Can Celtic click in time for Hearts?

Celtic's win over Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup yesterday was a good enough result - not everything has "clicked" but the new additions to the squad impressed.

That Diomansy Kamara, Morten Rasmussen and Robbie Keane all managed to get their names on the score-sheet was undoubtedly a good thing, but perhaps the most pleasing performance of the afternoon was that of debutant Edson Braafheid.

It's all too easy to get excited about left-backs and, to be fair, the previous few Celtic have signed have all started fairly well. However, Braafheid showed the composure and class Celtic have been missing and, while the opposition may not have been the best in the world, he did enough to suggest he has a lot to offer during his loan spell from Bayern Munich.

Things do still need to click and Tony Mowbray has some difficult decisions to make ahead of Wednesday's clash with Hearts at Parkhead. One player who has not looked on top of his game for some time is Artur Boruc and, with fellow Polish keeper Lukasz Załuska waiting on the sidelines, could a change be made?

Then there is the striker issue. Logic suggests Robbie Keane should start as he is the "best" attacker at the club. But Morten Rasmussen has shown he knows how to score simple goals and a win equals three points, no matter how fancy the goals may or may not be.

Having options up front is no bad thing, though. The more goals Celtic score, the less of an issue the shaky, wibbly-wobbly nature of the defence matters. While yesterday's win had its plus points, the fact a fairly average Dunfermline side managed to score twice is a matter of some concern.

By the end of the month, following games with Hearts, Aberdeen, Dundee United and Rangers, it will be clearer whether Celtic have the ability to win the league. Four wins, and four decent performances, will make a massive difference to how the title situation currently looks.

Let's just hope the quality players Celtic now have start working well together as a team. If the likes of Keane, Braafheid, Kamara and Rasmussen start hitting somewhere near their top form, the future will start looking a lot brighter.

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Writer: Jamie@Vital Celtic

Date:Monday February 8 2010

Time: 4:34PM

Your Comments

I suspect you're worrying over nothing unfortunately. Your "wibbly-wobbly" defence is unlikely to be overly troubled by our rather flaccid attack and with our injuries we're hardly solid at the back. Hey-ho!

itsnomarooned

I still think we can still win the league, we need consistency though, without that from here on in its gone. We have a good squad, just need to gel faster than should be otherwise allowed, being that we are Celtic and all. If we dont win it, couldnt give a flyin fok who wins it, blue side or otherwise. My main concern is Celtic. Seriously, im well over the 'if we dont, i hope they dont stuff'. Its time we moved on for the good of all concerned, lets drop the religious nonesense, for in todays secular society there is no need for it. I know im off topic, a little drunk, and (hopefully) preaching to the converted - excuse the pun - but seriously, there little difference but the shirt that separates us from the blue side really. Riots, notwithstanding lol.

Celt1972

There is know religious nonsence most fans dont even practice there religion,Crikey a high percentage dont even know what they are singing about.BTW who invented the following crap in central belt of Scotland 1. Only RCs Bless themselves????? 2 RCs go to Chapel Protestants go to Church?????? 3 RCs wear a Cricifix Protestants dont????????? what a shower of dumb f***s Crikey what will they be trying to tell us next King Billy was funded by the papacy??????

dannybhoy46

Give us Keane back, this is ridiculous over hear at Spurs, Defoe is ***** and Crouch is worse.

tottenhamexile12

look mate its a well known fact that the Celts/Saxons are a bad mix he should stay in paradise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dannybhoy46

Has the site closed down? No updates for nearly a week? Most similar sites would sack the journos if that happened.

tim4life