Lazy Nicholson handicaps Celtic’s Champions League hopes

As expected, last night Celtic failed to make any changes to their Champions League squad.

Last week Arne Engels, Adam Montomery and Michel-Ange Balikwisha were named in the squad to face LASK for a place in the 36 team elite UEFA competition.

Two of those players have been transferred and not replaced.

Fans familiar with the working of Michael Nicholson won’t be surprised to find out that no late additions were made to the squad.

Last week Nicholson completed two signings in the safe knowledge that £22m was coming in from West Ham for Engels.

Following the deals for Mika Baur and Haissem Hassan it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Celtic CEO took a few days off work. It is doubtful if anyone would noticed his absence.

At his pre-match media conference Martin O’Neill made it very clear that there would be no late signings.

A case can be made for there being little benefit in making signings the night before a match.

It is debatable how useful it would be parachuting someone in on the day of a match.

However there is a second leg next Tuesday in which a new signing could supply the ‘small margin’ to turn failure into success.

We’re still in the process of trying to do that. We haven’t been able to get someone in, in time, to do that.

But there are a number of players that we’re looking at and hopefully we will by the end of the transfer window.

O’Neill is hopeful that players will be signed by September 3. It was obvious from January that Engels would be in demand. No serious efforts has been made to sign his replacment.

O’Neill’s quotes are virtually the definition of a club that doesn’t treat Champions League qualification seriously.

SUCCESSIVE TRANSFER WINDOWS WEAKEN CELTIC

In January Nicholson signed six players on loan. O’Neill quickly and assessed all of them, none were involved in the final stages of last season. None were offered permanent deals.

So far Celtic have signed two genuine Champions League goal-scorers, a midfielder and a winger.

While losing Engels, Daizen Maeda, Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi. Alistair Johnston isn’t likely to return to playing before October.

Most of Celtic’s hopes for success tonight will depend on Kasper Hogh finding the net.

Camilo Duran could contribute if he can get in off the wing to play through the centre.

There is a decent chance that Baur could be given a starting place after getting 20 minutes against Dundee United. Hassan is likely to be used as a second half substitute.

It seems very clear that being in the Champions League is an awkward bonus for the Celtic board.

With the comfort of Thursday nights in the Europa League a more comforting alternative.

Celtic have a 50-50 chance of going through against LASK, it should be an 80% shot.