We only had 21 minutes with Hibs with 11 men, so caution required, but throughout that period and for the rest of the match, Celtic were more in control than across any recent games.
Control comes from the base. Sinisalo behind Johnston, Tierney, Scales and Trusty had their first start together and are the best base we have had since very early in the season. Engels and McGregor played in front of them, both now with enough energy to last 90 minutes.
The contrast to the Scottish Cup tie against Newco in March is stark. Scales and Araujo played fullback, with Arthur partnering Trusty, while McCowan played the 6 position and Hatate in the engine room. Despite the satisfactory result, we would not want a repeat.
Johnston is likely to be replaced by Ralston during the second half, while Saracchi might see action if we are pressing for a goal late on.
Maeda will start up front with Yang wide. Martin O’Neill gave Forrest his first start in three months against Falkirk, as Tounekti had lost his early-season spark, but the Tunisia international returned to the line-up on Sunday. Full back is where Newco are weakest defensively, so for me, getting it right down the wings will be crucial to the outcome this Sunday against Newco.
The wings is also where Newco got most joy on their last visit to Celtic Park, so we can expect them to test the fitness of Johnston and Tierney throughout. I could make a case for James Forrest to give us an hour for his defensive ability.
After the hour, Iheanacho will change the dynamic, as he always does. This will allow Maeda to shift wide (maybe one last run at Tavernier) and give Celtic a far stronger profile.
Martin O’Neill’s Celtic this season have only dropped league points on four occasions. Twice when down to 10 men, one credible draw at Ibrox and an awful performance and defeat at Tannadice. Iheanacho started against Dundee United and has been used sparingly as a sub since. That game was Hatate’s last start and the manager seems to have lost faith in the player, who has had one 18 minute substitute appearance since.
Reo does not have the engine of Engels, but like his compatriots Maeda and Kyogo, he is a specialist against Newco. He was also crucial to Martin’s halftime turnaround in the 2-2 game at Ibrox in March. A late cameo in a more advanced role would be welcome by all.
It has been a while since we have recorded a 90 minute win against Newco, September 2024 to be precise. A 3-0 win that day suggests a whitewash, but the stats tell the story of a tighter game, settled by small margins.
It will be another exhausting afternoon. Give encouragement to the wingers and, when the ball goes back instead of forward, support the player’s decision. Help them feel relaxed on the ball and Celtic might shade it by another narrow three goal margin.
427 Comments- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 12
- »
Made it, Friday.
Still two more sleeps though.
HH!
Here’s a thought…
Get rid of the advertising on the site.
Make it free to read, but a modest subscription to post. Basically, a members’ club, the members covering the cost of maintaining the site and the archive.
There are only so many times a colleague can walk past your desk at lunchtime and see the advert for the Ann Summer’s vibrator on your laptop screen before you get asked out.
Hopefully MON calls out the cheating from last week, particularly as Beaton on VAR on Sunday, needs his card marked
Our last 90 minute victory was 3-0 in Sept 2024?
Hadn’t realised that
The manager that day must be due a huge amount of credit.
The Battered Bunnet on 8th May 2026 12:06 pm
There are only so many times a colleague can walk past your desk at lunchtime and see the advert for the Ann Summer’s vibrator on your laptop screen before you get asked out.
I thought the adverts on the page were based on your browsing history….:)
iam not following you. trying again, was that a serious post.
286. aye.
———————
Saint Stivs on 8th May 2026 11:50 am
The one thing all of these haters and graters share is a misplaced longing for Brendan Rodgers, a failing flailing Celtic manager, under whom, had he stayed, we would not have reached the League Cup Final, nor the Scottish Cup Final, or be in with a chance of winning the SPL Title. None of those. They pang for an ex employee of Celtic FC who was disrupting and undermining both the team and the club aided and abetted by Captain Flint. A manager who could not figure out a way past FC Kairat, or even Russell Martin.
——————–
was that serious ?
Celtic Mac on 8th May 2026 12:00 pm
saint stivs
Maybe better stick to counting the empties….
Not counting extra time of course…
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRsjggCU/
VG
re reo, when do world cup squads get announced ?
Hatate for Nygren for me.
Reo is a much more productive player, when in the mood.
From last blog:
LIONROARS67 on 7TH MAY 2026 7:09 PM
GEDINTE on 7TH MAY 2026 6:56 PM
Ah Epsilons! My favourite insult when I was a yoof. As in, “Ya wee Epsilon!”
Great book. There was a movie too. Thanks for reminding me. 😄
A novel way of removing dissent from the blog, i see you.
https://youtu.be/dYBj_qAJtRA
Very good enough analysis across almost all of it Paul.
Respect.
Here comes the but.
“It has been a while since we have recorded a 90 minute win against Newco, September 2024 to be precise. A 3-0 win that day suggests a whitewash, but the stats tell the story of a tighter game, settled by small margins”
I’ll happily subscribe to the statistical fact that we haven’t beaten them in 90 minutes for 20 months.
I’ll fairly readily subscribe to the view that this stat does not reflect well in previous managers in post during that period.
A “tighter game, settled by small margins” ?
We skelped them.
Lucky to get nil, if it had been a boxing match .. Etc
Celtic’s stable base? ……aye neigh bother
Celtic’s stable base?
Those horses have bolted and have not been replaced.
The servile handwringers are up early today it would seem.
For those troubled by ads. I access CQN on android through the Duckduck go app. Totally ad free. Never had a problem
I suppose we could always hope that our friends take it easy as a thank you for all we have done for them…..
Thankfully for the majority of the 20 month league run, the derbies were irrelevant. We won the games that had to be won. And Sunday is certainly in that category.
“Saracchi might see action if we are pressing for a goal late on.”
Know who our most productive player this season is, counting assists and chances created (xA)?
Kieran Tierney.
(or was last time I checked, and no one was near him)
🪱🐛
First we had it in a slew of some comments.
Now it seems the last few articles themselves have the whiff of the ole AI about them.
CoPilot CSC
Ps; would we really ba any worse off with a Calvin instead of a Bali or a Leonard instead of a Bernardo?
Don’t fink so !
FC Rightsizing
The Battered Bunnet on 8th May 2026 12:06 pm
Here’s a thought…
Get rid of the advertising on the site.
Make it free to read, but a modest subscription to post. Basically, a members’ club, the members covering the cost of maintaining the site and the archive.
There are only so many times a colleague can walk past your desk at lunchtime and see the advert for the Ann Summer’s vibrator on your laptop screen before you get asked out.
——-
😂Asked out on a date or asked out aka sacked?
Imagine what a Motherwell win tomorrow night would do for the game.🤞
Celtic’s stable base?…wish there was a bit of hay in there…
I think the stables could be greatly improved by getting rid of some of the donkeys and replacing them with racehorses .
HondacivicsandFerraris CSC
glendalystonsils on 8th May 2026 1:44 pm
I think the stables could be greatly improved by getting rid of some of the donkeys and replacing them with racehorses .
HondacivicsandFerraris CSC
|
Of course it has absolutely heehaw to do with the 53,000 sleeping suckullent season ticket donkeys!
Who are as compliant as the nodding dogs that are stuck onto eejits car windows
Season ticket traps are to keep unpopular regimes in place courtesy of dim Timmy’s emotional weakness.
Sad are the stables near the stoorie burn district….
ziggydoc1 on 8th May 2026 1:35 pm
Imagine what a Motherwell win tomorrow night would do for the game. 🤞
*as we all sit and worry about cheathun in the VAR studio, is he any worse than Damien Thorn, not heard any mention of the mitb or VAR for Fir Park the morra night, is this a quandary for the sfa as the jam tarts dropping points leaves the door open for cheathun tae ensure his favourites are still in line for a top European place
I agree with nearly all of today’s blog, my only suggestion is to play Saracchi instead of Tounetki, who is a very predictable player.
Saracchi can hit the byline, is moblle and aggressive.
Also, a bit like Steve Guppy as he is left footed he can get his crosses in without fully beating the opponent.
Caution be damned. Set aboot the hun from kick off. Their rancid support that is.
SSN giving us 2 minutes after adverts
Liam Scales Presser
https://youtu.be/173dolcZbeY?si=oKngAr-ZJq5iDiQT
HH
bognorbhoy on 8th May 2026 1:36 pm
Celtic’s stable base?…wish there was a bit of hay in there…
Bognorbhoy, that brought memories back (I’m assuming it was a deliberate reference by yourself).
I’m just sitting back with a big grin on my coupon imagining what Davie Hay would do with wee Ratskin.
Ave Ave
Martin Presser
https://youtu.be/wbZXxdQibNs?si=tfT4gHCYRMeCvO1W
HH
Stable base? Well we are certainly showing a bit of form lately. Coming through on the inside lane.
Got to watch out for slipshod defending though, sometimes better to just hoof it up the park….
Does anyone know what time you would have to arrive to get into the sports bar at CP on a derby match day?
Celtic Mac on 8th May 2026 3:20 pm
Stable base? Well we are certainly showing a bit of form lately. Coming through on the inside lane.
Got to watch out for slipshod defending though, sometimes better to just hoof it up the park….
____
Just make sure our centre backs don’t have too many touches, dwell on the ball and play it back to the keeper unnecessarily.
ziggydoc1
Well I hope we’re not seeing a return to the ol’ horseshoe tactics…
I thought that course was run. That said still a few hurdles to jump before the finishing line…
There is no chance MON would play the team and formation that I would go with, so I figured I’d just try and guess who will play in his 4-3-3…
Sinisalo, Johnson, Trusty, Scales, Tierney, McGregor, Engels, Nygren, Yang, Forest, Maeda.
Can’t see anything other than a Celtic win, but sadly not a goal fest; 2-1.