Celtic fans have already written off record signing Kasper Hogh after just 90 minutes, with Martin O'Neill's tactics also coming under fire following a 1-0 win over Dundee on Flag Day.
The Hoops were slow out of the blocks in their league opener, and supporters were quick to judge on the Hotline.
Fans unimpressed with Hogh debut
Charles Maxwell said: “I was interested to see what £11million was going to get Celtic against Dundee on Monday night. On first impressions, it appears to be less than we had before. The Celtic backroom team seem incapable of learning from their mistakes.
"We could have kept Giorgos Giakoumakis if we’d paid the wages but ended up spending £9m on Adam Idah. Then we could have had Kelechi Iheanacho but decided to spend £11m on Hogh. It was a hellish debut performance. Thank God for the old guard like Yang and Benjamin Nygren.”
John Caw emailed: “I am emailing this while watching the first half of Celtic vs Dundee and if this is a sample of what’s to come then I’m afraid I will not be very happy. The most abysmal football I’ve watched in a long time. Celtic are in deep trouble if they have to depend on some of that lot.”
O'Neill's tactics baffle supporters
It did get better for John and his fellow Celtic fans as Benjamin Nygren netted the winner after the break. But that still wasn’t enough for some.
Paul McCormack, Coatbridge, said: “So Martin O’Neill played the right-footed winger on the left and the left-footed winger on the right, meaning none of them could go outside and hit the line. But he subs on two wide men and players them on their natural sides and we get some joy. What was that set up all about? Baffling tactics, absolutely baffling.”
Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs, said: “Celtic look like a team in transition with there or four of the first team on the verge of shipping out and the rest of the team looking for new arrivals to freshen the squad up. There was a lack of urgency, the tempo was too slow, and a lack of speed and creativity. Camilo Duran looks like a player who does his best work in and about the 18-yard box and gives the impression that the wing is not his thing. If there are now quality arrivals before the Champions League playoff they could see another £40million going down the drain.”
Transfer concerns and a glimmer of hope
Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, said: “It’s amazing how Celtic take so long to sign players and every quality player we have seems to be up for grabs. Our dithering in transfers was exposed in the Dundee game. Alistair Johnston moving to left back is a disgrace when you consider Marcelo Saracchi could be in the building.”
Kenny Wilson, Moffat, said: “Three points for the champions but talk about making hard work of it. The lack of quality and creativity was evident yet again. The team needs serious investment and soon. Yang wouldn’t look out of place in the second division and if they get over £20million for Arne Engels then, trust me, it will be shown on Crimewatch in months to come.”
David Beattie, Rothesay, said: “Not only do the Celtic hierarchy need to delay any potential exits until after the Champions League play-off but also bring their replacements now so that we have our strongest squad for what is essentially the most important game of the game season. Fail to prepare, then prepare to fail as was the case last season.”
Surely someone must have something positive to say on the game? Well, kind of.
Stephen Mulhern emailed: “While I was disappointed in not witnessing Kasper Hogh not scoring on his debut I also remember a fellow Scandinavian striker in Henrik Larsson having an underwhelming debut for Celtic at Easter Road and the rest is history. Martin O’Neill will hopefully now switch to a 4-4-2 going forward as Camilo Duran is wasted out wide.”
