It feels like rock bottom this morning and, as far as Europe is concerned, it probably is. The ties against Legia were our worst performances in Europe. Neuchâtel has a horrible 90 minutes, Artmedia was a 20 minute collapse, and we beat Utrecht comfortably at home, but this was abject over two games.
There are unfathomables, for example, it’s hard to know why a defence which was so solid last season is suddenly inert, but it will surprise no one we didn’t make Champions League football this season. The day Neil Lennon left I suggested it would be a huge ask and it’s proven to be.
We are less than two years since the high point of recent seasons, finishing ahead of Benfica and Spartak Moscow in the Champions League, but the decline can be traced slightly further back than that.
We had an 18 month purple patch of player recruitment, starting when Fraser Forster, Gary Hooper and Emilio Izaguirre arrived in summer 2010, continuing with the arrival of Wilson and Wanyama, and ending with Mikael Lustig’s signing in January 2012. We were bringing players in for a few million who were Champions League calibre.
Since Lustig, the strategy hasn’t changed, but despite signing a raft of players, for much the same money, only van Dijk has improved the team. Most are, at best, misfits or squad fillers. Things started to go wrong with the bizarre signings of Miku and Lassad in late August 2012 and ramped up last summer with the arrival of Boerrigter, Pukki, Balde and Biton. There are more, of course. Some, like Griffiths and Johansen are hitting the modest levels expected of them, but we’ve been missing the target at an alarming rate.
Ronny Deila has so far brought in a six month loaner. He’s working pretty much with the squad Neil Lennon scraped into the Champions League with last season. He’ll now know what you and I knew about the squad months ago. Most importantly, he needs backing from the club as well as the support.
He has to refresh the squad, try to clear out the deadwood, and perhaps accept that one or two of our reliable performers in recent seasons are beyond their peak. It’s critically important that whatever has been going wrong since Lustig’s arrival is put right. Stop haemorrhaging millions of players who cannot command a starting place and start finding value.
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Brth – ‘rich man’s war’ one of my favourite songs. Will sadly always be relevant.
I hope our return game is at home ;)
Italiabhioy
UEFA never do anything quickly
EWO – ????
From tweets – not from UEFA
HOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLD
HOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLD
eyes wide open
09:40 on 8 August, 2014
Am hearing Legia are still in CL..
From who and where?
EWO! source?
Is no news really good news?
EWO, thanks.
Steady Bhoys Steady…
Eyes Wide Open,
If trues, that’s pretty scandalous. Regardless of the result, rules is rules…
tonydonnelly67
Twitter, just seen it
EWO… never trust a snake… :)
Anyone else feel we’re about to get a kick in the stones?
Twitter saying clerical error and we are out
im hearing we are back in……..
fingers crossed my source is right
09:43 on 8 August, 2014
tonydonnelly67
Twitter, just seen it
I seen on tweeter rangers never died?
Damn bureaucrats…Get on with it !!!!
tom mclaughlin
09:17 on 8 August, 2014
When you say more open with the fans, what do you mean ?……. Do you read the annual accounts ? ….. have you every read the Celtic View ? ….. Do you have Celtic TV. ….all the info you need , as a supporter, is there……
I’m getting slightly peeved at all the anti-board crap being spouted by people with negative personalities / agendae on here ……. nothing is perfect in life, and our Board aren’t perfect at all but, let me tell you, they’re doing all right when you consider the non-footballing ‘barriers’ they, and we, face every day ……..
If our Board were to sanction unrestricted spending tomorrow, some on here, and in the smsm, would use it as an excuse to bash the Board / Celtic for being cavalier with our resources. There’s no pleasing some fholk …….human nature, I’m afraid……..
Example……..Brian Quinn being booed at the unfurling of the flag …….
Criticism, for criticism’s sake, is pathetic……me, I just love supporting Celtic, imperfections and all …..HH FROM THE KING HAPPY CLAPPER
You’ll never wait alone_CSC
Hello this is WEE BGFC. eyes wide open where are you hearing that cause am looking at every celtic news website emaginable
Robert T. Błaszczak@RobertBlaszczak · 8s
Before the ruling is announced, Legia will be briefed about the decision. I believe this is what’s happening now.
Yes Robert Tressell,
KLV
johann – catman
fight , fight , fight , fight
Taranis
Venue was excellent. Look out for Dave Ross from the Admiral looking after things on the organisational front ans he plays a major role re the venue.
Dave is a good guy and is going to Malawi for the charity foundation in October.
Only thing you need to know is that you have to buy coupons to get served at the bar — £4 for a pint of lager — and you can but the coupons as you go in or inside.
Wish I was going tonight but can’t unfortunately.
You will love it.
Robert T. Błaszczak@RobertBlaszczak · 12s
Before the ruling is announced, Legia will be briefed about the decision. I believe this is what’s happening now.
BMCWP
“They’re cup-tied”
Awe Shiggles por cierto
This is true! thats why im waiting but…..
Retweeted by SPLstats
Grzegorz Świerczek @gswierczek 2m
No action taken against Legia.
Clerical error, not a breach of rules.
Celtic in Europa League. #Legia
I’m hearing we’re oot and I’m hearing we’re in! Which is it?
“Clerical error” …sounds like the SFA.
Robert T. Błaszczak @RobertBlaszczak 47s
Before the ruling is announced, Legia will be briefed about the decision. I believe this is what’s happening now.
My sources tell me that the Waterboys might open with ‘A Bang on the Ear’ …
Another governing body not abiding by it’s own rules, we should be used to it by now I suppose.
It’s all over Twitter. Not official yet, but it’s rarely wrong.
How long does it take to say ‘you’re out’ in Polish ?
Snake
swung back to optimistic now
Why brief if its good news for Legia
I’m hearing ‘are you on that bloody cqn again?’
IMHO think Legia showed up PL’s strategy and being reinstated because a guy played 3 mins when we were well and truly beaten seems wrong. We were terrible in champions league last year and would likely suffer again. The only gain by reinstatement would be the £10 million man’s bonus.
HH
Twitter’s rarely wrong ?
Really ?