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For many Celtic fans, what should have been a dream season on the road to a perfect 10 has turned into a crisis of dismay and despair.
Just a few months ago, a penchant for the title that would ensure a decade of domestic dominance began in swashbuckling style when Hamilton was defeated 5-1.
Since then, however, things have deteriorated to such an extent that a small group of fans felt compelled to hold an ugly demonstration outside Celtic Park on Sunday after the club’s defeat to Ross County in the Scottish League Cup. .
But how bad has this season been for Celtic with Neil Lennon? Here are some key charts to guide you through the heartache …
Fail on three fronts
That surprising win for the county ended a 35-win streak in the national cup on rebounding Celtic, ending the possibility of another hat-trick.
However, the truth is that it is just a small snapshot of the problems at the club as Lennon’s side reels from one bad result to the next.
Out of the Europa League after just four games, 11 points behind Rangers in the Premiership, albeit with two games in hand, following an embarrassing Old Firm derby earlier this season, and now a domestic cup dynasty finished.
Connected to Europe again
One of the biggest hammer blows to Celtic’s faltering campaign was the defeat of the Hungarians. Ferencvaros in Glasgow, closing the door once more to reach the Champions League.
The defeat, which was the Scottish champions’ first outing in 15 years, also made them three years without a place in Europe’s top table.
While last season Celtic managed to carve out success in their Europa League group, topping their section with wins at home and away against Lazio, this season’s campaign has been a disaster.
A late rally was not enough to stop AC Milan at Celtic Park, while a 2-0 lead against Lille was lost. An 8-2 aggregate beating by Sparta Prague has left the Scots at the bottom of their group with no hope of progress.
Question mark on new signings?
Lennon was backed in the transfer window, but questions remain about his summer signings.
Most of the investment went to defense. Goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas was hired for £ 4.5m from AEK Athens, Shane Duffy was recruited on loan from Brighton, while AC Milan left-back Diego Laxalt was also signed on to a temporary deal.
However, the Celtic defense is losing goals at an alarming rate, with 23 thrown in the last 10 games and only nine clean sheets in this period.
Not only that, but figures earlier this month showed Lennon’s team facing 38% more shots in the Premiership than title rivals Rangers, suggesting that their defense is not repelling their opponents. opponents as well as it should.
The jury is also deliberating on other signings presented by the Northern Irishman.
Forward Albian Ajeti is nine games without a goal, while David Turnbull, who joined on a £ 3.25 million contract from Motherwell, has only played six times, totaling just 131 minutes.
That’s 300 minutes less than he has played for the Fir Park team this season, despite leaving in August.
No longer in a league of their own
It’s hard to believe that not even two months ago, Celtic were on an eight-game winning streak. Since then, it has been only two wins out of 10.
There has only been one loss in the Premiership this season, but only eight points have been scored in their last five league outings as the Rangers rack up wins.
Was it that bad?
Taking a step back and looking at the big picture, the answer is, well, possibly not.
A disaster in Europe? Absolutely. Yields below the national average? Unquestionably.
However, Lennon’s second spell on Celtic shows just how consistent the team has been, until these last few weeks. Of the former club managers, only Martin O’Neill has a higher winning percentage.
The caveat to this is, of course, the lack of Champions League football and potential hits from teams like Barcelona and Paris St-Germain that Brendan Rodgers’ teams had to endure.
And let’s not forget, they are still one game away from completing the club’s triple triple if they secure victory against Heart in next month’s Scottish Cup final.
Only time will tell if he will still be there to be the man to lead Celtic to Hampden on December 20.
