Stan Petrov provided Celtic fans with some joined up neutral thinking yesterday as the team on the park extended their horrendous run.
That is the team that Dermot Desmond believes is superior to the squad that Stan went to Seville with, seeing off Liverpool, Stuttgart, Celta Vigo and Blackburn on route.
Like other fans Petrov has watched in dismay as the current Celtic side has wilted against Ferencvaros and Sparta Prague with the worst record in the Europa League group stage.
On Celtic TV the former Hoops midfielder was able to communicate with the watching supporters, sharing their concern and frustration without sugar-coating things or putting up a ridiculous defence of his former team-mate.
It was an impressive display from Petrov, he had done his homework, prepared and it would have been no bad thing if he had been in the dug-out or stripped and sent on at half-time to inject some purpose and direction into the hoops pedestrian display.
Reflecting on what he had witnessed, Petrov told the Daily Record:
The main disappointment would be the reaction of the players after the build up to the game. I wanted to see if there was a change and how much urgency they had in the second half but if anything Saints grew in confidence. It was like they knew Celtic had no surprises.
They got back late on but it was desperation. I was disappointed in the lack of urgency in the final third. We want to see players being aggressive and on the front foot. Are we seeing that? I don’t think so. St Johnstone came with a plan but Celtic didn’t have a plan B. It’s a concern.
Without being overly dramatic Petrov seemed genuinely upset by that he had witnessed. A silent Celtic Park hosting a tame performance wasn’t something he’d have recognised from the good days and not so good under John Barnes, Martin O’Neill and Gordon Strachan.
