The truth is always welcome

Last night’s result was both disappointing and embarrassing.  Considering that Bodo/Glimt were preseason and scored their third long after the affects of cramp and exhaustion took hold, it was even humiliating.  Only a remarkable turnaround will see Celtic remain in the Uefa Conference League, an outcome that would be very harsh on the comparatively underpaid and over-performing Norwegians.

When I looked at the teams left in the competition earlier this week, only Leicester and Marseille seemed out of reach.  This was a chance, I thought, to go deep into a European competition – perhaps our last and easiest chance for some time, as we hoped to compete on higher ground in the years to come.

We have both seen enough of Celtic in Europe, though, to hedge our bets.  On Wednesday, I wrote, “You and I are also full of confidence right now.  What we are missing is a test against non-Scottish opposition.  Drubbing a limp Newco gave us hope that we are watching something special.  Tomorrow night will give an indication as to whether that hope is valid.”  We have our answer.

Welcome the truth instead of living deluded.  It should fortify us for the challenges ahead, better to know, than to rock up at Easter Road next week with an unbalanced and porous midfield.  Or to think that the world has been put to right during two transfer windows.

Cameron Carter-Vickers was head and shoulders above everyone on the field.  He operated at a level Bodo/Glimt were unable to reach.  Similarly, Carl Starfelt and Joe Hart did not put a foot wrong.  Our full backs and wingers on both sides were bossed out of the contest.

Callum McGregor has seen this movie before and covered every inch of the park in a vain attempt to prevent a sequel.  Did anyone think Tom Rogic and Matt O’Riley would be an effective midfield pairing?  Apart from Ange, of course.  Daizen Maeda scored with a peach of a header but spent much of the game isolated.  I hope Reo Hatate was carrying an impediment that made his exclusion from the starting line-up necessary.  Any other reason would be inexplicable.

And for the record, Ange, no, we did not control the game.  That ability lay with the men in yellow, who played exactly how they wanted.