Celtic board sent home truths as Parkhead chiefs told they've left team weaker amid need for mindset shift
The Celtic board are under the microscope after three bruising defeats.
A Celtic-supporting pundit has blasted the club’s board for standing still after two defeats to Rangers.
The Hoops managed by Martin O’Neill have won six of their seven Premiership games this season but losses in Europe against LASK and Ferencvaros, coupled with consecutive Old Firm losses versus Rangers, has piled pressure on the club hierarchy. They were heavily criticised last term as Hearts pushed Celtic to the final day of the season before league glory was claimed and Alan Brazil believes a sigh of relief was had rather ensuring it didn’t happen again.
Sunday’s 1-0 loss at home to Rangers left him baffled and he wonders whether O’Neill should have returned to the dugout this season. He also feels the board have yet again been caught in a stationary position and that their mindset heading into the summer needed shifting. Brazil told talkSPORT: “I can’t accept every loose ball they won. Every 50-50, they won. Even some of the balls they didn’t deserve to win, they won. They just wanted it more.
Alan Brazil on Celtic board
“What about the midfield? The midfield is garbage. Sorry, I don’t like slagging people off, but the midfield is garbage. No legs and no fight. You think of Roy Keane. Roy Aitken, my old captain, Scott Brown, another one. Even if you aren’t playing well, they would be biting into tackles and getting into each other’s faces.
“Martin is getting a bit of stick. It didn’t help with the little spat with the female reporter. That didn’t help. It wasn’t a good watch. I am not having a go because his record at Celtic is magnificent. He just looks a little tired. Maybe coming back was not the right thing to do.
“I am not blaming everything on Martin because the board have to hold their hands up. They do it all the time; with the greatest of respect, they do it all the time. They don’t get a win and say, ‘Right, let’s improve. Let us be stronger next year.’ They think, ‘Oh lovely, we got away with that.’ Celtic didn’t build on it. They are weaker this year.”
Martin O’Neill on Celtic 0-1 Rangers
O’Neill said after the defeat to Rangers: “ "We're still two points clear at the top of the league. We have a break coming up and it's a time to reflect, see where we are positioned and get on from there. I thought there wasn't much between the teams. Rangers scored, we had a couple of chances ourselves.
"The club has suffered defeat in the past; I've had that and it's a matter of fighting back and that's what you've got to try and do. Every defeat is really painful and it hurts every bit as much now as it did before. I have to reflect on things myself, see what I can do better to help the team. That's something that I'll genuinely think about. There are always big questions when you lose matches. You have to accept responsibility, which I do. Remember, this is my team. I am responsible for that."
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