Sebastian Tounekti again caught the eye as Celtic cruised past Partick Thistle in yesterday’s League Cup quarterfinal, but the game was more notable for the creators of all four goals, rather than the names on the scoresheet. Bejamin Nygren’s deliveries led to headed goals from Yang and Liam Scales. Poor deliveries from the wing were a feature of Celtic’s play for much of last season. We can all agree than Benji is not a winger, but his crossing is a joy.
Kelechi Iheanacho put on a simple but very effective performance – was always available for the pass, controlled the ball and laid it off. This sounds easy but, just with the poor crossing we suffered last season, was a persistent problem for Celtic.
Thistle were thoroughly softened up before Michel-Ange Balikwisha setup Luke McCowan for the final goal. The Belgian snatched at a good chance to open his scoring account moments earlier. Four goals assisted by new signings is an unusual stat to record.
Our semi-final draw is a repeat of last year’s final, in which Celtic edged Newco on penalties after a 3-3 draw, with Motherwell facing St Mirren in the other semi. The semis take place during the Europa League campaign, when squads are stretched by two games a week. We will rely on some of the fringe players who stepped up yesterday.
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CROFTCELT. A twat is someone who only works Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday !!!
Welcome back to Jimmy Kimmel…
I THINK if Aberdeen get four points from their next two games, Sevco will be bottom of the League !
Just looked again. Falkirk would also need to get a point in their next game for Sevco to be bottom .
Probably childish but I like the prospect :-))
When folk call out the board for repeated failure to prepare for CL qualification and zero ambition over the years we’re reminded of how many trophies we’ve won.
When folk praise BR for winning how many trophies, we ‘re reminded of how many games he lost whilst doing so.
the should be every majot train station in Europe every weekend at least
https://substack.com/@tritaparsi/note/c-158673699?r=bc5xc&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Waverley last week seems v quiet by comparison.
https://www.tiktok.com/@siqgla/video/7549595039651876118
spikeysauldman on 22nd September 2025 10:21 pm
I like that :-))
Funny but true.
It highlights succinctly what I often feel. Namely, many who are critical of aspects of the running of the Club, do not have enough REAL information to justify their comments.
Goodnight all.
https://x.com/CFC_Collective/status/1970171695592784225?t=HlvHtDX88r1jPwnbcK8KRA&s=19
https://x.com/CFC_Collective/status/1970171695592784225?t=HlvHtDX88r1jPwnbcK8KRA&s=19
the reaction of a few daft Huns when passing thru Waverley was to start singing “Rule Britannia” – go figure – just as a few weeks ago in Glasgow, “Hello Hello” was their reaction.
Maestro…not a complaint, but why do you almost always duplicate your posts?
Paul67,
is there not something you can do to stop folk duplicating their posts?
Spikeysauldman…it would be reassuring if what is happening in Italy spreads to many other countries.
Paul67,
is there not something you can do to stop folk duplicating their posts?.
Delighted with yesterday. Watched it in Granada. Watched Killie in Cadiz. Will be in Cordoba on Wednesday but won’t bother with Red Star game. I care as much about Europe this season as the flint-eyed capitalists in the boardroom. Couldn’t care less.
Saint Stivs @ 3:46 pm
SHAMEFUL!!! Celtic Board Look Away Whilst Fans Launch Protest Against Them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-UUI_JCvXA
——-
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
First comment – “For them to do that is a slap in the face to all of us”
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Reading the BBC article about Red Bull’s F1 boss and his £52m pay off.
This caught my attention:
“Most CEO incentive payments are paid in shares which they have to hold for a period of years, in case any wrongdoing comes to light or if the long-term impact of their decisions proves to be less positive than anticipated,” it says.
What can be more ‘less positive’ than all those years of failure to qualify for the CL?
However, PL and MN seem to have done OK.
Any criticism of Israel = anti-semitism
Any support for Palestinian statehood = rewarding Hamas
*SENTINEL CELTS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025-26*
*RESULTS FROM GAME #9 PARTICK THISTLE 0 CELTIC 4 (YANG, SCALES, TOUNEKTI, McCOWAN)*
Good evening, friends.
Another well organised pre-match protest saw a slight delay to the kick off as the rolled up disused posters were cleared from the sun drenched pitch. And pretty soon we saw that it was the most completely one-sided game of the season so far. Attackers v Defenders for the first 20 minutes but without the breakthrough we were all hoping for. The Horseshoed sold out stadium was a good substitute from our usual horseshoed back line but it was clear to all that the ‘get the ball to Seb’ option was the one most likely to get us off our seats.
The breakthrough came in the 25th minute. Some good link up play between Tounekti and Nygren saw a 60 degree lob wedge to the back post met by the head of Yang and Celtic were one up. We doubled our lead just 2 minutes later. Tounekti and Nygren again combined at the corner and the cross into the box saw Scales get ahead of his marker to send a near post header into the corner of the net. Easy Street by half time.
My own viewing was affected by grandparent duties and not only did I miss the start of the second half, but I missed our third goal! Tounekti’s driving run into the box followed by a one-two with Iheanacho saw Sebastian score his first goal for Celtic.
In the 52rd minute we saw a rare moment of shooting from outside the box! Iheanach made some space on the D and his low effort was well saved by the Thistle keeper. Kelechi has only been with us for a fortnight so it’ll take time for him to adjust to our ‘don’t just shoot’ policy!
Our 4th goal came in the 78th minute. Good pressing from Balikwisha saw McCowan pick up the resultant loose ball and proceed to drive towards the Partick goal. From 15 yards a low controlled shot across the keeper into the far corner completed our scoring for the day.
The post match celebrations saw the fans, team and manager all seemingly on the same page. Togetherness could be vital in the weeks ahead.
The draw for the semi finals was very favourable as Celtic avoided the 2 other teams that are currently in Scotland’s top 10. The semi final against Triggers Broom FC is 6 weeks away.
We have now played 9 games, winning 6 and drawing 3. We have scored 16 goals and conceded 2.
The voting numbers for this latest game are well ahead of last season’s average but disappointingly still a bit short of the 100-target. But my thanks to the 85 who voted this time around.
The total votes cast for each player are as follows, with my own nominations asterisked.
Sinisalo: 1
Donovan*: 54
Carter-Vickers: 2
Scales: 18
Tierney: 20
McGregor: 3
Hatate: 17
Nygren*: 13
Yang: 10
Iheanacho: 30
Tounekti*: 84
Bernardo: 0
Maeda: 1
Balikwisha: 0
Engels: 0
McCowan: 2
Unused substitutes: Forrest, Murray, Saracchi, Schmeichel
And so, the _POINTS_ earned by each player for this match are as follows (with the top 2 places remaining the same as for the previous game against Kilmarnock!) –
25 points: Tounekti
22 points: Donovan
19 points: Iheanacho
16 points: Tierney
14 points: Scales
12 points: Hatate
11 points: Nygren
10 points: Yang
9 points: McGregor
8 points: Carter-Vickers and McCowan
6 points: Maeda and Sinisalo
3 points: Balikwisha, Bernardo and Engels
1 point: Forrest, Murray, Saracchi and Schmeichel
*And the cumulative points achieved after 9 games played are* –
149: Scales
113: Tierney
110: Nygren
105: McGregor
98: Forrest
92: Carter-Vickers
84: Engels
83: Hatate
69: Maeda
68: Donovan
66: Yang
63: McCowan
57: Ralston
55: Murray
54: Johnston
50: Tounekti
48: Schmeichel
41: Yamada
35: Iheanacho
28: Saracchi
25: Bernardo
23: Sinisalo
22: Inamura and Trusty
21: Kenny
19: Idah
14: Balikwisha
2: Osmond and Simpson-Pusey
1: Doohan
0: All the other players who’ve not yet made a matchday squad!
We now have just 2 more sleeps until our opening game in this season’s Europa League. An away tie against Crvena Zvezda aka Red Start Belgrade. The kick off in Serbia is at 8.00pm on Wednesday evening.
Hail Hail!
A note of thanks for our host P67 as the blogosphere in general nudges towards commercialisation.
Several of the Celtic-leaning blogs I’ve enjoyed started out of a relatable passion for Celtic but are now moving towards monetisation, so the blog team can derive professional incomes, by putting content behind a Paywall.
Some hun blogs where I supped my schadenfreude are doing the same, starving me of glee fuel.
I’m well aware of the production costs of content creation (when bloggers leave their bedrooms for nicer studio environments) but I kinda draw a line when paying for what’s usually no more than a source-free and mostly unverified gas-bagging session.
The ole MSM have numerous faults but notionally they did have decent contact books with agents, players, refs and other officials. And they were theoretically governed by editorial rules (tho not enforced at the redtops). Happened for me with Huddle Breakdown (never the same since Enda left imo) and now Celtic Exchange. Naturally wish these bhoys awrrabest.
Also hat-tip to Philmac who continues to provide stuff free while his nemesis JohnJames has long run a monetised site with more of a free-range editorial remit.
PS Earlier posted rant from Strelec’s agent was good fun DENIABHOY.
PS. Australian media currently in mud-slinging mode over Albo’s decision to belatedly recognise that state of Palestine with oor Tories sucking DT and BNs nuts by promising to reverse the decision. Sad stuff.
Quad
Tories the same the world over ….
That said just what are UK and anyone else for that matter recognising other than the fact that they have done feck all for years about the Zionists.
There is nothing left of Gaza and the West Bank is going the same way.
The Israelis will be happy to live in a world were only the US and whichever countries the US has interfered in will deal with them.
As for many of the Arab countries – shame on them.
Hot Smoked on 22nd September 2025 6:03 pm
Auldheid on 22nd September 2025 5:51 pm
Considering the important nature of the situation, I found that e-mail incredible.
It was along the lines of:
Hello mate, here`s what you can do ( and we`ll help) to avoid paying your dues.
Your Old Pal,
Keith.
================
When I first read that e mail the first thing I noticed was the tone of it.
However when I read a bit later I only appreciated that UEFA had given verbal agreement to what was a fraudulent submission .
That meant that a conversation took place between the SFA and UEFA.
What did SFA tell UEFA that not only got their agreement but stopped them asking future financial forecasts 5 months ahead of Rangers administration.
Did the fact Rangers were already out of both UEFA competitions play a part?
I thought then that UEFA might have been happy not to delve or were just lied to by SFA.
Looking back and seeing PL had written to Infantino at UEFA in May 2012 about Rangers use of ebts and with no evidence of a reply I think PL was telling the truth that UEFA were not interested.
The irony of Res12 is it was asking UEFA to investigate something they wanted to avoid like the plague given their part in accepting a fraudulent statement in Sep 2011..
If I wrote a book about Res 12 would anyone read it and afterwards would they wished they hadn’t.
+St Stivs e The Collective.
I did find the Paul Smith ACSOM interview very interesting, he says we need more structure not less, younger , smarter people in places, critically he doesn’t diss the board, he just says we need more people in the right places, and a different structure.
===========
I saw that interview too and thought that there is a guy who knows the score.
In my reply to Chairboy I have made the same point about lack of capacity being part of the problem.
I think that for the Collective to talk of wanting dialogue with folk that are having insults thrown at them is hardly going to win hearts and minds. Feck off would be my reaction .
I hope my suggestion for a Membership Service to unite the support takes hold but without knowing most of the folk on The Collective Steering group I dont know if the capacity exist.
Rebus 67 fear that division will take place has historical reference and do not rule that out.
Things need fixed but there is no quick one. If PL is still Chairman after the AGM that would be a GIRUY response by DD but I doubt even then Mags advice would be followed by a match boycott.
However getting the right expertise in the right place with the right skills is more important and that should see PL stepping down and MN stepping sideways to cover the needed capacity on the legal side.
quadrophenian on 22nd September 2025 11:28 pm
A note of thanks for our host P67 as the blogosphere in general nudges towards commercialisation.
Several of the Celtic-leaning blogs I’ve enjoyed started out of a relatable passion for Celtic but are now moving towards monetisation, so the blog team can derive professional incomes, by putting content behind a Paywall.
Some hun blogs where I supped my schadenfreude are doing the same, starving me of glee fuel.
I’m well aware of the production costs of content creation (when bloggers leave their bedrooms for nicer studio environments) but I kinda draw a line when paying for what’s usually no more than a source-free and mostly unverified gas-bagging session.
The ole MSM have numerous faults but notionally they did have decent contact books with agents, players, refs and other officials. And they were theoretically governed by editorial rules (tho not enforced at the redtops). Happened for me with Huddle Breakdown (never the same since Enda left imo) and now Celtic Exchange. Naturally wish these bhoys awrrabest.
Also hat-tip to Philmac who continues to provide stuff free while his nemesis JohnJames has long run a monetised site with more of a free-range editorial remit.
===================
Not only are the making money from Celtic but are part cause of the division The Celtic family currently face
I find Video Celts the most toxic of them all, written by someone with a pathological hatred of The Board and who cashes in from an audience that either share his views or are influenced by them. I dont know who he will turn on when PL and MN do step down.
In the absence of not knowing how Celtic works some blogs present their own perceptions which anger their readers and when they have no idea of what dialogue requires scorn those explaining it.
If Celtic do waken up because of the noise those blogs will have done their job, but what then? AI taking over? Feed in a wrong perception and a blog gets churned out. Kerching.
The recognition – Spikeys – is merely light touch morality. A theatre piece of propriety. Illusions of integrity.
I don’t share ‘war’ links often but this fresh, fraught podcast from ABC radio, interviews an Aussie medic called Dr Saya Aziz volunteering at Al Shifa hospital. Warning, it’s graphic, shocking, heartbreaking:
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-breakfast/gaza-aus-doctors/105804494
AULDHEID:
‘Not only are the making money from Celtic but are part cause of the division The Celtic family currently face’
I’ve seen exactly this phenomenon labelled as ‘rage farming’ and how creators make rage-bait for money. CelticExchange and Huddle don’t stray into that turf majorly, but AI and Alogrithms are not going away when mugs’ money’s on the table.
Quadro
True,the rush to monetise others opinion,
I try read other blogs,via blizzards of adverts,they are becoming what they started out dissenting,sometimes the thrice daily output is shallow.
HH
AN T
Many in the blog-o-biz are (ironically) incandescent at how our suits rip off Celtic fans with an inferior on-field product – while they trade in Tic tattle with nary a fact-checked or fan insight professionally interrogated.
It’s fan media which gained popularity by being on the level (dunno if thats a craft saying ?); about parity.
Like I said, I’ve enjoyed many blogs/vlogs from my Celtic peers offering different perspectives and views but can any of us imagine going to Heraghty’s for a swifty only to have a fellow blatherskite ask us to pitch 2quid into the hate before they regale us of their thinly researched trumpeting ?
#madworld #tearsforfearsCSC
Hat not hate
#amateurproofreader
St Stivs.
With reference to the Collective if I were advising them on making the difference they seek:
1. What do The Collective think is the purpose of Celtic? Get agreement on that and unity has a chance.
2. What Vision of Celtic do the Collective have if they achieve their aims?
3 What will be the Strategy to make the Vision happen?
4. What fundamental policies need to be put in place to guide those charged with Executing the policy?
5. What will be indications that the strategy is working to make Celtic fit for the agreed purpose and the vision has been achieved?
What I would look for in the Vision is a club united where everyone ,Board and Support work, to make the Vision happen.
If that is too naïve what is an alternative practical vision?
Auldheid…
Firstly apologies for not getting back, I didn’t expect to be out all day yesterday.
Secondly you made a few comments with several salient points over a couple of blogs, so apologies for what might look like a generic reply; so if I miss, or misunderstand something I’m sure you’ll point it out:))
Now my point about FSR – Celtic have a huge amount of headroom in FSR compliance, they are the poster bhoys.
That is why I’m saying all this talk of FSR non-compliance is scaremongering.
Especially when folk are banging on about our Operational Expenses figure which is not the amount that is used in FSR.
Let me once again post…
Cost control and the squad cost rule
“The new regulations will see clubs subject to squad cost controls for the first time. The cost control rule restricts spending on player and coach wages, transfers, and agent fees to 70% of club revenues. (The gradual implementation will see the percentage at 90% in 2023/2024, 80% in 2024/2025, and 70% in 2025/2026). This requirement provides a direct measure between squad costs and income to encourage more performance-related costs and to limit the market inflation of wages and transfer costs of players.
https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0274-14da0ce4535d-fa5b130ae9b6-1000–explainer-uefa-s-new-financial-sustainability-regulations/
“This requirement provides a direct measure between squad costs and income”
So it’s NOT Operational Expenses (OE)*
Celtic’s figure for squad costs are well below that of OE and relatively speaking is a very healthy percentage of football related revenue.
If the folk who are misleading supporters in this regard are not being disingenuous and scaremongering why are they doing it?
“I have somewhere a note of Anges buys. I think it was £45m over two seasons . What were Anges purchases sold for? Just one, MoR contributed most to football earnings, and about what Ange spent in a year.
How much did Engles Idah and Twisty cost?
What will be their resale value?. I think that has a lot to do with current crisis along with the lack of urgency to get players in due to high purchases needing Board approval and that taking too long.”
Interesting you guys harping on about “How much did Engles Idah and Twisty cost?”
How about…
Kuhn, Schmeichel, Sinisalo, Bernardo, McCowan who were bought at the same time 8 mn – worth over 25 mn.
We got 7 mn for Idah – 20 goals
Trusty and Engels worth 18 mn
I make that 50 mn – What’s the issue with our 2024 intake.
Did us not to bad in the League, Cups and UCL an awe.
How are the 2023 buy cheap sell high recruits doing?
Ange’s recruitment was funded by the sale of several BR Mk 1 sales, specifically Ajer and Eduardo.
Matt O’Riley was developed into three times the value by BR&CO and with other sales paid for the 2024 intake.
My reading is that profit from selling players helps meet the wage bill for players already in situe with 4 year contracts which the support prefer to losing them.
Buying low and selling high from that perspective, and everyone has their own, is why I’ve used the hamster in the wheel strategy and I would suggest that we are where we are right now because the hamster was not pedalling fast enough.”
What we have being doing is putting players on a five year contract, hopefully after a couple of years, they have developed into much better players and have added value to the first team and their transfer fees.
At that point the Board want to sell and make profit – e.g. Nic Kuhn
Where as the football department has been trying to persuade footballers to stay by offering an enhanced deal then selling later for more – e.g. Matt O’Riley
So what do you do?
Develop a player for 18 months and see another club benefit.
Or have the player contribute to the first team over a number of seasons and make more money?
Of course, the new extended contract the player signs will be on a much better salary, when you couple that with the current wage inflation that Peter Lawwell warned us about two years ago, the bonuses we pay players for winning and drawing matches specifically in the UCL and all that impacts the FSR cost control rule which you think (wrongly) we are on course for breaching.
Also, we keep players until they run down their contract, Greg Taylor, or their value plummets when they decline an extended contract and like Daizen Maeda.
No wonder you have a knackered Hamster.
*Our Operational Expenses Including Labour, as the Chairman puts it – “First team labour costs were the highest levels in the history of the Club” he later tells – of course Revenues were at a record high, but that must have slipped his mind, can you believe he has shares.
Hail Hail
Top of the morning ,
Big week underway and a performance and a result of any sort would undoubtedly satisfy our need this midweek in Bosnia ot will not be easy but I remain hopeful.
I think when you post a link it posting it twice clearly an issue with the blog.
hh 🇳🇬⚽️👍
Weebobbycollins 11.01
Agree 100%
Spikeysauldman 11.04
I share that fear. Not a great legacy given what our generation inherited. We kinda knew right from wrong. We had the learnings from the previous 100 years or so.
Ooh well.
That’s me survived another rapture.
Chairbhoy
You speak of MOR value as Rodger’s generated.
For clarity he was bought when Lawwell was heading recruitment and played 72 games under Ange and then 52 under Rodgers.
He won all domestic 5 trophies under Ange and just 2 under Rodgers.
He played a critical role in securing Ange’s first league win during his early period with the club.
Many contributed to his development. Not just 1.
Chairbhoy
Likewise Kuhn was recruited under prior regime.
I am not aware on any value added to any others bought since BR has taken control of player recruitment but maybe you can show me otherwise.
Latchfordsbelly
Given all you seem to do re Celtic is moan about it bitterly on a blog then I am sure your ‘support’ or interest won’t be missed a lot.