Kasper Schmeichel was back at Lennoxtown on Friday following his error-strewn display in Celtic’s 2-0 defeat to Braga – but the Danish goalkeeper was not pictured wearing his gloves during training.
Images from SNS showed Schmeichel on the pitch while Vini Sinisalo, Ross Doohan and Tobi Oluwayemi were being put through a more rigorous goalkeeper session. It’s unclear if the 38-year-old was involved in full training or taking part in a reduced session, but it raised questions among some supporters following a poor showing on Thursday night.
The veteran stopper was at fault for Braga’s opener at Celtic Park, failing to keep out Ricardo Horta’s speculative long-range effort. Schmeichel’s attempted save was weak and let the visitors take a surprise lead. His night didn’t improve, and though he made one decent stop late on, he was left helpless as a deflected clearance rebounded off Gabri Martinez and into the net for Braga’s second.
Brendan Rodgers did not face the media on Friday, with no pre-match press conference held ahead of Sunday’s league clash against Motherwell. That means supporters will likely have to wait until the teams are announced at Fir Park to find out whether Schmeichel retains his starting place.
Rodgers is known for managing his players’ workloads carefully, and it wouldn’t be unusual for him to give a senior figure a lighter session the day after a European match. Last season, even during periods of injury, Schmeichel was often present at training to observe or support teammates. His absence from goalkeeper drills doesn’t necessarily mean he’s being dropped or dealing with a knock, but it will only add to the scrutiny after a rough night under the lights at Parkhead.
I have been moaning about Schmeichel for some time now and stating that Sinisalo is a far better keeper all round and has complete control of his defence. It makes me wonder about Brendan Rodgers if he cannot see that. I would not even have Schmeichel as a backup. Quite a number of fine players have left us recently and more are now looking at the exit door. I think we are entering a period of massive decline.
There is a malaise at the club.
It’s all rather depressing, isn’t it. Kasper might very well be coming to the end. This season, though pulling off some great saves, he has also made a number of errors that last season he would not have made.
Sinisalo looks a good keeper, so maybe it’s his turn.
As for the team, I despair. Brendan has been playing politics. The Japanese lads whom he pretty much ignores and previously insulted must be completely fed up.
The players must be upset with it all. The Board messed up with the transfers, perhaps because it’s difficult to persuade players to come to the SPL and perhaps they don’t trust Brendan when it comes to picking a player.
If this continues, Brendan’s position will look increasingly precarious.
I can’t and I wouldn’t like to see him dropped but all these players are suffering by the banners political and against the board I’d say 20 pecent if that the players see it and straight away they think fans are saying their not good enough yes its affect us most supporters are sick off it big Palestinian flag used to be flags supporting the bhoys o the pitch anarca by wannae bees we know them why they get away tickets surely there’s fans that just want to follow the football i likely be called racist if supporting your team instead of war mongers so be it
Agree with the above. Amazed there hasn’t been more questioning of BR. Perhaps the board take the blame on signings although that raises the question about who approved the dozen signings that were made. The treatment of the two Japanese recruits seems poor.
But it wasn’t Lawwell, Nicolson or Desmond who drew a blank in CL first leg then travelled to Kazakhstan and played the same tactics and virtually the same team expecting different results…
We couldn’t score against Rangers, Hibs or Braga at home either… virtually no change of tactics in any of those games.