Celtic need that Conan Spirit

Crush your enemies, see them driven before you; hear the lamentation of their women

Conan the Barbarian

Enjoyable as it has been to witness fans of our smaller rivals surrender the SPL, we would do well to remember that rumours of our fourth consecutive title are premature.

Competitive European football is now a memory, with a Champions League visit from our friends at Villarreal little more than a prestige friendly, and the time is now to look forward.

Looking as objectively as any Celtic fan can – and noting a fascinating piece of statistical analysis by Pablo 5 on Celtic Underground (one that will surely be copied in every red-top in the country) – the omens are good.

We have a lead of seven points, the best squad in the country, we are anticipating the return to fitness of some of our best players and we have a promise that the squad will be strengthened in the January transfer window, playing under one of the best managers in the UK.

Meanwhile, our most respected and professional competitors (Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen, Dundee Utd, Falkirk, Caley Thistle, Motherwell, Hamilton, St Mirren) are just some of those who may lose some of their top talent in the new year.

But there is nothing more dangerous in football (outside of visiting Rangers fans) than complacency and that makes me worry when I hear talk of the treble and breaking British records (In fairness to Gary Caldwell, that was tabloid spin on very reasonable comments).

The trouble with too many people telling you that the league is won is that sometimes the wrong people believe it.

A seven-point lead can evaporate in football faster than you can blow a fortune on Deal or No Deal – a couple of draws and the picture can look very different. And winter football is notoriously turgid, where nil-nils thrive along with all the other bugs.

Seven points, at this stage, is no more than a platform. What is needed now is absolute ruthlessness, a revelling in crushing the ambitions of our rivals. None of them will stand back and applaud us to the title.

You could call it the Conan spirit. After all, why should all the barbarians be on the other side?

• Well done to Gordon for telling the punters where to go as they tried to goad him into discussing leaving the club after they had been asked not to. Tomorrow's rags will no doubt carry headlines "Strachan refuses to rule out Sunderland move"
  

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