Every Celtic Supporter wants Wilfried Nancy to be a success. On Thursday night the game against Roma was over by half time and some Celtic fans had seen enough and made their way to the exits. My journey to Celtic Park began on a warm sunny morning in Spain. I strolled down to the bus station to catch a bus to Alicante listening to some Podcasts previewing the game.
I travelled hoping for the best but fearing the worst. While waiting to board my flight I bumped into Chris from Glasgow. I met Chris first in Malones at Celtic AM back before Covid. We chatted about the current state of play at Celtic. Chris was flying from Majorca and with no direct flight this would be his second flight to get him back to Glasgow. Celtic supporters passion for the club can never be questioned.
The flight was delayed an hour which meant we landed in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic. I dropped the bags in the hotel and made my way by train and foot to Paradise and with 10 minutes to spare I was walking up by the iconic Billy McNeill statue lifting the European Cup at the bottom of the impressive Paradise Way with it’s Christmas lights sparkling on a dark night.
I was glad to see that the other famous statues closer to the main entrance were not surrounding by barriers and that Celtic fans could once again have access to meet friends and take some pictures. I took my seat in the main stand with the Green Brigade ban still in place. The noise was coming from the away supporters to my right. The Roma fans were vocal all night and their players gave them plenty to sing and chant about.
There was a minutes applause for Celtic Legend Dixie Deans but sadly no tifo in the North Curve section of the stadium. The GB have their critics but they know how to honour an iconic Celtic player when they sadly pass away. They were badly missed tonight but fair play to the Bhoys Ultras for their backing of the team on a night when many Celtic supporters had headed for the exits long before full time.
Dermot Desmond made a rare appearance at Celtic Park but he had enough as well and left on the 71st minute. I presume he was there to welcome the new Celtic manager and tell him he was the boss after he appointed him on the advice of Celtic head of football operations Paul Tisdale. He looked dapper as he left his seat beside Peter Lawell. In fact he looked like a mafia don with his tailored suit, pink shirt and tie and impressive Crombie coat.
Peter Nicholson shuffled up one seat after DD left as did all the Directors. There maybe unity in the Celtic board room but the distance between them and us continues to grow. Banners were visible to see and fans were vocal in their continued disapproval of them. Some older fans offered their opinion to the board members as they left the stadium. Anyone that thinks it is just some young Ultras who are fed up with the way the club is being run should think again.
The results and especially the first half performance were hard to take. Celtic were outplayed and for once I did not want to see Evan Ferguson score. Last night he got 2 goals. We were outplayed and out muscled. The Celtic team needs new blood. You only had to look towards the bench last night to see how weak the squad is. Engels penalty miss on the stroke of half time just summed up a miserable evening. Iheanacho did have us off our seat when he put the ball in the Roma net but it was ruled off side and the visitors also had a second half goal chalked off. By full time the stadium was almost empty. Celtic Park was once a fortress on European Nights on Thursday night it resembled a Grave Yard.
Wilfried Nancy now has to pick the players up after 2 defeats ahead of the League Cup Final on Sunday. St. Mirren will be feeling confident, their players know their system and they have had a week to perfect it.
We now sit 24th in the Europa League table just still in the play off positions. Between now and our next European adventure we have plenty of games in Scotland including Dundee United, Livingston and Motherwell away and then the rangers at home. Winning is everything at Celtic and Wilfried needs to start winning games. Football is a results business and it will be the manager who pays the price for failure.
Wilfried started the game last night with no recognised right back and finished with two coming off the bench. His style of play has turned a winning team under Martin O’Neill into a losing one in a week. To implement his style of play he may need a summer and 2 transfer windows to get the players in he needs to fit his style of play. He may not get that long.
There is also whispers coming out of Lennoxtown that all is not well within the the football department after the treatment of John Kennedy. Hopefully after Sunday we are celebrating another trophy is the cabinet at Celtic Park but a win will only paper over the cracks that keep appearing at OUR club.
Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast
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