As another player departs, one has to wonder quite how ridiculous the state of this current squad is. Indeed, Liel Abada has headed stateside for reasons outside of football. In recent seasons he dazzled on the wing, with Jota on the other side and for spells Giakoumakis was between them. Mooy provided support behind and Starfelt was a key part of the spine in defence.
All of those players have now departed and the club has banked the guts of £100m in the last year or two. How then are we in a position whereby our back four in the Champions League consisted of the likes of Scales and Taylor? Why did we fail to replace Mooy and then sell Turnbull when the midfield options were limited, now worsened by the injury to Callum McGregor?
The days of picking three from McGregor, Mooy, O’Riley and Hatate are a faint memory today. The times when a flawless system meant that the skipper’s absence was seamlessly covered are firmly in the past.
The cry for a left back to challenge Taylor for a starting place fell on deaf ears, the two central defenders signed rarely made the squad until options were exhausted, and projects were bought to fill the wings.
And despite this negligence of the team, on top of losing an incredible manager, Celtic can still win this league. If we do so, this side must rank among the poorest Celtic championship winning teams. Yet, we would find ourselves in an incredible financial position from which to build if the board ever developed something close to ambition for football achievement beyond Scottish shores.
Let’s hope we can muster up enough mentality to stumble over the line.
Due respect Liam but I think you are inflating the abilities of players here ! Liel Abada was decent but I don’t remember him ‘dazzling’ too often on the wing – last year he made 47 appearances – 27 as sub and also taken off 18 times – and had 13 goals and 9 assists. He is leaving for personal reasons that couldn’t have been anticipated and have a lot to do with the unfortunate political wing our club seems to have developed.
Suddenly Mooy and Turnbull are sadly missed when , certainly in Turnbull’s case, opinion was mixed about his contribution and altterly his attitude. The reimagining of Starfelt as a ‘key’ part of our spine – he turned out ok but had a mistake in him in every game. He left to follow his glamorous girlfriend which was a selfish, if understandable, move on his part and the club can’t be held responsible for that. Still have ethe option of picking 3 from 4 if all fit – McGregor, Hatate, O’ Reilly and Iowata – plus Bernardo – so only an ageing Mooy missing.
Not saying that this a great squad by any means but individual form dipping has played its part alongside disruption from injuries. We have quality in Hart, CCV, McGregor, Johnston, O’Reilly, Kyogo, Idah, Yang and decent numbers.
Too much negativity around although everyone is entitled to their opinions of course. Go on a run, win all our games and league is ours – same position as we start each year !
What a pathetic hatchet job this article is , so all the players who left were world beaters and we are left stuck with ” the poorest Celtic team”. why don’t you just follow “incredible ” Ange an give us peace eh ?