Chris Sutton has labelled Celtic as a team 'in regression' after their disappointing away defeat to Falkirk on Sunday. The Bhoys had plenty of chances to get something from the game, but their defending was poor and they paid the price.
The defeat was Celtic's second league defeat of the campaign, but with three straight defeats in Europe and a defeat to Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup, that totals six for the season, which is far from ideal.
Poor summer recruitment has played a central part in the team's shortcomings, but we have also seen some poor coaching, a clear lack of style and an inability to fix issues that just keep popping up.
There are problems aplenty at Celtic, even if they are still top of the league and still in with a very good chance of winning the title again.
"The club and the team are in regression. They're just not a good functioning team at this moment in time," Sutton said on Sky Sports.
"Martin will say they're top of the league but in Europe, they're ahead of a team from an outpost in Azerbaijan or Armenia, but that's it. They've been woeful in Europe. Celtic fans, quite rightly, expect more.
"Celtic have had issues all season. It's not a great surprise that Celtic have come to Falkirk and been rolled over.
"They weren't great in the week and I still don't think Martin O'Neill knows his best XI. There's not an area of the team or the club that is functioning as it should this season and that's a problem.
"There's this big debate about Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham and their coaching, or is it on Martin? This is all on Martin because he employs the coaches and he will ask them to play and train in a certain way.
"It's hard to see how Celtic are actually set up. It's a bit off the cuff - get the ball to Hassan and hope he can do something. That's the way it has been essentially all season."
Celtic do remain top by four points, but Rangers now have a game in hand, and there is every chance it will be another tight title race this season. The Bhoys may well still come out on top, but they are very likely to be going out of Europe, with few believing they have any chance of winning three or four of their last five games in the competition.
So, technically, is it regression from last season? In Europe, yes, but in the league no. But in the big picture, over a longer cycle, Celtic are going backwards.
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