We need to talk about Callum McGregor. Just what has happened to the Celtic skipper this season?

In a continuation of looking back to this time a year ago, once again, I was taken aback by this article I wrote on this day last year about Callum Mcgregor.

As has been the case this season, I discussed the exact same problems we are seeing with Calmac this season, albeit on a larger scale.

This article from a year ago once again highlights where a problem has been identified in our midfield, yet it was ignored.

Instead, we just ploughed on and further weakened what was actually a much stronger midfield this time a year ago.

Ultimately, this article highlights back then the over-reliance on Callum McGregor, and how we’re paying for it dearly now…

Last night on the Trinity Tims podcast, we discussed the Celtic squad and it’s current deficiencies in depth.

Naturally, the conversation moved onto Callum McGregor.

A lot of fans are wondering what’s gone wrong with the Celtic skipper this season.

Now, we can only speculate on the things that might be causing the malaise he seems to be in of late, but there is no doubting something is not right.

What is going on at the club behind the scenes at the moment has to be having an effect on the Celtic captain.

I doubt he has experienced such inner turmoil at the club in his time at Celtic Park.

McGregor, as club captain, is looking at a situation where he has no idea what’s happening with his manager’s future at the club.

Well, actually, based on what he’s seeing at the moment, he has probably resigned himself to the fact that Brendan Rodgers is leaving.

That in turn, probably leaves question marks over his future too.

At the end of the day, Callum McGregor is human, and all of the current turmoil has to be taking it’s toll on him.

Its also clear that he was disappointed with the summer transfer window.

He said himself that the team needed help from the board in terms of getting the players in required to strengthen the squad.

That help was never forthcoming, and as a result, we are now playing Europa League football.

The level of inaction in the transfer window had to have pissed the Celtic captain off.

Conversely, the lack of support from the board for his manager has to have irked him as well.

Whatever way you want to look at it, these factors influence morale.

McGregor is a consummate professional, but even he is not immune to the upheaval at the club at the moment.

And there is no doubting it is affecting his on field performance.

As discussed on the Pod last night, McGregor seems less inclined to take any risks of late this season.

He always seems to look for the safest option with his passes.

Which are now predominantly backwards to the defence in an attempt to build from the back again.

There doesn’t seem to be any inclination to attack or play the ball forward.

Whether this is following instructions from the manager because Brendan Rodgers doesn’t trust his forward line is hard to tell.

It could also be a lack of confidence in the forward players from McGregor himself.

On top of this, McGregor is now 32 years of age, and it may be that he simply doesn’t have the pace in his legs any more to orchestrate attacking phases of play.

Thus the reason for playing it safe most of the time.

If this is the case, then the Celtic manager really should be making a call on this.

Because if it is, this doesn’t benefit the team overall.

Due to the fact McGregor has been a shadow of his former self this season, a lot of fans are questioning Rodgers’ consistent selection of him.

Which begs the question, is it now time to start looking for a new skipper?

McGregor has been a huge servant to the club.

Over the course of his career, he was at times one of the most played footballers in European football.

In some cases, he amassed close to 60 appearances in a season.

Over the course of a career, there is no doubt this takes it’s toll.

At 32 years of age, it has to be taking it’s toll.

Combine natural fatigue with the mental impact the current state of affairs at Celtic is having on McGregor, and then maybe you get a clearer picture of how and why his form has dipped this season.

It is usually up to the manager to help a player out of this kind of slump, and there is no doubting that Brendan Rodgers is a fantastic man motivator.

Or maybe in his current position, was?

Rodgers is probably working hard with McGregor, there’s no doubt about that.

But that niggling feeling in the back of the player’s mind that his manager will be gone at the end of the season is going to have an effect.

As I said earlier, Callum McGregor is after all, human.

He has worked extremely well with Brendan Rodgers over the years.

He went out to meet him personally in Spain before Rodgers began his second stint at the club.

They have a serious professional connection, as well as no doubt, a personal one.

McGregor has done special things with Brendan Rodgers, and the core of his professional career has been under this manager’s tutelage.

So its only natural Rodgers’ impending departure will take it’s toll on Callum McGregor.

The only question that remains is this, in his remaining time at the club, is Brendan Rodgers going to improve Callum McGregor’s performances?

Or is the Celtic captain going to continue to decline?

And throughout that decline, is the manager going to continually play him through a misplaced sense of loyalty because he’s leaving anyway?

As I said yesterday in my article on the weekend’s game, right now, we the fans are Brendan Rodgers’ biggest allies.

But if Rodgers doesn’t put the best interests of the squad first, then that alliance will quickly fade.

Bearing that in mind, maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility that Callum McGregor needs an extended rest?

For his good, and for the good of the team?

I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?