Gers used to fear hitman Edouard.. now they barely notice him
IT’S going to be some first day in the job for Dominic McKay.
There’s no chance of Celtic’s new chief executive coming in and taking time to get his feet under the desk.
McKay has a heck of a job on his hands – and it starts now.
It was just as well he was at Ibrox and got to see it with his own eyes.
We had all the nonsense last week about John Kennedy saying Celtic were the best in Scotland on their day. That has been put to bed now. Celtic had their chances at Ibrox. They could and should have had a couple of goals but let’s not be kidded. There is a massive rebuilding mission required at my old club and it’s up to Celtic to respond.
You look at the game and you could say Rangers took their chances and Celtic didn’t but it was much more than that.
I saw a collection of individuals. I saw players who don’t seem to want to be at the club.
Rangers have the opposite and that is the huge difference.
You look at the loan players who will all be gone.
Diego Laxalt had a shocker but it was hardly a surprise.
It was one thing getting skinned by Joe Aribo but the lack of effort to get back in was telling.
Jonjoe Kenny wasn’t much better on the other side and you’ve got Mohamed Elyounoussi who is also going and he wasn’t clinical enough where it mattered.
Scott Brown is leaving as well but I actually felt for him yesterday and you couldn’t fault him for effort.
The same could not be said about the rest of them.
You have the likes of Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer, who look destined to be on their way out of the club in the summer.
I gave Edouard the benefit of the doubt earlier in the season. I thought he would get his head down and focus on this season after maybe wanting to leave after last year.
But it’s almost like he’s simply not interested any more.
If he wants to go, that’s fine. But where does he go?
He must have something lined up already because if you were a scout watching him yesterday, you’re
Celtic don’t look a threat at one end and always look vulnerable in their own area
certainly not putting him forward for a top club in Europe.
Edouard was a shadow of his former self at Ibrox.
The Rangers defence used to fear him but in this game they barely noticed him.
He should have buried his big chance when Celtic were 2-0 down and his penalty was woeful.
It just summed him up this season. It was all so half-hearted and future employers must be watching and sticking a question mark next to his attitude.
There were the usual question marks on the pitch at Ibrox. Celtic are just so unconvincing in both boxes. They don’t look a threat at set-pieces at one end and always look vulnerable in their own penalty area. Ibrox summed up the season.
It’s incredible how the tables have turned. Celtic used to go into these games with an air of superiority. They looked like defeat was inconceivable.
Now it’s Rangers who have the psychological advantage. I didn’t think they were that great or there was that much between the sides.
There’s no doubt not having James Forrest was a blow but at the same time it’s unlikely he would have started after the way Celtic played in the last
Old Firm game but there is such a lack of options and flexibility in this squad.
They have almost been forced to play this way because they are a bunch of individuals rather than a balanced group.
It’s a complete contrast to Rangers. They were much more solid and organised. More importantly, they were more clinical. Everything Celtic weren’t.
It doesn’t matter now. The season has gone for Celtic and it’s all about what happens next.
I just wonder what Eddie Howe would have been thinking if he was watching on.
If I was him I’d be back on the phone to Dermot Desmond to ask for more time to think about it or ask for some more money.
It’s a huge job he, or whoever comes in, has on his hands. At this moment it’s a practically a blank sheet of paper. What’s on it? Callum McGregor, David Turnbull are on there, you maybe give youngster Stephen Welsh the benefit of the doubt even if he wasn’t at his best against Rangers.
Ryan Christie’s future is uncertain, same with Leigh Griffiths.
Albian Ajeti doesn’t look up to standard and although Scott Bain couldn’t have done much yesterday, I still feel that a top goalkeeper is needed at Celtic.
So what does it leave? Not much. It’s a heck of a shopping list at Celtic Park if they are even to think about having a chance of reclaiming the title from Rangers next season.
McKay can’t afford to hang about. It has been a glorious spell for Celtic in recent years but this is the end of an era for this squad. There’s no time to waste in starting a new one.