Hearts manager Neil Critchley had clearly watched Celtic’s home defeat two weeks earlier. The visitors pressed Celtic from kick-off, unsettling the champions. There was even a repeat of an early corner kick drama. Again the Celtic defence failed to attack the ball and a chance fell to Lewis Neilson. If anything, the Hearts player was too close to goal, as Viljami Sinisalo’s frame on the line blocked his route to goal.
Celtic got off the hook on that occasion but the game was soon to turn their way. Jeffrey Schlupp took a pass from Maik Nawrocki and moved the ball on with his first touch to Callum McGregor, who was already on the move. McGregor controlled the ball before playing a delicious pass around the Hearts defence and into the path of Daizen Maeda, who slid his shot past Craig Gordon in the Hearts goal.
Whatever intentions Hearts arrived in Glasgow with were then undermined. Having split them open once, Celtic were able to again. Midway through the opening half, Nicolas Kuhn cut inside and chipped for Maeda, whose timed run caught the Hearts defence stationary. Jota finishing the rebound off the post was another example of moving attackers meeting stationary defenders.
The first two goals came from the wings but the third, through the middle, was a text book example of crisp and fast passing. Nawrocki took out four Hearts players with his forward pass to Arne Engels, who nudged the ball into the path of Reo Hatate. When Reo poked the ball on to Kuhn the entire stadium knew the third goal was on the way.
With their gameplan in ruins, Hearts retreated to a defensive block for the second period. They needed to take that early chance from a corner kick. The champions are not flawless, but if you pass up chances, you are likely to leave with a defeat.
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Re ‘Watergate’ , we could always get the ultimate revenge on them when we go to Ibrox , and spray them with holy water. -)))
Really enjoyed reading back tonight, cheers all!
CELTIC MAC re: the curling
It’s draws me in when I see it is on. Watched it live in Scotland a couple of times. Goo wee read.
TIMBHOY
Do you have inside information about B.R not signing a new contract or is it just wishful thinking on your part ?
HH
Last Saturday’s match .
Great counter attacking goals .
Heart attack , cumbersome passing out from the back .
Engels hides .
TT
aipple
Never seen it live, and of course with the warmer winters in Scotland, say since 1963, the opportunities to play it outdoors, on ponds, lochs etc have all but disappeared in the main. Not totally but mostly, which is a pity.
I like the idea that it has been around for a while, and it retains that connection with the aul’ country. Then again so does football, doesn’t mean you are still the best at it.
Live from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, Scotland 6 Canada 5 in the ol’ curling WC. Good result
Scots unbeaten in the round-robin so far 4-0 and for the moment at the top.
Lets hope we can keep it going….for the cause I hope ye understand
“Engels hides” ?????????????.
Re the water incident … make no mistake a dangerous precedent has been set … what really galls me is watching that bigot McCoist laughing at it like the clown he is that cretin …woe betide🤔
Turkeybhoy
When our defenders were looking for an outball,HATATE and MacGregor made themselves available,Engels was unanavailable far too often .
TT
Unavailable.
Bernardo also made himself available when he replaced Calmac.
TT
If i may ask ST holders
Do they use their ticket every valid game?
If not
Is it unused?
Do you give its use to someone?
I ask as i know someone with no ST,who hasnt missed a league game,cup game or CL game at home,
HH
AT,
I work away on a rotation. Currently I cannot use my ST for every game.
It is used by family members 99% of the time. ( Apart from when one barsteward stayed in the boozer due to adverse weather. F@ cking wimp )
Depending on how digital tickets are implemented, I will hold judgement.
As you know digital tickets leave a footprint and let 3rd parties access information . Big brother will definitely be watching.
Personally I would hate to give my ticket up, but I would imagine many may contemplate this depending on the restrictive parameters the club sets.
HH.
PS : Where was the much vaulted ST waiting list when the new huns were in the lower leagues?
Good Morning Fholk – Grand Day To Be A Tim.
Really enjoyed the game against the Jam Tarts.
We were sublime, after Hearts had a good start against us.
No doubt the early press by the opposite can be effective against us, yet only…
a) If you score against us
b) You can contain our counter attack
Good luck with that!? Hearts could do neither and we’re left with the traditional SPL Park The Bus at Celtic Park to keep the score respectable in the second half.
Well done Sinisalo on a mature display and a clean sheet – looks a great No2 and dare I say it, a No1 in waiting.
AN DÚN @ 12:28 PM,
“Maeda will reach peak value this summer. The ‘model’ will see him go if our valuation is met. I hope we keep him.”
Well hopefully the ‘model’ has been kicked into touch.
Matt O’Riley’s sale was text book recruitment planning.
We did not sell to the first bidder but bidded our time, we did not sell to the first bidder in the next window, three bids, not good enough, we bidded our time.
When Brighton met our valuation we then sold.
With a record player sale under our belt – we could back fill Matt with a record development signing.
Arne Engels is improving all the time, not only have our set plays and penalties improved, he is already indicating what a phenomenal young prospect he is from open play.
Again, a great improvement to our classic, flawed, development ‘model’.
Here is how the game plan for Daizen Maeda should go – put him on a bumper contract and keep him for the UCL-Q and subsequent campaign next season.
He has every chance to shine at the 2026 World Cup, where as a 28 y.o. He will be very sought after by top Clubs.
It seems DD and BR are on the same page about our talismanic No38.
Until that point we should just enjoy as this Tour De Force becomes a Celtic legend.
Hail Hail
if there is one thing that Engels doesnt do , its is hiding…
Good morning from a bright sunny North Staffs
Maybe a few myths about the saintly Liverpool fc being debunked.
https://www.celticnewsnow.com/hoople/
Got it in 4
!!Bada Bing!! on 31st March 2025 7:16 pm
Police Scotland dismisses Cerny incident, no surprise there
………..
What IF someone wearing Celtic colours went up to a member of the Orange Walk ( maybe a Drummer Boy ?), and squirted water on him/her ?
What do think the Cops would do….AFTER members of the walk had kicked yer heid in ?
My guess is that AFTER watching that person getting a kicking, the Polis would then ALSO Charge him with Breach of the Peace and maybe Assault.
No one from the Orange Walk would face any charges of course.
Someone asks about throwing HOLY Water on a Hun player…
I made that ” Suggestion” on here a day or Two after the incident.
Its okay…I know its NOT a Competition.
LOL
HH.
Good morning all from Govanhill.
Morning Celts 💚
News this morning of compensation for victims of the cbc abuse case
https://x.com/BBCMarkDaly/status/1906979528909488540?s=08
HH
From Mark Daly on Twitter:
‘Thompsons Solicitors has announced that a seven figure settlement has been achieved for more than 20 victims, with further settlements expected in the coming weeks.
Laura Connor, Thompsons, said: “This litigation has been made far more complex and lengthy by the defender” adding the settlement was “confirmation that Celtic Boys’ Club was indeed inextricably linked to Celtic Football Club”.’
https://x.com/BBCMarkDaly/status/1906980700974133717
—————–
This is long overdue. The delays in settling these cases caused further anguish to those who were abused and brought disrepute on the club.
I cold probably have used an Oxford comma in that post above. For clarity:
The delays in settling these cases caused further anguish to those who were abused, and brought disrepute on the club.
Good morning CQN.
Another beautiful day.
Chairbhoy- good points made early this morning
(Very early this morning 🙂)
Daizen is contracted to 2027.
I assume his pay rise will be linked to a 1 year extension.
If so, it will contract him to Celtic until a few months shy of his 31st birthday.
I hope it happens.
I wonder if the player trading model balance is as simple as ….
… for every two gems we develop we aim to sell one at the top of the market and aim to keep the other for many years?
Aim being the word.
Finding one gem each year is hard enough.
Assumes we sell at a premium every second year.
If we can do that plus move on one or two others for decent, not spectacular, money …
.. could be enough to sustain us financially.
TBB – thanks for posts.
I’m genuinely glad this is coming to some form of conclusion for the victims.
(It should always be about the victims)
As for Laura Connor’s statement …
… good for her.
I’m sure her clients will be getting even more money as a result of her outburst.
Am not being serious of course.
Petty and spiteful.
Her firm know fine well the media will run with the quote gleefully and Celtic will not respond.
Just a final “F*** You !” to the defendant.
Collect your ⅓ of the take, throw away your Made in China halo, and disappear.
Im glad the class action has been largely settled pending some outstanding cases. Hopefully all can move on now, as best they can.
I think it’s premature to lay blame at the club. My reading is that the compensation has reached £1 million, thus no mention of ‘multi millions’. The issues that dragged this out were clearly not financially driven given the relatively small figures. I suspect it’s been a long arduous process verifying claims but that process has clearly reached its end.
Glad this settlement has been made and Celtic and the victims can move on from this sorry episode .Precedent now set and I imagine there will be a few squeaky bums amongst chairman throughout the country as Celtic by far were not the only club to suffer this !?…genie is out the bottle 🤔
7 figures would be between 1 million and 10 million pounds, presumably.
It is indeed some welcome relief for those concerned that these cases will now be settled.
The solicitor’s statement is playing to the gallery.
In other news, a 31 year old Maeda will reach speeds of only 70mph.
We can now expect a Tory to demand an enquiry into the abuse cases now. Not because of any empathy towards the victims but to try and stick more mud on Celtic.
So the abuser who was allowed to go to Hibs from Ibrox what settlement was provided to his victim/victims?
DESSYBHOY on 1ST APRIL 2025 11:39 AM
So the abuser who was allowed to go to Hibs from Ibrox what settlement was provided to his victim/victims?
……………………..
Don’t indulge in whataboutery. Today’s story is rightly about the victims of the Celtic Boys Club paedophile ring. Let’s be glad that it has been settled for 70% of the victims and let’s hope that they can achieve closure and get on with their lives.
Dessybhoy
With respect good Celt,look to our own house only and the victims damaged.With respect keep it victim centred regardless.There is no titfortat only victims of the abuse.Those who weaponize such actions are not good human beings and show a lack of humanity.💚
HH
I have never believed that Celtic Boys Club were ‘an entirely separate entity’ in relation to Celtic FC.
Separate, but not entirely separate. That close links existed, from the very outset back in 1966, cannot in all reality be disputed, but what troubled me most, (in the sense that the abuse continued over decades) is the close relationship(s) between the perpetrators and the Celtic Board, or more specifically a board member, during much of the period in question. That continuing self interest was more important than any sense or degree of responsibility for the Boys Club itself or the victims, aspiring footballers all.
And so it goes
No whataboutery from me if this about victims it’s about victims whether the abusers wore vestments a white coat a wig or a tracksuit, all victims should be treated the same, they aren’t.
new article posted.