6-week period that could define Celtic season begins today

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So here we are, the morning after the disappointing result the day before.

We’ve been here more than once this season. Gutting defeats to the likes of Midtjylland, Hearts, Rangers, and Real Betis were all disappointing in their own way. But none of them have stung the way yesterday’s shocking 1-0 slip at Livingston has.

The hard truth is that Celtic fans believed days like yesterday were over. It was a total throwback to the Neil Lennon era with plenty of penetration and no end product. We thought the slip-ups to bottom-half Premiership sides was generally a thing of the past.

Sure, it’s going to take Ange Postecoglou sometime before his rebuild is complete. We all understand that. Rome wasn’t built in a day and all the rest of it. But you can’t not be alarmed with the fact we have zero points from three away games and are off to our worst league start in 23 years.

That’s the reality. Postecoglou may very well have a rip-roaring, dominant Celtic side in the pipeline a few months down the line. But we aren’t negotiating the bedding in period well enough.

All Celtic can now do is look forward. And when you glance at the next six weeks worth of fixtures, it’s a period that may very well define the club’s season.

Celtic away-day issues to be tested hard in the coming weeks

Celtic have massive games both domestically and in Europe over the next five weeks.

It all kicks off with relatively routine games at home to Raith Rovers in the League Cup and Dundee United in the league. Those will surely provide Postecoglou with the opportunity to bag some much-needed momentum after a ropey start. Bayer Leverkusen will follow in the Europa League at Parkhead.

However, Celtic have some difficult away games after next Thursday’s European encounter. A trip to Aberdeen before the international break will be followed by a visit to Fir Park to face an impressive Motherwell outfit.

Should Celtic even manage to negotiate both of those encounters, another bogey ground in Easter Road awaits on October 27th.

Sandwiched in between the Fir Park and Easter Road trips will be two more home games against Ferencvaros and St Johnstone. Both of which should again be an opportunity to build on what will hopefully be successful away-day performances.

Momentum is there to be built over the next five weeks. However, outside of Ibrox, we have three of the trickiest away-days on the cards. Given the fact we’ve yet to win away from home domestically under Postecoglou, you can understand the pessemism.

But that’s the reality facing Celtic in the coming weeks. It’s a period of the season that could effectively define it. If we continue operating at the level of consistency we have been, our title hopes will be all but over before the 5 weeks are up.

That’s why it’s essential the road to recovery starts immediately. A monumental five weeks sit in front of the Celtic manager. Negotiating it successfully will go a long way to building up trust within the support.

In other news, Boli Bolingoli looks ready to compete for a Celtic place despite defeat