3 major problems Celtic need to solve after pre-season

With 10-in-a-row on the line next season, Celtic will need to solve these three problems immediately following their pre-season in France.

As the planning and preparations are underway for the significant ten-in-a-row season and we’ve seen the team on the pitch again in action, there is a need to make sure some key concerns are addressed. There are always areas to improve, but there are definitely 3 main problem areas the club must address.

There are many things the club need to manage and address, many problems and issues to resolve and work through. It’s going to be a difficult season, Rangers will be under pressure to stop the hoops. That may be a motivational factor or a huge pressure they’ll struggle with. It’s possible other teams may be weaker due to financial pressures so will there be as many points dropped by rivals?

And who knows the impact of playing behind closed doors. Celtic’s strong crowd support has often been referred to as worth an extra player at times. The team will need to make sure they aren’t caught out by a quieter atmosphere.

There’s always a desire to see youngsters break through into the first team. Celtic have got plenty of great examples of that in the past and more recently with Jeremy Frimpong sensationally making a difference last season when given the opportunity.  Wasn’t it great also to see several get a chance to shine in France. Maybe Karamoko Dembele will get more chances this year. Perhaps Lennon should make more use of the youth in cup games to allow resting players and focus on the league.

These are all important to get right, but there are three much more fundamental concerns the club can and must address to secure 10IAR.

Left Back

Many transfer windows over the years have seen demand for a left back from the fans. And for a while there, with Boli Bolingoli and Greg Taylor arriving it looked like Celtic had it covered and with back up and competition for places, which is always healthy.

It’s not looking comfortable though and the club surely have to do better for the position. Greg Taylor is still young, still learning and developing and over time may mature into the main left back. At the moment though he doesn’t feel like the complete answer. Defensively he is by far the stronger of the two and reliable at that end of the pitch. He seems to struggle to get up and down the pitch in the way Celtic asks it’s backs to do. In attacking positions he is getting better and may yet improve his final ball and crossing, but there’s a way to go.

Boli Bolingoli was an exciting signing and at times he’s still exciting, in the same way as a roller coaster ride at a theme park. You want to shut your eyes, don’t know what’s coming next and you worry it’s all going to crash dramatically.

Bolingoli has enthusiasm and gets forward well, but defending isn’t a strength, positional play neither and his final ball is lacking. One day he will fire a thunder shot into the net from the edge of the box or strike a beautiful cross into the box for Edouard to head into the top corner. These will only come about on the basis of hitting enough shots and crosses randomly before one comes off.

His touch and control is erratic at times and it seems he needs a good run of great games to build confidence, in the coming season that’s maybe too much of a luxury.

In summary  there is real concern at whether either can have a strong claim to be Celtic’s left back on a regular basis and an alternative as first choice seems essential.