Spherical Planet
Well-known member
I'm obsessed with football. I can't explain why, because it's caused me more heartache than I care for and I know that there are more important things in life - especially when we're in the grips of a global pandemic.
Yet here I am crestfallen after another night of abject failure in Europe.
Personally, I would have been content enough to sacrifice European football to focus on and prioritise claiming that 10th successive title; however - it is the manner in which we exited the Champions League that has left me a hollow shell of a man.
So where do we go from here?
It would appear that the relentless Celtic winning machine is sputtering at the moment. The players don't look entirely together and that 'distance' appears to be evident within the management and coaching staff too.
This result now throws into doubt which personnel are going to be part of our plans going forward. No doubt the whispers regarding French Eddy will be turned into screams by a joyous media. The other mumblings of discontent will also begin echoing around the broadcast studios and press rooms too.
There will be calls for the managers resignation or dismissal, but at this late stage - who would be the ideal candidate who is currently available to revitalise and rejuvenate the team?
Neil Lennon has had his frailties exposed, but rather than a complete overhaul, perhaps it would be more prudent to identify an assistant who will challenge Lenny's tactical acumen and reignite his enthusiasm.
Everything has looked a little laboured recently and there may be many reasons for the malaise, but there can be no excuses for the players, management and board. The stakes were known at the start of the season and any good pro should be relishing the challenge.
It can't be just left to fans to ask and answer the hard questions. Everyone within the club is well rewarded and that makes them ultimately accountable for what happens on the field of play and in the boardroom.
People should expect criticism when outcomes are not being met and when they are underachieving. It's not defeat that is the problem here, it is the manner of that defeat which disconcerts us. If it was just 'one of those nights', then I am sure we would put it down to experience, but there is a pattern emerging here which has seen us exit from major European competitions far in advance of when we should expect to be eliminated.
The team looks fragile at the moment. We look vulnerable against raw power. We look sluggish against raw speed. We don't appear to have a positive plan and we don't look like we can adapt to difficult circumstances. We have good players, but with the exception of Eddy - we don't have great players. We have players who can dominate Scottish football, but that aura we had during the invincible season doesn't appear to be in great abundance at the moment.
I may be being overly reactive to a bad result. I may be worrying about matters which should not concern me; however - I feel we have to find our identity as a team and not rely upon past glories. There are too many players who were purchased at cost or developed in-house who seem a million miles from first-team football. There have been positional adjustments that don't make sense and there are players playing first team football who are earning significantly less than current benchwarmers. All of these features will eventually impact upon and erode morale. The hard questions we ask and answer should be exactly the same questions currently preventing our manager and CEO from having a good nights sleep tonight.
So where do we go from here?
I have my own opinions on that question, but it's beyond my pay grade. I only hope that those who are in that wage bracket have acceptable answers and an immediate response.
Yet here I am crestfallen after another night of abject failure in Europe.
Personally, I would have been content enough to sacrifice European football to focus on and prioritise claiming that 10th successive title; however - it is the manner in which we exited the Champions League that has left me a hollow shell of a man.
So where do we go from here?
It would appear that the relentless Celtic winning machine is sputtering at the moment. The players don't look entirely together and that 'distance' appears to be evident within the management and coaching staff too.
This result now throws into doubt which personnel are going to be part of our plans going forward. No doubt the whispers regarding French Eddy will be turned into screams by a joyous media. The other mumblings of discontent will also begin echoing around the broadcast studios and press rooms too.
There will be calls for the managers resignation or dismissal, but at this late stage - who would be the ideal candidate who is currently available to revitalise and rejuvenate the team?
Neil Lennon has had his frailties exposed, but rather than a complete overhaul, perhaps it would be more prudent to identify an assistant who will challenge Lenny's tactical acumen and reignite his enthusiasm.
Everything has looked a little laboured recently and there may be many reasons for the malaise, but there can be no excuses for the players, management and board. The stakes were known at the start of the season and any good pro should be relishing the challenge.
It can't be just left to fans to ask and answer the hard questions. Everyone within the club is well rewarded and that makes them ultimately accountable for what happens on the field of play and in the boardroom.
People should expect criticism when outcomes are not being met and when they are underachieving. It's not defeat that is the problem here, it is the manner of that defeat which disconcerts us. If it was just 'one of those nights', then I am sure we would put it down to experience, but there is a pattern emerging here which has seen us exit from major European competitions far in advance of when we should expect to be eliminated.
The team looks fragile at the moment. We look vulnerable against raw power. We look sluggish against raw speed. We don't appear to have a positive plan and we don't look like we can adapt to difficult circumstances. We have good players, but with the exception of Eddy - we don't have great players. We have players who can dominate Scottish football, but that aura we had during the invincible season doesn't appear to be in great abundance at the moment.
I may be being overly reactive to a bad result. I may be worrying about matters which should not concern me; however - I feel we have to find our identity as a team and not rely upon past glories. There are too many players who were purchased at cost or developed in-house who seem a million miles from first-team football. There have been positional adjustments that don't make sense and there are players playing first team football who are earning significantly less than current benchwarmers. All of these features will eventually impact upon and erode morale. The hard questions we ask and answer should be exactly the same questions currently preventing our manager and CEO from having a good nights sleep tonight.
So where do we go from here?
I have my own opinions on that question, but it's beyond my pay grade. I only hope that those who are in that wage bracket have acceptable answers and an immediate response.
We're shite, and we know we are
