Lennon

By Graham Barnstaple
October 3 2011

Celtic have lost three league games this season already and sit third behind Rangers and Motherwell, has something gone wrong?

Celtic’s 2-0 defeat to Hearts yesterday was their third of the League season already, only one less than the whole season last term. After nine games they are already ten points behind Rangers, although with a game in hand, and even a point behind Motherwell.

They are also ten points ahead ofInvernesswho are bottom of the table, meaning they are as close to the bottom as they are the top at the moment!!

What, therefore has gone wrong, if anything, atCelticParkthis season?

Neil Lennon made a major effort in the summer to bring back keeper Fraser Forster, although many had doubts over him last season. Maybe he could have been better looking for a keeper of more quality, but I don’t think this is a major issue.

There are all sorts of problems at the back, Izageurre going out with injury early on seemed to cause all sorts of problems and force Lennon to bring someone in. This time it was El Kadourri who was brought in, and there are now doubts he is fine going forward but not great defensively.

Then there is centre back!! He has brought players in but impacted by injury has been forced to play, Majstorovic, Loovens and Mulgrew here with some disastrous results to date.

Midfield seems strong with Kayal and Ki providing a platform for the rest of the side to play.

Up front there seems to be a real confusion about who the best partner is for Hooper. Stokes has been used early in the season but seems to be out of favour at the moment. Samaras keeps getting games for some reason, while Bangura was tried at the weekend. You would thing Lennon needs to settle on a partnership and stick with it.

Then there is the new conundrum which usKrisCommonswho has gone from world beater to an outsider looking in. Even when he did get a sniff he spoiled it by getting sent off!

Given the amount Celtic have spent in the last couple of seasons, compared to the bargain basement dealings at Ibrox, you would think they would be 10 points ahead rather than behind!