That second half today was woeful. Take just a couple of players out of this Celtic team and we are nowhere, and right now I think we are in a worse state than we were last season.
But for me, what summed everything up was the sight of people giving Luke McCowan a standing ovation when he came on. Luke McCowan is an overpaid, privileged failure at this club. He exemplifies Celtic’s lax, complacent, willing-to-settle-for-mediocrity attitude, and giving him a standing ovation today because he shed a few tears and turned off his Instagram makes me despair.
What message does that send? It tells highly paid footballers that it is okay to down tools for the night and fail, and then people wonder where our standards have gone.
I know there are plenty of people still urging that we all calm down, saying the transfer window is not closed yet. We hear this every single year.
We heard it in January, when we went into the final day and signed a collection of loanees, not one of whom was up to the task of driving this team forward into the second and most significant part of the most significant season we had played in years. We heard it last summer when we did not sign a replacement for Kyogo and still allowed Adam Idah to go.
We finished that transfer window without properly replacing either of the two strikers we had sold, or our top winger on the right, and eventually left ourselves depending on a half-fit Kelechi Iheanacho and, God help us, Johnny Kenny.
Kenny was back on the bench today and is now apparently being readied to play a full part in the season ahead. Tierney is carrying an indeterminate injury. Kasper Høgh is carrying an undisclosed problem and missed today’s game, while Callum Osmand left Celtic Park in a protective boot. O’Neill also confirmed concerns over Høgh after the match, adding to it that he and Tierney appear to have the same problem.
So, it might not be very long before we are once again watching Johnny Kenny start a game in a Celtic shirt. That will get a standing ovation too no doubt.
I have said before that as long as players like McCowan and Kenny remain on the books, the temptation will always exist for people at this club to tell themselves that we have enough. Their presence becomes an excuse not to do the serious rebuild which is plainly necessary.
It is impossible to conclude other than that we are not, at this moment, properly equipped for a season of domestic and European football, especially when our main rivals do not have midweek European fixtures to contend with.
No, I would not trade places with them. They are in a world of trouble. Yes, that is going to come back to haunt them, and not in some distant future but probably just around the corner.
But none of that changes the reality that Celtic, right now, are not properly capable of fighting on all fronts. I do not think it is surrender to admit that simple fact. It is acknowledging reality and insisting that the people running our club start dealing with it.
I appreciate that this team has just come back from a European fixture and that there was some squad management today. O’Neill made several changes after the LASK game, with Callum McGregor and Kasper Høgh among those who did not start, and Celtic still managed to beat Falkirk 2-1.
Some of the players who played more minutes in midweek than they would have wanted are obviously feeling the effects. But that is not going to be any different after the European games still to come. There are at least eight Europa League matches ahead of us.
So, if this is a problem now, it is going to become a bigger problem in October, November and December. If we are going to fix it, we have to fix it now.
I would much rather Celtic faced up to the problems we have than tried to wish them away. They are not going away.
That second-half performance today is a warning of what is coming if this squad is not strengthened. And we do not even have to look very far backwards to remind ourselves what a truly wretched Celtic performance can look like.
Yet a section of our support apparently wants to applaud the biggest failures onto the pitch. They should understand the message that sends to everybody else in that dressing room, and worse; in the boardroom itself.
Because it sends a very clear message that you can fail and, instead of being criticised for it, you will be coddled.
I have a major problem with that. I have a problem with it because McCowan is a walking symptom of everything that is wrong with Celtic right now.
The fact that he and Kenny can still sit on the bench, and God help us perhaps end up playing significant roles this season, is proof of how much work remains to be done.
Pretending there is some magical thing supporters can do to get behind these players and somehow raise them to a level they have not demonstrated they can reach is an insanity we should stop indulging.
The people running Celtic have no concept of what standards ought to be. They are not going to enforce standards across this club because their own continued survival demonstrates that accountability barely exists here.
Their presence sends exactly the same message to anybody in the dressing room who cannot be bothered: failure is survivable. There are no consequences. That is the culture. That is how we ended up on the wrong side of that humiliating result in midweek.
And there will not be accountability at Celtic until supporters start creating some ourselves. In case it is not blatantly obvious already, this is going to come down to us.
It is going to come down to the fans deciding which version of Celtic they want, and then being prepared to work to get it.
Nobody is going to hand it to us. Nobody in that directors’ box is suddenly going to wake up and impose the standards that they themselves have spent years lowering.
We have to demand them. We have to enforce them. And telling people that failure is perfectly okay is not the way to start.
Luke McCowan’s tears do not change what happened in Austria. Turning off Instagram does not change it. A standing ovation does not change it. Nothing will make him a better footballer, not all the support in the world. He is what he is.
Celtic went out of the Champions League in one of the most humiliating European collapses in our recent history, and some of the players involved were nowhere near the standard required. That is the reality. We can either confront it or cuddle ourselves in the hope of wishing it away. I know which one I would rather do.
Because standards are not what you say they are. Standards are what you tolerate. And right now, Celtic tolerates far too much.
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James, love listening to you on the podcast.
You’re my brother from another mother, we’re equally as miserable/sanguine.
That said, it’s not McGowan’s fault.
We’ve all seen people who have been hired to companies that we’ve worked for.
It’s not the individual’s fault, but rests squarely with the recruiter/employer.
I’ve seen loads who weren’t fit fo the job, but they got hired.
Somehow they appeared convincing and due diligence wasn’t done.
Again, it’s not his fault he was admitted to the club, and it’s not his fault that he was selected by the manager. That’s outside of his control.
Exactly…LASK put out a team built on a shoestring budget that destroyed us, and let’s be honest the first leg, 3-0, Calmac said it flattered us. I would say 5-1 flattered us also.
Falkirk would not be in the top 4 leagues doon the road..not even close…that’s where we are ffs!
We were shite in the 2nd half – all this passing back shit has to stop- how many times do we go from the opposite 18yrd box to our keeper- but that was not McCowans fault. I was surprised he wasn’t booed when he came on, but James there is no point in trying to destroy the lad.he is a decent player but not European level with Celtic. There arw so many issues woth the team and the club as a whole but crucifying mccowan won’t make it better. We need the board out
Stevie, you’re 100% on the money.
The ovation for McCowan surprised me because it was not that long ago Schmeichel was getting booed when he was actual playing for us. I remember some clown on here shocked that Scotland fans were booing Schmeichel when he played for Denmark yet we were fucking booing him..jesus wept!
We have a far bigger problem than recruitment. The medical staff, physios and especially the manager and coaches are way out of their depth.
We are pontificating on this forum about spending money. ie. throwing money to sort the problem.
The team that scored 5 goals against us without reply….. The team that played us off the fucking park…… The team that has won 2 league titles in its history… The team with zero European pedigree….Yes, LASK played us off the park with their biggest signing being £2m.
Hogh cost more than their entire fucking squad.
Of course the board is ultimately responsible for the management team and everything else but we need to look at the big picture !!!
What a nugget! The Scotland fans booed Schmeichel and Maeda simply because those players played for Celtic and I am not surprised that that you are condoning their bigotry, it’s in your blood after all.
You hate Scotland Johnny, hey that’s fine but don’t expect scottish people to hate Scotland and remember Celtic are scottish.
No need for racist bigotry on here m8…or even in yer home. Try and not spread your hatred around and the world will be better when your gone…you can make it better by trying a bit harder!
Of course I was pleased to see a certain name absent from the team sheet today and the freedom in the play because of it showed what is possible in the first half. Hassan was a revelation and can only get better as he gets fitter. The innocuous passing game is a disease that infects the club but it will go if we keep the same starting line up.
In the the second half, players like Tierney who is not anywhere near the player they was started to rely on the pass back like a crutch to see out the match with a victory. Baur improved as he went into the holding position and stopped giving the ball away.
Before anyone laments absent friends, we missed about 6 clear chances and when was the last time we could say that. The chances will come and be taken if MON can hold his nerve.
Unfortunately the board will be salivating over next years sale of Hassan for around for £40 million.
Focus on the first half display.
James – maybe others can but I am unable to search the archives on the blog. I am 100% certain that you were a Luke McCowan fan when he signed under BR (maybe there’s a clue there). Luke had a dreadful night on Tuesday, I took the ovation today to be a human gesture of support and very Celtic/Scottish/Irish/Gaelic in that regard. The Celtic support put their arms around one of their own – he’s living our dream and may have reached the end of the line but there is no disgrace in that.
For you to continue the vitriol from behind your keyboard is frankly reprehensible.
Well said, the ovation for the whole team was a human gesture of support, it’s not acceptance of failure but it’s too late to do anything about it. We need to pick ourselves up and go again.
I think we really need to change formation to accommodate Hogh with two up front. We’re building the old team and Hassan is the new Agathe, he looks lightening fast and should create havoc when he gets it right. It’ll all be irrelevant if we don’t sort the squad out because injuries are inevitable and not an excuse if it starts to go wrong. Baur was the best player on the pitch today.
Yesterday
Couldn’t agree more, to slate McCowan now while he is at a very low ebb is indeed reprehensible, he’s one of our own and he we are having to listen to this shite.?.. sticking your boot on his throat and telling him he’s rubbish, whatsoever that going to do? help him? improve him? if he’s not good enough the manager won’t pick him and whether he does or not it’ll have fuckall to do with your opinion James, this is exactly the sort of vitriolic horseshit you find on a daily basis on another website whose name needs no mentioning and thats the kindest thing I could say about it while simultaneously being the cruelest, stop this now before you are indistinguishable from the orcs.
You feel free to criticise McCowan very fiercely, not very acceptable in my opinion, so you must accept criticism for your writing. Another awful piece I’d say. Your quote “ We have to demand them(which I take is standards). We have to enforce them” well how the hell are you going to do that then. It’s been like this for 20+ years. You keep writing this stuff after voting for the board with your ST, but have no opinion on how to do it. And please don’t give us NAP. We read the same theme over and over in each article you pen. The best part of this blog is the great varied comments from fans which I come here for.
James, you have previously talked quite a lot of sense, but my God, you don’t half spout some complete and bullshit at times. Your love in with Rodgers is almost as nauseating as your counterpart’s “Ginger Witch” bollocks, but this article is diabolical. What do you want the fans to do with McCowan? Boo him onto the field??? It’s incredible that you can write this, because I am pretty damned sure you would be the first person to lambast the fans if they did so. Having a go at him for being in tears is also beyond ridiculous – would you prefer he walked from the pitch laughing his head off?
I read some crap on this site, but that is up there with the worst.
As mentioned above, the best bit of this site is now, without doubt, the comments of readers, and it’s pretty much the only reason I continue to visit it.
Took the words out my mouth Andy. Disgrace of an article. McCowan didn’t make us bid for him, he didn’t force us to offer a new contract, he didn’t choose for us to be 3-1 down on tuesday before being thrown into a shambles of a game. I stood up and applauded him yesterday because he is a celtic player. Should he be? Not in a million years. But that’s not the point.
On a side note, he was one of the very few after the game to sign 100s of autographs and pose for photos which is something the kids, including my daughter will remember for a long time. Duran, Hogh and Hassan all couldn’t be bothered and ran to the car park. So fair play to Luke for that.
James love your stuff most of the time, It’s not McCowan fault we have failed to upgrade on him, Nygren has real questions to answer too. We played with 10 men today Nygren doesn’t run, tackle, pass correctly, track back, see his teammates movements, this guy is a luxury player we cannot afford, lazy, selfish, and arrogant but you pick on McCowan. Tuesday if Nygren actually has any awareness to the fact he plays a team sport we lead 1-0 at half time, his goals are great, his work rate is shocking.
Spot on!!!!
Unbelievable! Slacking off James…that standing ovation was happy clapperism that did more damage than the defeat on Tuesday…it symbolised an acceptance to incompetence at every level of club. To each and everyone who stood up and applauded should be ashamed of their action by legitimising the Board by default
James, that article could’ve been written by any one of those knuckledraggers on Swallow Swallow. Absolute character assassination job on one our own. I find it quite unacceptable and think you should have a long hard look at yourself.
Like McCowan isn’t the worst by a long shot and your piece just smacks of bullying.
I don’t like bullies. HH
James F — I think you are being a bit sore on McCowan but you are on the money generally.
Tuesday as a footballing occasion was too much for hime.
The basic issue was that LASK did not allow him to play the game he wanted too.
He did not have the smarts / the footballing nous to work that out and change accordingly.
The bigger fail on his part was that this was not the first time — he has a history of being off the pace in games and not adjusting his play.
The issue for us — is this behaviour something he has acquired from his two years with us or has it always been a flaw. His time at Dundee and his late bloomer status suggests that it is something he has developed with us.
Plus there is no “Cooncil pool” lifeguard in West Central Scotland with his stomach. Egg chasing props in the 4ths have a better physique that him even when carrying their winter weight.
That suggests his two years with us have been next to a disaster regarding his footballing future — comes back to my point that our squad dynamics / squad engagement post Postecoglu have been sub optimal.
On show in every game — we cannot be ersed to put in the effort to do free kicks / corners / penalties correctly.
Is there anyone at the club putting in afternoon shifts on the training ground or do we have a golf club / beer club / horse racing club / Ornithologist club / comic reading club to wile away our time?
McCowan is the symptom he is not the cause.
O’Neill / Maloney is another symptom.
The cause is a club that is coasting / phoning it in.
I used to really enjoy this blog even though the Ginger witch stuff and the constant speaking about The Rangers was obviously annoying but this article is it for me. We all know we aren’t good enough, the squad is poor, the board don’t care and it will no doubt be another long hard season, but borderline bullying one of our own players is disgraceful. Typical keyboard warrior jumping on the scapegoat. He’s a celtic player because Celtic bought him and gave him a new contract. Martin O’Neill plays him so why not harass Martin? Brendan Rodgers signed him so are you saying Brendan was wrong? Didn’t think so. Let’s kick a player while he’s down instead. Best supporters in the world?
You make some of the best comments on here, so I hope you continue to do so!
And yet again, I totally agree with you!
Last Tuesday put me in mind of the Liverpool/AC Milan final in 2005
Milan blew a 3-0 lead in the second half after playing Liverpool off the park in the first half Did they go out for the second half thinking it was job done?
I still believe if Nygren didn’t split the Celtic defence with the pass just before half time Celtic would have gone through As well as that I think Sinissalo could have done better with a couple of the LASK goals
Your attack on Luke McCowan is vitriolic to the extreme and I was glad the majority of the support gave him a standing ovation when he came on the park yesterday
Good God James you even tipped Luke to score first v Dundee in a cup game even though he was cup tied
As for Scales and Ralston nobody is pretending they’re great players but they both have been there when needed and in the main have never let us down
Great comment!!!
James I agree with you that McCowan isn’t Celtic class I thought that when we bought him and I haven’t changed my opinion since but he’s not on his own in that respect. The subs that came on on Tuesday night were subpar to say the least, we finished with a back four of Scales, Murray, Ralston and Trusty, there’s so much wrong at Celtic it’s unbelievable but destroying a player because he’s not good enough highlights what’s a symptom of the club’s managed decline. If you want to slaughter someone it would be Nygren I’d blame he played that pass to Osur as if he was playing for Lask, he didn’t even look where he played the ball and Osur took the gift and slotted it away, in my opinion that cost us the tie. By the time McCowan came on we were never going through as the momentum had swung well into their favour and it was inevitable they’d go on and put us out of the competition, it might actually turn out to be a blessing because with that squad and the teams Lask drew in the CL we’d have been looking at being really embarrassed as we’re not even prepared for our own league never mind any European football. As things stand we could still take a few embarrassing defeats in the EL. We’re a weaker team now than we were last season, we knew we needed a rebuild but waiting till a month into the transfer window to secure our first signing when we’ve know for six months this team needed major surgery shows how inept and how far this board have let the standards drop. We’ve no strategic plan or vision for the future and we’re applying a twenty odd year old structure when footballs moved on exponentially in that time. Even if we had a plan there’s no discernible football department there to take advantage of it, if any club gets their act together be it the huns or Hearts or whoever we’re in serious trouble. The only reason the Ibrox club haven’t done it is because they’re a bigger basket case than us. Since the turn of the century we’ve did just enough to stay ahead of them and that parochial attitude has allowed standards to diminish and diminish until there were no recognised standards left, this stuff creeps in and we become a little bit more lax and start saying och it’ll be fine, until its not fine anymore. I’ve been moaning about the state of the club since about 2007 because I saw this evolving then and now we’re nearly twenty years down the road and the rot is setting in and once it sets in it’s difficult to remove. We’re nowhere near rock bottom this is going to get so much worse than it is already we’re seeing the shoots of disaster rearing their head just now and it’s for someone with a higher IQ than mine to work out how to solve the potential shitshow that’s still ahead of us and we’re going to feel pain, pain like we’ve never felt before. So to blame Luke McCowan for not being Celtic quality isn’t going to help the bhoy but moreover it’s not going to change the course of what’s coming to us in the future and we’ve all been asleep at the wheel and watched the club we love being systematically downgraded at an alarming rate. Now some might disagree with what I’m saying here but this is my opinion and unless there’s an intervention and someone realises how bad the state of this club is then we’re on a very slippery slope. We’ve all had a laugh at what’s happened at Ibrox The Banter Years we’ve called it but one day they’re going to get things right over there and then they’ll have their own version to laugh at us with. I wish I was joking but I’m not, despite the fact we’re financially secure the money it’s going to take to turn this club into a twenty first century operation is why the roughly £250 million we’ve lost by failing to reach the CL on the last six try’s could’ve made all the difference to putting us on the right track again, time will tell if I’m right but that’s how far I believe we could fall unless something drastic is done.