Let’s start with the fact that the starting eleven is absolutely ridiculous and perhaps even unforgivable when you consider that there is nothing to play for here, and Kennedy has insisted on playing the non-trying and uncommitted players who will not be here in the next campaign.
It is absolutely ridiculous that he thinks it is acceptable, and appropriate, to continue playing these footballers.
What are we learning? What are we gaining from it?
Is it to put them in the shop window?
Do they look like they care about that at this point?
Another set-piece goal.
A gutless defence or coaches who simply don’t have a clue?
Both, I think, and another potent sign of the total collapse in this team.
Tonight we came within an ace of losing to Aberdeen, an Aberdeen side not that much improved from the one Derek McInnes left behind. Stephen Glass is a rookie boss at best, and tonight he had Kennedy’s number.
That does not bode well for a future where Kennedy is involved with us.
If I were a candidate for the managerial job at Celtic Park right now I’d either be rubbing my hands together with glee, knowing I can only improve this nightmarish squad or I’d be running for the hills fearing that the job may be too big for Guardiola.
The shambles continues, folks. Here are the ratings for the game.
Bain
Not the answer. Not by a long shot. Little to do, but you can see he’s not got that extra something that we need. I thought he should have commanded the box better for the goal.
6/10. Another so-so display.
Kenney
Not got it at all. To blame for the goal again, and huffs and puffs a lot up the wing without really giving us any thing extra. Caught up the pitch at times tonight making us vulnerable on the break. That’s a tactical failing as much as anything but still … not the answer.
6/10. Really not much to say.
Taylor
Gave the ball away a couple of times in shockingly dangerous positions. An improvement on Laxalt but that’s about it. Like Kenny, gets up the park a lot and that leaves big gaps whic Aberdeen utilised on the counter. I don’t think he’s a great defender to be honest and he’s not really doing much to convince us otherwise.
6/10. A player badly in need of … something. Like others in the team.
Welsh
Another reasonable display, and he continues to look better than the options around him. But tonight he too suffered from tactical deficencies and was all too often left exposed by counter attacking football. In a different system under a proper manager we will see his best.
6/10. Keeps on turning in solid displays. Good for him.
Bitton
A midfielder trying to be a defender, and failing. Either move this guy back to his actual position or let him leave this summer with the rest. I cannot bear to watch a very good technical footballer made into a joke because he’s playing in the wrong role.
6/10. Bitton gives you effort every time. He’s a good soldier who should never be put in this position.
McGregor
Ran about a lot but is miles from being the footballer who was the heart and soul of the Invincible Treble team. Badly needs a manager who plays to his strengths. I really don’t know what else to say about Callum. He has regressed like everyone else, yes, but he’s also playing deeper than he should be and is clearly finding life at Celtic frustrating.
6/10. I can’t watch much more of him like this, because he’s too good a player for it.
Brown
A magnificent servant to Celtic who even now is in danger of outstaying his welcome because the manager inexplicably continues to play him when other options are available. He has shown that he will offer Aberdeen something in the next campaign, but as far as his time at Celtic goes the manager is doing neither Brown or himself any favours here … and he is squandering time we need to bed other players in.
5/10. Harsh but I really wish he hadn’t played the bulk of the game tonight.
Chrisite
The sooner he leaves the better. Offers us nothing right now. I wouldn’t even offer him the contract that’s on the table on his current form. A complete no-show once again.
4/10. In danger of leaving the club whilst most people shrug and say “so what?”
Turnbull
Industrious, committed, talented and had a very good game tonight. The Celtic Man of the Man by some considerable way. He was very unlucky not to score and showed us why he’s the future of the team.
7/10. In a better Celtic side this kid is a superstar.
Elyounoussi
Flatters to deceive and right now he’s neither flattering nor deceiving. A few bright moments does not excuse entire spells of the game where he is a luxury we cannot afford. No chance whatsoever of a third successive campaign.
5/10. Not at the races.
Edouard
Subbed on 60 minutes. He should not have been on the pitch after his dire weekend display. Doing nothing to win back the affections of the fans; I think most of us just want to know how we’ll get for him now.
5/10. The Long Goodbye ought to be cut short and his place given to someone who’ll be here.
John Kennedy
Woeful tonight. Terrible team selection, dire decision making, like for like subs except for the one at the end which gave Dembele a nice wee cameo. We spent most of the night in the Aberdeen half, passing the ball from side to side trying to find openings in a packed defence. We’ve all seen this too many times now and teams know exactly how to defend against it.
On top of that, every time Aberdeen pumped a high ball through the middle their players were running in acres of room. This is how teams like Sparta Prague can score four goals against us home and away.
We lost the goal to a set-piece as well. Nothing has changed here in a tactical sense. No lessons have been learned. The same mistakes which have plagued us all season are being repeated ad infinitum.
2/10. His audition is over, and any watching chairman who was thinking he might be worth a shot may well be re-evaluating.
Substitutes:
Griffiths didn’t do much except get caught offside. Not until he scored anyway. An interesting debate now faces us over whether or not he’s worth that extra year. Even on a dire evening, he’s come up with something and that alone tells you what you need to know. Griffiths is still capable of doing a job … but how often and how reliably?
Rogic was virtually annonymous. Another manager might get a tune out of him, but this guy won’t.
Dembele showed us flashes of skill which suggest he does have something to offer, although it probably won’t be at Celtic Park.