I think the funniest thing I have heard for a while was when Rob McLean said that he was going to show the “highlights”. What highlights? This was a desperately awful game during which I was able to answer my phone, eat my tea and go for a pee – none of which things I can normally do in a Celtic match!
This was a dire performance. But let’s look at the good things – Mikey Johnston played as if he wanted to play for Celtic, Callum McGregor was good, so was Olivier Ntcham (give or take a few wild moments) and Kieran Tierney was up to his usual high standard. The other good thing is that 1-1 away from home in Europe is generally looked upon as a good result.
And the bad things? Well, that goal would have disgraced a pub team, and the finger could well be pointed at four people, at least, notably Craig Gordon for not taking command and shouting “Mine!” Simunovic, Ayer, Gamboa – pick whoever you want – none of them looked clever at that point. And Cristian Gamboa, after some fine contributions against Partick Thistle, flopped again and was replaced by the ever likeable Emilio Izaguirre.
Moussa Dembele was also shocking.
But the real horror was that everyone then got dispirited after conceding that goal. We should have had more goals, but fluffed chances, and in the second half, the pace even dropped and you never felt that anyone was going to pick it up against a team whom I would put on the same level as, say, East Fife or my own beloved Forfar Athletic. It was a dire 90 minutes which I want to forget about – apart from the one excellent goal! Take a bow Mikey Johnston and a good header, Olivier Ntcham!
So what exactly is going on here? Well, it does seem to me that no-one, players, manager, Directors or fans are coping at all well with the Dedryck Boyata affair. This business really has to be resolved, one way or another, very soon. He must either apologise and promise to see the year out, or he must be punted forthwith or told to stay away from Lennoxtown. This drifting on cannot do anyone any good. We need clarity, and we need closure.
We also do need to strengthen that defence – now there is a real original suggestion, there, I bet no-one else ever thought of that one! I am not in favour of panic buying, but we have backed ourselves into a corner on this one. Scott McKenna’s door seems to be closed, but he maybe wasn’t the answer in any case and he is injured into the bargain – but there are others, surely. And do let’s examine the guy’s fitness, mental stability and staying power, before we invest. We want no more spoiled brats! But we really have to act now! That comic defending for the goal cannot be allowed to continue.
A thought occurs to me. Mikey Johnston has emerged from the ranks, as did Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney. Can we not concentrate on “growing our own” central defenders? Long term, of course. We now need someone fairly urgently.
Michael Stewart did not have a good game on the commentary. He was wrong about the pitch being good, although he backtracked fairly quickly, and he kept saying the same things in the second half – and it was the “bleedin obvious” all the time. But it must be difficult working for such a low budget TV company. And why were Celtic not wearing the green and white? The Celtic jersey does not shrink for inferior players, big Jack said. No, but that yellow/lime rubbish did tonight!
Still early enough in the season to sort most things out, Brendan, but action must come soon on the central defence! Hamilton at Celtic Park on Sunday. They must be rubbing their hands in expectation if they were watching the TV tonight.
David Potter
VIDEO: Brendan’s post match comments see HERE
MATCH REPORT Suduva 1 Celtic 1 see HERE
