Well, you would not need to have successfully completed a correspondence course in clairvoyance to predict that shambles accurately.
FC Midtjylland now joins a list that includes AEK Athens, CFR Cluj, Ferencváros and NK Maribor.
Indeed, I’ve probably missed a few out.
The pattern is readily discernible to all except, apparently, those who are in positions of power at Celtic.
Dithering in the summer transfer window (this time, the Eddie Howe fiasco added to the problems) means that the hapless unfortunate in the Hoops dugout is forced to field a team of players who do not look as if they have been properly introduced.
They’re certainly poorly prepared given the importance of these early competitive matches.
To my untrained eye (critical point), I thought that Odsonne Édouard evoked nonchalant disinterest throughout the proceedings in Denmark tonight.
Perhaps it is merciful that Celtic will not have to face the efficiency of PSV in the next round.
However, the uncomfortable fact is that the team that once won Europe’s premier club trophy are now strictly second-tier strugglers.
Midtjylland FC fielded players tonight who are older than the club itself.
For the avoidance of doubt, the twenty-two years old outfit fully deserved to go through.
That isn’t a good look for a
Of course, last season Celtic surrendered their league title to a nine-year-old creation that was being kept alive by payday loans.
Unimpressive from the richest club in Scotland.
Could see this result coming a mile off Phil. If there’s one saving grace it’s that we’ll be spared an absolute mauling from PSV which would have been inevitable. I’ve been saying for years this board of faceless grey people have no ambition beyond lining their own pockets, none more so than the actual Billionaire who apparently now is “hands on” in terms of player recruitment! Lord help us! I feel sorry for Ange Postecoglu, the man seems a genuinely decent bloke and speaks well however I fear he’ll not hang around too long unless this shitshow is sorted out and sharpish! I wouldn’t hold my breath though.
Once again we lost to a side we have have beaten. This was Lennon’s team. It was unfit and completely out of condition. Just like Ronnie Delia said his first Celtic team was when taking over. Edouard is completely over-rated in my opinion based on not just last night but all of last season. He cannot finish, he does not strike the ball properly in open play and he plays as a deep lying inside left. Samaras was much the same except he drifted wide left. Brighton are welcome to OE It is time to cut the wage bill substantially. Barkas, Rogic, Ajeti, Taylor, Griffiths, should be told to find new clubs regardless of whether any fee is received. These wasters only send a message that doing nothing is acceptable. And then bring in sports scientists and players who regard themselves as professional athletes. Watch the improvement.
Rather harsh calling Tom Rogic a waster.
Should he show you his medals to emphasise his contribution to 9 in a row and the quadruple treble?
He has been very unlucky with injuries in the last couple of seasons and maybe his time at Celtic is coming to an end but I feel you are a bit out of order calling him a waster.
Hail! Hail!
I do not deny his ability CB – Can you name a game in the last 2 years where he has shown it? He has no appetite for the game. His attitude is wrong, He has not been injured for 2 years
Mark,
I understand that course of action have have thought about it long and hard. There seems to be no will ( on the contrary) for this and no one in the fan base capable of organizing it. There would be a kick back against the GB for example with many of the ‘don’t speak for me’ fans falling in behind whatever propaganda deflection the Plc select from their list.
It’s more than that though, it’s the taking of children and grandchildren who only see the stadium, the grass and the hoops.
They know this of course.
We needed it three seasons ago at least but some were blinded by nine and ten.
We need to start with removing Pistol Pete from his ‘advisors’ position, let McKay know he is on notice, have fan representation and clear out the ‘coaches’ including Tommy McIntyre. Modernise the Scouting system and the medical and sports science department.
A full size indoor training park would also help.
Go with the boys, coach them well and support them, no more rubbish loans and rubbish signings. Start now.
In 65 years of following Celtic that result last night is up there with the worst in Europe. To me this is Lawwell’s legacy. He wanted the money that they lost when the Klanbase went down the tubes. If Celtic had won the 10 they would have made more money than the ibrox club could generate. They wouldn’t have got McGinn because of the angst between Lawwell and Petrie they wouldn’t sell any player to Celtic. Downsizing and not replacing players with the same quality has caused this. To me Lawwell he was in the job too long and Dermot Desmond let him wield too much power.
Celtic have been poor in Europe since Seville, let’s be honest. It’s clearly not a priority for the board. Lawell “left” a few weeks ago viewing his tenure as a success, despite his mismanagement and penny pinching costing the club 30+ million/year for at least 6 or 7 of the years he was CEO. I don’t buy the “we sell players to balance it out” guff. We could qualify, then sell players. I don’t care if we don’t make it past group stages for first year or 2, that model starts to let us build a good squad with potential for regular renewal. That a guy running a football club didn’t think like that to me shows the root, and duration, of our decline.
Sadly I think Sevco will be able to keep the wolves from the door long enough to get CL money this season, which should prevent bankruptcy and allow them to win the league.
You don’t say !
And your constructive comments to us ST holders, aware of it all but still supporting?
Steve,
Stop buyng your season ticket at renewal time.
The ONLY thing this board care about is your dosh.
The ONLY way to effect change is for a significant number of fans to refrain from buying season tickets at renewal time.
This cyclical malaise is in the DNA of CFC.
In my own lifetime, I vividly remember the unexpected league and SC double in our centenary year.
From a position of strength – as per – the club discarded players and failed to invest: we know what happened thereafter.
Whatever failures happen this season will not be the new manager’s fault, at all.
Shamefully: no Board member resigned for the absolute shambles of the failed Eddie Howe pursuit.
And the new CEO – IMO – is not impressing so far: is he just a “yes” man to keep DD happy…?
The fans – i.e. us, the paying customers – deserve an awful lot more, even at this early stage in the new season,
[after witnessing the painful, slo-mo car crash of the club since August of last year.]
So far, there are no tangible indications that CFC is significantly changing / improving from the prior CEO’s 17 year’s tenure.
There is something not quite right with CFC…
The owner and his former tea boy have a lot to answer for for not honouring Lennon’s rolling contract at the time they decided to dispose of his services. I did not wait to listen to the Premier post mortem. However, seeing Sutton there my memory flashed back to his miss in Basel in the final minutes of the Champions League qualifier in 2002. Somehow I don’t see a Seville equivalent this season with the sparse squad Anje has to build from.
Sutton nailed it on the head with his comments.
Going into, from a financial viewpoint, a hugely important game we were short of quality in goal, at right back, at centre back and fielding two forwards more interested in heading off elsewhere.
The board appear unaware that the league season kicks off this weekend with the ultimate winner picking up £40m with direct entry into next seasons CL group stages.
The fans have as usual did their bit with season tickets sold out but that loyalty has not been matched by the board.
Incompetent is putting it mildly.
There has been more than enough time since the departure of Lennon to have a new manager in place plus giving him the tools, £££££’s, required to bring in new faces.
Who in the recruitment team is responsible for spending £6m on Vargas who is totally useless and that’s being kind to him!
What about the Israeli internationalist who up till he was hooked last night barely touched the ball! Who thought he was the answer?
Already it’s difficult to see with the present set up how we are going to compete with the Govan mob.
Despite not holding Ange to account for the current shambles surrounding the club I’ve seen nor heard anything from him which remotely suggests that he is the inspirational figure to take us forward.
I would be delighted to be proven wrong but I’m not holding my breath on that one.
We didn’t buy Vargas but we did, stupidly, buy Barkas. HH