Celtic

Celtic: Sutton pinpoints where club could suffer

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Image for Celtic: Sutton pinpoints where club could suffer

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has raised an issue of concern as the Hoops look to defend their Scottish Premiership title next season.

Ange Postecoglou only led the club back to the top of the Scottish game last weekend, having clinched the League Cup back in December, but Sutton is already looking ahead to the new campaign.

Will Rogic be missed next season?

Yes

Yes

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No

The club bid farewell to two of its longest-serving players in Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic with the two deciding to move on in their careers as opposed to seeing out the final year of their contracts and at 6ft 4in and 6ft 1in respectively, it has heightened Sutton’s anguish in one key area. 

Speaking on the Record Celtic podcast he said: “I’ll tell you what worries me about Celtic and as an issue this season, then going into next season, you know, I’m here to be shot at, but physicality, set plays.

“I’m not comparing Celtic to Leicester City – look at Leicester City down south. Every time there’s a corner, Leicester City concede a goal. I think it’s a big deal and I do think that that’s something which, you know, Celtic are not a big team.”

TIF Thoughts on Sutton and Celtic…

The former centre-forward does raise an interesting argument as with the departures of the aforementioned duo, just seven of Postecoglou’s outfield players stand at over 6ft (1.83m) according to ESPN, one of which includes Christopher Jullien, who didn’t make a single league appearance this term.

Now with the Glasgow giants set for a return to Champions League football, new arrivals are expected and perhaps that could be a success criterion that they hope to meet.

Keeping some of Europe’s elite out will be hard enough and amidst all the effort to stem the attacking tide, the Hoops won’t want to be conceding from a set-play in which they do have some control over.  

The Celtic Way revealed earlier this season that the Bhoys’ level of concession from dead balls was down from the 2020/21 campaign when they finished 25 points behind Rangers and loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers has perhaps been influential to that considering he averages a team-high 4.1 clearances per 90 with his head and feet so keeping hold of the American could be vital to keeping those defensive improvements intact. 

In other news: Spotted: Celtic fans will love what McGregor was seen doing at Lennoxtown – opinion

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