The Offical Glasgow Celtic thread

[smelmoth]

Is the truth here just simply that Scottish football is pretty poor? The squads are stocked with players who's baseline in England would be bottom third of the second tier. It is going to be exceptionally difficult, coming from that base to compete in Europe. Yes Celtic have more money that many of the sides they have come up short against. But that money is generated because an audience is prepared to follow a team dominating a poor quality league. So money yes but the key football facts don't change.

Against all of that nobody should be under any delusions on where Lennon sits as a manager. He was a free agent in the past after his first stint as Celtic manager. You could list the offers from England on the back of a postage stamp that was shrunk in the wash.

Not sure what reputation Stevie G thinks he is building in Scotland. He probably will get some English offers but I guess that will be based on his name as a player rather as a manager

Pretty much all of Celtic's starting XI would hold its own in the EPL.

None of Celtic's starting XI have proven themselves in the EPL so I don't know how you can believe that. Only Edouard is even been linked with a transfer to EPL or European side. Look at the teams who have knocked Celtic out of Europe in recent seasons: Cluj, Copenhagen, Ferenvaros. None of whom would be even close to European football heavyweights or contenders.

The new signing from West Ham was a flop and not good enough for the EPL so what does is say about Celtic/Scottish football if he's expected to be their new star striker?

The likes of Everton, Burnley, Southampton etc have all done appallingly in the Europa League in recent years.

The EPL is not the pinnacle of football no matter what you think.

Ajeti certainly looks like a donkey, he doesn't look good enough for Celtic from the little bits so far.

Copenhagen took Man Utd to extra time a couple of weeks back. Sevilla eeked past Cluj in the EL as well.

The main issue for Celtic right now is a manager who is not up to the job and a board who are trying to pinch pennies at every corner. I don't think the quality of the squad is too bad overall, they just need a better manager in who needs to be backed financially.

I don't anyone argued the EPL was the pinnacle of football

And yes the clubs you mentioned didn't do well in Europe in those seasons. In fact they tended to have poor seasons when they tried to combine Europe with domestic competition. But they are nowhere near the best dudes in EPL. Mid table in the seasons you describe. Celtic on the other hand have typically ran away with SPL. Indicating that the average standard in Scotland is piss poor.

The chances are that Lennon is a poor manager but it's very far from the situation that any Scottish team is a good manager from thriving in Europe

I'm comparing Celtic to the teams outside the top 6/7 in the EPL. I don't think the standard is all that vast. Those clubs that were mentioned earlier all got into the Europa League via their league performances, they were all terrible when they qualified. All teams have to juggle their European duties with their domestic duties, arguably a lot more pressure on Celtic as dropped points might mean missing out on a title rather than finishing 9th or 13th.

Teams like RB Salzburg, Slavia Prague, Dnipro Donetsk, Ajax and many more have shown that you can excel in Europe on more modest budgets in recent years.

I don't think the overall talent is too lacking in the squad, I think Celtic currently have a decent enough spine but the problem seems to come from a management team that look clueless and a board unwilling to invest in areas that need addressing.

Those teams were like Celtic dominating their domestic leagues. They can play full strength teams in Europe. Everton, Burnley etc not so

Celtic can't afford dropped points and can't afford to rest players.

The opposite of what you're saying is actually true. Everton play for nothing every year so can send a dud team out at the weekend if they wish.

Eh no.

Think about these 2 statements.

Generally speaking Celtic, Rangers, Ajax, Copenhagen etc play their strongest sides in the Europa League
Generally speaking sides like Everton, Burnley etc will play their strongest sides in the EPL and rest players for European games.

Look up team sheets etc. Get the facts.

[Angelo]

Is the truth here just simply that Scottish football is pretty poor? The squads are stocked with players who's baseline in England would be bottom third of the second tier. It is going to be exceptionally difficult, coming from that base to compete in Europe. Yes Celtic have more money that many of the sides they have come up short against. But that money is generated because an audience is prepared to follow a team dominating a poor quality league. So money yes but the key football facts don't change.

Against all of that nobody should be under any delusions on where Lennon sits as a manager. He was a free agent in the past after his first stint as Celtic manager. You could list the offers from England on the back of a postage stamp that was shrunk in the wash.

Not sure what reputation Stevie G thinks he is building in Scotland. He probably will get some English offers but I guess that will be based on his name as a player rather as a manager

Pretty much all of Celtic's starting XI would hold its own in the EPL.

None of Celtic's starting XI have proven themselves in the EPL so I don't know how you can believe that. Only Edouard is even been linked with a transfer to EPL or European side. Look at the teams who have knocked Celtic out of Europe in recent seasons: Cluj, Copenhagen, Ferenvaros. None of whom would be even close to European football heavyweights or contenders.

The new signing from West Ham was a flop and not good enough for the EPL so what does is say about Celtic/Scottish football if he's expected to be their new star striker?

The likes of Everton, Burnley, Southampton etc have all done appallingly in the Europa League in recent years.

The EPL is not the pinnacle of football no matter what you think.

Ajeti certainly looks like a donkey, he doesn't look good enough for Celtic from the little bits so far.

Copenhagen took Man Utd to extra time a couple of weeks back. Sevilla eeked past Cluj in the EL as well.

The main issue for Celtic right now is a manager who is not up to the job and a board who are trying to pinch pennies at every corner. I don't think the quality of the squad is too bad overall, they just need a better manager in who needs to be backed financially.

You might not rate the EPL, but the standard is way above Scottish football. You still haven't replied to several of us why you think Celtic are an EPL standard team and their players are just as good as those in the EPL?

Only Edouard has shown anything resembling the ability an EPL footballer. Smashing 4/5 goals past St Mirren and Hamilton every week doesn't automatically qualify team/players as superstars.

There's so much ignorance in that post you wouldn't know where to start.

Nobody is saying the SPL is of an equivalent standard to the EPL but I think Celtic would survive comfortably with a decent manager down there. You seem to vastly, vastly overstimate the quality of the EPL outside the top six teams.

What's the ability of an EPL footballer? A guy like Jamie Vardy who spends his career in the English lower leagues and non-league and comes to the EPL in the twilight of his career and hits a century of goals?

I've seen the EPL, there are plenty of Irish international players getting their game there that would get nowhere near a Celtic team - Stevens, Egan, Long, McGoldrick, Hourihane, Hendrick etc etc.

You seem to brainwashed into thinking the EPL is the be all and end all.

Edouard is good enough to play for a top 4 team down there. The rest of the Celtic first team starters and fringe players are more than capable of holding their own at that level when you look at some players clocking up regular appearances.

If we say Liverpool, City, United and Chelsea are the EPL top 4 I think the chances of Edouard getting a regular start with any of those sides I s precisely zero.
I think the chances of the Christie, McGregor, Brown etc thriving in any PL side is also zero. That seems to be view of the EPL managers and scouts also

It seems you are another EPL cheerleader.

I'm sure plenty of people have said the same on guys like Van Dijk, Wanyama, Tierney etc in the past. Edouard is more than good enough for a top 4 EPL side, Brown would easily have held his own in the EPL in his pomp but he shouldn't be starting with Celtic these days. McGregor and Christie keep EPL regulars out of the Scottish national team.

Which of the top 4 are after Edouard?
Who was after Brown in his pomp?
Who are the EPL regulars being kept of the Scottish team when fit?

1. Who was after him wasn't the debate? Who he is good enough for was. He is good enough for all of them.
2. Newcastle made strong advances to sign him when he was at Celtic, few other EPL clubs too.
3. A combination of McTominay, McGinn, Fleck, McLean, Armstrong

[Cosmo Kramer]

Lads, you'd be as well talking to the wall as trying to have a rational conversation with the Celtic crowd about their current standing relative to the EPL.

You're moving into a world where Celtic are a massive club just as long as you ignore their lack of TV money, a decent sponsorship deal, a decent manager or a decent league to play in. Massive club though, everyone says it.

A world where someone like Enda Stevens is a lower league plodder but Greg Taylor is a superstar plying his trade with one of the greats of European football. A world where an entire team that couldn't beat Ferencvaros, Cluj or even Kilmarnock a couple of weeks ago would walk into the Premier League and have their pick of clubs. Yet, despite that opportunity to double their wages or more, somehow, inexplicably, they happily play on for half the wages with Celtic and bizarrely no EPL teams show any interest in them.

It's a world where Rangers are a top half EPL team and Aberdeen, with only a tiny fraction of the resources, are somehow EPL standard as well. Where anyone who dares to suggest otherwise is an "EPL fanboy" or similar.

It's a whole different world lads, best to just leave them at it.

[lenny]

Lads, you'd be as well talking to the wall as trying to have a rational conversation with the Celtic crowd about their current standing relative to the EPL.

You're moving into a world where Celtic are a massive club just as long as you ignore their lack of TV money, a decent sponsorship deal, a decent manager or a decent league to play in. Massive club though, everyone says it.

A world where someone like Enda Stevens is a lower league plodder but Greg Taylor is a superstar plying his trade with one of the greats of European football. A world where an entire team that couldn't beat Ferencvaros, Cluj or even Kilmarnock a couple of weeks ago would walk into the Premier League and have their pick of clubs. Yet, despite that opportunity to double their wages or more, somehow, inexplicably, they happily play on for half the wages with Celtic and bizarrely no EPL teams show any interest in them.

It's a world where Rangers are a top half EPL team and Aberdeen, with only a tiny fraction of the resources, are somehow EPL standard as well. Where anyone who dares to suggest otherwise is an "EPL fanboy" or similar.

It's a whole different world lads, best to just leave them at it.

When people talk about the epl they tend to think of exciting clubs like man utd, man city, liverpool, spurs, chelsea and arsenal. Outside of those though the standard is pretty ordinary. In fact most of the rest of the clubs could easily be interchanged with any team from the championship without a reduction in standard. If any of those ordinary clubs was transported into the scottish league for a couple of seasons I would be extremely confident Celtic would easily beat them to the league.

[Angelo]

Lads, you'd be as well talking to the wall as trying to have a rational conversation with the Celtic crowd about their current standing relative to the EPL.

You're moving into a world where Celtic are a massive club just as long as you ignore their lack of TV money, a decent sponsorship deal, a decent manager or a decent league to play in. Massive club though, everyone says it.

A world where someone like Enda Stevens is a lower league plodder but Greg Taylor is a superstar plying his trade with one of the greats of European football. A world where an entire team that couldn't beat Ferencvaros, Cluj or even Kilmarnock a couple of weeks ago would walk into the Premier League and have their pick of clubs. Yet, despite that opportunity to double their wages or more, somehow, inexplicably, they happily play on for half the wages with Celtic and bizarrely no EPL teams show any interest in them.

It's a world where Rangers are a top half EPL team and Aberdeen, with only a tiny fraction of the resources, are somehow EPL standard as well. Where anyone who dares to suggest otherwise is an "EPL fanboy" or similar.

It's a whole different world lads, best to just leave them at it.

Another badly rattles EPL cheerleader.

Defend the franchise
Defend the franchise
Defend the franchise

Go and get your Barclays poms poms

[uimhr ocht]

Not brushing aside the fact celtic had poor results like cluj,copenhagen,ferenvarcos,they have had good results also,lazio home and away,man city games,leipzig, virgil van dijk im sure was on a celtic team who had a shocker in Europe and hes now the best centre back in epl,dembele,van dijk,denayer,armstrong,mc ginn,pukki,larsson,hartson,sutton,players who have played in the Scottish league and didn't harm there careers.The bottom half of the EPL is average west brom,burnley bournmouth,would hardly be top notch.

[Angelo]

Not brushing aside the fact celtic had poor results like cluj,copenhagen,ferenvarcos,they have had good results also,lazio home and away,man city games,leipzig, virgil van dijk im sure was on a celtic team who had a shocker in Europe and hes now the best centre back in epl,dembele,van dijk,denayer,armstrong,mc ginn,pukki,larsson,hartson,sutton,players who have played in the Scottish league and didn't harm there careers.The bottom half of the EPL is average west brom,burnley bournmouth,would hardly be top notch.

Don't tell the diehard EPL heads that on here or they will have a collective aneurysm.

Enda Stevens is up there with Roberto Carlos for them and Isaac Hayden is the new Andrea Pirlo.

[dublin7]

Lads, you'd be as well talking to the wall as trying to have a rational conversation with the Celtic crowd about their current standing relative to the EPL.

You're moving into a world where Celtic are a massive club just as long as you ignore their lack of TV money, a decent sponsorship deal, a decent manager or a decent league to play in. Massive club though, everyone says it.

A world where someone like Enda Stevens is a lower league plodder but Greg Taylor is a superstar plying his trade with one of the greats of European football. A world where an entire team that couldn't beat Ferencvaros, Cluj or even Kilmarnock a couple of weeks ago would walk into the Premier League and have their pick of clubs. Yet, despite that opportunity to double their wages or more, somehow, inexplicably, they happily play on for half the wages with Celtic and bizarrely no EPL teams show any interest in them.

It's a world where Rangers are a top half EPL team and Aberdeen, with only a tiny fraction of the resources, are somehow EPL standard as well. Where anyone who dares to suggest otherwise is an "EPL fanboy" or similar.

It's a whole different world lads, best to just leave them at it.

That's pretty much spot on. Angelo is football yoda and EPL and European managers/scouts are idiots for ignoring Celtic's players.

The problem for Celtic is that they dominate a piss poor league and have little or no competition. The fans obviously consider 10 in a row a big deal, but for the foreign lads in the squad it's almost irrelevant. They will more than likely go on to win the league this year and Ferencvaros will be forgotten until this time next year when they face a step up in opposition and go out again. It's happened 3 years in a row and unless things change it'll happen next year again.

[Main Street]

Angelo no harm to you but u are so blinded by the hatred/dislike for NL it's not even funny. You think that changing Celtic manager is going to change everything? you are wrong. I've defended NL so many times and to be fair i didn't on Wed nite as it was impossible to defend but you think any manager is going to come in and have Celtic playing like Bayern Munich. Every single debate you have here no matter what your asked about and your answer is sack NL. You've a short memory if you can't cast it back to some of the managers Celtic have had over the last 2 decades. BR was good and you were correct in saying that he got half decent players playing well but you know what even the mighty BR had lost his magic in the end and his charm was not working the same as it was in his first year, it deteriorated greatly each passing year and he knew himself it was time to run before he got found out too (not to mention running for the extra coin). Ronnie D, John Barnes, Tony Mowbray etc that's just some of the managers Celtic have had...enough said.

The sad fact is we are a feeder club now to EPL clubs who make 20 times what we make and the worst part of it all is this generation of young people whether it be our own kids or young professional footballers are spoilt brats and if they don't feel like playing for the club they'll not play and if their agent or parents tell them they can get more money elsewhere then they're away. No loyalties anymore, no morals just spoilt brats and that's they way things are now and it wouldn't matter one bit who was managing them...

I think you are the one blinded on Lennon. It's not hatred, he's just not up to the job, did you read The Athletic article?

Deila won two titles in two years and was sacked/walked away. Barnes had to deal with a dominant Rangers side and a leg break for his star man and lasted a few months. Mowbray's tenure was a disaster but he only lasted 5 months against a Rangers side who would also capture the title the following season from Neil Lennon.

I see Lennon has now flip flopped on throwing his players under the bus Wednesday night.

I will kinda agree with you on that, I was a b it OTT about him TBH but i can't defend him this time and i too was not happy with his performance not just tonight but in other games too. I just know there are too many bog standard managers out there and getting rid of NL and going for one of these other guys who had a lucky run with some Championship club is not the answer for a club like Celtic

It's pretty clear that Lennon has lost it, similar as MO'N lost it after he left Villa. Whatever values Lennon espouses as a coach and manager are not resonating with the team. it's not working and some players are distancing themselves. It's similar to the embarrassment  with what O'Neill was doing with Roy Keane as sidekick in the Ireland international set up and afterwards in England.
The standard at Celtic is qualify for CL group stages or go out gamely in the CL play offs, drop down to the EL group stage and finish in the top 2.  The club has the fan base and the finance to put together a squad to achieve that and club has the ethos to expect that as the standard of achievement.
Virtually on his own Forster brought Celtic past Lazio and put a bit of gloss on last season, but this season it looks like the house is falling inwards. The only reason the board have not got a potential replacement ready is they were not sufficiently prepared for this eventuality. 

[smelmoth]

Lads, you'd be as well talking to the wall as trying to have a rational conversation with the Celtic crowd about their current standing relative to the EPL.

You're moving into a world where Celtic are a massive club just as long as you ignore their lack of TV money, a decent sponsorship deal, a decent manager or a decent league to play in. Massive club though, everyone says it.

A world where someone like Enda Stevens is a lower league plodder but Greg Taylor is a superstar plying his trade with one of the greats of European football. A world where an entire team that couldn't beat Ferencvaros, Cluj or even Kilmarnock a couple of weeks ago would walk into the Premier League and have their pick of clubs. Yet, despite that opportunity to double their wages or more, somehow, inexplicably, they happily play on for half the wages with Celtic and bizarrely no EPL teams show any interest in them.

It's a world where Rangers are a top half EPL team and Aberdeen, with only a tiny fraction of the resources, are somehow EPL standard as well. Where anyone who dares to suggest otherwise is an "EPL fanboy" or similar.

It's a whole different world lads, best to just leave them at it.

That's pretty much spot on. Angelo is football yoda and EPL and European managers/scouts are idiots for ignoring Celtic's players.

The problem for Celtic is that they dominate a piss poor league and have little or no competition. The fans obviously consider 10 in a row a big deal, but for the foreign lads in the squad it's almost irrelevant. They will more than likely go on to win the league this year and Ferencvaros will be forgotten until this time next year when they face a step up in opposition and go out again. It's happened 3 years in a row and unless things change it'll happen next year again.

That 10 in row thing will be interesting. Interesting to see how people react to it. SPL can be best characterised by 2 bald men fighting over a comb. It's of no significance. There will be an attempt to attach significance to 10 in a row due to the 2 previous 9 in a rows in Scottish football. But in reality for a lot of those 10 years there was only 1 bald man to be found.

Rangers are on box later for anyone wanting to assess what kind of quality you win the SPL. Most won't bother. And they'd be right

[smelmoth]

Enda Stevens is up there with Roberto Carlos for them and Isaac Hayden is the new Andrea Pirlo.

Someone either made those claims or you are a fantasist. I think some of you views about Celtic need to be judged in that context

[smelmoth]

Is the truth here just simply that Scottish football is pretty poor? The squads are stocked with players who's baseline in England would be bottom third of the second tier. It is going to be exceptionally difficult, coming from that base to compete in Europe. Yes Celtic have more money that many of the sides they have come up short against. But that money is generated because an audience is prepared to follow a team dominating a poor quality league. So money yes but the key football facts don't change.

Against all of that nobody should be under any delusions on where Lennon sits as a manager. He was a free agent in the past after his first stint as Celtic manager. You could list the offers from England on the back of a postage stamp that was shrunk in the wash.

Not sure what reputation Stevie G thinks he is building in Scotland. He probably will get some English offers but I guess that will be based on his name as a player rather as a manager

Pretty much all of Celtic's starting XI would hold its own in the EPL.

None of Celtic's starting XI have proven themselves in the EPL so I don't know how you can believe that. Only Edouard is even been linked with a transfer to EPL or European side. Look at the teams who have knocked Celtic out of Europe in recent seasons: Cluj, Copenhagen, Ferenvaros. None of whom would be even close to European football heavyweights or contenders.

The new signing from West Ham was a flop and not good enough for the EPL so what does is say about Celtic/Scottish football if he's expected to be their new star striker?

The likes of Everton, Burnley, Southampton etc have all done appallingly in the Europa League in recent years.

The EPL is not the pinnacle of football no matter what you think.

Ajeti certainly looks like a donkey, he doesn't look good enough for Celtic from the little bits so far.

Copenhagen took Man Utd to extra time a couple of weeks back. Sevilla eeked past Cluj in the EL as well.

The main issue for Celtic right now is a manager who is not up to the job and a board who are trying to pinch pennies at every corner. I don't think the quality of the squad is too bad overall, they just need a better manager in who needs to be backed financially.

You might not rate the EPL, but the standard is way above Scottish football. You still haven't replied to several of us why you think Celtic are an EPL standard team and their players are just as good as those in the EPL?

Only Edouard has shown anything resembling the ability an EPL footballer. Smashing 4/5 goals past St Mirren and Hamilton every week doesn't automatically qualify team/players as superstars.

There's so much ignorance in that post you wouldn't know where to start.

Nobody is saying the SPL is of an equivalent standard to the EPL but I think Celtic would survive comfortably with a decent manager down there. You seem to vastly, vastly overstimate the quality of the EPL outside the top six teams.

What's the ability of an EPL footballer? A guy like Jamie Vardy who spends his career in the English lower leagues and non-league and comes to the EPL in the twilight of his career and hits a century of goals?

I've seen the EPL, there are plenty of Irish international players getting their game there that would get nowhere near a Celtic team - Stevens, Egan, Long, McGoldrick, Hourihane, Hendrick etc etc.

You seem to brainwashed into thinking the EPL is the be all and end all.

Edouard is good enough to play for a top 4 team down there. The rest of the Celtic first team starters and fringe players are more than capable of holding their own at that level when you look at some players clocking up regular appearances.

If we say Liverpool, City, United and Chelsea are the EPL top 4 I think the chances of Edouard getting a regular start with any of those sides I s precisely zero.
I think the chances of the Christie, McGregor, Brown etc thriving in any PL side is also zero. That seems to be view of the EPL managers and scouts also

It seems you are another EPL cheerleader.

I'm sure plenty of people have said the same on guys like Van Dijk, Wanyama, Tierney etc in the past. Edouard is more than good enough for a top 4 EPL side, Brown would easily have held his own in the EPL in his pomp but he shouldn't be starting with Celtic these days. McGregor and Christie keep EPL regulars out of the Scottish national team.

Which of the top 4 are after Edouard?
Who was after Brown in his pomp?
Who are the EPL regulars being kept of the Scottish team when fit?

1. Who was after him wasn't the debate? Who he is good enough for was. He is good enough for all of them.
2. Newcastle made strong advances to sign him when he was at Celtic, few other EPL clubs too.
3. A combination of McTominay, McGinn, Fleck, McLean, Armstrong

The world knows Edouard is available at a price. If he was good enough for a top 4 they would be after him. He is by a distance the best player in Scotland. But he ain't getting in that Liverpool front 3. He ain't displacing Aguero, Jesus or Sterling. He is not pushing Rashford or Martial out of the United side and he is not ahead of Werner or even Giroud. The same applies to the like of Spurs, Arsenal or Leicester. The next set down from that and yeah I think he could get a game each week but buying a player out of Scotland. Gary Hooper used to get 20+ goals a season in Scotland. Means nothing outside Scotland

You are right about Newcastle and Brown. I remember it now. Just the one summer though.

I think I remember some controversy over Scotland taking San Marino too likely and selecting either Christie or McGregor ahead of McTominay because McTominay has played away in Europe days before. That aside I can't recall McTominay being left out. I can't recall a fit McGinn being left out by Scotland whilst he was fit in the last year.

[Angelo]

Is the truth here just simply that Scottish football is pretty poor? The squads are stocked with players who's baseline in England would be bottom third of the second tier. It is going to be exceptionally difficult, coming from that base to compete in Europe. Yes Celtic have more money that many of the sides they have come up short against. But that money is generated because an audience is prepared to follow a team dominating a poor quality league. So money yes but the key football facts don't change.

Against all of that nobody should be under any delusions on where Lennon sits as a manager. He was a free agent in the past after his first stint as Celtic manager. You could list the offers from England on the back of a postage stamp that was shrunk in the wash.

Not sure what reputation Stevie G thinks he is building in Scotland. He probably will get some English offers but I guess that will be based on his name as a player rather as a manager

Pretty much all of Celtic's starting XI would hold its own in the EPL.

None of Celtic's starting XI have proven themselves in the EPL so I don't know how you can believe that. Only Edouard is even been linked with a transfer to EPL or European side. Look at the teams who have knocked Celtic out of Europe in recent seasons: Cluj, Copenhagen, Ferenvaros. None of whom would be even close to European football heavyweights or contenders.

The new signing from West Ham was a flop and not good enough for the EPL so what does is say about Celtic/Scottish football if he's expected to be their new star striker?

The likes of Everton, Burnley, Southampton etc have all done appallingly in the Europa League in recent years.

The EPL is not the pinnacle of football no matter what you think.

Ajeti certainly looks like a donkey, he doesn't look good enough for Celtic from the little bits so far.

Copenhagen took Man Utd to extra time a couple of weeks back. Sevilla eeked past Cluj in the EL as well.

The main issue for Celtic right now is a manager who is not up to the job and a board who are trying to pinch pennies at every corner. I don't think the quality of the squad is too bad overall, they just need a better manager in who needs to be backed financially.

You might not rate the EPL, but the standard is way above Scottish football. You still haven't replied to several of us why you think Celtic are an EPL standard team and their players are just as good as those in the EPL?

Only Edouard has shown anything resembling the ability an EPL footballer. Smashing 4/5 goals past St Mirren and Hamilton every week doesn't automatically qualify team/players as superstars.

There's so much ignorance in that post you wouldn't know where to start.

Nobody is saying the SPL is of an equivalent standard to the EPL but I think Celtic would survive comfortably with a decent manager down there. You seem to vastly, vastly overstimate the quality of the EPL outside the top six teams.

What's the ability of an EPL footballer? A guy like Jamie Vardy who spends his career in the English lower leagues and non-league and comes to the EPL in the twilight of his career and hits a century of goals?

I've seen the EPL, there are plenty of Irish international players getting their game there that would get nowhere near a Celtic team - Stevens, Egan, Long, McGoldrick, Hourihane, Hendrick etc etc.

You seem to brainwashed into thinking the EPL is the be all and end all.

Edouard is good enough to play for a top 4 team down there. The rest of the Celtic first team starters and fringe players are more than capable of holding their own at that level when you look at some players clocking up regular appearances.

If we say Liverpool, City, United and Chelsea are the EPL top 4 I think the chances of Edouard getting a regular start with any of those sides I s precisely zero.
I think the chances of the Christie, McGregor, Brown etc thriving in any PL side is also zero. That seems to be view of the EPL managers and scouts also

It seems you are another EPL cheerleader.

I'm sure plenty of people have said the same on guys like Van Dijk, Wanyama, Tierney etc in the past. Edouard is more than good enough for a top 4 EPL side, Brown would easily have held his own in the EPL in his pomp but he shouldn't be starting with Celtic these days. McGregor and Christie keep EPL regulars out of the Scottish national team.

Which of the top 4 are after Edouard?
Who was after Brown in his pomp?
Who are the EPL regulars being kept of the Scottish team when fit?

1. Who was after him wasn't the debate? Who he is good enough for was. He is good enough for all of them.
2. Newcastle made strong advances to sign him when he was at Celtic, few other EPL clubs too.
3. A combination of McTominay, McGinn, Fleck, McLean, Armstrong

The world knows Edouard is available at a price. If he was good enough for a top 4 they would be after him. He is by a distance the best player in Scotland. But he ain't getting in that Liverpool front 3. He ain't displacing Aguero, Jesus or Sterling. He is not pushing Rashford or Martial out of the United side and he is not ahead of Werner or even Giroud. The same applies to the like of Spurs, Arsenal or Leicester. The next set down from that and yeah I think he could get a game each week but buying a player out of Scotland. Gary Hooper used to get 20+ goals a season in Scotland. Means nothing outside Scotland

You are right about Newcastle and Brown. I remember it now. Just the one summer though.

I think I remember some controversy over Scotland taking San Marino too likely and selecting either Christie or McGregor ahead of McTominay because McTominay has played away in Europe days before. That aside I can't recall McTominay being left out. I can't recall a fit McGinn being left out by Scotland whilst he was fit in the last year.

Van Dijk was available for £10.5m and none of the top 4 went for him, Liverpool ended up paying 7x that price a couple of years later.

You don't seem to be able to see the woods from the trees through your EPL lens.

[charlieTully]

Will ye never learn not to engage the trolls lads. Armchair fans of English clubs. Let them get on with it. They only come on here when Celtic are getting it rough. Ignore them ffs.

[lenny]

Is the truth here just simply that Scottish football is pretty poor? The squads are stocked with players who's baseline in England would be bottom third of the second tier. It is going to be exceptionally difficult, coming from that base to compete in Europe. Yes Celtic have more money that many of the sides they have come up short against. But that money is generated because an audience is prepared to follow a team dominating a poor quality league. So money yes but the key football facts don't change.

Against all of that nobody should be under any delusions on where Lennon sits as a manager. He was a free agent in the past after his first stint as Celtic manager. You could list the offers from England on the back of a postage stamp that was shrunk in the wash.

Not sure what reputation Stevie G thinks he is building in Scotland. He probably will get some English offers but I guess that will be based on his name as a player rather as a manager

Pretty much all of Celtic's starting XI would hold its own in the EPL.

None of Celtic's starting XI have proven themselves in the EPL so I don't know how you can believe that. Only Edouard is even been linked with a transfer to EPL or European side. Look at the teams who have knocked Celtic out of Europe in recent seasons: Cluj, Copenhagen, Ferenvaros. None of whom would be even close to European football heavyweights or contenders.

The new signing from West Ham was a flop and not good enough for the EPL so what does is say about Celtic/Scottish football if he's expected to be their new star striker?

The likes of Everton, Burnley, Southampton etc have all done appallingly in the Europa League in recent years.

The EPL is not the pinnacle of football no matter what you think.

Ajeti certainly looks like a donkey, he doesn't look good enough for Celtic from the little bits so far.

Copenhagen took Man Utd to extra time a couple of weeks back. Sevilla eeked past Cluj in the EL as well.

The main issue for Celtic right now is a manager who is not up to the job and a board who are trying to pinch pennies at every corner. I don't think the quality of the squad is too bad overall, they just need a better manager in who needs to be backed financially.

You might not rate the EPL, but the standard is way above Scottish football. You still haven't replied to several of us why you think Celtic are an EPL standard team and their players are just as good as those in the EPL?

Only Edouard has shown anything resembling the ability an EPL footballer. Smashing 4/5 goals past St Mirren and Hamilton every week doesn't automatically qualify team/players as superstars.

There's so much ignorance in that post you wouldn't know where to start.

Nobody is saying the SPL is of an equivalent standard to the EPL but I think Celtic would survive comfortably with a decent manager down there. You seem to vastly, vastly overstimate the quality of the EPL outside the top six teams.

What's the ability of an EPL footballer? A guy like Jamie Vardy who spends his career in the English lower leagues and non-league and comes to the EPL in the twilight of his career and hits a century of goals?

I've seen the EPL, there are plenty of Irish international players getting their game there that would get nowhere near a Celtic team - Stevens, Egan, Long, McGoldrick, Hourihane, Hendrick etc etc.

You seem to brainwashed into thinking the EPL is the be all and end all.

Edouard is good enough to play for a top 4 team down there. The rest of the Celtic first team starters and fringe players are more than capable of holding their own at that level when you look at some players clocking up regular appearances.

If we say Liverpool, City, United and Chelsea are the EPL top 4 I think the chances of Edouard getting a regular start with any of those sides I s precisely zero.
I think the chances of the Christie, McGregor, Brown etc thriving in any PL side is also zero. That seems to be view of the EPL managers and scouts also

It seems you are another EPL cheerleader.

I'm sure plenty of people have said the same on guys like Van Dijk, Wanyama, Tierney etc in the past. Edouard is more than good enough for a top 4 EPL side, Brown would easily have held his own in the EPL in his pomp but he shouldn't be starting with Celtic these days. McGregor and Christie keep EPL regulars out of the Scottish national team.

Which of the top 4 are after Edouard?
Who was after Brown in his pomp?
Who are the EPL regulars being kept of the Scottish team when fit?

1. Who was after him wasn't the debate? Who he is good enough for was. He is good enough for all of them.
2. Newcastle made strong advances to sign him when he was at Celtic, few other EPL clubs too.
3. A combination of McTominay, McGinn, Fleck, McLean, Armstrong

The world knows Edouard is available at a price. If he was good enough for a top 4 they would be after him. He is by a distance the best player in Scotland. But he ain't getting in that Liverpool front 3. He ain't displacing Aguero, Jesus or Sterling. He is not pushing Rashford or Martial out of the United side and he is not ahead of Werner or even Giroud. The same applies to the like of Spurs, Arsenal or Leicester. The next set down from that and yeah I think he could get a game each week but buying a player out of Scotland. Gary Hooper used to get 20+ goals a season in Scotland. Means nothing outside Scotland

You are right about Newcastle and Brown. I remember it now. Just the one summer though.

I think I remember some controversy over Scotland taking San Marino too likely and selecting either Christie or McGregor ahead of McTominay because McTominay has played away in Europe days before. That aside I can't recall McTominay being left out. I can't recall a fit McGinn being left out by Scotland whilst he was fit in the last year.

Works both ways. Teemu Pukki couldn't do it in Scotland but scored loads of goals and played every week for Norwich in the epl. Stuart Armstrong was a bit part player for Celtic but was a regular for Southampton scoring a good few goals from midfield.