We have learnt a lot about this Celtic team under the stewardship of Ange Postecoglou over the last week.

We have seen that defensive mistakes still riddle the Hoops’ play while we’ve also discovered that their depth isn’t good enough.

That feels like a strange comment to make when Celtic made as many as 12 first-team signings during the summer.

However, the fact of the matter is that when things get tough for the Bhoys, they crumble.

The last five days could have been enormously different for Postecoglou. They went 2-0 up against Real Betis before losing 4-3 and then they lost once again on the road to Livingston.

That loss provoked more pain because there simply weren’t any positives to take from the clash.

We championed the idea of James McCarthy starting more regularly in the last week and with Callum McGregor injured with a small knock, he was handed a first start on Sunday.

That came after Ismaila Soro’s unconvincing performance in Seville last Thursday.

Sadly, McCarthy was considerably off the pace. He struggled with Postecoglou’s ideology of pressing and his passing was also wide of the mark on several occasions.

Per SofaScore, the Irishman lost possession 15 times and failed to produce a single accurate cross.

It was a laboured performance from a midfield player who didn’t move the ball quick enough or have the legs to gallop forward.

McGregor is set to return on Thursday in the cup and it wouldn’t be a surprise if McCarthy was ousted straight away.

Postecoglou may have described him as “top-class” when he first signed but the manager wasn’t too keen on seeing the £2.7m-rated talent arrive in the first place.

The Republic of Ireland international was signed on a free transfer after his contract with Crystal Palace expired but worrying reports have emerged since Sunday’s defeat.

The Athletic claimed on Monday that neither the manager nor the scouting department had meaningful input into the 30-year-old’s signing.

It’s also claimed by other outlets that he is struggling with the pace and intensity at Lennoxtown.

With that in mind, he could well be the club’s new Shane Duffy. Like McCarthy, he was signed with plenty of Premier League experience and was seen as someone who’d be a valuable asset to the team.

However, he was a desperately poor signing and ultimately left the club early due to injury. The nadir of his loan spell was nearly being sent off against Rangers back in January when he'd appeared as a substitute.

Duffy was never convincing in defensive situations and because of that, started just 14 times in the Premiership.

It is, of course, important to give McCarthy more time to settle in but the early signs are far from promising.

AND in other news, 100% pass success: 25 y/o now starring after leaving Celtic, he had been a "disgrace"...