This is the day after, the day after the night before.
For various reasons, I wasn’t able to write up anything yesterday when like all Celtic fans I was still reeling from our latest European capitulation.
For the second time in two weeks, Celtic were well and truly taken to the cleaners by a Sparta Prague team that hasn’t otherwise won a game since early October and has in the past two months been hammered in their two other European outings vs Milan (3-0) and Lille (4-1) not to mention also being tonked in two recent domestic games against Viktoria Plzeň (3-1) and Dynamo České Budějovice (4-2).
However, as soon as they see a Neil Lennon side they suddenly become world-beaters.
We, of course, took the lead through Odsonne Edouard but it was a false dawn and conceded four goals once again to the Czech side with Lukáš Juliš again filling his boots with two goals sandwiched in between strikes from Dávid Hancko and Srđan Plavšić.
Yes, we dominated the play for 30 mins in the second half but didn’t make it count which is a common trait this season as the likes of Mohamed Elyounoussi toiled and Scott Brown once again looked every day of his 35 years.
He was hooked on 66 minutes for Tom Rogic but by then it was too late.
We knew before the game that the ‘European adventure’ was already over in all but name but now it’s official and for us at least the final two games away in Milan and at home to Lille are dead rubbers and have the potential to be truly embarrassing affairs against teams still with something to play for.
Now we truly can focus on domestic affairs starting at home against Ross County in the League Cup on Sunday.
Like us, they are struggling with no league wins in their last seven with five defeats.
In that run, they have conceded 15 and scored only 3 and their last league victory came way back on the 19th of September at St.Johnstone.
The League Cup has proved a kinder competition for them with three wins and a draw but all against lower league opposition.
All in all, though this is a game we should be winning and with some to spare but considering we’ve only won two from our last nine then there are no guarantees.
Right now I’m approaching games peering through the cracks of my fingers as Neil Lennon once again tries to tinker with the lineup and formation usually resulting with the same or similar results.
Surely even he must realise two upfront is the way to go and he has to stop hoping that Elyounssoui will finally form a partnership with someone.
Scott Brown also has to be dropped with immediate effect if we are going to actually have a midfield again but it appears he is a first pick no matter how ineffectual his play is.
After the County game, we have five league games in December with four at home and we really need to be taking maximum points considering the opposition is St.Johnstone, Kilmarnock, and Ross County again before a struggling bottom placed Hamilton Accies away on Boxing Day and then Dundee Utd at Celtic Park before visiting Ibrox in the New Year.
Neil Lennon is of course under extreme pressure with a vocal section of the support already demanding his departure which includes the Green Brigade and with every poor result he becomes ever more angry and defiant.
I hadn’t called for his departure previously but after the other night, we just look devoid of ideas, structure and desire.
We have the best squad in the country yet are miles behind Rangers in the league and in regards to Europe, Sparta’s team were assembled for a fraction of what ours was.
Yet they are hammering us and not the other way around.
Lenny’s job is well and truly hanging by a thread and one more bad result will likely be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
I hope he turns it all around and the upcoming fixture list is kind to him but I fear he won’t and to persist thereafter would just be folly.
Let’s see what happens.
Surely this can’t get any worse?
....Always A Tim! 