THEIR heads were on a swivel back then.
Football was a 360 degree game for the version of Celtic, a team with eyes in the back of their heads, with a sixth sense for where each other was on the pitch.
On a thrilling night in a cauldron of noise and of joy, they’d put five past Slovan Bratislava in a Champions League performance that gave off enough energy to power the Parkhead lights for the next month.
Here? In that first half?
They’d have struggled to spark up a three-watt bulb.
The blinkers were on. They were seeing what’s in front of them, but not hellish much else.
RED STAR 1 CELTIC 1
Iheanacho comes on to spark Celtic into life as Maeda hooked at break
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The joy had gone from their game.
And, yes, the changes Brendan Rodgers made at the break peeled them far enough off the turf to earn a point that might prove vital as this stage of the Europa League unfolds.
But the 1,500 fans biting their fingernails in the teeming Belgrade rain and the hordes watching back home on telly are still entitled to spread their palms and puff their cheeks and ask where the Celtic who filled them with such optimism last season have gone.
Anyone who tries to claim what unfolded for long spells against Red Star was a side-effect of dropping down from the Big Cup needs a good at themselves. As Rodgers had said himself in the build-up, they need to embrace where they are, not mope about where they could have been.
Instead, it was turgid. It was careless. And at the risk of getting some backs up, it was pretty damn lazy at times.
Apart from anything else, if they truly believe they SHOULD be in among the elite, this was the time and the place go prove it. If they see themselves as worthy of eating at the top table, this should have been easier pickings.
When it came to Daizen Maeda in particular, all three above adjectives – turgid, careless, lazy – applied.
He looked detached from the action from the first kick. He barely GOT a kick for the first quarter of an hour. When he did, his touch was poor, his passing was shoddy – and the first three times his team-mates got a ball in behind the defence to release the blistering pace that was such an asset last season, he was caught offside when a quick look either side of him would have been enough to tell him that a half yard back the way would have let run clean in on goal.
I hate to say this about a man we’ve all seen show more desire in the past than some entire teams put together, but his heart simply didn’t seem to be in it.
The fact that Rodgers hooked him at half-time tells you he thought exactly the same.
Time was when even if Maeda was well off the boil, his gaffer would rather have shifted him from wide to central or vice-versa rather than risk taking the potential for one moment of magic out of the mix.
So it speaks volume that on a night as big as this, he’d seen enough 45 minutes in and sent the rest back out without him.
Worse still for the reigning Player of the Year, his replacement did the same as he had the last time the same change was made; he came and grabbed a vital goal.
At Kilmarnock a week back on Sunday, free agent signing Iheanacho had the courage to take the stoppage time penalty that gave a struggling side three crucial points. Now, he had the composure to stick away the 55th minute chance that gave them something to hold onto.
Still, at least Maeda got to start the game. Once again, record buy Arne Engels sat frustrated on the bench as his mates went out to try and repair a continental reputation so badly damaged by that Champions League qualifying defeat to Kairat Almaty.
This time last year, the £11million arrival looked cheap at twice the price. That night against Slovan, he glided around the turf, picking perfect passes and popping up in all sorts of places the visitors simply didn’t want him to be in.
HOW THEY RATED
By David Friel
KASPER SCHMEICHEL
Good saves in both halves but didn’t need to venture so far out of goal for the Red Star leveller. Couple of scares but a big influence. 7
COLBY DONOVAN
Huge test for the rookie right-back and cruised through it. Played with confidence and maturity and has a huge future ahead of him on this evidence. 8
CAMERON CARTER-VICKERS
Missed a good headed chance before break but made vital tackles before Marko Arnautovic stole in ahead of him to score. Strong showing overall. 7
LIAM SCALES
Irish defender continued his solid start to the season with another good display. Made some vital blocks in both halves and used the ball well enough. 7
KIERAN TIERNEY
Left-back’s brilliant cutback for Benjamin Nygren deserved a finish after a good burst. Tough shift defensively but stuck at it before being subbed on 81 minutes. 6
CALLUM MCGREGOR
Covered so much ground in the middle of the park and calmed the team down whenever possible. Made some vital interceptions on a slippery surface. 7
REO HATATE
Making his 150th Celtic appearance but was so slack on the ball in the first half. Improved a bit after the break before being subbed midway through half. 5
BENJAMIN NYGREN
Swede wasted a golden chance to put Celtic 1-0 up but made amends with a superb run and pass for the opener. Always busy in midfield.7
YANG HYUN-JUN
Winger got the nod on the right and worked tirelessly for the team. Didn’t really make an impact in final third and was replaced by James Forrest. 5
DAIZEN MAEDA
Starved of service but also strayed offside far too often in a blunt outing and failed to link the play. Subbed at the break for Iheanacho. 4
SEBASTIAN TOUNEKTI
Tunisia star didn’t get much space to work in as Red Star paid close attention to him. Did cause problems with flashes of skill and worked hard. 6
Subs: KELECHI IHEANACHO (7) denied from point-blank range before producing a composed finish for goal. ARNE ENGELS (4) asked to provide energy in midfield but little impact. JAMES FORREST (5) winger looked bright. MICHEL-ANGE BALIKWISHA (4) on for tiring Tounekti. MARCELO SARACCHI (4) late run and booked.
Back then, he was pretty much a first pick in Europe. He didn’t finish every game, but he was there was the bits that mattered.
This season, he’s only started three times, against Falkirk in the League Cup and Livi and Rangers in the league. He’s only played 90 minutes once.
His is a fall-off in form and confidence that almost traces Celtic’s as a whole since the turn of the year. The loss of touch that’s oh so visible in Reo Hatate’s play also makes you wonder where his head is.
In the end, it’s a half-decent result. But it’s a result that came out of ten or 15 decent minutes sandwiched in among 75 or 80 that were miles below the standard Rodgers expects and the fans demand.
Braga next week will be a step up in opposition.
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