DISASTER for Celtic in Molde, last night - but, why are we surprised?
It is not as if the Hoops were the first Scottish team to stumble and trip-up in Norway; we still think of the Norwegians as easy meat for Scottish teams, but, recent football history tends to indicate they are now, at least our equals, if not our superiors.
Celtic had over 60% of the possession and territory, but, not for the first time, the cry was no defenders, as they crashed to defeat.
Celtic's defence, if that's not a breach of the Trades Description Act, might be adequate for the relatively calm waters of the SPFL, but, in Europe, it is the football equivalent of the three-pin electrical plug. Until the well-documented failings of the defence are straightened-out, Celtic are going nowhere in Europe but OOT.
I have long believed Celtic and the RTA both require "A fan on the park" - an influential player who, if he wasn't out there playing, would be in the crowd cheering-on the team. Scott Brown, and as he made all too clear when subbed, Kris Commons, both care, deeply. But, neither is a brought up in the faith, dyed in the wool member of the "Celtic Family" - a McNeill, Burns, Aitken etc, who bleeds green. I fear, until they find such a player, Celtic will be vulnerable.
It is not as if the Hoops were the first Scottish team to stumble and trip-up in Norway; we still think of the Norwegians as easy meat for Scottish teams, but, recent football history tends to indicate they are now, at least our equals, if not our superiors.
Celtic had over 60% of the possession and territory, but, not for the first time, the cry was no defenders, as they crashed to defeat.
Celtic's defence, if that's not a breach of the Trades Description Act, might be adequate for the relatively calm waters of the SPFL, but, in Europe, it is the football equivalent of the three-pin electrical plug. Until the well-documented failings of the defence are straightened-out, Celtic are going nowhere in Europe but OOT.
I have long believed Celtic and the RTA both require "A fan on the park" - an influential player who, if he wasn't out there playing, would be in the crowd cheering-on the team. Scott Brown, and as he made all too clear when subbed, Kris Commons, both care, deeply. But, neither is a brought up in the faith, dyed in the wool member of the "Celtic Family" - a McNeill, Burns, Aitken etc, who bleeds green. I fear, until they find such a player, Celtic will be vulnerable.
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