YOU know that feeling when you want something for a really long time, then the reality doesn’t quite match up to the expectation? Like when you were a kid at Christmas, and the anticipation during the build-up was sometimes even better than the day itself?
Ange Postecoglou could be forgiven if he feels that way right now. Certainly, the Celtic manager gave off the air at times during the club’s pre-season training camp in Wales of the kid in Still Game that had asked for a Playstation and awoke on Christmas morning to ‘Pads’.
The 55-year-old Australian has waited a long time for his big break at a big club in European football, but when it has arrived, it is under less than perfect circumstances. If he was under any pretences about what the Celtic manager job entails, he certainly knows all about his responsibilities now.
He won’t have come into this job with his eyes closed, but even so, a couple of weeks in the post will likely have been an hell of an eye opener.
For starters, no sooner had he been persuaded to give Leigh Griffiths one last chance to resurrect his Celtic career than the striker was at the centre of a police investigation for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to schoolgirls.
He has since been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by police, but Postecoglou seems more inclined to put himself up front for the Midtjylland game than call on Griffiths, who is extremely unlikely to be seen in a Celtic jersey again.
When the question about Griffiths was put to him following the final friendly of their training camp against Bristol City, there was no hiding his feelings about the conduct of the forward either in the tone or the content of his response.
He hadn’t given Griffiths a thought, he said, while his expression told you exactly what he did think about Griffiths and his future at the club.
The reasoning behind giving Griffiths an extra 12 months was likely to take the pressure off the search for attacking reinforcements for the Champions League qualifiers. Odsonne Edouard seems unlikely to be physically fit enough to play on Tuesday night, even if he is mentally able to focus on the task at hand with so much uncertainty over his future.
Albian Ajeti has made a promising start to preseason, but youngster Owen Moffat leading the line for the last knockings of the friendly in Bristol highlighted the lack of depth at the sharp end of the Celtic attack.
Another injury to Mikey Johnston has further limited Postecoglou’s options for Tuesday night, though James Forrest will have rejoined the group following his period of isolation, and new signing Liel Abada will arrive at Lennoxtown today.
Even the more experienced Celtic players acknowledge the need for reinforcements though – and quickly – if the club are to have any hope of Champions League progression. Postecoglou may have come in with high hopes of tapping into the Asian market he is so familiar with, but so far, his marquee signing has come from the club’s long-standing relationship with agent Dudu Dahan.
Postecoglou himself looked exasperated when discussing the difficulties of operating in the transfer market in the current climate, with the pandemic complicating matters even further than the usual difficulties that are faced in persuading a certain level of player to come to Scotland.
Defender Carl Starfelt is likely to arrive before Tuesday, but even so, it will likely be a makeshift back four that takes to the field against Midtjylland at Celtic Park.
When you factor in the multiple injuries that Celtic have picked up, as well as the watching cast of players like Olivier Ntcham , Ryan Christie and Kristoffer Ajer who are in the limbo of neither seemingly being available for Celtic first-team duty nor having earned the transfers they crave, then it is a heck of a situation for even the most seasoned manager at this level to deal with.
There was a wry smile when Postecoglou paused before answering a question about this faction within his squad, as he went on to explain Ajer’s absence by saying: “Kris has still got some issues.” Ain’t that the truth, Ange.
And the Norwegian is just one of the multiple concerns you get the feeling Postecoglou could do well without. Or could do perhaps with having, say, a Director of Football working above him to deal with.
The Celtic manager seems happiest on the grass, coaching players and getting his philosophy across to them. His enthusiasm in the video released by Celtic was of a coach in his element, instructing his players from the heart of the action and barking orders at them, making it abundantly clear what he expects from them.
Since then, he has been a little more withdrawn, with even Greg Taylor describing him as ‘quiet’ around the camp in Wales. It could be that he has a lot to ponder.
That’s not to say he hasn’t got his message across. The players seem enthused by his methods, and are buying into the style he is trying to impart upon them.
Whether that is enough to get through a Champions League tie that has all the hallmarks of coming too soon, remains to be seen. Whatever way it goes, it would seem hugely unfair to judge Postecoglou or his team until he has had the time not only to bring in his own players, but to sort out the shambles he has inherited.
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