Pundit Michael Stewart reckons Celtic have taken a massive gamble by leaving season preparations so late this summer.
As we know, the club took an age to bring a new manager to the club. That, in turn, has ensured transfer business has been significantly delayed too.
Even the most optimistic of Celtic supporters would admit that the squad is not in optimum shape for the tie against FC Midtjylland in the Champions League.
Stewart isn’t impressed but understands it’s not the fault of Ange Postecoglou or any of the new arrivals at Celtic.
Writing in his Scottish Sun column, he explained: “This is no time to be gambling given what is at stake for the Parkhead club. But that’s exactly where they are right now. And it’s not a good look.
“That isn’t Ange Postecoglou’s fault. Or Liam Shaw’s. Or Osaze Urhoghide’s for that matter. They’re all just in the door, along with Liel Abada and Kyogo Furuhashi. But by leaving everything to the last minute Celtic have taken a huge gamble.
“The concern for me is it’s not as if they couldn’t have seen this coming. It’s not unusual for such big games to happen so early in the season. Celtic know this. They have been involved in plenty of them over the past decade.
“The difference is in past years they had won the title, then maybe tweaked things here and there. This, though, is quite clearly a rip it up and start again job that has been almost a year in coming.”
There’s room for Celtic concern and optimism ahead of Midtjylland
It’s difficult, as a Celtic fan, to categorise all my hopes and grievances into different boxes right now. Like Stewart, I also can’t absolve the club of any blame for being unprepared for this Champions League test. At the same time, I have significant hope in Postecoglou and the changes he is making.
It’s not a black and white situation. Celtic can both be criticised and supported right now. It’s a strange place to be.
Stewart, unlike some other high-profile pundits, at least gives Celtic a chance in this fixture. Chris Sutton reckons a miracle is needed, while other columnists and Hugh Keevins have pretty much written the Bhoys off.
I’m not quite there. I think Midtjylland have problems of their own and aren’t unbeatable. It’s going to be a hard-fought encounter, no doubt, but we can still get the job done.
It’s important to remember they are going through something of a transition themselves with a new manager, wantaway stars and a problem defence. Sounds familiar, of course, but let’s give this a good go. We’re not walking to the gallows.
In other news, Liel Abada tells Celtic supporters he’s ready to go vs Midtjylland.
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