If you take Edouard, Elyounoussi and Ajer out of the team this season I'm not sure what's left would be all that much better than Hibs and all 3 players will leave in the summer.
I wouldn't rule out that Maresca won't turn out to be a good manager in time but he will never be get it over there, we seen how quickly they turned on Lennon a few months into the season what will they do to this guy after a poor start?
They have around a 100 days till their European campaign starts not a lot of time to sign a dozen or so players and get them up to speed fitness and philosophy wise and that's only if the appoint someone this week which they probably won't.
The Celtic job is a poisoned chalice and most managers know it that's why they are looking at guys like this rather than a Rodgers type.
If you are a Celtic fan, or in anyway interested in Celtic and were trying to be realistic in their ability to bounce back there are so many considerations. Barring a total collapse in Rangers next year, several injuries, Gerrard leaving. board forcing too many key players sold, it's unlikely that they could win the league season 21-22.
Their team is falling apart, but even before that, their "style' was like an average amateur team. Goals were scored simply as a function of their players being better than other players in Scotland. There was no discernable system. When they came up against better teams, that wasn't good enough.
So take out the better players, and you are in deep trouble. They should be able to re-invest much of that money, but with recruitment being so critical how can they do that? They need a team to hit the ground running for Europe in maybe July, so you are looking at a squad assembled in mid-June. The players who they shift, would require to be sold to clubs who don't do their business so early. The first window will be tough. However, the extended window, may have them start to get their act together by late September, if - unlike this year- they recruit some decent players. However, by then they could be out of Europe- with the loss of that revenue and with the loss of that attraction for players.
So even with decent recruitment, they could toil early on. With our performances in Europe giving two CL places, maybe their targets should be lowered to one of those spots for 22-23. Season21-22, if they don't want to be in a freefall for several years has to be a rebuilding season. However, like season 88-89, their delusion will be their downfall. I'm not sure they realize how far they have fallen and how far we have climbed.
Never mind the pit boots, get the spikey golf shoes out.