Celtic have been going through a stormy time as they are currently sitting second in the Scottish Premiership behind their rivals Hearts. Celtic’s malaise is quickly becoming common knowledge. On the other hand, Hearts have quickly become a powerful new force this season, mostly due to the experience of manager Derek McInnes. We spoke about how the landscape of Scottish football is rapidly changing. Tony Bloom’s investment in Hearts has sparked thrilling expectations for a possible title challenge.
Hearts are showing their might on the field, doing damage that’s felt all across the league. Star striker Lawrence Shankland is continuing to help, having scored five goals in the Premiership thus far. His commitment to remain at Hearts, all while being out of contract at the time, is indicative of the club’s almost rocket-like rise in fortunes. Arne Engels is another truly exceptional recent addition to our team. Estimates indicate that he was earning more than the total starting XI of Hearts combined.
A New Era at Hearts
Under Derek McInnes, Hearts have been a side that has looked together and like they knew what they wanted to do. His capacity to strike a chord with players and staff alike has helped to create a spirit of common purpose in and around the club. From the very attention to detail that brought Chelsea’s squad down to an extremely lean 24 players, it’s proved to be the difference in what they’ve done.
“Hearts are streamlined. They’re all in unison and you can see that on the pitch.”
The impact of McInnes cannot be overstated. His experience and leadership has transformed the locker room culture at Hearts. Perhaps the most impressive artifact of his tenure is a squad that doesn’t just compete, but thrives on chaos. That bond between management and players is clear, resulting in a sense of hope that has been missing from Nationals Park in recent years.
Beyond McInnes’s mark on the field, Bloom’s deep pockets have raised the bar significantly. The owner then followed up with an even bolder prediction – Hearts will win the championship! His investment has given them a collaborative sharpener of competitive edge in Scottish football vanquished.
Celtic’s Struggles Mount
By way of example, Celtic is in the unenviable position of being chasers not titlists at present. Heading into 2023, that represents a stark reversal for a franchise used to sitting at the top of the league. After enduring their first league loss in more than two calendar years, the future of the club seems to be in some sort of turmoil.
Despite the return of Martin O’Neill as interim manager to Parkhead, a clear indication of overall bleakness of situation. The former manager returns to the club in a time of disarray, after the fractious relationship between Brendan Rodgers and the club’s board. Celtic’s issues have been exacerbated by an evident lack of harmony within the squad, something sharply observed by former Celtic striker Kris Boyd.
“But you’ve now got to look at it and say, Callum McGregor, OK, but he’s been off it for a while. Why is he not getting the best out of Engels? Why is he not getting the best out of Reo Hatate? Why does Kieran Tierney look absolutely miles off it?” – Kris Boyd
The club has additionally had considerable turnover in staff, signing ten new players through the summer. Unfortunately for United, these expensive additions haven’t brought the results they were looking for on the pitch. Even players such as Kieran Tierney are having difficulties adjusting to the game.
Fragmentation and Uncertainty
The situation at Celtic right now goes further than just the current mood around the club. Most stakeholders, including the Scottish Premier League, are worried about the potential for fragmentation to harm both Celtic and Rangers. As James McFadden recently lamented, both clubs are at a point where the issues feel so widespread and systemic.
“We speak about Celtic and Rangers and the problems are that it’s fragmented. Both clubs are fragmented. There are problems everywhere.” – James McFadden
Celtic’s failure to properly bed in new players to their style casts doubt on where they go from here. Callum McGregor’s form has been a recent talking point. Together with other main actors, he has not been capable of making a determine in essential matches recently.
As Hearts continue to rise in prominence with strong performances and strategic leadership, Celtic must urgently address internal issues if they hope to reclaim their position at the top of Scottish football.
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