An early goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain settled the nerves at Celtic Park against St Mirren on Saturday, for a while, anyway. The home side were well on top during the opening period but the second goal did not arrive, prompting an anxious end to the game, although defensively Celtic were impeccable throughout.
After 2 months out injured, expectations were tempered on the return of Arne Engels just after the hour. Far from being subdued, Arne lifted Celtic and brought an energy to the middle of the park which had been missing since the break. Maritn O’Neill changed each of the central-midfield three during the second half. It remains a worry that Celtic were unable to control the game in the period before this, but swapping Callum McGregor, Benjamin Nygren and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Arne, Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan improved Celtic. Fix this, fix Celtic.
This was the first time I had seen St Mirren since the departure of Stephen Robinson and it was very encouraging to see the title of the league’s most dedicated timewasters went with him. Saints wanted to play football throughout, restarted the game quickly and played out from the back as much as Celtic did. A fundamental change has happened in Scottish football this season.
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CAN HE FIX IT?
YES HE CAN.
WILL HE FIX IT?
JURY OUT.
Good afternoon deniabhoy
A midfield trio that includes Nygren will always struggle to control games. MoN’s comments on CalMac were worrying. We seem to be repeating the error we made with Kasper. If a player is injured, don’t play him !
Good afternoon to you LEFTCLICKTIC.
How about something a wee bit different. Dominate the midfield, push Nygren forward and play with two up front:
Sinisalo
Trusty, Scales, KT
Scaracchi, Engels Hatate, Ox
Nygren,
Yang(or Maeda), Iheanacho
Seems like the Celtic Ferraris are struggling to go through the gears. Ah well, maybe things will get better when we go to one game a week…..
As for “fixing Celtic”, I’m afraid that’s an infinitely more complex challenge altogether. Breaking free from the handicapping shackles of old firmery would be a good starting point.
Congratulations to those teams whose fundamental changes have been positive.
The most significant fundamental change however has been at Celtic and it has been far from positive .
I’ve seen thousands of posts since Saturday calling for a radical change in formations and tactics.
There is no chance of this happening. The last thing a team already lacking confidence needs is an entirely new set of instructions at this stage of the season. Attempting it would likely be disastrous.
We are where we are. The focus now should be on starting the best players capable of being creative , Reo, Iheanacho, and Tonekti.
Daizen is now a man down, the OX just hasnt worked and the les said about Big Tam the better
The ball for Sevcos 1st goal wasn,t just out , it was out out!
Mflannagancsc.
Lots of criticism but praise is due for the defensive structure. We are extremely well drilled, have an excellent shape and everyone is doing their job.
Perhaps exemplified by Anthony Ralston who fully understands his limitations but does a job.
I think our coaching team will want and expect more control and offensive play but there is perhaps an understanding and acceptance of our limitations.
I do think we had another gear on Saturday if it was needed.
Expect more of the same in the coming weeks. Only time will tell if it’s enough to get over the line.
Kelechi Iheanacho at least wins the incorrect spelling of surname award ,
Ihenacho
Iheanocho
Iheanachio
Ihennacho
Ihenachoo
Iheannacho
Iheanachoo
and the clear winner Ian Nacho who joins Alex Wishaw our invisible £5M winger. 👏
The academy coach now in charge of St Mirren appears to have transformed their style of play in 4 weeks.
The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on 13th April 2026 12:40 pm
“The academy coach now in charge of St Mirren appears to have transformed their style of play in 4 weeks.”
Indeed, indeed, por cierto
“Breaking the press key metric for Celtic” is what the article on Friday told us and so it proved. At least in terms of attacking play
Two nearly 33 year old with fitness issues and Nygren arent a midfield with enough running in them. Controlling the game doesnt just mean pretty passing either, a really effective press also plays a big part, if that’s what we’re going to do, and those there are either unwilling or unable as a unit. The three that ended the game meant we stopped defending deep and stopped inviting the sort of pressure that has been a feature of every game weve played recently. A higher more energetic press makes the rest of the game much easier and brings much needed control
Difficult decisions to make. Dropping Nygren takes out essential goals and quality delivery into the box, Calmac has to play in the run in, AOC is a quality goal scorer. Our recruitment hasn’t given the manager the players we need to play the system we seem to want but the three that finished seemed to have enough of what we need – LM gave us energy, Reo composure and better passing to keep possession under pressure, Arne injected pace and running immediately.
Crazy as it sounds next weekend might be a good opportunity to try something a bit different before Falkirk at CP, who we saw yesterday are a energetic and confident team going forward
Don’t you think that St Mirren were always in the game at 0.1 and this is why they weren’t wasting time.
It was their time at best to equalise not keep the score down but to take a point
For all St Mirren looked good in spells, one thing this season has shown us is it’s easy to pass the ball around when you’re not being pressed properly, much less easy when the opposition do it effectively as a team if you dont have technically good players
They stopped being a threat after we did it to them.
# Wee Poser #
Only Scots born player to score for Hoops on the Road To Seville?
Bhoyjoebelfast
Paul Lambert?
Play Nygren through the middle ,only guy with an eye for goal,and a man short when he plays midfield, McGregor doesn’t look fit to me
lambert ?
Maloney
Lambert
that is a very good question, racking brains to yhink when. did a scot score in the 8-0 v suduva
maloney is malaysian by birth
🎶 Always look on the bright side of life – 🎶
Celtic have a £4M option to buy Mvuka.👍
DENIABHOY on 13TH APRIL 2026 12:18 PM
.. re team selection , I suspect at this stage of the season MON will not change to 3 at the back. My take away from Saturday, Ox can’t last past 55 minutes , Calmac must have been injured he just fell off a cliff 2nd half. Our pressing was terrible most of the game got better when Engels came on.
I’d drop a winger , Yang and go with the following:
Sinisalo
Tony Big Arthur Auston KT
Luke Engels OX Hatate
Big Tam. Daizen
Our distribution from the back with Liam is excruciating, I get MON is going for experience with Liam but it’s becoming totally dysfunctional.
HH
Yes….Paul Lambert.🏴
Bhoyjoebelfast on 13th April 2026 1:02 pm
# Wee Poser #
Only Scots born player to score for Hoops on the Road To Seville
————-
Really struggling to get an answer to this.
However, your poser has brought me back to the entertaining side of that era.
Never mind playing with two strikers, we found a productive way to fit three strikers in our system.
I also hark back to our bright yellow strip. A vivid, striking and flamboyant outfit, reminiscent of sunshine and happiness.
HH.
SS
Paul did score v Suduva and vVFB Stuggart.
Greenpinta
There was a quiz question doing the rounds back then.Every side Celtic faced all contained the same letter.
BSR@1.18
Fortunately we also have an option not to !
I think we were almost about to splash the cash when a *fitness* issue arose which led to the option clause .
I think he was diagnosed with uselessness .
….on the Road To Seville
SuduVa
Blackburn RoVers
Celta Vigo
VFB Stuttgart
LiVerpool
BoaVista
Bhoyjoebelfast on 13th April 2026 1:29 pm
Greenpinta
There was a quiz question doing the rounds back then.Every side Celtic faced all contained the same letter
———
Would it be V.
BACK TO BASICS
YES. Well remembered.