Celtic’s draw with Motherwell yesterday really was a tough watch. Brendan Rodgers’ side huffed and puffed against a team that hasn’t won a game since September in the Scottish Premiership but failed to blow their defence down.
The goal came from a penalty as Celtic failed to score from open play and the fans must be wondering exactly what happened to the team that trounced Aberdeen just two short weeks ago.
Of course, yesterday’s lineup was missing the likes of Alistair Johnston but even so, there should have been enough in that Celtic side to take care of the SPFL strugglers.
But as it was, the Hoops struggled and there was one player in particular that the Celtic fans thought was at fault for the two dropped points.
Celtic fans are deeply upset with Joe Hart
The Celtic keeper has been a brilliant signing for the Hoops since he came in during the summer of 2021. The former England international brought calm to the Celtic backline at a time when Vasilis Barkas brought chaos.
However, he is prone to a howler and the finger was pointed at him for his part in Motherwell’s equaliser. One Celtic fan said on social media channel X, “Joe Hart, you’ve been great but your time is up. Cannot even command his own 6yd box, never mind the 18.”
Another went on to say, “Joe Hart btw, time to say goodbye.” whilst one was left frustrated with Hart’s decision-making, “I love Joe Hart, but he’s 100% needing replaced.
“The goal he concedes is bad enough but there was a moment in the first half he had he didn’t even know where he was, again caught out in no man’s land. He’s had some career but his time is up, unfortunately.”
Another Celtic fan said Hart’s attempt to intercept the Motherwell corner was embarrassing, “Joe Hart for that Motherwell goal is an embarrassment btw.
“Well past his best for us and remains a baffling decision that we didn’t address his position in the summer.”
Brendan Rodgers’ verdict on Celtic’s draw with Motherwell
Interestingly, the Celtic manager never mentioned Joe Hart’s error as he lamented his team’s failure to be more clinical upfront.
Rodgers said he was disappointed with the result and said that Celtic didn’t do enough to threaten the Motherwell goal.
Rodgers said [BBC], “We’re disappointed. We had enough opportunities to win the game, over 80% possession.
“We didn’t create as much as we’d like but the chances we had should have been enough.
“A draw at home always feels like a defeat. These are games I’d expect to win but you need to do it.
“You need that quality and that bit of finesse in the final third. Sadly, we didn’t quite have that today.”
Joe Hart’s contract situation at Celtic
The 36-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season and there is no doubt that Brendan Rodgers will need to look at a long-term replacement for the big Englishman.
Whilst I believe that Hart still has a part to play at Celtic, his time as the Number 1 looks increasingly over after yet another high-profile mistake.
I’m a huge fan of Hart but despite some excellent form this season, it does seem as though his time as Celtic’s first-choice keeper is nearing an end.
Potential Joe Hart replacement’s Celtic could look at
Celtic have been linked with the likes of Liverpool reserve ‘keeper Caoimhin Kelleher in recent months but nothing seems to have materialised on that front.
Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin has also been mentioned as a potential transfer target for Celtic and whilst the Ukrainian international has admitted he thought about leaving Madrid, there have been suggestions that he could be on his way to Chelsea.
Whoever Rodgers has in mind to bring in during the January window the Celtic fans are in no doubt that a goalkeeper must be a priority for the Hoops manager.
In other news, Michael Stewart says there is a striker in the SPFL Celtic should sign that is better than Hyeongyu Oh