Kevin van Veen and Curtis Main won’t be on the transfer lists of any Champions League sides this summer but the SPFL journeymen have handed Celtic a reminder of the gulf they have to overcome from September.
A month ago many fans would suggest that it will be difficult to improve on Ange Postecoglou’s acknowledged first XI but with Alastair Johnston and Cameron Carter-Vickers missing the Celtic defence has looked very vulnerable.
There could be an issue with protection from midfield but being exposed by van Veen (age 31, formerly of Scunthorpe and Northampton) and Main (age 30, formerly of Shrewsbury, Aberdeen and Motherwell) it is clear Celtic need others of the standard of Carter-Vickers and Johnston.
Greg Taylor isn’t far off that standard but the performances of the other defenders over recent games raises concern.
Tomoki Iwata may have played as a central defender in the J-League but today Main did Celtic a favour, the former Yokohama F Marinos man is a contender for a midfield place at Celtic, nowhere else.
Yuki Kobayashi may have had a very bad day at Ibrox last week but there hasn’t been much in his early appearances for Celtic to suggest that he is ready for the physicality of playing in Scotland and in Europe.
Joe Hart and Carl Starfelt could have used their experience to show leadership skills, instead, without Carter-Vickers neither player looked like their usual selves.
Signing players in January allows them time to settle in before the European tests come along, and gives the manager time to assess if they can cut it or if he has to move back into the transfer market.
In January Postecoglou dismissed sentiment to sell Josip Juranovic and Giorgos Giakoumakis- he revels in making big decisions.
After two European campaigns, one in the Champions League no-one knows better than the Celtic manager what is required for his season next season. We Never Stop is more than a catchphrase.
These last 2 results are just not good enough,how we played last week and today I would make Inverness favourites for next week,and I’m not joking.
I can just see the headlines already super Caley go ballistic Celtic are atrocious,we better get our act together.PRONTO.
We ain’t playin’ ICT next week!
Have you got it?
Get back to me after Caley skelp us then.
We ain’t playin’ them next week. Got it?
Just don’t want you turnin’ up at Hampden next week, when you could be fishin’!
Sober up ya klown.
Shut up fool
As for this phrase We Never Stop,well from what I’m watching we haven’t even got started to stop,so as they would say in Chewin The Fat,your taking that to far.
Yes, every game – dead rubber or not – we can learn something about the team and squad.
We can ALWAYS improve the team and squad.
Maybe the Buddies did us a favour today with another reality check after last week?
Do we believe that this squad will do better in the CL next season?
I don’t.
Domestically, yes, this squad could win a Treble next season,
but it’s not good eneough to make a dent in Europe – yet.
We need even better quality players to make progress in any of the European campaigns.
But, we’ve been here many times before at Parkhead, during the close season.
Invest for domestic success only – or reach further to achieve European progress?
Shut up fool
Ok Mr T.
You still on the Frosties in the morning, Scuddy?
I’ve argued it many times,we are getting carried away with spl performances,several of this CELTIC squad are nowhere near European class,no disrespect to spl teams but the quality and tactical prowess in Europe is far better,this is shown every year by abysmal performances of spl teams in these European competitions.we are still years behind in skill,tactics and fitness.