Towards the end of Sunday's Scottish Premiership defeat by Falkirk, Chris Sutton said it was looking like "one of those days" for Celtic. Afterwards, his remarks about Martin O'Neill's side were much more pointed. "Martin's not going to say it, of course, but the club is in regression, the team is in regression," Sutton stated on Sky Sports.
"They're just not a good functioning team at this moment in time. It's hard to see how Celtic are actually set up and it is a bit off the cuff. "They're deficient in every area of the team.
This current team are miles off it. Where is the plan, what's the strategy?" There was some mitigation the leader leaders surprise defeat on Sunday - their sixth in 10 matches in all competitions. Goalkeeper Scott Bain excelled in goal for Falkirk against his former club - as O'Neill acknowledged - and Falkirk dug in when they needed to get over the line.
Impressive Falkirk earn first win over hapless Celtic in 19 years Latest Celtic news, analysis and fan views They are still four points clear, but some other stats paint a grim picture for Celtic. Twenty-four shots to Falkirk's six; nine on target compared to Falkirk's two (their two goals); more than double the possession and almost three times as many touches in the opposition box. Celtic had 14 corners, Falkirk had none.
Former Falkirk manager Ian McCall was in accord with Sutton, and former Rangers striker Kris Boyd, who said he "couldn't see what Celtic were trying to do". McCall pointed to age and injury taking its toll on on previously peerless performers. "Carter-Vickers, Tierney, McGregor, Forrest - all of them for different reasons aren't quite what they were," he said on Sportsound.
"That happens in football, it's cruel. Whether it's injury or overuse in Callum McGregor's case, I would suggest. Their bodies maybe aren't capable of the levels they once were.
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