Familiarity Breeds Contempt at Celtic?

The Full Scottish with Brian P. Dunleavy –  Follow Brian on Twitter –  The more things change, the more they remain the same. It’s an old cliché, but apt when describing Celtic these days, particularly in the aftermath of the Hoops’ 1-1 draw against Danish side FC Midtjylland on Tuesday. Yes, there was a new […]

The Full Scottish with Brian P. Dunleavy – 

Follow Brian on Twitter – 

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

It’s an old cliché, but apt when describing Celtic these days, particularly in the aftermath of the Hoops’ 1-1 draw against Danish side FC Midtjylland on Tuesday. Yes, there was a new manager (Greek-Australian Ange Postecoglou) and, yes, somewhere in the Kerrydale Suite sat a new chief exec (Dominic McKay). Oh, and yes, there were supporters (9,000 or so) in the stands for the first time in more than a year.

However, the latter in particular couldn’t be blamed if things looked a tad bit familiar, at least on the pitch at Celtic Park. There was newly named captain Callum McGregor working industriously in the middle of the park, while undoubtedly hearing the grumblings from a segment of the support questioning his leadership qualities (not from this corner). And there was Ryan Christie dashing up and down the flanks—and missing at least two sitters.

There was also Nir Bitton taking a silly red card, reprising his performance at Ibrox from last January that sealed Celtic’s fate last term, and Greek goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas muffing Midtjylland’s one legitimate scoring chance for the equalizer, on a set piece no less (the Hoops’ bugaboo last season).

And there was French striker Odsonne Edouard flashing signs of his otherworldly ability while demonstrating his all-too-common lack of application, and a back-line at times that featured Bitton (until his sending off) and youngsters Stephen Welsh and 18-year-old Dane Murray (not to mention perpetual understudy Anthony Ralston at right back), with the manager opting to eschew new, 4 million pound  signing Osaze Urhoghide, rendering him a not-so-poor-man’s Shane Duffy on the night.

That can’t be a good sign, and nor can the lack of signings so late on in the summer—again, as this surely seems familiar as well. Celtic have known about the need at right-back since the departure of Jeremie Frimpong in January. Urhoghide can play the position, allegedly, but, apparently, he doesn’t (yet) rate better than Ralston—or Bitton for that matter.

Barkas’ deficiencies between the sticks have also been obvious since his arrival in Glasgow last summer. And yet, the 4.5 million pound man remains, likely because the alternatives are retread Scott Bain and unproven Conor Hazard. 

But, you see, that’s another thing that’s familiar about Celtic in 2021-22, at least so far. The club still has not appointed a Director of Football, nor is there a Head of Recruitment or Head of Scouting, at least none announced. It’s hard to believe Postecoglou has had much time to identify players since his June 10^th appointment (and 10-day quarantine), much less evaluate what he already has.

Does new manager’s apparent lack of faith in Urhoghide suggest he was not involved in the player’s transfer? Or is it simply that he didn’t want his first taste of life on the pitch in Scotland to be a crucial European qualifier? If it’s the latter, why was it not a factor for, say, Murray and newly signed Israeli winger Liel Abada?

Celtic reportedly completed the signing of Swedish defender Carl Starfelt on Wednesday, but will that be a case of too little, too late? Even if the Hoops make it past Midtjylland, with the second leg in Denmark next week, they could face Galatasaray in the next round of qualifying. Yikes.

“We’ve got to help and support these players with reinforcements and it’s got to happen quickly,” Postecoglou said after the Midtjylland match.

Bhoy, does that sound familiar.

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