Celtic: a season review

What are the ambitions of Celtic Football Club? One could argue that the club has had an identity crisis in recent seasons, missing out on the Champions League, unable to test themselves against the European giants, and struggling to find competition in Scotland. It’s left them drifting in limbo. It could be said that the return of Rangers fixes this on the domestic front. But is that the limit of Celtic’s ambition? No, and nor should it.

Much has changed since Celtic reached the UEFA Cup final in 2003. European competition is dominated by a few mega-clubs, and the financial success of the English Premier League means that from next season all 20 clubs will feature in the 30 richest in the world. These points in particular effect Celtic. Big clubs from smaller nations, such as Ajax, Benfica, and Celtic, can’t challenge in Europe as once was the case. Teams like Barcelona have a stranglehold on such honours. At the same time, the cash swirling around the Premier League behemoth means smaller English sides like Bournemouth and West Bromwich Albion can afford bigger wages than Ajax and co. It’s the reason Southampton, although often not involved in European competition, attract Virgil van Dijk and Fraser Forster. As depressing as it is, clubs like Celtic are stepping stones. Although this is a sad fact, it can work for the Hoops. It did so under Neil Lennon.

During Lennon’s tenure, Celtic had great success in the Champions League, reaching the last 16 on one occasion and scalping Barcelona. The system worked. Thanks to this, Celtic could attract young prospects, like van Dijk, develop them, get the best out of them for a brief time, have success on domestic and European fronts, and then sell them for profit to English sides. It worked for the club, the fans, and the board. And is where we begin our review of Celtic’s 2015/16 season.

 

A FIGHT ON FOUR FRONTS

Under Ronny Deila Celtic regressed. It’s not debatable. As I explained above, reaching the Champions League was the most important part of the Celtic system. During a spell without Rangers pushing them for domestic honours, this was going to be the standard Deila had to meet; and he failed to do so. He’s disrupted the mechanics of the club.

The Hoops thumped Stjarnan and then beat Qarabag in a tight tie. The one hurdle blocking Deila from the Champions League was Malmo FF, and Jo Inge Berget. The midfielder had been a bit of a flop at Parkhead, and so it came as a shock when he put in a brilliant performance against his former club and scored twice, including a 90^th minute effort which cut Celtic’s lead to one going into the second-leg. Still, Celtic held all the cards. 23 minutes into the second-leg and Malmo snatched a lead on the night and levelled the aggregate score. Markus Rosenberg got in front of van Dijk from a corner and headed the ball past a flapping Craig Gordon. 30 minutes later, Malmo celebrated again. From another corner – defending set-pieces has been a recurring problem in Europe – Dedryck Boyata came rushing back, for reasons known to him, and knocked Felipe Carvalho’s flicked header into the net. Malmo celebrated a second straight Champions League qualification; a dejected Celtic questioned a second straight failure to reach the group stages. Deila’s position was being scrutinised, and the season had barely begun.

For the most part, Celtic had better luck in domestic football. The Hoops lost four times all season: twice at Pittodrie, at home against Motherwell thanks to a Louis Moult double, and at McDiarmid Park in the penultimate match of their campaign. Not a bad record. The club finished on 86 points, six fewer than Deila’s first season in charge, the lowest since Lennon’s second full season at Parkhead – 79 points and seven defeats that season. That’s one advantage Lennon had. During his tenure, after Rangers’ liquidation, Celtic had no challenge. Even when they finished on 79 points, second-place Motherwell finished 16 behind. To put this into perspective, Aberdeen finished on 75 points for 2014/15 and 71 for this season. It highlights that Celtic managers aren’t judged on the league. It’s an absolute minimum. Without Rangers, there’s no reason for the Hoops to come second.

Although Celtic had not been given the chance to fight it out against Europe’s biggest hitters, Deila could have won back some goodwill in the Europa League. Instead, it seemed to make his situation even worse. It began promisingly, as Celtic picked up a 2-2 draw against Ajax, another former European giant struggling to match their former successes. The Hoops then dropped a two goal lead, letting Fenerbahce snatch a point at Parkhead. After that came three defeats. Molde claimed back-to-back victories over the Scottish champions, before Ajax finished off Celtic’s chances of picking up a win at Parkhead. Another draw against Fenerbahce meant the esteemed club exited the Europa League winless. It was getting a tad depressing.

After the exits from Europe, Deila was handed one final task: a domestic treble. Perhaps that could save his job. It was not to be. An energized Celtic emerged for the League Cup semi-final against Ross County. The Highland side were blitzed in the opening minutes. Leigh Griffiths, in particular, terrorised a fumbling Staggies defence. 26 seconds in the clinical striker turned creator, going one-on-one with Scott Fox before cutting the ball back to Gary Mackay-Steven, who redirected the ball into the net. Celtic were coasting on route to another League Cup final. Then Efe Ambrose, as Efe Ambrose does, handed the Highland side a lifeline. The centre-back clipped Alex Schalk as he penetrated the Celtic box, something he didn’t need to do – Gordon was reaching the ball before the Dutch striker. Celtic were reduced to ten men and Martin Woods equalised from the spot. Paul Quinn put the Staggies into the lead in the second-half, and then Alex Schalk went on an excellent run before slotting home to send County to the final. Dreams of a treble were in tatters. Well…let’s call it a double then.

After scalping East Kilbride and Greenock Morton, it was going to be an Old Firm clash for Celtic in their Scottish Cup semi-final. Deila needed a win. Mark Warburton had revitalised an ailing Rangers squad and achieved promotion from the Championship; his season wouldn’t be judged on this match. Deila, on the other hand, had little to hang his hat on. Yes, he’d claimed a second-straight league title, but he needed something else; he needed the Scottish Cup. And he could not lose to Rangers.

Rangers looked more assured the start, handling the pressure of the occasion and controlling possession. 16 minutes in and Rangers struck. Andy Halliday’s free-kick rebounded off Scott Brown and into the path of Kenny Miller; the poacher couldn’t miss. Celtic forged a couple of chances, Patrick Roberts missing one an open goal at one stage – a moment that seemed to sum up Deila’s tenure. The Hoops improved as the match progressed and looked all the more dangerous after the break. The green half of Hampden erupted in the 50^th minute, as Erik Sviatchenko rose high and headed the ball past Wes Foderingham. The arch-rivals needed extra-time. Rangers struck first, Barry McKay firing an absolute thunder-bastard into the top corner; Celtic struck back, Tom Rogic drilling a shot in after Kieran Tierney’s cut back. Deila’s Celtic career hung in the balance. Penalties would decide; a Scottish Cup final or a P45? It was to be the latter. Rogic fired into the Hampden crowd. The blue-half shook, the green-half emptied. Deila cut a forlorn figure on the touchline, the horror etched in his face, the slow realisation of what had just happened.

Sure enough, days later it was announced that Deila would be leaving Parkhead at the end of the season.

 

COLE, BOYATA AND CIFTCI: DEILA’S SIGNINGS

The main issue facing Deila at the beginning of the season was a need to bring in two centre-backs and forge a partnership. Van Dijk, who departed for Southampton, and Jason Denayer, who returned to Manchester City after his loan spell expired, both left the club in quick succession, leaving Deila in a tough position. His first port of call was the Etihad. There he signed Dedryck Boyata. The Belgian centre-back was a different prospect than Denayer; the latter was a teenager in need of experience, the former, however, was already in his mid-twenties, but had made just 32 first-team appearances. It showed. Boyata has the relaxed attitude of van Dijk, but without the skill, concentration or defensive capabilities. And he still needed a partner. As amazing as the idea of a centre-back partnership of Boyata and Efe Ambrose sounds, it came as little surprise that Deila felt the need to again dip into the transfer market. Jozo Simunovic, brought from Dinamo Zagreb for £4 million, looked to be a good acquisition. One problem: he’s been injured…a lot. Deila again needed to plug the gap. He loaned in Tyler Blackett from Manchester United, but the less said about him the better. The same goes for Saidy Janko, the right-back who could neither attack nor defend. During the winter transfer window, Deila finally managed to find a competent centre-back in Erik Sviatchenko. The 24-year-old arrived for £1.5 million and has all the qualities that could earn him a move down south in the future. He’s comfortable on the ball, dominates in the air, and reads the game. If Deila’s successor can manage to keep Simunovic and Sviatchenko fit and able, there might be a good centre-back partnership there.

The second major issue Deila faced during his second season at Parkhead was the need for a second-choice striker, someone who could lift the burden off Leigh Griffiths. In the summer he signed Nadir Ciftci, completing his dismantling of Dundee United’s squad. The Turk, an erratic, skilled, quick-footed striker, had been productive at Tannadice, but there were questions about his temperament and attitude. Deila couldn’t use him for six games, after Ciftci decided to snack on Paul McGowan during the Dundee derby. When he did eventually debut, he proved his doubters right. His looked out of place – six months later he left Parkhead on loan. Six months had passed and Deila still needed to ease the reliance on Griffiths. What about an England international? Perhaps someone with Champions League experience? Of course, I’m speaking about Carlton Cole. The robust striker made his full-debut against Stranraer in the League Cup, a headed goal opening his account for Celtic. He couldn’t be stopped. Months before, when coming off the bench, he’d used his considerable strength and determination to force Danny Devine into scoring an own-goal. Unfortunately, he’s been used sparingly since his appearance at Stair Park. Perhaps Deila’s successor might give him more time? The final attempt at helping Griffiths came in the form of Colin Kazim-Richards. It was at this point Celtic supporters started questioning their transfer dealings. Kazim-Richards had left the Netherlands after being banned for two weeks for threatening a journalist – just the sort of hard-working, right-minded attacker Celtic needed. He marked his debut against Aberdeen by stamping on Aberdeen’s Ash Taylor, the biggest impression he’s left on the Scottish game during his time here. Kazim-Richards hasn’t been as bad as Cole – he’s strong, can be a nuisance in the air, knocks the ball down, and gets the odd goal – but there’s not enough there to warrant him be kept on. Apart from the two-and-a-half-year deal Celtic signed him to. Good job.

 

TIERNEY, GRIFFITHS AND ROGIC: IT’S NOT ALL BAD

It would be unfair to insinuate that all the players under Deila either regressed or underperformed. You just have to watch their 7-0 demolition of Motherwell to see that’s not the case. Although the game had an end-of-season atmosphere, the Glasgow sun even making a rare appearance, and ‘Well started Marvin Johnson at left-back, some of Celtic’s prospects had stand out games.

Part of Deila’s legacy at Celtic will be Kieran Tierney, and his progression in such a short time. The left-back made his league debut just over a year ago, made sporadic appearances in place of Emilio Izaguirre during the first-half of the campaign, and usurped the Honduran’s position in the second-half. His performances warranted a Scotland call-up and links to Arsenal. He even made it into Marca’s 11 most promising youngsters in Europe. He might be 18-year-old, but he’s as reliable as a seasoned pro. He can often be seen shouting at more experienced team-mates, organising and chastising. These aren’t characteristics usually associated with someone so young; it should be the other way round. Tierney also had an excellent game against Rangers – part of a limited bunch – quietening James Tavernier, who’s terrorised most left-backs he’s come up against. Although he has a size disadvantage, he’s 5ft 10 and slender, something Simon Church and Adam Rooney took advantage of when Aberdeen beat Celtic 2-1 at Pittodrie in February, he’s comfortable on the ball, strong in the challenge, and dangerous pushing up. He grabbed the opener against Motherwell, cutting inside before slotting in from the edge of the box. He’s one for the future, if Celtic can keep hold of him.

There are others as well. Ryan Christie, although often limited to the bench under Deila, looked threatening against ‘Well and should be getting a chance ahead of the inconsistent and unproductive pair of Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong. Patrick Roberts, in on loan from Manchester City until next summer, has proved why he cost the Blues £12 million in the last month. He crucified Graeme Shinnie a couple of weeks ago, grabbing a brace with two excellent long-range efforts. Tom Rogic, if he remains at Parkhead, is another who’s stood out under Deila. The Aussie centre-midfielder has proven himself to be the best in his position in Scotland, looking inventive on the ball, and scoring some cracking, and important, goals. His thunder-bastard against Kilmarnock all but ended Aberdeen’s title challenge. As I mentioned earlier, Sviatchenko looks a solid purchase and a back-four of Lustig, Simunovic, Sviatchenko and Tierney looks decent on paper.

But the most improved player under Deila has to be Leigh Griffiths. The Celtic striker is undoubtedly the best player in Scotland and arguably the most important to his team. During Deila’s tenure, he’s progressed from a talented, one-dimensional and inconsistent striker, who was just as famous for his off-field antics as his goals, into an all-round attacker, who looks bound to score each time he touches the ball. He scored seven in 13 appearances in 13/14, 14 in 24 in 14/15, and 31 in 34 this season. He used to be the sort to hang on the shoulder of the last defender, make those quick runs, and he’d often be caught offside; now he’s threatening on the ball, running into space, running at defenders, in the air. At his best he can’t be stopped. He’s achieving Henrik Larsson figures. Celtic just need him to replicate that form in Europe, against more skilled defences.

 

FAREWELL, RONNY

It’s been a dismal season for Celtic. Deila achieved the bare minimum in defending the league title, but that’s not enough. He again failed to take the team to the Champions League, crashed out of the Europa League group stage without a single win, was knocked out of both the cups in the semi-finals, suffered defeat to Rangers, and has a questionable transfer record. He came with a roar, left with a whimper.

Ayr United 0-0 Stranraer (3-1 on penalties)

Ayr United will be in the Championship for the first time since 2012 after beating Stranraer on penalties.

Hundreds of Honest Men supporters flooded the pitch after Andy Graham converted from the spot, celebrating United’s first promotion at the ground since 1956.

4,581 had turned out to see who would replace Livingston in next season’s Scottish Championship; it would be over 120 minutes till that question would be answered.

It was a tight affair, and, after no goals and nothing to separate them at the end of 90 minutes, the match entered extra-time. The match continued in the same trend, and it was no surprise to see the game go to penalties.

It was heartbreak for Stranraer, who, after being so resilient for 120 minutes, missed their first three penalties to hand Championship football to Ayr on a plate.

Graham stepped up and converted.

For Ayr, their next summer will be spent preparing for life in the Championship, where they’ll be facing familiar faces in Dunfermline Athletic and fresh ones in Hibernian. For Stranraer, it will be about recuperating from this tough defeat. Either side could’ve progressed on the day, despite their opposing routes to the final.

United had looked to challenge Dunfermline. The Honest Men suffered just one defeat – a 3-0 drubbing from Albion Rovers on the opening day – in their opening 15 matches and claimed an impressive 2-0 win over the Pars at East End Park. But inconsistent form robbed them of that chance. Amazingly, United didn’t draw one of their subsequent 21 games, losing 12 and winning 9, as Peterhead pipped them to second place.

Stranraer, meanwhile, languished at the bottom of the division at Christmas. Brian Reid struggled to replicate the same cohesion his predecessor, Stephen Aitken, had instilled in his over-achieving team. However, a sudden up-turn in form, aided by the return of Willie Gibson, meant Stranraer collected 37 points from their remaining 19 matches, snatching fourth-place ahead of an inconsistent Albion Rovers and a lumbering Airdrieonians.

The clubs also had differing fortunes in their respective semi-final ties. United settled their game against an out-of-sorts Peterhead in the first-leg, claiming a comfortable 4-1 win at Balmoor, before finishing it off 2-1 at Somerset Park. Stranraer’s tie was a much tenser affair. The Blues thumped a shell-shocked Livingston 5-2 at Stair Park, but were then forced into extra-time at the Tony Macaroni Stadium. Goals in the 89^th and 90^th minutes handed Livi a life-line, giving them 30 minutes to save their Championship status. But it was Stranraer who progressed, Liam Dick and Jamie Longworth scoring to send them through to the final.

Stranraer welcomed Ayr to Stair Park on Wednesday evening, when United grabbed an all-important equaliser in the final moments of the game. Marc McGuigan had given the hosts the advantage in the 54^th minute, but in the fifth minute of added-time, Ross Docherty finished a half-volley on the edge of the box to quash Stranraer’s short-lived advantage.

Would it prove to be a crucial moment in the tie?

An anxious roar greeted the referee’s whistle, which marked the end of the minute of silence for Chris Mitchell. The tense atmosphere suited the opening moments of the match.

Stranraer tested Greg Fleming first. Stirling shuffled around two white shirts and rifled the ball at the United net. The experienced Fleming reacted and palmed the ball out for a corner. Then it was United’s turn. Jordan Preston almost punished lackadaisical defending, racing through to go one-on-one with Cameron Belford, but at the final moment Steven Bell put in an excellent sliding challenge to rob Preston of his chance. The striker then forced Belford to produce a quick save, cutting in from the left and firing a driven shot at the near post. The on-loan goalkeeper pounced to push the ball around the post.

After an enthralling opening 15 minutes, the match settled. It became a much tighter affair, both teams searching for half-chances, neither opening up enough at the risk of being caught on the counter-attack. The teams reached half-time of the second-leg in the same state as the beginning of the tie. Nothing could separate Ayr and Stranraer. It would require something special.

The second-half began as the first ended. In a moment that summed up the game, a frustrated Craig Malcolm shouted for more support, fed up at being fed scraps and expected to break the deadlock.

Stirling almost did just that. The Stranraer winger sped into space, left Devlin trailing and cut into the box. A couple of desperate, last-ditch challenges tried to block his path, but he remained calm and dragged the ball around them. With just Fleming stopping him from putting Stranraer on the road to the Championship, Stirling lashed the ball over the crossbar. A dumbfounded McGuigan crumbled to his knees and punched the ground. Stranraer should’ve been ahead.

Despite this setback, Stranraer were ascendant. Ayr were on the ropes. A tense atmosphere surrounded Somerset Park as a desperate United defence tried to clear their lines. A cheer broke out as Fleming rose high to clutch the ball to his chest, ending minutes of bombardment.

United’s best chance since the start of the game came from Preston. The striker pounced on a mistake but failed to capitalise, or test Belford, and fired the ball into the stands.

With ten minutes remaining, the game again came to a stand-still, and soon the match had reached extra-time.

But much like the preceding 90 minutes, there was nothing to separate the sides.

Steven Bell should’ve secured Championship football for Stranraer in the 114^th minute, his header evading Fleming but skimming the edge of post. Patrick Boyle almost punished him for it moments later, the Ayr defender also missing a simple chance.

Gibson had a moment in the final moments, twisting and turning and looking to escape his marker, but his eventual shot missed the target. He put his head in his hands. Andrew Dallas blew the whistle, and the game went to penalties.

Stranraer chose to go first. Paul Cairney stepped up, but his tame effort was caught by Fleming. Preston put Ayr one up. Longworth went next for the Blues, and his effort, much like Cairney’s, also produced a simple save from Fleming. Trouten extended Ayr’s lead.

David Barron needed to score if Stranraer were going to comeback. Instead he produced the laziest shot of the lot. His sluggish shot gave Fleming, who had dived to his right, enough time to stick a leg out to block the shot.

The Ayr fans on the edge of the park, waiting to burst on, had to wait a moment as Ross Docherty’s effort hit the post. But, after Gibson scored Stranraer’s only successful penalty, Graham converted from the spot to send the Ayr fans into a frenzy.

 

Hibernian 2-2 Falkirk – Talking Points

Houston gets his tactics spot on…it’s not quite enough

It was never going to be an open, exciting, end-to-end thriller. Their three previous meetings had ended even, and during the Championship season their four matches featured a whopping nine goals – four of which came in the same game. Falkirk are a natural counter to Hibernian. Peter Houston has transformed Falkirk into an organised, defensive-minded outfit; Alan Stubbs’s team are much more free-flowing, possession-based side, using short-range passes to find a breakthrough. Falkirk stifle attacking intent, conceding possession but offering no space in the box. It’s no surprise they boasted the joint-meanest defence in the Championship, having conceded the same amount of goals (34) as Rangers and Hibs.

For Falkirk, the point of the game was clear from the outset. The Bairns have the second-leg advantage, the match taking place at their home ground – in the same sense that Hibs benefitted from the second-leg of their tie with Raith Rovers taking place at Easter Road. Houston thus set up his side to not concede and to make the most of counter-attacking opportunities – although a lack of pace made this a difficult job.

Once the Bairns snatched a lead, Lee Miller deflecting Tom Taiwo’s shot into Conrad Logan’s net, Hibs began to look frustrated, unable to pass through Falkirk’s organised and disciplined defence. The hosts didn’t want to be travelling to Falkirk needing to win – the Bairns lost fewer Championship games than both Rangers and Hibs, an amazing achievement given their respective budgets. But Hibs boast some of the best attacking talent in Scotland, and that started to make an impact.

The hosts found the breakthrough after a punishing spell for the Falkirk defence. The Hibees pushed-and-pushed for an equaliser, Easter Road roaring, before Liam Henderson thundered an effort straight down the throat of Danny Rogers, who couldn’t react quick enough to stop it. Easter Road started bouncing; the home fans were desperate for a second. Momentum was on Hibs’ side. Nerves started affecting Falkirk, mistakes were slipping into their game. Minutes later, Hibs celebrated a second; Falkirk were on the back-foot, rocking. Darren McGregor leapt, as he did against Raith, and thundered a header past Rogers.

Falkirk, to their credit, did reset. The Bairns looked a much more solid outfit after the second, resettling back into the game, and actually creating more chances. Hibs were being pushed back, until the visitors grabbed an equaliser that silenced Easter Road. Conrad Logan has been an assured and confident presence since his debut against Dundee United, but he cost Hibs a crucial lead heading into the second leg when he let Bob McHugh’s shot squeeze underneath him and into the net.

In the end, Falkirk and Peter Houston will look at this game as a huge positive. Although the Bairns would have preferred to be welcoming Hibs with an advantage, perhaps their home ground can give them the added steel needed to come through the second leg victorious. If not for 20 minute blip, when nerves affected their focus, they might have won.

 

 

Another bad refereeing mistake

It feels like there can’t be one important game in Scottish football without there being a contentious decision. In this tie, it was Alan Muir missing a clear hand-ball. David McCracken, getting back to his feet after scrapping for the ball inside his box, put his hands on the ball and pretty much used it to stand back up. It was a clear penalty, and one which could’ve had a big impact on the result. Worse still, Muir had a straight, unobstructed view of the incident and still didn’t make a call.

 

 

Stokes and Cummings invisible…again

Alan Stubbs must have a large bet on, such is his determination for the pairing of Jason Cummings and Anthony Stokes to succeed as a strike partnership. It’s been commented on time-and-time again that the duo are too similar, both dropping deeper to make things happen rather than sitting around the box, neither one hassling defences. It meant the Bairns’ defence were under no pressure, able to sit deep, and act as one structured unit. Due to Stubbs’ diamond midfield, which provides little width, it was often Cummings and Stokes drifting out into wider positions, leaving just one occupying a dangerous position inside the box; this suited the resolute Falkirk defence to perfection.

Hibs needed to change things up.

Cummings forged one chance, spinning on a dime and slipping a through ball to Stokes, which sent him behind the Falkirk defence. The loanee striker, one-on-one, blasted the ball over the crossbar. He should’ve equalised. But from that moment on Hibs squeezed Falkirk, creating chance-after-chance. A goal came, Liam Henderson blasting in from close-range. A second followed. An influential Henderson delivered a dipping corner straight onto the head of a leaping Darren McGregor, who redirected the ball into the Falkirk net. Despite this comeback, Cummings and Stokes had not had much involvement in either goal, and it was thus little surprise when James Keatings replaced Cummings soon after.

 

 

Miller struggles but makes his mark

Lee Miller had a tough ask on his hands. The striker, on paper, was up front alongside John Baird; in action the striker was alone, Baird often dropping deeper to limit Dylan McGeouch’s movement on the ball and linking up midfield and attack. His role was also made harder by Falkirk’s tactics. As mentioned earlier, the Bairns conceded possession and looked to make the most of limited chances, using long-balls and quick counter-attacks to try and grab a goal. Miller was alone.

He struggled in the role. Miller couldn’t seem to hold up the ball, and he was often dispossessed before he could bring others into the attack. But that’s not to say he didn’t have any impact.

In the 34^th minute, Tom Taiwo capitalised on a rebounded free-kick, finding himself free of a marker and in acres of space. The Falkirk centre-mid rifled a shot through the line of defence, but the eventual goal wasn’t his; Miller deflected the incoming shot, sending it past a static Conrad Logan. The infuriated Hibs’ goalkeeper ran off, arms flailing, towards the linesman, claiming that Miller must’ve been offside – he wasn’t, and the goal stood.

Given such a work-load it’s perhaps no surprise that he was replaced in the 58^th minute, Bob McHugh replacing the goal-scorer. Miller had done his job for the evening.

Three reasons Aberdeen missed out on the title

The chances of Aberdeen recapturing the successes of the Alex Ferguson era at Pittodrie are slimming as time passes. Last season the club missed out on the Premiership title by 17 points, a figure that perhaps gives a distorted impression; Celtic scalped the Dons in their four meetings, meaning the eventual champions claimed just five points more than Aberdeen in other games. Aberdeen improved in that regard this time around. The first-and-second place teams shared six points apiece, each winning both games at their home grounds, meaning performances against the other ten clubs were difference. And that’s where Aberdeen slipped up.

Derek McInnes’ team had a storming start, winning their first eight games of the campaign, capped with a comeback against Celtic, scraping a 2-1 win, and a comfortable 3-1 besting of Hearts. Then the wheels came off the hype train. The Dons collected just one point from their next five games as Celtic overtook them in the title race. The spell included a 5-1 drubbing from St Johnstone at Pittodrie and defeats to Inverness and Ross County – all games they were more than capable of winning.

After a dreadful October, the Dons went on an excellent streak, interrupted by one loss to Inverness. That defeat at the Caledonian Stadium marked the one setback in a 17-match run during which the club picked up 40 points, again closing the gap on Celtic. At that point that Hoops had three more points than the Dons and one game-in-hand; a decent lead, but with one game between the teams still to come and Celtic in erratic form nothing that couldn’t be overcome. Unfortunately for Dons supporters, that moment marked the beginning of the end of their title push. Aberdeen have won just two of their last six games, leaving Celtic to ease to a fifth-straight title.

But where did it go wrong? Why couldn’t this Aberdeen team best a disjointed Celtic side whose manager is leaving in the summer?

 

Lack of depth

This is the ultimate problem; one that Derek McInnes will have a hard time fixing. Quite simply, Aberdeen don’t have the budget Celtic do. The Dons can’t attract Manchester City to send their £12 million winger on loan to Pittodrie, and, as Sunday’s meeting highlighted, that can make all the difference. And it’s not just that Celtic can afford to have more players on their books, including all the central midfielders in Scotland – let’s not forget that Ryan Christie can’t even get a chance off the bench at Parkhead – it’s also that their development team is producing a better quality of player, as Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor prove.

This problem has been exemplified in one area in particular: up front. Adam Rooney has been a huge absence, given his effectiveness and contribution to Aberdeen’s title push. The Dons are reliant on him to score. For Celtic that’s not quite the case. Although Leigh Griffiths has bailed the Hoops out more times than one can count, Celtic have had options, whether that be Colin Kazim-Richards or Carlton Cole. Yes, these are terrible options, but options nonetheless. Aberdeen don’t even have the luxury of being able to bring dross like that to Pittodrie. Simon Church, although he lacks the same predatory instinct as Rooney, has made a small contribution, but he’s the one option McInnes has. His replacement, when injured against Celtic, was Mark Reynolds. This sums up the problem.

McInnes has been vocal since the game, calling on the Aberdeen board to back him financially. With Rangers returning after the summer, and Mark Warburton a shrewd operator in the transfer market himself, McInnes needs this if the Dons are to chase Celtic, or at least to hold off the threat of the Gers.

 

Not enough contribution from midfield

There have been a lot of improved performances from Aberdeen’s midfielders this season. Niall McGinn, at least at the beginning of the season, looked back to his best, putting in some excellent crosses and cutting inside to trouble defences; Kenny McLean, after disappointing in the second-half of last campaign, not quite matching the contribution he made at St Mirren, has been a consistent threat bursting through the middle; and Jonny Hayes, as ever, can be impossible to defend against at his best. But, as creative as these three have been, they’ve not contributed enough goals.

The Dons have scored 62 goals in 26 games, 23 fewer than Celtic and just six more than Hearts – and eight more than St Johnstone. This came back to bite them when Adam Rooney suffered his first major injury for the past couple of seasons. There’s no doubt that Aberdeen have been over-reliant on his goals, and, although Simon Church has chipped in in his absence, McLean and Hayes have not. Rooney’s 20 goals make up around 32% of the Dons’ overall league goals – Leigh Griffith’s 30 goals make a similar number for Celtic. The problem is that Celtic, when Griffiths hasn’t scored, others have made an impact. For example, Patrick Roberts has scored as many goals (5) in seven starts as Hayes has done in 33. McLean and Hayes have reached just 11 goals combined – not enough for two of the three sitting behind the lone striker. Even McGinn, although he’s scored ten, could’ve done better. His goals have often come in streaks, and he’s had gone through huge barren spells, including one lasting two months between early February and April.

 

Need for a better goalkeeper

Jurgen Klopp has rotated his squad often enough at Liverpool. He’s given opportunities to younger players, often on the fringes during Brendan Rodgers’ tenure, and to those regarded as back-up options, giving them the platform to demonstrate their potential. While some of those given the chance have stepped up, others haven’t. Chief among them is Adam Bogdan. His performances were so bad, so erratic, that the imposing German brought a premature end to Danny Ward’s loan spell at Aberdeen.

Ward had been a success – although there wasn’t a high watermark in the first place. The loanee goalkeeper looked confident, had decent reactions, made some impressive saves, handled crosses without flapping, and, apart from the odd blunder against long-range efforts, gave the impression that the Dons had a decent stopper on their hands. Such was the excitement among the Aberdeen supporters that he even earned a chant. You can imagine their disappointment upon hearing the news that he would be returning to Anfield earlier than expected.

McInnes had no option but to give the maligned Scott Brown another chance. The second-choice ‘keeper is the definition of average; he makes some decent saves, struggles from crosses into the box, and pops up with the occasional blunder here-and-there. But he’s no title-winner, and not in the same class as Ward.

Brown’s time as first-choice came to an end after his dire performance against St Johnstone, as the Dons’ crumbled to a 3-0 defeat at McDiarmid Park. He gave David Wotherspoon acres of space to place his free-kick for the opener, standing far too far to one side; should have conceded a second after missing a punch and tripping over an Aberdeen defender, the referee instead giving him a free-kick after St Johnstone had converted; and then recorded the slowest of reaction times as Steven MacLean got the tiniest of touches to knock the ball his static self.

This issue needs to be rectified before next season; it’s been one that’s troubled McInnes since his arrival. The hope among Aberdeen supporters will be that Danny Rogers, who’s impressed on loan at Falkirk, earning mentions in Championship Team of the Season lists, could make the step up. If the Dons are to challenge for the title, he’ll need to do just that.

 

Celtic 3-2 Aberdeen – Talking Points

Roberts: what Forrest could have been

James Forrest never achieved his true potential at Celtic. That much is undebatable. The winger had the speed and the skills, darting past static defenders, his feet a blur, but he lacked the final product and the footballing mind to match his feet. He needed that big step up, from an inconsistent, promising talent to a proven attacker – if he had done, a move down south wouldn’t have been out of the question. But he never did. And, therefore, it was not surprising when he announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the season.

At around the same time, Celtic brought Patrick Roberts to Parkhead on a two-year loan deal. The Manchester City prospect had arrived at the Etihad for £12 million, a sum that reflected the promise he demonstrated at Fulham in the English Championship. There was some criticism of the deal from Celtic supporters: should they be developing prospects for other clubs? Recent performances have silenced those doubters.

Roberts has the pace, drive and skill of Forrest. He’ll run at defences, sometimes being a little single-minded and not looking for simple passes – this is something he needs to improve. But he offers much more than Forrest ever did. His runs are much purposeful; he floats around outstretched legs, darts past a bigger opponent, and he’ll end up in a position to do something. He’s also capable of finishing – ignoring his embarrassing close-range miss against Rangers. Aberdeen can attest to that.

The loanee grabbed a brace in half-an-hour to hand Celtic a comfortable lead.

For the first he sped along the line, cut inside behind Graeme Shinnie, and charged towards the box. Aberdeen did their best to help Roberts out. The red sea parted, not one defender closing down the onrushing attacker. Shinnie tried to catch-up but Roberts shot. The ball, at pace, curled into the bottom left corner, skimming the fingertips of Adam Collin.

The second wasn’t much better for Shinnie. The Dons left-back, excellent most of the season, moved out of position to help Ash Taylor, leaving Roberts free in space. The pass came through and Roberts’ first-time shot, a move that exuded confidence, sent Celtic on route to their fifth successive Premiership title.

 

 

Brown wasn’t missed

Scott Brown’s performances this season have been scrutinised; so much so that some pundits predict that his career is all-but-over, unless he can change his style, moving from a box-to-box, combative, midfield-dominating captain to…something else – something that masks his failings. Against Rangers he was a ghost, drifting around, losing possession. All this despite shaving his head! It used to be the sort of match he’d thrive in: He’d dive into tackles, frustrate opponents and be desperate to get one over Celtic’s Old Firm rivals.

With injury ending his season prematurely, Celtic started without their captain against Aberdeen. Callum McGregor dropped deeper than usual, filling the Brown-shaped gap. Unsurprisingly, McGregor didn’t try to emulate Brown – he’s a much more inventive, creative operator – and that was reflected in Celtic’s style.

Instead of a midfield duo of Nir Bitton and McGregor, the Israeli defensive-midfielder tended to be a lone operator, leaving McGregor free to help Tom Rogic, Stuart Armstrong and Roberts create chances from deep. Perhaps it’s an indictment of Aberdeen’s lack of bite until the latter stages of the game that Celtic felt comfortable enough without using a second defensive-minded midfielder helping Bitton. It’s perhaps also a sad indictment of Brown’s performances that Celtic didn’t miss their captain and instead thrived, putting in an exciting attacking performance.

 

 

Aberdeen have an unexpected comeback

Simon Church hadn’t had a sniff of the ball during his 42 minutes on the pitch. Erik Sviatchenko and co had nullified Niall McGinn and Jonny Hayes, isolating the lone striker, whose crucial goals have helped Aberdeen chase Celtic in Adam Rooney’s absence. Church then went down with an injury, one that forced him off and left Aberdeen with no options up front. It was Mark Reynolds, a centre-back, who replaced Church – not the sort of substitution that inspires a come-back.

Aberdeen, three down, did manage to reduce the deficit. Quick passes and the introduction of Efe Ambrose opened up Celtic, allowing McGinn to flick the ball around Craig Gordon as Bitton’s outstretched legs tried to block the effort. It looked to be a consolation. The Dons had done little all game, not enough to warrant ideas of a miraculous comeback. Celtic had looked comfortable. And then a second bounced off the back of Gordon’s net. A long free-kick found the head of Andrew Considine, whose dinked header caught out Gordon and further reduced Celtic’s lead. Game on.

Nerves started creeping into Celtic’s game. The error-prone and unpredictable Ambrose didn’t help in this regard. Aberdeen found some much needed verve, opening the expecting champions up with regularity. Ultimately, Celtic held firm and, despite a couple of nervy moments, managed to collect all three points.

 

 

Shinnie has a mare

There are bad full-back performances that live in the memory. One remembers Glen Johnson’s marauding runs against Germany at the 2010 World Cup, charging the length of the pitch before cutting inside, as usual, and losing the ball, as usual, leaving a promising Mesut Ozil in acres of space, which he exploited to full effect. Graeme Shinnie’s performance against Celtic had similar tones.

The Aberdeen full-back, and sometimes centre midfielder, contributed to all three of Celtic’s goals. For the first he let the left-footed Roberts cut inside, thus putting him on his favoured foot, rather than pushing him along the edge of the pitch and limiting his options. Seconds later the loanee rifled an absolute belter into the back of the net. For the second he came rushing out of position. He tried to help Ash Taylor doubled up on his opponent but instead left Roberts in space, and, again, seconds later, a through ball rolled in front of Roberts, and he produced a clinical one-touch finish to double Celtic’s lead. Then he completed his personal-failure hat-trick. Shinnie offered McGregor too much space in behind, and the Celtic midfielder used it to take the ball to the touchline. McGregor then cut inside, before using his quick feet to take the ball around the Dons left-back and cutting a pass back to Mikael Lustig, whose simple shot wrapped up another three points, and a another Premiership title, for Celtic.