The Celtic train keeps going, thanks to Martin O’Neill.
Make no bones about it, Celtic aren’t playing great football, but as they proved during the past week against Livingston and Dundee, they are getting the job done.
But this Celtic squad, which has been questioned over the quality of the players and the lack of investment via the transfer market, is going to be seriously tested in three different competitions in the coming months.
James McFadden wanted to slam the suggestion that it’s going to be too much for the champions of Scotland, amid worry and question marks from the Open Goal panel.
How many points will Celtic get from these next five league games?
Where will we be in the table too?
James McFadden sends Celtic a plea about the packed schedule
From Celtic’s clash at Kilmarnock, their trip to Germany for the Europa League, and the two trips to Ibrox.
You sense these next six or so weeks, before the March international break hits, will state where this Celtic side is heading.
But McFadden urged those wearing the green and white jersey ‘to go’ and prove their worth rather than worrying about how much they are going to play.
Si Ferry: “Celtic play eight games in 24 days. Do you think the squad is good enough to go through that sort of demand?”
James McFadden: “You are going to have to be. We talk about Rangers and resting players. You need to just go and attack every game as much as you can.
“You are going to get people who fall by the wayside. As long as you win, it’s not an issue. It is going to be tough.
“But you can’t be saying, I know it’s modern day where you go like, ‘pick and choose.’ Sometimes, you need to go, ‘I need you. You need to go.'”
Derek Ferguson: “You try to keep that away from the players. They don’t want to hear that, ‘eight games in 24 days.’ Keep that away from them. One game at a time. Let’s go for it. The mindset, isn’t?
“What would you rather do? Train or play games?”
McFadden: “You just need to deal with it. It’s not ideal.”
Ferguson: “I think they overthink it far too much.”
McFadden: “As long as the results come in.”
Is Europe a hindrance for Celtic?
Celtic have a very tough task on their hands to try and overthrow Bundesliga side Stuttgart over two legs and secure a passage into the knockout rounds.
But when it was suggested to McFadden that Celtic would rather not play these two matches, he stated that you can’t protest about the club not showcasing ‘ambition’ then not wanting to play these matches.
Ferry: “Does it hinder Celtic that they are still in Europe? These two games against Stuttgart, and not a massive squad.”
McFadden: “You can’t have complaints about not being ambitious.”
Paul Slane: “I just think this season with everything that has gone on.”
McFadden: “That’s where the club should be. The club should be able to play in Europe and domestically.”
Slane: “They haven’t recruited at all.”
McFadden: “So, you would rather they didn’t qualify?”
Gordon Dalziel: “If I were Martin O’Neill. I would rather we didn’t qualify. I know what you are saying, that’s where Celtic aim to be.”
“But usually, Celtic, in years gone by, are in a comfortable position in the league, and it didn’t matter in Europe or if they got a couple of injuries. They were still strong enough.
“You never doubted they were going to win the league. This year is completely different because we can’t second-guess.”
McFadden: “You will find out with the team selection, then. Would you rather be in and qualified? Or not? You would rather be in and qualified. It’s going to be tough.
“But f__ing hell. They are professionals. You need to have ambition. You can’t be, ‘can do without this game.’ What? The knockout game of the Europa League? Nonsense.”
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