This was an absolutely shocking performance. This was a Celtic team in name only, and little can be said to mitigate or excuse the performance of any of the players. I don’t think we can listen to any excuses about lack of fans or pandemics. This is the time that we need a Celtic team to cheer us up. It was not forthcoming tonight.
It was all the more frustrating and disheartening after we thought we had turned the corner on Sunday. Just what went wrong? Well, Chris Sutton talked about the team being “gutless”. One cannot disagree.
It was a devastatingly bad performance, and it is really difficult to see Celtic picking themselves up from this. We must accept that Europe will finish before Christmas. The really depressing thing is that this game has now imperilled the other tournaments as well. TheRangers and Hearts now must be rubbing their hands with glee and anticipation, as indeed will Motherwell who face us on Sunday. And Aberdeen must be wondering why they are so bad!
Even our better players – Callum McGregor (who did at least give an honest interview at the end), Ryan Christie, Tom Rogic and Diego Laxalt were little better than ordinary. Shane Duffy and Odsonne Edouard cannot in any way be excused, Jeremie Frimpong huffed and puffed but ultimately did little, and he really must learn how to cross a ball and find a colleague! Elyounoussi is the greatest enigma of them all. “Inconsistency” simply does not come into it. Is there an attitude problem here?
Sadly, now the knives will be out for Neil Lennon once again. But whenever the players go over that white line, there is little that he can do. I think Neil has made mistakes this year, but those who want him out must think ahead and have a replacement. Otherwise, Neil should stay. Europe may have gone, but there are still four Scottish tournaments to play for, and Neil is still the best chance we have.
But he must have the support of the players. There are several players who really must have a long think to themselves and realise just what it means to wear a Celtic jersey!
David Potter
