What is Wrong With Celtic.
By: Matt | May 19th, 2009
First of all, I apologize for going missing this weekend. I was out of town and away from a computer, however it seems that I did not miss much. By now you probably know about the bottle job that Gordon Strachan and company performed this weekend at Easter Road, pissing away the advantage given to them earlier in the week by Hibs in their draw against Rangers . Celtic were toothless against Hibs, resulting in a 0-0 draw that gave Rangers the advantage in the title race going into the last weekend. Celtic have to hope for a Rangers loss or draw at Tannadice against Dundee United while winning against Hearts at Celtic Park. While it is not impossible for Celtic to win the title, the poor results the last two weeks have left a sour taste in the mouth of Celtic supporters asking the question, “What is wrong with Celtic?” However, most have an answer already and that answer resides in Celtic technical area and has ginger hair. While I would agree with that answer, there is more to it in my opinion. If you notice the title of this post, that is a period on the end and not a question mark. So sit back and enjoy what exactly is going wrong at Celtic Park.
-The Top: Say what you want about the perils of modern football. Heck, I would probably agree with your criticisms about pricing out the true fan and ridiculous television contracts that plague football across the world today. However, in strictly financial terms, it seems that Celtic is in a good place financially. The club is not in huge debt, unlike another club in Glasgow, and seems to be able to survive despite the rough financial times. Credit must go to the likes of Peter Lawwell and other higher ups in the club for putting Celtic in this position. However, the board has seemed to accept mediocrity. They have made it clear that they find acceptable to be just a bit better than Rangers (if that this season), instead of trying to make the club better. The purchasing of players such as Willo Flood, among others, shows that the board is only looking to remain the top of the SPL and nothing more. They believe they can still remain profitable by doing this.
-With that being said, there is young talent on this squad. This team contains this year’s SPL Player of the Year, SFA Player of the Year, last year’s SPL Player of the Year, the best goalie in Scotland, strikers who have scored 30 goals in a season, among others. The talent is there, which means….in perhaps the most obvious answer there is…GORDON STRACHAN IS DOING SOMETHING WRONG! Why this team, with talented playmakers like Aiden McGeady, Shaun Maloney, Scott McDonald, Shunsuke Nakamura and Scott Brown are playing long balls and crosses into the box. This hoof and chase style is a complete waste of what is available and it signals that Strachan has no clue what to do. Whether or not Celtic wins the league this year should not matter, as Gordon Strachan’s time at Celtic should come to a close.
-Take a look at the starting squad out on Sunday. How many are Celtic academy products? None of the strikers, one of midfielders, none of the defenders (though captain Stephen McManus is a Celtic academy product but is out because of injury). For a club that has shown a hesitancy towards spending large in the transfer market, the academy must be better. Instead of purchasing SPL level talent from other SPL clubs, if Celtic could foster its own talent it would save money spent of transfer fees. The scouting system and youth set up needs to be re-examined and emphasized more by Celtic.
-Samaras, Vennegoor of Hesselink, McGeady, Nakamura, Robson, Naylor, McManus, Wilson, Boruc, and Maloney. What do all of those names have in common? They all missed significant playing time this year due to injury. How the hell do so many vital parts of a squad miss so much time? I am not sure if it is the training regime or the physio staff, but there is a problem in there somewhere. Injuries are a part of the game and will happen to every club, but the amount of injuries that Celtic faced this year is absurd and something must be done about it.
- What do you think? What is the biggest problem facing Celtic in these times? Is it Strachan? The board? Scott McDonald’s diet?
Category: Celtic
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments
-
Celtic’s problems throughout the entire club begin at the top. Atlhough I give credit to Peter Lawell for his fantastically handled finances he should be lambasted for his lack of ambition and penny pinching in the transfer market could have cost Celtic the £10 million pounds the club would have gained through automatic entry to the Champions League. By holding back on £1 million pound or so when attempting to purchase stephen Fletcher from Hibs, or any other striker across Europe the team has been handicapped in any attempt to get goals.
At a time when the main rivals are in financial meltdown, this was the time to capitalise on the fact that for the past 3 years we have been in the champions league group stage and twice in the last 16. Where is the financial windfall that comes as a result of this and of which we are reminded of by the media and the glowing financial reports published for the PLC members?
Poor management and a touch of complacency at the very top has led Celtic to the predicement they find themselves in this season and to the potential loss of 10′000 season ticket holders!
Along with that however, Strachan has to carry some of the blame for the inept performances on the park and the dis illusioned supporters. The quality and quantity of signings made by the manager throughout his tenure has been baffling at times which in turn has forced the team to play uninspiring long ball football against teams which we should relaly be playing off the park.
Players like Georgeos Samaras – pound for pound the worst player I have seen in a celtic jersey in my time as a season ticket holder.
Also his inability to remedy the problem position of left back, which has now been a problem for the past 3 seasons, has given Celtic a clear weak point and a route for any team from brechin to Barca to attack.But also Strachan has to take the blame for not wanting to improve. Strachan should have stood up to Peter Lawell andd DEMANDED more money to improve the team…..particularly the strikers. But instead he accepted mediocrity which as the fans know is not the Celtic way.
Posted from
United States
-
Johnny Mac-I would agree with your assertion that the PLC’s lack of ambition is costing Celtic. To me, it seems like the PLC is aware that it still can be profitable just barely being better than Rangers. I will be interested in seeing how many people renewed their season books this year, as our shared sentiments are common in the Celtic fanbase.
Posted from
United States -
The result have been poor for the last 6 months not just the last 2 weeks. This has been done to players losing form and a manager losing believe in the system and his players that have got him success.
When this happens, it’s a sure sign the time is up and these signs have been there for at least the last 15 months.
The board gambled on the fact that we had the best squad in the league and enough to beat a bankrupt main rival. The rival won the gamble by spending £18m on the hope of getting back £8m wie Big Cup qualification.
They are in the box seat to collect.
The board appointed a limited manager 4 years ago knowing that no up-coming, or proven manager would take on the job wie the downsizing they were planning. They got lucky that WGS has probably exceeded theirs and our expectations wie his sucesses.
The transfer market we could work in means that you were always going to get hits and misses but the scouting has to be reviewed. Value for money is the key.
When turgid, pragmatic winning football becomes turgid, pragmatic losing football then you have a problem. The PLC now have that problem but never saw the warning signs at the tail end of last season.
Next move has to be out of the box from them
Posted from
United Kingdom
Comments are closed
Home 
