Celtic are expected to announce the Tomas Cvancara deal on Thursday, but speaking ahead of the Europa tie in Bologna, Martin O’Neill was quick to try and remove the burden from the striker’s shoulders.
Instead of being over enthusiastic, the Irishman was pragmatic and O’Neill provided a dose of reality that reflected Celtic’s current situation.
He was also eager to dispel the notion regarding Cvancara, that he is a big target man, “no, he’s quite quick, and he’s not a big target man,” and he continued, “he’s not like a John Hartson type, or (the) I suppose, when Chris played with Henrik Larsson type…but he’s quick and he’s agile. He wants to prove himself.” [Celtic Youtube]
Czech Republic’s Tomas Cvancara in action with Faroe Islands’ Odmar Faero REUTERS/David W Cerny
“But, if you think that he is going to be an instant fix for any of the problems we have, then I’m not sure I’d put that kind of pressure on him.”
O’Neill’s words hit directly at the heart of Celtic’s current striker woes.
For nearly a year now, Celtic have gone from one temporary fix to another. Injuries, misses and a complete lack of clear succession planning have left the attack underperforming. Losing Kuhn and Kyogo within six months of each other took so many goals and assists out of that side.
At age 25, Cvancara arrives in Scotland needing to regain his confidence, develop some rhythm, and gain some patience. He is not the physical presence many fans have been calling for. He is not being sold as a finished product. Rather, O’Neill is urging Celtic fans to maintain a level of perspective.
The malaise at Celtic Park extends far beyond the striker position. The recruitment process has often appeared to be done reactively, as opposed to strategically. January transfer windows appear to be filled with a sense of urgency, and ultimately leave fans frustrated. There remain many questions regarding the club’s long-term planning, direction, and accountability, all of which place additional pressure on O’Neill.
The tone of O’Neill’s comments were telling. O’Neill is not selling false hope. Rather, he is trying to manage the expectations of Celtic fans in a season where patience has already worn thin.
All of these factors feed into what happens next.
When Celtic travel to Italy to meet Bologna in the Europa League, they do so aware that the margin of error is small. O’Neill has been open in discussing the number of injuries and limitations he currently faces, and this match presents a challenge to the fragile confidence within the team.
Bologna are well organised, aggressive at home, and will present a very difficult challenge. They will require discipline, energy, and bravery when playing the ball in order to create opportunities.
Cvancara isn’t eligible for the Europa even if he was signed earlier this week. So he will watch his new teammates from afar tonight but could be thrown in against Hearts on Sunday.
