Celtic told their biggest problem position amid rotten run of form
Former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan has been discussing his old club's recent poor run of form. The Bhoys have been a long way from their usual standards over the last three games, all of which they have lost.
Martin O'Neill's men have been completely flat and simply not good enough, leading to major concerns and a feeling of panic around Parkhead heading into the international break.
The most concerning thing has been Celtic's inability to get up for Old Firm fixtures on consecutive occasions, and that should be one of the easiest games to get up for, especially with the second game having been at home and with no away fans present.
Speaking about Celtic's recent wobble, Allan told the Daily Record: "The first win was a real statement from Rangers and gave them belief that, physically, they have got Celtic's number. LASK did as well. I think Celtic are really struggling in the middle of the park. Ultimately, you can't make yourself bigger or stronger.
"So when you know that somebody is physically better than you, then what you do on the ball has to be so much better. You have to have a way of playing through that aggression and that pressure."
He added: "To turn up in the second game and go away from everything you identify with Celtic - 4-3-3, ball to the wingers and looking to go and create - and look to go more direct against a Rangers 3-5-2, was telling. And yet to no avail... no performance and no result."
One of the biggest concerns is how difficult Celtic are finding it to resolve the issues they are facing. Even when trying a different system, and with it leading to being a little more defensively solid, it still didn't give the Bhoys the encouragement they needed to put on a more spirited display.
They remain out of ideas, and especially when the momentum of the game starts to go against them. If they cannot find that spirit from within, they are going to have problems with whatever the system or the personnel is. It is a minimum requirement at all levels of football.
