Celtic’s early season form has been a little inconsistent, shall we say? Despite two wins the SPFL, the team hasn’t quite the heights of performance that we are used to.
The cup exit to Kilmarnock shone the spotlight even more on Brendan Rodgers’ side. So much so that this Saturday’s fixture against St Johnstone takes on further prominence for Celtic.
Anything but a marked improvement in performance coupled with a comprehensive win will heap more pressure on Rodgers ahead of the Ibrox trip next week. So lot’s to do for the Celtic manager.
Hoops midfielder, Matt O’Riley, has offered his reasons as to why the team isn’t firing on all cylinders. And whilst the Celtic fans may not want to hear excuses, the midfielder makes a very good point.
O’Riley said [Football Scotland], “It’s going to take a little bit of time. We have a new manager, a new style and lots of new players with different cultures. So, it’s going to take time. That’s natural.
“Look, we’d like to improve as quickly as possible because there are big games coming up every week. But at this stage it’s always going to be a work in progress for the next couple of weeks. In the coming months I think you’ll see a much better team.
“I hope for good things as I feel there is a lot of potential in the team. We’re such a young group when you look at it.
“We have a few experienced players, which is important, but I’m 22 and feel I’m one of the older players in the team now because we’ve signed a lot of young players.
“I just think that’s a good thing and a strength because young players tend to be pretty hungry coming into an environment like this.”
Celtic’s young squad in detail
Whilst the current Celtic team should be capable of sweeping all before them, we all know that’s not how football works. Experience, as well as skill, can prove to be vital when you are trying to break down teams as well as dealing with the expectations of winning every game.
In the current Celtic squad, we have 9 players aged 22 or under. Odin Thiago Holm, Liel Abada and Hyunjun Yang are all the youngest aged just 21.
As O’Riley states, he alongside five others are 22 years old. Then we have Gustaf Lagerbielke, Stephen Welsh and Yuki Kobayashi at 23 and Tony Ralston and David Turnbull amongst five players who are 24.
Eight players are aged 25-26 but in those eight are Ismaila Soro, Albian Ajeti and Liam Scales. And not forgetting Tomoki Iwata. So immediately you start to see the picture building in terms of experience.
Aged 30 or over we have Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Joe Hart, James McCarthy, Scott Bain and Benjamin Siegrist. Only three of those have proper first-team experience at Celtic and challenging for titles.
Looking at the bigger picture, you can see what O’Riley is alluding to. However, at Celtic, you don’t get time and that is something that the new recruits are quickly learning.
In other news, Celtic discover new price tag for Mathias Kvistgaarden as demand for striker rises
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