Former Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan has highlighted the similarities between the mistakes the club made last season and the current situation, raising concern among fans.

Celtic: Are Fans Right to Feel Anxious Right Now?

According to Bbc.

Background

Camilo Duran, as the only new player to join Celtic, is expected to make a significant contribution despite concerns about a lack of support from fans. With tight competition in the Scottish Premiership, Duran's performance and the club management's decision to bring in new players will greatly determine Celtic's future in the league.

Why this is important

Concerns among Celtic fans have emerged as the club appears to be repeating mistakes from last season with a lack of activity in the transfer market. Only one new player, Camilo Duran, has joined, while rivals Rangers and Hearts have strengthened their squads significantly. In the context of tight competition in the Scottish Premiership, this uncertainty could affect the team's performance in defending their title.

Main Points

Celtic: Are Fans Right to Feel Anxious Right Now?
Former Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan has highlighted the similarities between the mistakes the club made last season and the current situation, raising concern among fans.
Celtic: Are fans right to be nervous now? - BBC Sport

The new season is approaching, but Celtic fans are starting to feel anxious about the situation at the club. Cillian Sheridan, the former Celtic striker, stated that Celtic appeared to be repeating the same mistakes as last season, where the lack of transfer activity took center stage. Although Celtic successfully retained their Scottish League title on the final day of last season, only one new player joined the club, Camilo Duran, while coach Martin O'Neill was appointed permanently following his spell as caretaker coach.

These concerns deepened when Duran expressed his surprise at the lack of support from fans at Celtic Park during his side's 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly. With the season opener against Dundee just a week away, many are wondering how far along Celtic are in their preparations to defend their title.

Meanwhile, their rivals, Rangers, have made a significant move by bringing in seven new players into their squad. This includes Lawrence Shankland, the Premiership's top scorer last season, who signed before new coach Derek McInnes was appointed. Rangers have also strengthened their goalkeeping position by bringing in Ivor Pandur, who recently helped Hull City get promoted to the Premier League.

Hearts, who are also contenders, have brought in eleven new players, but their performance was shaken after a heavy 4-0 defeat to Sturm Graz in a Champions League qualifying match. On the other hand, Hibernian suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Malisheva in their Conference League qualifying match, while Motherwell managed a 2-0 win over part-timers from the Faroe Islands, HB.

Celtic themselves experienced quite minimal player movement, with most of the players leaving being those on loan last season. They also face the potential loss of Daizen Maeda who is reportedly set to be sold to Ipswich Town for around £10 million, which some observers regard as a bad deal. O'Neill also faces the challenge of retaining several other key players, including Reo Hatate and Arne Engels, who may be sold in the near future.

Meanwhile, speculation regarding the future of team captain Callum McGregor is also circulating, with a major transfer to the Middle East a possibility. Michael Nicholson, the club's CEO, acknowledged the difficulty in adding to O'Neill's squad, especially with competition from big clubs in England who have bigger budgets.

Sheridan also voiced his concerns about Celtic's future, comparing the club's condition to Motherwell, who despite having fewer resources, were able to achieve success thanks to a clear plan and a committed manager. "Celtic didn't seem to have a clear direction and were under pressure before the season started, and I doubt how long O'Neill can survive this situation," he said.

With the new season about to start, many Celtic fans hope that the club will immediately make strategic moves to strengthen the squad and increase their chances of retaining the title. However, with minimal transfer activity to date, these hopes are starting to fade. A big question arises: will Celtic be able to recover from last season's mistakes, or will they be mired in the same problems again?

What happened next

With the opener against Dundee fast approaching, Celtic need to immediately increase activity in the transfer market to strengthen the team. The addition of new players, especially in midfield, will be very important to increase the depth of the squad and support the development of young players. If not, pressure from fans and rivals in the Scottish Premiership could increase further.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the new players joining Celtic?

The new player joining Celtic is Camilo Duran.

Which club does Camilo Duran come from?

The article does not mention Camilo Duran's previous clubs.

Why did Celtic only bring in one new player?

Celtic are experiencing concerns due to a lack of transfer activity, which has been a major concern for fans.

When is Celtic's season opener?

Celtic's season opener against Dundee is just a week away from the time of this article.

What is the transfer status of other players such as Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate?

The article does not mention the transfer status of Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate.

Celtic: Do fans have a right to feel anxious at the moment?