IF NEIL LENNON IS GIVEN SERIOUS MONEY THEN CELTIC CAN BECOME A SERIOUS SQUAD IN EUROPE
Kieran Tierney's move to Arsenal will bring in £25m, Scott Sinclair's probable transfer a few million as well, which makes Celtic richer than they have ever been given that the bank balance was already bulging.
Celtic should get through to the Champions League play-off now and with two more major signings - let's be positive and say Slavia Prague will be taken care of - they could approach the always intimidating group stage with far more confidence than before.
Of course, Tierney will be a miss, as Moussa Dembele still is, but Lennon has a good group to work with and if he can get in two more first-team players, and nobody else goes, that’s serious strength from goalkeeper to striker which is going to be pretty handy as this squad fight on four fronts.
Lennon has done everything asked of him and more. He deserves to be given a few bob to go out and make an already impressive team even better.
READ MORE: Multiple reports claim Arsenal have agreed fee with Celtic for Kieran Tierney
If Celtic beat Slavia, far from a given, they would then potentially, a hell of a word in football, are going to be in much better shape than in previous years, combined with a pragmatic manager.
This is the time for the board to show real ambition. Even if it's the Europa League, Lennon needs to be able to spend.
CELTIC THINK LIKE A EUROPEAN TEAM
That’s now twice they have fallen behind early on in a qualifier this season and scored an equaliser soon afterwards.
Changed days from the past when one silly goal was, too often, quickly followed by a second or a chunk of sustained pressure from an opponent before they dragged themselves back in the game.
Celtic didn’t panic, they kept playing positive football, stuck to the plan and again it paid off.
Had Cluj, a quick counter-attacking side, been given encouragement, they could have had some fun after the opening goal – but the Scottish champions have matured.
No long balls. No fear of possession at the back or making a mistake. That’s the key to working out a way to make up for an error in these matches.
Are they perfect? Of course not. However, this was a sensible performance and not one of those watch from behind the couch displays.
READ MORE: CFR Cluj 1 Celtic 1: James Forrest strike earns Neil Lennon's men draw in Romania
Remember, AEK Athens was only a year ago.
CLEARING YOUR LINES IS THE CORRECT WAY FORWARD
When the ball was played back to Scott Bain, the goalie quickly sent in the opposite direction.
No second, third and fourth touch. No attempt to replicate Bobby Murdoch with a 60-yard pass to a winger. Just a simple and effective way of ensuring the Celtic back five didn’t invite trouble, so often a problem under Brendan Rodgers.
Okay, so it’s not the modern way – or so it’s been said – but Celtic aren’t good enough to play the ball out from the back away from home in Europe; certainly not how the previous manager wanted.
Safety first is no bad thing. It works.
THE SCOTTISH CORE OF PLAYERS ARE SUPERB
Ryan Christie’s performance levels have become silly. Here he covered every blade, was strong in attack, mindful in defence, and clever when in the middle of the park.
James Forrest’s goal was superb, that’s him scored for eleven seasons in a row, and it’s hardly the first time the winger has contributed in a European qualifier.
And then there is Callum McGregor. Did he make a mistake in Transylvania? This was a night for him to sit that bit deeper and rotate possession, which he did from start to finish.
Last of all, of course, Scott Brown, the captain, who lives for the dirty work which has to be done in games such as this one.
READ MORE: Ryan Christie, Callum McGregor and goalscorer James Forrest star for Celtic in Romania
These four are key to what Celtic can achieve this season.
TIERNEY IS A CELTIC LEGEND AND WLL BE A HUGE MISS
We shall skip over the performance of Bolingoli Boli, dearie me, but the left-back position has to be addressed because the team will now be without a modern great.
Tierney has over the past four years been Celtic’s best player. How you replace someone like this is not an easy question to answer.
He lived the dream and now is Scotland's most expensive player and likely the best paid. Not bad a for a lad who was almost not given a pro contract.
Good on him. Good luck to a hard working lad who deserves everything he gets.
Arsenal fans don't know how lucky they are.
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