There stays a way of uncertainty surrounding Martin O’Neill‘s place at Celtic, though this group of gamers additionally should be held to account for the champions’ latest woes.
Incomings and exits have occurred, after all, however there stays the identical core group of gamers who’ve now toiled beneath Brendan Rodgers, Wilfried Nancy and O’Neill throughout the previous 12 months or so.
Sure, there was credit score in ending final time period with a home double, however even that hasn’t papered over the cracks completely, with Celtic’s woes in Europe remaining a long-standing problem beneath a succession of managers now.
Certainly, wanting again to the debacle in opposition to Kairat, merely not sufficient has modified when it comes to personnel within the time since.
Why Celtic’s squad continues to be in want of main overhaul
There’s been a lot recruitment executed in 2026 at Parkhead, but it surely’s onerous to shake the sensation that Michael Nicholson has prioritised amount over high quality once more.
Not one of the mortgage signings made in January have been stored on completely, whereas regardless of making ten summer season signings this time round, simply two have been concerned from the beginning in opposition to Rangers final day trip.
O’Neill continues to be turning again to these he inherited in Glasgow, the identical group of gamers who have been concerned on that evening in Kairat again in August 2025.
Of the gamers who began within the second leg, as Celtic crashed out on penalties, solely three have since left the membership, with Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Kasper Schmeichel all departing over the summer season.
It is successfully the identical again 4, with Colby Donovan having since ousted Anthony Ralston, whereas the make-up of the midfield is successfully the identical, with Mika Baur providing a direct substitute for Hatate.
Even in assault, there’s an argument that Yang Hyun-jun and James Forrest would nonetheless be the standout pairing, with Haissem Hassan nonetheless struggling for an finish product following his £6m arrival.
The dearth of change maybe speaks to the woes of the brand new signings as a lot because it does those that have remained, but it’s slightly stark how little Celtic’s beginning lineup has progressed over the previous yr.
Trying to the bench too, there’s additionally room for enchancment within the squad as an entire.
Why Celtic “scapegoat” must be offered in 2027
As famous above, as a lot as scrutiny must be positioned on the beginning lineup, a continued downside has been the shortage of actual choices in reserve too, with there having been clear parallels between the journey to face Kairat and the latest collapse in opposition to LASK.
|
LASK vs Celtic (2nd leg) – Beginning XI |
|
|---|---|
|
Place |
Participant |
|
GK |
Sinisalo |
|
RB |
Donovan |
|
CB |
Carter-Vickers |
|
CB |
Trusty |
|
LB |
Tierney |
|
CM |
McGregor |
|
CM |
Nygren |
|
CM |
Baur |
|
RW |
Duran |
|
ST |
Hogh |
|
LW |
Yang |
|
Used Subs: McCowan, Murray, Scales, Tounekti, Ralston, Hatate |
|
A yr in the past, after Rodgers initially introduced on Adam Idah and Arne Engels to attempt to change the sport, the three subsequent introductions have been that of Dane Murray, Colby Donovan and Luke McCowan, the latter duo coming into the fray in additional time.
Not precisely probably the most inspiring substitutions, with it the same story away in Linz, the likes of Liam Scales, Murray, Ralston, and McCowan all coming into the fray, as did Hatate and Sebastian Tounekti.
A typical thread there throughout each Champions League playoff exits is that man McCowan, the Scot notably seeing his spot-kick saved a yr in the past, as did each Idah and Maeda.
His subsequent efficiency in opposition to LASK off the bench was maybe much more egregious, nevertheless, the playmaker placing in a desperately poor displaying at a time when Celtic must regain a way of management.
The tide had already shifted earlier than his arrival, however McCowan seemingly solely helped to hurry up the collapse, notably at fault for the decisive fifth purpose on the evening.
In the view of Chris Sutton, the Hoops legend felt that the previous Dundee man had been unfairly made one thing of a “scapegoat” within the wake of that crushing defeat, having subsequently eliminated himself from social media.
“Luke McCowan has been harshly made right into a little bit of a scapegoat by followers on-line however he ought to by no means have been in that state of affairs, having to come back on to rescue a Champions League marketing campaign.
“The actual fact he was wanted factors again to the overriding undeniable fact that Celtic as soon as once more went into this match badly missing in key areas.”
And but, the plain reality is that his efficiency was simply not on the required stage, having misplaced the ball 21 occasions from simply 44 touches, whereas profitable solely 4 of his 13 duels.
At 28, he’s no mere prospect, as a substitute somebody who O’Neill would have been hoping to supply a relaxing presence in a troubled interval within the sport for the guests.
Scapegoated or not, that outing summed up what has been an underwhelming time of it for McCowan in Glasgow, the left-footer having since been hooked on the break after being handed a shock begin within the latest derby defeat.
That felt like the ultimate straw, in reality, and regardless of signing a contract extension earlier this yr, Nicholson can be clever to attempt to transfer the playmaker on in January.
His deal ends in the summertime of 2028, guaranteeing 2027 could show the proper alternative to money in on the £1m signing.
