and Rodgers could go into the final two months with as powerful a selection hand as he’s held all term. Potentially, if Celtic can get through the Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen, there are 10 games left in their season.
Every single one of them promises to be massive and it is going to take big game players. Having them all his disposal through until the end of May would be perfect timing for him.
The equation is pretty simple for Celtic. Win all 10 of those remaining games starting at Livingston next weekend and the Premiership and Scottish Cup double is theirs.
It’s a big period and it calls for stars who can make it happen. Hatate and McGregor are two who can shine more than any in the country.
Timing is everything, there must be huge doubt over whether Hatate and McGregor can start on the plastic pitch at Livingston a week tomorrow, April 7 at Ibrox won’t be the occasion for anyone less than match fit.
Behind closed doors at Lennoxtown next week the non-internationalists will be working harder than ever knowing that only eight victories ensure a third successive SPFL title.
Let’s be realistic,
regardless of who’s in the team or not,
we’re probably going to – continue – playing awful until season end,
but with hopefully a few bright spots, specifically against sevco?
Just have to grind out the wins.
Bob, I think you’re being incredibly negative here “we’re probably going to – continue – playing awful until season end,” and this from someone who thinks we’ve done everything to throw the title to the new huns already. Left to Brendan, without interference from the fat slug, and if Reo, CCV and Calmac are all ready to go, we’ve got more than enough to do the double. A bigger thing to look at is how Celtic PLC handles Rodgers being in front of the masons at the SFA and how that pans out. If he’s not armed with all the available evidence and represented by a top lawyer and suffers ANY penalty and the SFA is not called out then my fears of having thrown the title by Lawwell and Co will be compounded and I hope the rest of our support can see this and act accordingly. Traitors are not welcome anywhere and sould be removed by suitable force if necessary. As a support we at CP do not welcome masons either and any of these should be called out and removed in order that we are true to our unbroken, proud history. We were set up to feed the poor, NOT THE RICH as we’re doing now.
Hail! Hail! The Glasgow Celtic and the reasons you exist. FUKK THE BOARD and major shareholders, tory bastards not fit to be anywhere near Paradise.