The reaction from Celtic supporters to yesterday’s defeat at Livingston in the Scottish Premiership is in many ways a very natural response if a little dramatic.
Message boards and social media are awash with some pretty wild theories and judgements off the back of the 1-0 result at the Tony Macaroni. If you’re not aware, a lot is being said about the manager and his ability to do the job.
I don’t sit in judgement of those fans. I’d be lying if I said at times over the last 24 hours I haven’t indulged in a little of the Celtic panic going around myself, in my own brain. All sorts of thoughts go through your head after a defeat, chiefly right now – is this all going in the right direction under Ange Postecoglou?
But I’m here to slap myself in the face. And slap yours too. Nothing has really changed at Celtic and we’re all going to have to stomach this period.
Perception is a curious thing and when you case your mind back to the close of the transfer window, most supporters were feeling pretty optimistic. Yes, there was a realisation that any rebuild was far from complete, but many were happy with the business actually completed.
Even through that optimism though a common truth was accepted – Celtic were going to have to be very lucky with injuries to stay as competitive as we need to be. And yet, we almost immediately lose Kyogo Furuhashi and Callum McGregor for multiple matches, our two most important players. That was always going to shake us up, and it has.
Let me be clear, Celtic shouldn’t be losing to Livingston in any circumstance. Our squad and resources should ensure that. Yet, the reality is that we all could see the struggles ahead even in a place of optimism when the transfer window closed. So for us to panic and lose the head now as a support when the accepted wisdom proved accurate doesn’t make too much sense.
That also isn’t to say Ange Postecoglou and the players shouldn’t be criticised. There’s plenty of fair criticism to go around in the wake of yesterday. Only Ange can really provide the answers, as I discussed last night. But in the grand scope of ‘the rebuild’, we’re in a pretty similar place today than we were on September 1st, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
It’s incredibly true to say that Celtic need to start picking up points on the road. At the same time, yesterday’s performance doesn’t tell us much about our ability to do so in the future.
We have big players to return. We even have new signings still to come into the team because they joined the group late. We’ll be in better shape in the matches to come and I’m convinced it will show by us being a more effective force against opponents.
Yesterday raised concerns, but it wasn’t and shouldn’t be seen as a damning indictment of Ange Postecoglou or the road ahead. Don’t concede anything yet and certainly give those who need it a bit of breathing room.
In other news, The important context for James McCarthy’s start at Celtic and that worrying report.
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