Celtic blew Aberdeen away with a storming three-goal first half which saw yet another cracking goal for Camilo Duran sail into the roof of the net. Even before then, the game had a look of an attack against defence training match, with the visitors doing little more than protecting their keeper and clearing their lines.
Camilo’s chance would not have overly concerned Aberdeen. Outside the box, with the ball underneath him, denying the player a proper backswing, he produced an exceptional strike to give the keeper no chance.
Goals change games and whatever resistance Aberdeen were able to provide in the minutes before the opening goal crumbled. Celtic split them open with regularity with Camilo and Benjamin Nygren both passing up good chances. The latter was soon on the scoresheet, ushering in a loose ball with Aberdeen defenders looking preoccupied by the movement of Duran.
The third goal was a counterattack from after a rare Aberdeen venture up-field earned them a corner kick. They successfully attacked the cross (a concern for Celtic defenders) and Gavin Molloy cracked a header against Viljami Sinisalo’s crossbar. Unfortunately for the visitors, Celtic’s turnover was irresistible. Duran timed a perfect ball into the path of Yang, who ran on the ball and finished low seconds before halftime.
Haissem Hassan is already proving a big hit. In football vernacular, he gets fans off their seats. In a world where wingers often cut back and redistribute the ball, Haissem is the most direct antidote you will see.
The pace of the game dropped during the second period, as tired limbs, a torrent of rain and five substitutions interrupted the flow. The commanding lead allowed Martin O’Neill to field two new signings, Oliver Sorensen and Shumaira Mheuka. Both will be delighted to start their Celtic journey.
I am not expecting movement today, but as the transfer window does not close until 5pm we’ll wait before discussing yesterday’s flood of arrivals and the window overall.
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HH
A defensive midfielder is not too much to ask.
Is raskin a defensive midfielder?
Really enjoyed the game last night – if not the cycle home. I think we’re in good shape and have had a much better window. Time will tell but some real quality brought in and players who want to be here.
I thought van den berg said he could play defensive mid? Looks a solid unit too.
“Camilo’s chance would not have overly concerned Aberdeen. Outside the box, with the ball underneath him, denying the player a proper backswing, he produced an exceptional strike to give the keeper no chance”.
I think it took the crowd by surprise as well!!
“…Nygren ushering in a loose ball with Aberdeen defenders looking preoccupied by the movement of Duran.”
Beg to differ. That was a Duran assist, go look again. Quite the unlikely backheeled volley set up.
TBB
Yep.
Duran, 1 goal, 2 assists.
surely duran got credit for that as an assist ?
Why did the club not get required players in before CL qualifier ?
We all knew there were no legs in midfield and so it turned out in Linz. Cost the club 40 mil…and with Kairat where we had no strikers another 40 mil lost.
The spate of players yesterday and loans were not our first choice. Some may make it , if not we will need to start the planning now for replacements for next seasons CL qualifiers.
Overall we have a stronger team than last season (on paper until they take care of the Ibrox club in a couple of weeks time). I fully expect the league ( 1/3 on ) and possibly even a treble …
However, overall the window is a failure as we missed out on the CL ; who is accountable for the biggest failure this season ? Maybe we should pretend it never happened like every other season and accept failure.
You can wait Paul but I will offer my modest views now.
We started the window like an ambitious serious football club aiming to right the wrongs of several seasons of mediocre transfer windows with the arrival of four players that would fit the profile of most as a way to improve our first XI. Sadly, our recruitment team then fell asleep – certainly in terms of signing players. To wait nearly three weeks before then signing six players – all on one kind of loan version – is odd to say the least. Mon talked about improving the quality of player but he has already spoken about how players on perm contracts will be preferred to loan players. He did that within hours of these players arriving.
Realistically why have we signed the two Chelsea lads? 18 years old. They have little to no chance of starting big games and the left back will be unlikely to kick a ball. Scales will be preferred at LB.
Sorensen is a loan to buy and I have no issue with that. He had a decent time at Midtjyland and it is no shame to not quite work out in Serie a. Likewise Van den Berg is a young man but he is a perm signing and comes with a profile.
However, why do we have 4 right backs? Donovan has been doing well so it AJ for the off in January?
Left back. Shameful. Maloney stated in Tuesday’s presser that they wanted Saracchi but MN didn’t do his job properly. he still hasn’t. How difficult is to sign left back cover?
CDM. Probably the most baffling as we have not signed an aggressive, busy, hard working midfielder since Brown retired. The captain needs help and we have failed. It did not have to be the lad from Torino but somebody to improve that area.
All in all we signed 10 players. 5 perm. 5 loans.
I am really pleased with our attacking options. I think we will score bundles of goals and are more than ready for domestic duties.
The GK position and left back is weaker than last season. Johnstone is a number 2.
I would say they panicked when we went out of the CL, some players probably would only come to Scotland if we were in the CL which is fair enough and we of course wouldn’t pay what was needed on some occasions.
We have a decent squad with some real quality but I fear we are short for Europe. We lost against LASK due to a lack of depth defensively (defensive midfield included in that) and I don’t think we have improved that since the LSSK defeat.
We are probably 2 or 3 players away from a really good European run. Numbers do not mean quality. There are some fans never happy, some who are honest, realistic and have a bit of knowledge and some who think that any signing is a good one.
The set-up for Aberdeen’s corner that resulted in their one and only chance needs some serious study.
Scales and Trusty, our two best headers, of the ball,are zonal marking the middle and front post. The ball to the back post takes both of them out of the play. Sinasalo, not for the first time, is in no man’s land , comes, stops, then watches the ball sail over his head. Yang is left to challenge for the header.
At times we do look like we are uncoached. Particularly defensively
meanwhile reading back someone managed to effectively write off sorenson after 10 minutes on the pitch
A load of nonsense being spoken about Duran and Hough.Hough occupies the CHs,Duran can float right or left of him.I think both players inteligent enough.Nothing has to be rigid.Hassan on the wing draws defenders wide.KT bombing up the left.Nightmare for defenders.The midfield wil sort itself out quicklyTrusty is off form.A bit hesitant for some reason.The new striker moves very well.Hasans crosses,only one contested,and it brought a goal.Another reason for Hough.Finally,if this set piece coach is getting paid by results,he will be in the queue at the benefits office shortly.
Did mention this last night.It was Stebhoy. I am now officialy the Blog grass.
NOTTHEBUS on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2026 12:18 PM
Thats a standard way of defending corners these days. The best headers in their zone, others marking. It looks ugly when it doesn’t work but it’s what you’ll see in a lot of games in the EPL these days
No amount of coaching and organization makes up for a keeper misjudging the flight of the ball or the markers not doing their jobs
It was a good header and I don’t think it was unchallenged.
Not The Bus,,,,,,,,,Our achilles heel regularly is corners,free kicks,into the box.For years.Even winning the first ball,we rarely win the second,then all sorts of paic,sclaffing clearances,hitting against our own players,we have al witnessed it,regularly.Again this is part of the set piece coches job.
Difficult to see here but it was explained in detail on sky at the weekend
Newcastle goal at about 1.50
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uwx9nMb_GMA&ra=m
Blody cursor.
Promising signs last night, great energy for the full 90, great intensity.
The new signings brought a freshness Thats been lacking, still a couple more to come
Bloody,FFS.Arrgh..
From 11 minutes if anyone’s interested
3 best headers zonal, the rest man marking
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UsIr9f5gURM&ra=m
Horses for course,I would think with the midfield.EG,Ibrox probably different from the week after.
CELTIC40ME on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2026 12:35 PM
Promising signs last night, great energy for the full 90, great intensity.
The new signings brought a freshness Thats been lacking, still a couple more to come”.
I kind of agree with half of this. I still find myself getting a little frustrated when we move the ball from A-to-C via B when the pass to B seems unnecessary.
I’m happy to admit I do not know enough about the game and perhaps the pass to B is necessary for some reason e.g. it allows the players ahead of play to move in to position, but for me it slows down ball progression.
I agree with tour last sentence and it looked to me as if the new guys were looking to receive and move the ball quicker.
Can we not just acknowledge that it was a terrific corner. The guy missed anyway, we really do beat ourselves up about every opportunity or goal the opposition get.
“If a dealine day offer came in for Camilo Duran today based on his performances of late, do you really think the Celtic board would ‘boot it out’?
Nothing would shock me with these vulture capitalists in charge of our club.”
Now that is just plain stupid. I mean, why would you even think that never mind post it?
According to the Scotsman,the Huns are trying to sign one of the best strikers in world football.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,From Portland Timbers.¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
King Kenny…… looking great
What happened this site last night ?
Despite notification the the new blog was up I tried in vain to access it for the rest of the game !
Several of us soldiered on regardless, with updates and opinions on the match.
Basically, Scales did an excellent job at left full, Duran was outstanding and young Donovan is improving game on game. Very mature player for a 19 year old.
I thought we signed a Set Piece coach. Am I wrong?
PeterLatchfordsBelly on 3rd September 2026 12:07 pm
Really enjoyed the game last night – if not the cycle home.
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Good to hear you were in cloud 9.
Wow Sir respect. I can’t imagine cycling in such torrential monsoon conditions.
Personally it spoiled what was a very enjoyable watch.
I am still drying out
HH.
PS : Celtic have been criticised for not having adequate storage facilities for bikes. Do you use the ” storage” at the Billy McNeill statue ?
celtic40me on 3rd September 2026 12:26 pm
Nothing against Zonal marking at all, but why dont we have the back post Zonally marked? We went man for man with the rest, CCV in the mix wrestling with the attackers.
Why cant there be a prescience at the back post also?
All negated if the keeper judges the flight of the ball correctly. Sinasalo particularly weak at doing that
What happened this site last night ?
Despite notification the the new blog was up I tried in vain to access it for the rest of the game !
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when a new article is posted, it is usually the first article on the home page.
but for some reason when last nights ‘live updates’ was put up initially, it was a fair way down the home page, after the current article and other articles. so unless you scrolled down then you wouldnt have seen it.
not sure if it got sorted during the game.
also, i have always hated the word ‘article’ for some reason, so having just typed it a few times, im away to wash my fingers with bleach!
Lets all do the huddle on 3rd September 2026 1:24 pm.
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Go raibh agat
PS : Celtic have been criticised for not having adequate storage facilities for bikes.
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was it the Greens ?
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2026 12:52 PM
I guess this is the new ideal and what coaches and managers are looking for:
from 30 seconds in, assist from CQN favourite Adam Idah ‘n all
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUqcpqxo9zk
Theres lots of talk of the game being about opening up and occupying spaces, so its probably to do with that. Theres not much flexibility in the game at the moment, teams seem to be coached hard in one formation now and arent able or willing to change. Unless its Derek KcKloppnes who plays five formations each game but not necessarily as part of plan.
Once we’re past preseason and we have to bed new players in and the games come quick and fast its not easy to coach new tactics into a team but I’d really like to see at least a try at something that doesnt regularly leave all our midfield players running back facing their own goal as a result of a simple counter attack. We have two of the best strikers we’ve had at Celtic for a long time and the Chelsea youngster looks like he’s a player as well so I hop Martin and Shaun are working to play 2 strikers in their best positions at the same time at some point.
Attendance: 58,825
hogh is kiddin hogh ?
NOTTHEBUS on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2026 1:15 PM
Nothing against Zonal marking at all, but why dont we have the back post Zonally marked? We went man for man with the rest, CCV in the mix wrestling with the attackers.
I wouldnt know, but its clearly the tactic. Watching it back, its a very well worked corner and part of a plan.
1:20 in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyFr2ZYSRBg