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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Celtic shops running out of merchandise…..the glory hunters are back….you can tell them a mile away with the new scarfs and taps…..theyre getting ready for 3 match pilgrimage to the stadium…..shitting themselves to get out the stadium the other night after the 1st goal went in.
Hoping for Maribor looks easiest tie.
SYD NEGAKEV 1037
Brilliant. I copied that and sent it to,erm,one or two huns I know.
They’ll put it viral as fact. Eejits!
Syd Negakev
10:37 on
8 August, 2014
The UEFA official who flagged up Legia’s error said that the ruling was indeed harsh. However, Patrick O’Flaherty of Cork went on to say that he was only doing his job and would pray for the Polish team at Mass on Sunday.
================================================================
Is that the same Patrick Eamonn Kevin O`Flaherty,Papal Knight?
Love it ,mate.
Love it.
Two shocking performances. but it’s all ok. We got our paperwork right. Well done Peter!
I will never forget how poor a side we are. How bad the decisions have been from the board. How they have emplioyed a potential assistant manager as manager.
Mr Z. You must be gutted to have won this tie in the manner your team did, with such ease and have it ripped and torn from under you. Some within our support will celebrate this like a victory. I despair that there are supporters of the team I follow who will accept victory by any means.
Peter Lawell your time is up. Please do the decent thing and leave my club.
Dermott Desmond. Please seek a buyer for your shares in my club, your disinterest in the footballing success of Celtic FC and it’s support is sickening. Go buy a golf club or a race course and enjoy the sports you love.
Our club is turning into a monster reptilian business. Football is a side issue.
MWD says AYE
Big Peter…what an escape…..saved from the guillotine by the UFH
Hope you have learned a lesson.
HH
mullet and co 2 said:
We should seriously look at doing something for Legia though. Maybe something as fans?
What?
You serious?
Why?
Anyone think Ladbrokes will pay out on my 3-0 bet???
I believe RD will prove to be a success, once he deposits his own scent, and removes all trace of NL’s in Paradise. It will take time to do so….
What will be fascinating is his approach to doing so, particularly his use of youngsters and the knowledge of JK.
chantitty lace
and a pretty face
a pony-tail a hanging down
makes the world go round round round
there aint nothing in the world like big-eyed girl
makes me feel so funny
makes me spend ma money
makes me feel real loose
like a long-tail goose
Oh baby thats what I like!!!!
Here comes the draw :)))))
auldheid
00:45 on 8 August, 2014
The challenge is never mind the law what is the right thing to do in the circumstances?
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Your words sound like those spoken by Ogilvie etc when allowing Oldco to participate in Europe.
Maribor; first game away!
Maribor
Can someone please tell me how UEFA became aware that Legia had fielded a suspended player … ?
FF
When do we play Maribor?
folly folly
11:13 on 8 August, 2014
Can someone please tell me how UEFA became aware that Legia had fielded a suspended player … ?
FF
…………….
The EUFA observer noticed the error.
I kno we are p@sh…. But surely a winnable tie?..
I’m sorry to say this there are too many bleeding hearts on CQN when it comes to football decisions. Keep our sympathy to other matters in life that really merit it. We’ve had to suffer from unfairness in the past. We got on with it.
Talk about an impact sub!
Thanks, SadiesBhoy: some work colleagues had suggested Celtic clyped.
The whole scenario would be fraught with complications, were that to be the case …
FF
Can not quite understand the euphoria regarding the ‘stay of execution’ Rules are rules fair enough but we were soundly thrashed by Legia W and will likely be thrashed again by our next round opponents nothing I have seen thus far makes me believe we are capable of competing at any reasonable level with the current squad.The Jury stil out on the 2 Onnies. Nothing to be happy baout apart from the GIRFUY to the office Zombies. But never mind we are at least guaranteed a spot in the Euro losers league where we will again be thrashed by better teams than Legia. All this will come to pass unless some quality is brought into the team.
4 quality players in as a minimum.
A goal scoring striker
A pacy ball playing midfielder
A midfield bully (in a Vic Style)
A quality CB.
Will we even get 1 of these????
Frankie Bhoy says a big No to buying any SPFL dross.
Why UEFA had no option and why SFA are in the wrong.
http://www.tsfm.net/the-way-it-works/comment-page-21/#comment-26823
This could spell trouble for celtic pic.twitter.com/mbde2PgCkb
http://t.co/mbde2PgCkb
Third Lanark (H)
Sat, 3rd Apr 15:00
League Division 1
1:0
Hibernian (A)
Wed, 7th Apr 15:00
League Division 1
4:0
Falkirk (A)
Wed, 14th Apr 15:00
League Division 1
2:6
Partick Thistle (H)
Sat, 17th Apr 15:00
League Division 1
1:2
Dunfermline Athletic (H)
Sat, 24th Apr 15:00
Scottish Cup
3:2
Dunfermline Athletic (A)
Wed, 28th Apr 15:00
League Division 1
1:5
Vespacide. That’s funny cos didn’t the rest of Scotland accuse us all of paranoia when they were cheating?
Funny how you become what you hate.
Auldheid on res 12 how long has an answer on res 12 been awaited from the SFA?