Champions 00/01 (Celtic F.C.)

Member Name: GroundZero

Product:	Celtic F.C.
Date:	07/04/01 (112 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great manager, strong team, Henrik Larsson...

Disadvantages: Squad needs strengthening for Europe next season

In recent years, Celtic have trailed a long way behind their Old Firm rivals Rangers. While Rangers marched on to 9 consecutive championship titles, Celtic’s challenge was feeble at best. Regular changes of manager did nothing to help stability at the club.

This year Celtic have been almost unrecognisable from the meek, spiritless team that has worn the famous Hoops for the past few years. The biggest change has been the inspired choice of former Leicester manager Martin O’Neill as the new man in charge. In less than a year, O’Neill’s influence on the club has been nothing short of remarkable. This time last year, Celtic looked a dispirited outfit, and were still trying to recover from the embarassment of a cup defeat by second division Inverness Caledonian Thistle. So far this term, Celtic have only lost two matches in all competitions, a formidable record that owes much to O’Neill’s team restructuring.

Perhaps the weakest link in the Celtic team is in goal. A number of different alternatives have been tried, without any of them ever appearing totally convincing. Jonathan Gould, a free transfer from Bradford reserves(!) in Celtic’s previous title winning season does not always inspire confidence, and his replacement, Dundee’s Rob Douglas still has a way to go to convince the fans that he is the right man. Stewart Kerr is a good keeper, but he is keen to move on due to limited first team opportunities.

Celtic’s defence has been transformed this year, with the introduction of Belgian international Joos Valgaeren and Spurs misfit Ramon Vega. Valgaeren was coveted by Rangers manager Dick Advocaat, before he made the costly mistake of signing Dutch flop Bert Konterman instead. Vega always looked slightly hapless at Spurs, but has been an extremely good signing for Celtic, providing strength in defence as well as a real goal threat at set-pieces. Alan Stubbs, an extremely accompl
ished defender has been missed as he recovers from testicular cancer, but Johann Mjallby, the Swedish midfielder turned defender (and Jean Claude Van Damme lookalike!) has proved a capable replacement.

In midfield, O’Neill’s most expensive signing, Neil Lennon, has been outstanding, regularly dominating the midfield alongside Paul Lambert. With Alan Thompson, another O’Neill signing providing balance on the left side, Celtic’s midfield is the strongest in Scottish football.

Bobby Petta, who looked a broken figure under John Barnes leadership, has looked a much better player this year, testament to O’Neill’s ability to get the best out of the players at his disposal. On the right, the Frenchman Didier Agathe has been an inspired signing. Costing a mere £50,000 from Hibs, Agathe offers blistering pace and a real goal threat.

One of Celtic's best signings of recent years is the veteran Slovakian, Lubomir Moravcik. He was signed by Dr Josef Venglos, a fellow Slovak at a time when many thought Mark Burchill was a better prospect. After all, what could the 33 year old Moravcik offer the team? In one of his first appearances, Moravcik silenced the doubters with two fine goals and a man of the match display against Rangers in his Old Firm debut. One of the most gifted players in Scotland, it is just a shame that he is now very much in the latter stages of his career, and may well leave Celtic next season. His influence will be missed.

Up front, Celtic have the most prolific striker in European football, Henrik Larsson. So far this season, Larsson has already scored 47 goals, a remarkable record given that this time last year he was still recovering from a horrific leg break. Larsson is one of the best strikers in European football. In addition to his phenomenal goal scoring record, he is a real team player and contributes massively to the whole team. For such a gifted player, his workrat
e is astonishing. His loyalty to Celtic is impressive given that a number of large European teams have been sniffing round Celtic Park.

Chris Sutton, who was unfairly maligned after one disappointing season with Chelsea, has looked a much more confident player this year, and has struck up a strong partnership with Larsson. His work in holding the ball up and supplying knock-downs for his more celebrated strike partner have been crucial in Celtic’s success so far this season.

Celtic have looked a much more formidable outfit this term. They have the best defensive record in the league, as well as the best record for goals scored. The key to their success has been their strength in midfield, where they tend to dominate possession, and prevent other teams from gaining any form of stranglehold.

Now that Celtic have won the title as well as the league cup, the chance to win the treble beckons. Next season they have the Champions League to look forward to, although they will need to strengthen their squad if they are to do better than previous European campaigns. European competition will give a good indication of just how much Celtic have progressed under O’Neill.

Top priority must be a European class goalkeeper. O'Neill is surely astute enough to realise that none of the keepers presently at Parkhead are from the top drawer. An extra centre back will also be on the shopping list, although the return of Stubbs will undoubtedly help. A midfield playmaker to replace Moravcik is essential, and already rumours suggest that Hibs' Russell Latapy, an exciting attacking player, will join the club in the summer.

For much of this season, O'Neill has been on the lookout for another striker, as Larsson and Sutton need cover. John Hartson was a name bandied about for a while, but his transfer to Coventry may well have scuppered his chances of a move to Parkhead. Les Ferdinand has been strongly rumoured to
be interesting Celtic, as he would be available on a Bosman free transfer in the close season.

O’Neill is smart enough to know that there is still a lot of work to be done before Celtic can rightfully claim to have returned to the position they should hold. The main task for O’Neill upon signing as Celtic manager was to restore their credibility after a damaging season under the inexperienced and incompetent John Barnes. His achievements in turning Celtic’s fortunes around have been hugely impressive, and he is already guaranteed a place in Celtic history.

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