Celtic is in a difficult situation and will require tenacity to bounce back from their most recent loss to Kilmarnock this past weekend.
Even while results had partially covered up the fissures prior to their most recent loss of ground, the ranks of supporters are dejected after a poor run of performances.
Although Brendan Rodgers’ team has won their past ten games, anyone paying close attention will see that there is a noticeable lack of identity among his players, who appear to be at odds with his tactical philosophy.
The former Liverpool manager had the ideal combination of players in the past to enforce control in his possession-based style, but this time, Rodgers is working with a sizable core that performed very differently under Ange Postecoglou.
After just 32 minutes, Kyogo Furuhashi scored the first goal of the match against Kilmarnock with a perfectly placed header. However, this season, the Japanese striker has looked hopeless, which has caused a shift in his role in the last few weeks with the arrival of Adam Idah.
The number of players who have progressed under Aaron Rodgers’ leadership is probably limited to just two: Matt O’Riley and Liam Scales.
Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley gets hammered by Frank McAvennie.
Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has been vocal about his displeasure with the Bhoys’ lackluster performances on a number of occasions, and Danish playmaker O’Riley is the most recent target of the 64-year-old.
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According to McAvennie on PLZ Soccer, Matt O’Riley hasn’t kicked a ball in a few weeks. Though Matt is an amazing skill, there are moments when I feel like he wants to play center forward.
“You play in the midfield. Sometimes there is no one at the initial line of defense when we lose the ball, so get back in and support your team.
“Someone ought to be sitting in there; perhaps Matt could contribute a little bit more to that.”
For Celtic, Matt O’Riley will return to his peak performance.
Although O’Riley hasn’t been as effective in the past few games, Celtic has been playing poorly as a team since the beginning of the year, and he is by no means the only one to blame.
Ten goals and twelve assists in 34 games this season [Transfermarkt] show that he is capable of brilliance, which is what frustrates me about his performance level.
Even when he isn’t playing at his best, the 23-year-old London native has created 55 opportunities for his colleagues in the Scottish Premiership, making him an important creative presence for Rodgers [Fotmob].
Once O’Riley finds his groove again, he will be a crucial member of Celtic for the latter stretch of the season. Form is fleeting, but class is eternal.
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