Celtic’s game against Hearts was described as a must-not-lose by Callum McGregor.
So, commendably, they didn’t. Martin O’Neill spoke positively about the team’s performance after the game, which finished 2-2 at Tynecastle.
It prevented Celtic from falling nine points behind Hearts in the title race, and six behind Rangers.
Now, imagine reading those two paragraphs to someone six months ago. The team’s almighty collapse since losing their Champions League qualifier to Kairat has been truly remarkable.
With the transfer deadline edging closer, is it possible to be optimistic about winning the title? Chris Sutton sadly thinks not.
Celtic’s appeal over Auston Trusty’s red card is thrown out. What do you think? Fair?
Chris Sutton on Celtic’s title hopes and transfer business
Even before Auston Trusty’s red card against Hearts, there were clear signs in the Tynecastle encounter that Celtic couldn’t live with Hearts.
If the result wasn’t enough to justify a busy end to the window, the performance certainly was.
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As things stand, though, Sutton believes that O’Neill has an impossible job, if not for a significant end to the window.
On BBC Radio Five Live, a Hearts fan joked that things couldn’t get worse for Celtic… Sutton said: “Are you sure about that?
“That’s the issue, it’s always my feeling with Celtic. Not so much Rangers, now, because it’s interesting the way they’ve gone about their business.
“They’ve, like Hearts, got their business done early. Brought three players into the club. Celtic, at this moment in time? I think they’ll finish third.
“They’ve brought one striker in on loan. If Celtic do not add three or four players, I think that they are absolutely stuffed.
Celtic face Utrecht in the Europa League on Thursday, before returning to league action against Falkirk.
With a week to go, rate Celtic’s transfer window so far out of 10…
Celtic’s January transfer window so far
The signing of full-back Julian Araujo was completed early in the window… but less than a week later, Wilfried Nancy and Paul Tisdale were sacked.
O’Neill then assumed control of recruitment, admitting to ‘discarding’ targets in his early days back in the job.
The Hoops had to wait for a striker, and if Tomas Cvancara can continue to contribute as he did in Edinburgh, he may be worth the wait.
But in the eyes of many, this has only been a start. Celtic’s makeshift recruitment team could be in for a stressful final few days of the window.
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