Celtic fans are starting to draw comparisons from this current side to the Invincibles from a few years ago.
I think it’s too early for that kind of talk. There are too many hurdles still to be negotiated right now. It’s too soon to call the class of 2024 Invincibles – but wins like the other night at Pittodrie means they are starting to look like the Uncatchables. It was a huge win against a strong Aberdeen team in horrendous conditions.
Those are the kinds of victories that win titles. Celtic were not quite at their best but they were never going to be in such difficult circumstances, with howling wind and freezing rain. It wasn’t a night for the faint-hearted – yet Celtic found a way. To be seven points clear of Aberdeen with a game in hand and 11 ahead of Rangers at this stage is massive. There is a long way to go but it’s hard to see how they can be stopped. The great thing for Brendan Rodgers is his entire squad is playing a part.
Look at his team and substitutions the other night. He made six changes from Europe for Ross County – and four of them scored. He brought four of them back in for Pittodrie but it was the ones coming off the bench who made sure of the victory.
I thought Luke McCowan was a little hard done by not starting against Aberdeen on the back of his display against County. The midfielder couldn’t have done much more than score and create another three goals, even if the opposition were not up to much.
When he got the chance to come on at Pittodrie he made a real impact. The same goes for Adam Idah. He was another one who was unfortunate not to stay in the side and while Kyogo was a handful, it was his replacement that really gave Celtic more of a cutting edge and allowed them to get balls into the box.
Then there was Greg Taylor. Alex Valle kept his place in the side at his expense but there’s no doubt it’s Taylor who is more comfortable in that inverted full back role.
Valle had some moments in the first half but Taylor really helped to get to grips with the game in the second and then he popped up with the crucial assist for the winner. I would like to see him sign a new deal at Celtic. Taylor gets some undeserved stick at times from a section of the support and, okay, there are moments when the Champions League can be a stretch for him.
But he’s not alone in that and he’s more than shown over the years he’s a valuable member of the team and the squad. I don’t know if he’s holding out for more money or he fancies a change in scenery. But do know he’s worth keeping around – even if Rodgers does target new signings in that position.
It’s a minor issue with a Celtic team that is ticking over pretty smoothly right now. Rodgers can rotate and it doesn’t affect the quality of the team. That’s a strong position to be in and the big reason why it’s hard to see anyone catching them this season.
It says a lot when the club’s record signing doesn’t even get on the pitch and no one bats an eyelid. The Arne Engels situation is interesting, with the Belgian being taken out of the firing line at Aberdeen.
It might just be Rodgers is giving him a chance to catch his breath after a couple of tough games where it didn’t happen for him. I’ve seen fans saying he’s now FIFTH choice midfielder, with McCowan jumping ahead of him in the pecking order.
I don’t see it that way – and I doubt Rodgers does either. He won’t really have a pecking order. It will be more about who is suited to each game on any given day.
There’s no doubt McCowan has thrown himself right into the mix. Reo Hatate scored a very good goal the other night but I don’t think it was a great performance in general.
It was a bit of a surprise Paulo Bernardo was the one who went off rather than him, but it paid off in the end. That late goal would have been a dagger into the Dons – and to Rangers down the road in particular.
It looks like points were going to be spilled and the gap was going to be cut. Celtic had the resilience to make sure that never happened.
In terms of Rangers, that’s them back now isn’t it? Well, not quite. The wins against Nice, St Johnstone and sticking six by Kilmarnock will have eased some of the pressure on Philippe Clement.
But it could be right back on him in the next week with Ange Postecogou’s Spurs and the Premier Sports Cup Final against Celtic on the horizon. There won’t be many fans caring about hitting half a dozen against Killie if he loses to Rodgers yet again.
The recent upturn in results at Ibrox will have boosted their confidence though and it does seem like Clement has stumbled on a line up and a way to play in the last week or so. The real acid test is on the way though.
And if Celtic can stick the first leg of the Treble on the sideboard, then supporters can maybe start talking about the prospects of Invincibles 2.