Post by WullieFort on Feb 7, 2018 12:46:34 GMT
With Celtic boring the arse of everyone, not least their own fans, attention has turned to other clubs in the League.
Aberdeen are maintaining their claim to be the "second best", although they can't seem to beat the Zombies, who in turn lack consistency. Kilmarnock, Hibs and Hurts are all responding to good managers (Clarke, Lennon and Levein) and Murderwell are threatening as always (in more ways than one). Two disappointments , for me have been Partick and St Johnstone. The former play good football without having too much luck and the latter seem to have been knocked off their stride by early-season rumours suggesting manager Tommy Wright was on his way to Ibrokes.
Dundee are surviving under McCann and that leaves Hamilton and Owen Coyle's Ross County at the bottom. They both looked doomed.
All ten teams in the League are managed by men from the British Isled in contrast to the EPL which is 50/50 BI/Foreigners.
Although much of Celtic's woes can be blamed on a lengthy injury list, it is apparent that other teams are taking a more aggressive/physical approach to games with them, especially in Celtic's half of the field. Now that Hurts and Killie have shown that they are no longer invincible all the other teams believe that they too can get a result. Celtic's back 4/5 developed a fondnes for tiki-taki football last season, but now the opposition are harrassing them every game and possession is being conceded at an alarming rate. The BRodger has instilled in them the virtues of keeping the ball but, as in the game against Kilmarnock last weekend, players are passing sideways/backwards far too often and the fans are becoming impatient with the lack of adventure/creativity which was their strength last season.
The Europa Cup game against Zenith, next week is crucial to their season. Fans, having conceded that progress from their CL Group of Death was unlikely, were looking for a successful run in this "consolation prize". Not any longer. There are fears that the dismal performances in the CL will be repeated against the Russians and if that happens, then IMO, winning the SPL title will become a proper challenge.
