On Friday we discussed that a win over Hibernian would likely be required if we were to maintain our spot at the top of the table, and so it proved. The normal anxiety of slipping two points off the pace is not evident among the support, perhaps because it is Hearts at the top of the pile. That relaxed tone might be justified this season, but will not last forever. Our visit to Tynecastle in four weeks is already looking pivotal.
Although Celtic dropped two points and became only the third side this season who failed to score against Hibs (14 games in), there was evident improvement in the champions’ play. Kelechi Iheanacho looks like he is enjoying playing for a team who create so many chances. He remains short of match practice, which will hopefully sharpen him and covert near misses into goals.
Marcelo Saracchi played his best game so far for Celtic, largely inverting into the old Greg Taylor role. This worked to an extent but left Sebastian Tounekti isolated, without the overlapping foil he has used to such good effect in his previous appearances. Hibs defenders knew to expect him to cut inside and were able to blunt him accordingly.
The right side of attack did not work throughout the game. Anthony Ralston returned from injury behind Daizen Meade. Anthony also played inside yet frequently, looked up to find no one on the wing, as Daizen had drifted into the middle. James Forrest did not improve things when he came on. Neither wings worked well.
Benjamin Nygren was one of several players rested ahead of Thursday’s Europa League game. His appearance on 67 minutes added drive to Celtic in the middle of the park, which until then lacked directness. Running at defenders is a low-probability play, but it disrupts opponents who are settled into a solid block.
Fair play to Hibs for coming to Celtic Park and playing out from the back throughout. They are not a great side and relied on free kicks to get into Celtic’s final third, but you can see what David Gray is building.
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Just like that it was Monday again.
See Braga manager getting the white hanky treatment for five league games without a win.
Guess the Hibs cheating and time wasting is part of what David Gray is building then.
Joe 11.58 from previous blog.
Sorry to hear that Joe. Safe travels. 👍
Congrats to Europe on the Ryder Cup.
US fight back made it great final day.
Onto Braga on Thursday with signs that we are improving.
29 minutes of silence on Thursday.Yep,that will set the Board back on its heels.Absolute nonsense.Saturday and Thursday night with large attendance’s would have been the time to give them absolute hell,but no,they will copy the Board and remain silent,not supporting the team for a third of the game.WTF thinks that is a good idea?.
Hit them in the pocket,don’t desert the team on the park.Grow up.Like kids sulking.Ridiculous idea.
I watched the game through Hibs TV and both commentators were aware that the Hibs players were buying free kicks and fouls throughout the game!
They even mentioned that they were throwing themselves down on the ground at the least contact received!!
Aipple
I love Mondays 👍
Deniabhoy,
You know in Spain,when the white hankies come out,you are in trouble.Maybe we could use it.A cheap and visually excellent way of protesting.50,000 white hankies.
Although Celtic dropped two points and became only the third side this season who failed to score against Hibs (14 games in)
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I’m not sure what the point of this comment is ? Have Hibs deployed two banks of 5, 20 yards out from goal for their 14 games this season ? If not, then this comment is irrelevant.
As re playing out from the back, from what I seen, this consisted of collapsing to the ground and getting free kicks all day long.
BRRB
Thank you🇮🇪👍
Maybe BR could rethink some off his line ups.Engels .Never had a permanent position.He is a big boy,able to put the foot in,very fit and mobile.Why not try him in the Calmac role.Move Cal further forward where can still be dynamic,alongside Nygren.Just seems to be a bit repetitive the formation.If we have to work with what we have until January,lets try and use the players.
Beating 2 banks of 5 professional athletes with height and strength requires moving the ball quickly, one touch passing,dribbling,shots from outside box, early deliveries and not being predictable, We do none of these, the horseshoe shuffling off the ball from left to right then right to left allows the defence team to stay in shape.
Corner kicks are swung to be cleared easily time after time with no variation, Free kicks..well who is our dead ball expert?
BR needs to earn his corn here. He as the personnel to do all of these things, but we rarely do
I thought I heard post match that this was Hibs first clean sheet since April.
Dont know if true, but could be. If so it suggests that Hibs do not play that way against anybody else, just as well or they would not be getting the crowds they are now. Aided and abetted by a particular referee who sees it as his mission to disrupt Celtic’s forward play, and penalise any sort of challenge we make, (and not just in this game) and allow timewasting by our opponents on an industrial scale. Which doesn’t help. Neither does making six changes to a team that had played quite well over in Belgrade. Time will tell if that strategy pays off on Thursday.
I don’t think we have as strong as squada as we may have. Our recruitment model appears flawed
Oft times I am not hugely impressed with our line up. We could be doing more with what players we do have and making more use of the squad
Finally, the players who are deployed are not immune from the odd brain fart and poor decision-making.
Right, I think that covers about everyone. I can finish my tea now
FITBA BETS..
The biggest certainty at the weekend was Motherwell to beat Aberdeen.
Happily, I took the Correct Score of 2 -0 to Motherwell on Two separate Bookie lines at odds of 10/1.
Also, I am waiting on EVERTON to beat West ham Tonight with a Correct Score of 2 – 1, to go along with my Two Correct Scores from the weekend NEWCASTLE – 1 v ARSENAL – 2 at odds of 9/1 and LIVINGSTON – 1v the HUNS -2 at odds of 17/2 ?
Ive backed ALL Three in Singles, Doubles and a Possible Treble.
It would be nice wee lift IF Everton also win 2 – 1 ?
Its in the hands of the Fitba Gods.
LOL
HH.
POR CIETRO and others ?
From PREVIOUS Thread….
I had NOTHING to with BELMONT BRIAN becoming a Grandfather for the first time yesterday ??????
I am ONLY a Family Friend…NOT a relation.
BELMONT BRIAN is one of my best friends….We are NOT a couple of Grand Parents.
I do NOT have any weans, so obviously NO Grand children to speak of.
BELMONT BRIAN is married to a GLAMOUROUS GRANNY who only became a Granny for the first time yesterday.
BELMONT BRIAN is a very lucky man in many ways with a Beautiful Family.
GOD BLESS Wee ” JUNO” the new addition to the BELMONT BRIAN Family.
LOL
HH.
In the good old days white hankies were waved to attract ambulancemen up the terraces when there was a medical issue. Aye, back in the days of massive crowds refusing to leave early and gentlemen carrying handkerchiefs. Aye, those were the days.☘️🙂
Congratulations Belmont Brian, Enjoy every minute mate.👍☘️
Big up to BelmontBrian who joins the best club in the world.
We had an XG of 3 against Hibs low block.
Short of putting the ball in the net himself, I’m not sure what others expect from BR ?
“The normal anxiety of slipping two points off the pace is not evident among the support, perhaps because it is Hearts at the top of the pile. ”
——————–
Or maybe because there are 96 points still to play for! Be interested to know what sort of points total you think Hearts will end up on, Paul?
Seems that if you sell your best striker and don’t replace him you score fewer goals! If only we had had the second half of last season to figure that one out, if it shouldn’t have been obvious enough to begin with.
Probably be a few more of these types of games until such time as the problem can be addressed (if it gets addressed of course).
kELLS will score plenty.
thats double figures shots so far, just need to sharpen up a bit,
he will score thursday.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/09d8/live/c9bc5d30-9be0-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.jpg.webp
My 3 takeaways from yesterday, for what they are worth…
1. The club should be all over the refereeing. Game after game teams come, dive for free kicks and waste as much time as they can recycling the ball. This is a pattern. If we don’t call it out every time nothing will happen and we will continue to play 70 not 90 minute games, dropping points.
2. Good technical play, but a lack of speed in attack and a lack of variation. BR has many qualities but he needs to come up with more inventive techniques v two banks of 5. More shots from outside the box please. It worked for Tommy Gemmell.
3. I don’ see coaching as the main issue however. For some reason our guys seem to freeze in front of goal, missing so many sitters. Maeda in Almaty still gives me nightmares, but it is time and time again. BR is not to blame for guys not having the composure/bottle to put the ball in the bloody net.
SAINT STIVS on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2025 1:10 PM
kELLS will score plenty.
thats double figures shots so far, just need to sharpen up a bit,
he will score thursday.
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He looks to be a vital signing and I think he’ll break 25 goals this season.
We’ve no back up though.
And we took an incredible risk is selling Idah on the last day with no replacement. Iheanacho may have verbally agreed a deal when we sold Idah but as we’ve seen in the past, verbal deals aren’t worth the paper…
Had Iheanacho not come to us, we’d be absolutely effed. An unbelievable risk to take.
an dun
Last week, in an article in the Guardian Martin O’Neill described XGoals as “a clueless development”.
He repeated that again today on TalkSport with Jim White and Simon Jordan, calling it “total nonsense”.
If predicting football scores was a science the bookies would be bankrupt. Then again Big Jimmy has a nice bet running today based on his forecasts.
Thought we played OK on Saturday.
Shades of 0-0 at home to St Johnstone in 2023 for me.
We didn’t quite click. If we had, it could have been 4-0.
Slight issue with the comparison?
That game took place in late August.
Saturday’s was a full month later.
A key reason we are not clicking feels obvious.
This group have had insufficient time together.
I stand by my previous, lazy evidence free prediction.
It’ll be bumpy for the next 3 months.
Every game Kelechi gets sharper,and fitter.
Greenpinata on 29th September 2025 9:34 am
The term ” racist” has virtually lost its negative connotations. It is so overused and is now commonly used to shut down debate or even a simple disagreement.
AT = I disagree totally,my use of racist to our multi monikered racist is bang on.You haven’t seen half the shoit it attempts to post.
GP-If expressing concern over uncontrolled immigration is racist then the new home secretary Shabana Mahnood must be racist. As we speak, she is introducing new aggressive policy and voiced her concern loudly.
AT – kevracist is not expressing concern over immigration,it expresses concern over the colour of folks skin pigment,nearly as niave as your labour party adopts wee skank farages racist policies
GP-Trevor Phillips the former commissioner for racial equality must also be racist as he has also expressed concerns.
AT- how deflecting GP,have you anything to say of kevracists repetitive racism? I am sure you have no distinction between brown and black folk contributing to our society
GP-Indeed Glasgow City Council have expressed concerns that social cohesion is breaking down due to asylum. Issues. They must also all be racist
AT Glasgow Council,Scottish Gov,UK government.
It’s the easy thing to cite what gov bodies say while their actions contradict their attitude to racism.Times are hard at mo,20 odd years of austerity means you get folk like kevracist of permanently on the suck while posting folk are ‘taking his job’ shoit.alongside its racism.Pity that offshore part of our economy won’t be reeled in under keefs shitebaggin it to tax those who can move their money away
GP-Absolutely ludicrous of course, but this is the scinerio that the overuse of the terms racism and racist have brought us to.
AT There is no overuse of the terms racist on my part.What is ludicrous is ignoring racism.Call out all the politicians but not the banjoboy in our midst.Do 1 wi that GP!
GP-Selective racism is also a huge issue.
AT – kev racists vomit about brown and black people ‘invading’ via kalgeri plan,its consistent posting of the same irish/loyalist racists who attacked Celtic fans in Dublin.
It’s not selective racism,its racism pure and simple
Racism is racism is racism,no degrees its racism
GP-The brutal unprovoked cowardly racist murder of Iryna Zarutska,a young Ukrainian refugee brought virtually no reaction on here.
AT- I read of her tragedy on here GP,yourself or others posted of it,where you afraid to post in case the racists here commented
GP-It was the most heartbreaking and haunting racist murder played out in real time.
AT Sadly it is one of many racist murders carried out in the UK,why does her murder catch your eye? We have racist scum in our midst,no comment from you on that
GP-Anyone who is on social media will have witnessed it.
AT- kev racist and its 100 names post here its not contested by you,but you then augmenting the eunuch by citing politicians who have history of do f.all until we are already down the racist wormhole
GP-I tell you, it will take me a very long time to get over this footage.
AT – well dont take to much time those same racist scum will be outside a hotel in your area soon,sooking flegs and being a pishtriot.
GP-Where is the outrage of those who frequently brand others racist?
AT- Are you outraged at me GP? Tough chatty.
Kevracist is a racist.
It dehumanises other humans by skin tone pigment,RACISM is its name GP,
GP” I got the white girl” the racist stated gleefully.
This was not a career criminal, this was an innocent young refugee.
AT- You will have to give context above GP.
I will then comment.
Do you not comment on brown or black being attacked?
GP-George Floyd was murdered unjustly by the Establishment. Cue lots of posts on here and the impact on society was massive.
AT- That’s where Kevracist first came note.
A seering loathing of our players taking the knee- and bit like you -what happened to the white people? Followed by the escape route it gave its racism,we cant be sympathetic to a man asphyxiate by having a knee on his neck,missing the whole point that a largely white force was brutal to its black populace as a given
GP-Iryna Zarutska was also murdered by establishment failure who let him roam the streets looking for victims. Cue, no reaction.
AT -i answered this chaos above GP
GP-Let’s call out the evil of racism, but not selective racism and not as a throw away remark or jibe to stiffle debate or to end a conversation.
AT-here’s the thing Gp you don’t call out racism.
You are bored that I continually call out racism from Kevracist hou will have to get used to that Gp.
You think I dilute its effect,you are wrong.
There is no partial racism
Just racism
And that I will continue to do
HH.
As an aside on Grifter Galloways its full of kevracists,all willing to point to a differing skin pigment.There is a strain on the left in Labour and the wurkuz charade esp via kevracists,blame the migrant and ignore the offshore billionaire.how easily led they are
Added Time
If Celtic have not already sent a detailed analysis of Saturdays game regarding timewasting lack of added time then they are letting all the staff and supporters down – they are also asking for the same treatment to be visited on us every week.
Hibs timewasting was only marginally worse than most we have to put up with but the lack of time added was clearly ridiculous. There could easily have been 8-10 mins each half and it would have been broadly accurate in fact was it not last season that we saw for the first time significant time being added throughout the game with the premise of not short changing spectators?
As mentioned yesterday it will just get repeated and pushed further if the time isn’t just added at the end of the match and Saturdays ref was clearly compliant.
Celtic need to speak up and do it publicly – the rules allow the time to be added and the rules are not being applied simple.
Last thing on this – Hibs added the old “fall down and hold your head for 30 secs” routine to make sure the game is stopped – a new level cheating, well done David Gray a terrific advert for football. We can expect to see plenty more of this during the season….
I seen that CelticMac.
It goes some way to explain why MoN lasted a few months at Forest and has been out of work for the last 6 years.
A great manager in his day but the game has clearly passed him by.
TurkeyBhoy – I agree 650,000 fans waving white hankies would indeed be a much more visual sign of discontent than 12 minutes of silence. It works a treat in the Bernabeau when they want a coach gone. Nobody has to boycott anything.
TurkeyBhoy
like your midfield idea. I have not been too impressed so far with Arne but reckon your system would work well
kingLUBO
Just watched the highlights, some nice stuff .
However our right wing need something.
Message to our board. As ye sow, so shall you reap !!!!
kingLUBO
Afternoon all.
Can I again thank everyone for their lovely messages and good wishes.
Baby Juno Rose is doing grand💚
You are all a wonderful group of people / friends.
PS
I’ll need to keep an eye on BIG JIMMY, MrsBB loves being called a ‘glamorous granny’.
Thank you, your messages mean so much.
HH
650,000 . . . sure I typed in 60,000.
mons comments were quite strange given the value he placed in looking at set piece stats and similar from the NFL.