Celtic face criticism from their own supporters over squad unity and the workload placed on captain Callum McGregor. The calls come ahead of a key home match against Rangers this Sunday, with the league leaders looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat in the last derby.
Paul Price from Glasgow said this season's squad appears to lack belief and leadership. He argued that McGregor in particular needs a break from carrying the team.
"I’m finding it difficult to make a case for any of the current Celtic squad," Price said. "There seems to be a lack of unity, self belief and, I hate to say it, leadership on and off the Park."
Celtic's recent form includes a 3-0 loss at Ibrox on September 13, a result that allowed Rangers to close the gap at the top of the Premiership to five points. Brendan Rodgers's side remain in first place with 18 points from six matches, but have lost their last two games in all competitions, including a midweek European defeat.
Fan debate intensifies
Other fans have entered the debate, with many focusing on the upcoming fixture. Scott McAdam from Partick suggested that the recent criticism of Rangers manager Derek McInnes has been premature. He pointed to the standings as evidence that one result does not define a season.
"Where are all the gullible and deluded who were on here a few weeks ago wanting Derek McInnes sacked?" McAdam said. "Now they think he’s the new Pep. Every season its the same old tripe."
Kenny Wilson from Moffat echoed the sentiment that the title race is far from over. He noted that a Celtic victory this weekend in their next fixtures would re-establish a significant cushion at the summit. Robert Livingstone, commenting from Palm Beach, observed that Rangers fielded one of their strongest possible line-ups for the recent derby victory.
The discussion extends beyond Glasgow, touching on wider Scottish football issues. Tam Bain from Desborough highlighted a perceived lack of young talent from the Old Firm in the national setup, while Duncan McDougall of Greenock called for a return to rules limiting foreign players to boost domestic development.
Context from the dugout
Elsewhere in the Premiership, Hibernian made David Gray the first managerial casualty of the season. He was dismissed after a third consecutive league loss and a run of six straight home defeats. Davie Wilson from Edinburgh said the former Hibs boss looked out of ideas and left a squad weaker than the one he inherited a year ago.
Domestic officiating also came under fire. Tom Paterson from Falkirk claimed two VAR officials should be suspended for missing penalty incidents that could have led to red cards.
For Celtic, the immediate focus is solely on Sunday. The team will be looking to top scorer Cristian Duran, who has three goals this season, for inspiration. A crowd of 60,000 is expected at Parkhead for a match that could reshape the title race. The derby kicks off on September 20.
Read the full report at Daily Record Football
