Watershed moment

Today’s defeat from Ross County at Hampden is a watershed moment at Celtic.

For many supporters Ronny Deila cannot be allowed to continue as manager. After eighteen months in charge today’s gutless exit to a workmanlike Ross County side was one setback too many. No one can pretend that the current squad are about to emerge through three rounds of Champions League qualifiers.

After the match Deila mentioned his players being weak, later he corrected that to say that ‘they can be stronger when things go against us’. A comment that many supporters would aim at the manager.

Almost as alarming as the team’s display was the performance of referee Craig Thomson. Leigh Griffiths had a decent shout for a penalty ignored in the opening minutes- when Efe Ambrose brushed against Alex Schalk Thompson’s red card was out in no time at all.

Strangely during Celtic’s 2-1 defeat at Aberdeen in September the same referee decided that a yellow card was sufficient punishment for Andrew Consodine for pulling Leigh Griffiths down six yards from goal. Was that less of a goal-scoring opportunity that Schalk today?

20 seconds in, yellow card

For all the joy of putting eight goals past Hamilton Accies and scoring freely at Dundee United there is a lack of substance about the Celtic side. With the exception of the recent win over Partick Thistle when the going gets tough they wilt.

Celtic were in front against Ajax, Molde and Fenerbahce in the Europa League and failed to win a match.

They led 2-0 after 30 minutes against a Malmo side that included Jo Inge Berget, they then led 3-1. Malmo reached the group phase of the Champions League and lost 8-0 to Real Madrid.

It’s being over nostalgic but I recently watched a You Tube clip of Celtic winning 3-2 against St Mirren in a 1980 Scottish Cup replay. Tom McAdam was sent off with St Mirren taking the lead. Roy Aitken, Danny McGrain, Murdo MacLeod, Davie Provan, Bobby Lennox and Johny Doyle refused to accept defeat, rolled up their sleeves and turned the match around in extra time without the need for today’s modern gadgets and fads.

They understood the game, they understood Celtic, they knew the expectations and demands of the supporters. Sadly there are few currently at the club in touch with those emotions.

Today’s match summed up much of the football that we have witnessed over the last 18 months, exhilarating in patches but largely flat, lifeless and uninspiring.

Not even the most dewy eyed and optimistic supporter would argue that the current squad are seven months away from reaching the Champions League group stage. Reaching that point seems to be the new summit of the club’s ambitions, a few years ago there was an expectation of scrapping for second place or dropping into the Europa League and having an extended run in that competition.

Recent successful Celtic managers have brought in winners to turn around failing teams.

Chris Sutton, Alan Thompson, Joos Valgaeren, Neil Lennon and John Hartson costs a fortune but they had something that Rafael Scheidt and Eyal Berkovic never had- heart.

Their transfer fees cost the club plenty, plus top wages, but O’Neill’s initial signings had the guts to take on Rangers (IL) and everything else that Scottish football throws up. And they succeeded.

Likewise Neil Lennon brought in Gary Hooper, Joe Ledley, Anthony Stokes, Charlie Mulgrew and Kris Commons. They were here to win unlike Marco Fortune, Joos Hooiveld, Landry N’Guemo and Zheng Zhi.

There are a number of players in the current squad that can succeed at Celtic, by succeed make a fist of it in the Champions League while winning the SPFL and giving supporters memorable days at Hampden and reasons to celebrate.

Equally there were players on the park today that won’t cut it, the watching supporters know who those players are and made their feelings known today.

By and large Deila’s signings have failed to make an impact, Carlton Cole and Nadir Ciftci and failed to make the bench today. Saidy Janko hasn’t been sighted in months while Tyler Blackett seems to be as close to a top team place as Derk Boerrigter.

Six years ago Neil Lennon let rip about the players that lost to Ross County in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup. The current situation is no where near as drastic, winning the title is likely, Celtic are virtually assured a place in the last eight of the Scottish Cup.

While the playing needs are addressed Celtic supporters can’t be constantly expected to turn up at show-piece matches and have their afternoon ruined by horrendous refereeing.

Last year, citing pressure from supporters, Celtic wrote to the SFA for clarification over decisions not made by Steven McLean in the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat from Inverness Caley Thistle.

No reply was ever published, McLean continues to referee Celtic matches and took charge of the Hibs v St Johnstone League Cup semi-final on Saturday.

The penalty decisions awarded and not awarded today were marginal, what wasn’t was Alex Schalk’s bear hug on Craig Gordon at the second goal. Either Thomson couldn’t see the goalkeeper in the six yard box or viewed it and thought it was fair game. Neither answer is acceptable from a ‘top referee’.

Writing another letter for clarification won’t satisfy any Celtic supporter.

Until the refereeing circle at Hampden is overhauled these incidents are going to repeat themselves.

Thomson’s performance was similarly poor in last season’s League Cup semi-final, fortunately Celtic’s lower league opponents were unable to manage a shot at goal.

With Celtic already 2-0 up and Leigh Griffiths racing through one on one to goal Thompson decided to call play back and give Celtic a free kick no one had noticed or claimed for.

Lee McCulloch elbowed Griffiths on the back of the head on the half way line, no foul or booking. Later on the same player used John Guidetti for keepy-uppy practise. Free kick Sevco.

Celtic fans have had their fill of this, it’s watershed time.