The Celtic players were booed off despite beating Ross County 1-0 on Saturday, with the fans clearly unhappy with the performance.
This wasn’t a case of being frustrated with what the team produced just at the weekend, in a one-off game, that can happen.
It’s what has become a constant theme since Brendan Rodgers returned to Parkhead this summer and those who paid their tickets were making their voices heard.
Michael Stewart thinks one part of Celtic’s indifferent performances simply can’t be ‘discounted’ and that’s the players that have been in and out of the team this season, as he told The Scottish Football Podcast.
He name-dropped Cameron Carter-Vickers, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda, Liel Abada and Jota as reasons behind these turgid displays.
From players being injured, sold, going on international duty, or just all of the above. It has been a stop-start for most of these players, who if they are fit, are starters.
Heading into the second half of the season, that is something which needs to be taken into account because, if that now flips on its head, then it can be season-defining for the team.
Celtic’s lack of options
“The other thing you can’t discount for Celtic is that a number of big players that haven’t really had a settled run in the team this year for a number of different reasons,” said Stewart.
“Carter-Vickers came back against Ross County, but didn’t play the full 90 minutes. Hatate has barely played. Maeda has very much been in and out. Abada has just come back. They have lost Jota.
“So, when you look at things like that, it’s going to inevitably going to have a disruption to the flow of their team.”
Celtic for the title
Whilst fans also vent their frustration at a lack of transfers, which they fear could harm the club’s title chances, a certain Neil Lennon is staying firm.
Even if winger Nicolas Kuhn proves to be the only January signing of the summer, Lennon is still backing the Bhoys to pip Rangers to the title.
Look, it wouldn’t be a surprise if quite a large chunk of fans disagreed with that, but it’s still good to be optimistic.
Plus, a few days remain before the January transfer window slams shut, and you never know what sort of magic those in the boardroom can conjure up.
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