SENTINELCELTS

It was disgusting and like Derek deserves punishment.
It was the biggest collapse since the Twin Towers fell.
It was a masterclass from one manager, unfortunately not ours.

Where does the blame lie?
Just take a metaphorical Blunderbus, point it at the club and pull the trigger, the vast spray would hit everyone to blame, and I’m adamant everyone is to blame.

I should start at the top and not only did they only commence business in July due to the annual accounts but they also dragged every deal out to a ridiculous extent. The due diligence on discovering Ox was banned in Europe must also fall at their feet. The biggest.charge against them in my eyes is neglect, no “good at their job/know their job” employee should allow the first team squad to become so devoid of depth nevermind quality as it has become. They have delivered four quality players but as we all found out, thats not enough. They failed in their duty to (regardless of manager) ensure we had a minimum number of players worthy of the name and once again failed the biggest test of the season.

The manager and coaches ultimately failed, stating the obvious, one might say there were multiple failures.
First between the Ox and the Arne situation signing another midfielder alongside Baur before the registration deadline was imperative. He either didn’t grasp that or push it through strongly enough or he wrongly thought we had enough in house.
Last week we weren’t the better team but took our chances better yet Martin changed nothing. The younger manager took him to the cleaners by playing 10 of the previous 11, but crucially altering the gameplan.

After 5 minutes the camera panned to our touchline and Shaun was using his hands to give the manager his version of their tactics. The gaffer didn’t look interested and just sat down, rather than yell instructions etc. Maybe Martin was right as 4 times he watched his players spring and score and usually that would be enough. Maybe Shaun was right in that we should have responded to their new system which was Route 1 plus winning the second balls through committing in numbers.

The manager said there would be no complacency but it was exactly that which caused our downfall. After being outplayed at home yet emerging winners, with their manager publicly stating that to the press and therefore his players all week, it was blindingly clear they were going all out attack and we needed to be mentally switched on for the sure as the sun rises onslaught. We rode our luck rather than being masters of our own destiny.

Each “almost” gave them hope and again their manager had neutralized last week’s danger men for instance keeping two around Hogh and Duran. Their energy, drive, and simple willingness to just bloody go for it had us on the ropes and for whatever reason a tactical adjustment never entered the equation. Reo and Luke arent tactics but sticking plasters. Martin came with faith in his men, but not any new strategy.

With a lack of legs in midfield, plus Callum and Baur pinned back, they had the run of the middle and it was either a long range shot or a lightning cross that always seemed to find its man. Their huge striker had much joy dragging a defender usually KT towards the goal then retreating into the space he just left and repurposing the ball in a very dangerous area. Something needed done, two banks of 5, anything, the manager failed in not changing things up and his subs were very questionable. I suggest it wasn’t just the opposition manager that got the best of him but also his health given he didnt get crazy on the sidelines as our hopes faded.

Martin accepted the responsibility, and so did Callum which is handy as they owed it, they don’t get off scott free on this, not at all. They bottled it and instead of a spine of leaders galvanizing the troops they searched for any leader on the park, none of the 16 passed the test. The way I feel today I would happily discard everyone in the squad bar the summer buys and start from scratch under new leadership. The collapse is made more inexplicable given they regularly beat R2ngers at Ibrox and Hampden in front of bigger and louder crowds. The spirit that drove us to an unlikely double not long ago was completely absent, and thats a worry.

So thats where my blame lies, the scattergun approach in which everyone is part guilty and rather than one massive fracture our multiple weak points collectively forced an implosion when placed under enough pressure. If we had strengthened some of those weak points this collapse would be less likely to unlikely. It wasn’t that our luck ran out, its that all our flaws were exposed all at once.

My final point is more than likely the deciding factor in the tie.
A neutral observer would surely tell you that LASK were the “hungrier” team over the 2 legs.
Take a look across our squad and ask yourself is the real hunger still burning?
CCV, Trusty, Callum,KT, AJ, Tony, James, Benji,,,,and even Martin,,,,the medal cabinet is well stocked,,the body is saying relax,,the good life of retirement and enjoying your substantial wealth awaits.
Those Lask boys were not only on a personal crusade to say yes I played in a famous comeback game, but also to say I played in the Champions League and don’t forget the life-changing bonuses involved. Thats why they won, they were more hungry for it and so they outran us, out-thought us, and then when they had us on the ropes they outscored us.
We have been recruiting 24 and under players who have looked hungry, that needs to be repeated over multiple windows to fill the squad full of younger hungry players who want to taste success rather than a team of old warriors who have had the medals, with stories and the battlescars to show. On my fingers I just counted 11 players who will not be improving from this point, with another two possible additions,,,thats basically half the squad that won’t get better?
Those on the way up generally show more hunger so whilst I also appreciate the future profit I personally like the idea of going to the Balkans and Columbia etc where they are desperate to make it.

Too many of our team are over the hill, the manager is also, and it showed. Our best bet is buying a few good players, bringing in the best youngsters, get some excitement going while winning the SPL at least and hopefully using the lesser lights of the Europa League as a platform to create some positive vibes around the season and bring us to next season with some momentum and something to look forward to ie improving players and front foot football. The alternative doesn’t bare thinking about.

By Mahe
sentinelcelts@gmail.com