If the Champions League has taught the Celtic fans anything, it’s that the current team as it stands is not good enough to compete at that level.
Celtic brought in eight players over the summer and of those eight, only two (Paulo Bernardo and Hyunjun Yang) started against Lazio last night.
By at the end of the game, both players were off and Celtic’s European dream ended with no summer signings on the pitch. It doesn’t print a pretty picture.
However, there is one player at Celtic who looks like his career at the club could be after he was dropped to the bench again in a must-win game last night.
David Turnbull was demoted and Paulo Bernardo was called upon as a player that Rodgers thought could get Celtic the result they so badly needed in Rome.
Let’s not forget, Bernardo didn’t feature in Celtic last two domestic fixtures before being pitched in against Lazio whereas Turnbull played and scored in both.
In fact, to drop your top goalscorer in the SPFL for a player who has barely mustered a shot on goal certainly doesn’t bode well for Turnbull. And it’s not the first time it’s happened this season.
And what message does that send to Turnbull? You might be good enough to score and win points in Scotland but when it really matters, I don’t trust you.
Bernardo is only on loan until the end of the season. His contribution to Celtic’s results this season have been negligible.
Turnbull on the other hand has banged in seven goals in eleven appearances and saved Celtic from dropping more points than they already have.
The 24-year-old midfielder may not have made the difference last night but when Celtic required a goal threat he was dropped to the bench for a player who has played 143 minutes of domestic football but is then trusted to keep Celtic’s European dream alive.
It doesn’t bode well for Turnbull and the fact he is approaching the final six months of his current deal with no new deal on the way. Turnbull looks like his time at Celtic is coming to an end.
In other news, ‘Working against him’… 24-year-old midfielder now told he’s not running enough to start for Celtic