Just as in Bologna on Thursday, Celtic’s passing during the opening exchanges was excellent. They dominated early proceedings and could have scored through a Liam Scales header from a corner before Benjamin Nygren put them ahead with an outstanding free kick.
This period ended after 20 minutes, when a series of Hearts free kicks interrupted the champions rhythm. Once Hearts established a foothold in midfield, Celtic’s passing disintegrated. Unforced errors allowed the home team time to build a way back into the game. Celtic were unable to do anything about this malaise, even when the game was 11 v 11.
Tomas Cvancara made his Celtic debut and started his first game since November. He had a relatively quiet game until he showed us what all the fuss was about just after the hour. A one-two with Daizen Meada allowed him to race down the left wing, drawing Craig Gordon before sliding a perfect ball into the path of Yang to put Celtic 1-2 ahead. This move involved the three fastest players. It offers an interesting template.
With Celtic needing to hold the ball in the middle of the park, I was surprised Reo Hatate was unused. Changes were limited to fitness or an intervention from the officials. Cvancara was replaced minutes after the aforementioned goal, Kieran Terney went off after treatment, and Anthony Ralston replaced Yang to bolster the defence after Auston Trusty was red carded.
The decision of VAR to intervene and suggest an upgrade to Trusty’s yellow card strained the credibility of an obvious error by the referee. You are asked to believe that Celtic’s fastest defender would not have adjusted his trajectory had the Hearts striker got free of Trusty. The decision cost Celtic a win and I was genuinely surprised when it was made.
Critical interventions from Liam Scales and Kasper Schmeichel, both of whom delivered their second outstanding performances of the week, kept Hearts at bay with so much on the line.
The result was celebrated by the home side in a similar way to how Philippe Clement’s team celebrated a 3-3 draw against Celtic two years ago. Then, as now, a home win would have gone a long way to eliminate Celtic from the title race. A draw did not achieve this on either occasion.
Early days, but what we saw from Tomas Cvancara was encouraging. He has pace and links the ball to feet or in front of him. Link-up play with his new team-mates will improve. If we can get his pace working with that of Daizen and Yang, we have an interesting fast counter-attack option. During the game, I was shouting for Celtic to go long. We’ll see how this plays out in the weeks ahead.
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@Dessy an older clip being repsoted by the fan media on twitter as a gentle reminder I am sure.
Lucky Cody @ 09:10am
Nicholson looks out the window , weather grim — shrugs his shoulders and back under the duvet…
He is a massive Celtic fan though..
——–
I’ll genuinely try to be respectful, LC .. but I’ll fully understand if you don’t think I am being so.
No basis in fact whatsoever.
IMHO … this is a childish ridiculing of the baddie in the black hat.
From what we know, I think it is perfectly acceptable to publicly criticise Michael Nicholson’s performance.
Based on the outcomes to date this season?
There are reasonable indications of failure … IMHO … particularly the “Chief” bit.
Respectfully though?
We don’t know the man’s remit, role or responsibilities …
(Another comms failure by Celtic for sure)
Nor has anyone on here, me included, ever walked a mile in Michael Nicholson’s shoes.
https://jamesmilson.com/about-the-blog/judge-softly-or-walk-a-mile-in-his-moccasins-by-mary-t-lathrap/
Aye, if Celtic got into the EPL , huge Sky TV money this Money is a God board still wouldn’t spend. They’d go about setting up their own parachute fund for being relegated.
We are now in serious competition for players with the likes of Norwich,Stoke,and euro giants,Brondby.A synopsis of what we have become under this Board.Run like a 2nd Div English team.
It makes a fair point satirically, he Nicholson is woefully out of his depth and as many have said avoids phonecalls at transfer time, like it or not he is our CEO and is failing the Club Team and Support.
Who would like to walk a mile in Nicholsons £300 Gucci shoes?
What a load of shit.
That picture i spoke about is on Glasgow Celtic supporters group if you want to have a look
I tend to think Nicholson is a puppet. Put in place to do DD’s bidding.
DD has responded to what he probably sees as insurrection by the Celtic support by damaging the operation.
‘How do you like them onions?’ if you like.
He won’t be told what to do by us plebs. His son told us that.
Unless there’s a major shift in how we’re run, we’re fecked!
This all down to DD.
Dessybhoy,
Far too late for the old,” I was only obeying orders” excuse.Not even an excuse.They are hanging Nazis using it,in the film I am watching at the moment.
A coward,but will take the salary though..
Despicable.” Oh,but he loves Celtic”
Vale Buoy,
Just more excuses mate, for a gutless wage thief helping to destroy every Celtic fans hopes and dreams,and happiness.
DD is the dictator and his puppets dance to his tune we have had more damage and self harm continue and manufacture our own stress we have a very bad &ruined reputation and it as all down to the rich golfer.
https://youtu.be/QgpiA3urpPc?si=ofA1gS4uOKotmZ6o
https://youtu.be/4ttAmOQfUns?si=gkZBAra3VsuzdmOs
https://www.youtube.com/live/xZ7qmsy-kTY?si=nUwnCWAAu2Rt37dE
DD is the dictator and his puppets dance to his tune we have had more damage and self harm continue and manufacture our own stress we have a very bad &ruined reputation and it as all down to the rich golfer.
https://youtu.be/QgpiA3urpPc?si=ofA1gS4uOKotmZ6o
https://youtu.be/4ttAmOQfUns?si=gkZBAra3VsuzdmOs
https://www.youtube.com/live/xZ7qmsy-kTY?si=nUwnCWAAu2Rt37dE
There is little doubt that Michael Nickleson is a life long Celtic supporter. He has a diverse work experience in the legal field and football industry with an academic CV second to none.
On paper he is the ideal candidate for the job of CEO of the club he has always supported.
However, it has not worked out to the betterment of Celtic on the park.
Change is needed and will come in time. Perhaps then we should focus on a CEO without the ologies, university education and multiple degrees and focus on previous advancement and success through experience and good old hard work.
There are and have been many hugely sucessful CEO’s without the formal education tag.
We should always strive for the best available, but perhaps we should lose the underlying and elementary snobbery in our future decision making.
HH.
A few decent pods Quinny particularly good yday on ACSOM
👏💯👌
Not surprised the huns are bidding for a Hansa Rostock player, a club that’s got even more racist fans than Hamburg.
If we are in for the Motherwell player – hopefully Maswanise (sp) then make them an offer they can’t refuse and get him in ASAP.
Also we can’t let Welsh go unless we get more cover in there.
If we were willing to pay £9m for Idah surely £3-4m for Maswanise would both be a reasonable outlay and be enough for Motherwell to bite our hands off.
Hansa Rostock just jogged my memory of one of the poster from the distant last who went by the moniker Hunsa Rugli.
Past, not last.
Celtic’s Yamada leaves on loan
Celtic striker Shin Yamada has joined Preußen Münster on loan until the end of the season.
The Japanese international had failed to score in 12 appearances for the Hoops in all competitions this season.
If the Andy Robertson thing is more than just pipe dreams and hot air ….
… Celtic should move for him in the summer.
At 31 years old he still has a fair bit to offer physically.
Plus, I think he’d be another really good leader in the dressing room.
Depends on his appetite too clearly.
Money?
Fulfilling his dream?
If Spurs (or someone else in the EPL or Europe or Arabia) get him on a lucrative 2 year deal …
… that ship will have well and truly sailed.
boabyevans on 27th January 2026 10:31 am
That picture i spoke about is on Glasgow Celtic supporters group if you want to have a look
https://x.com/i/status/2016107149273804941
Yup some A I editing Boaby.
HH
timhorton on 26th January 2026 8:45 pm
TONTINE TIM
Just heard from my daughter that she has to have a UK Passport to get into Scotland as of next month. Do you know anything about it or any other x Scots
*Just caught this, this morning, too engrossed with the travesty of swinecastle, actually I did hear of it, we were over in July, Ireland tae and heard a wee bit about it before we left, my 2 oldest were born at hame and were in primaries 1 and 3 when we came back here, but although we are Canadian Citizens now and have Canadian Passports the fact that we are all Scottish born disnae affect us, I do have a Canadian born wean but she wisnae with us but I was informed she might have to get some kind of visa, worth checking out with the British Consulate
Shin another player who really never got a chnce ,to many on here judge players to soon and unfortunaly the coches at Celtic take the fans word that they are not good enough,,cowards the lot of you,
Anytime Shin came on he was hopeless, maybe anxious but we can’t wait on someone settling, training would give the Manager and Coaches a better idea of his suitability, good luck to the lad hope he finds his level.
Pish
Shin looked as though he was runner up in a prize..
Better off the lad goes elsewhere on his football journey.
Good luck to him.
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full on 27th January 2026 10:22 am
Lucky Cody @ 09:10am Nicholson looks out the window, weather grim — shrugs his shoulders and back under the duvet…He is a massive Celtic fan though..
I’ll genuinely try to be respectful, LC .. but I’ll fully understand if you don’t think I am being so. No basis in fact whatsoever. IMHO … this is a childish ridiculing of the baddie in the black hat.
*Snipped the rest but fully concur with you and I widnae be respectful as buffalo billy has a bit of a history, in fact I would assert that MN is more of a Celtic man than he is. Oh and I love your quote about “walking a mile in their shoes”, use it all the time.
It’s all our fault. Shin for the Ballon Dor with Qwon the runner up
Gordon McQueens death may have far reaching consequences in the game.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0er74njxgro
HH
i> The January 2026 window
IN
Julián Araujo 🇲🇽
on loan from Bournemouth till end of season.
Tomas Cvancara 🇨🇿
on loan from Borussia MG till end of season.
( Stephen Welsh
recalled early from Motherwell 🏴 )
( Adam Montgomery
Loan to Livingston terminated due to injury 🏴 )
OUT
Hayato Ianmura 🇯🇵
on loan to FC Tokyo till the end of season.
Jahmai Simpson – Pusey 🇬🇧
recalled early by Man City (now on loan at FC Koln)
Shin Yamada 🇯🇵
on loan to Preußen Münster ( me neither)
Greenpinata on 27th January 2026 10:43 am
There is little doubt that Michael Nickleson is a life long Celtic supporter. He has a diverse work experience in the legal field and football industry with an academic CV second to none. On paper he is the ideal candidate for the job of CEO of the club he has always supported. However, it has not worked out to the betterment of Celtic on the park. Change is needed and will come in time. Perhaps then we should focus on a CEO without the ologies, university education and multiple degrees and focus on previous advancement and success through experience and good old hard work. There are and have been many hugely successful CEO’s without the formal education tag. We should always strive for the best available, but perhaps we should lose the underlying and elementary snobbery in our future decision making.
*Again excellent view of what has happened, how often have we seen a rising star being a square peg in a round hole, some people urnae the right fit for the job, but as you say academically he was but in practice just NOT the right fit for the jungle and I don’t mean the old one were our faithful support would sing in the bad old days about looking on the bright side of life instead of fueling the smsm and hsm with our grief over the ABC that is scottish fitba
Who would win in a fight at the back post between Greg Taylor and Kieran Tierney ?
Mark jumpers rather than going totally zonal, that guy Mcantee loves scoring/assisting against us, from the Republic too going by his country affiliation.
I actually think Johnny Kenny is a better player than Shin ……there I said it …….how far have we fell
Greenpinata at 10.43
“On paper he is the ideal candidate for the job of CEO”
On paper he is the ideal candidate as inhouse counsel.
He has no credentials to be considered for the role of CEO of a large enterprise operating a complex business.
If I had signed a contract with Celtic at 25 years old. I don’t think I’d look much worse than Yamada.
VTD
think that was the same view as the Manager and Coaches.
new article posted.