Auchinleck Talbot are a sixth-tier club, so I didn’t want to mention this after Sunday’s game, but the passing at Kilmarnock was so much crisper than I have seen from Celtic this season. The observation was discarded as I assumed it was because the opposition were unable to press Celtic players out of their comfort zone.
We started the same way last night. The minutes before the opening goal were characterised by pass-and-move routines from Celtic that we scarcely saw throughout 2025. Bologna pressed but the man in possession was always comfortable and had options. That panicked feeling when we were pressed that the ball would inevitably go all the way back to Kasper Schmeichel, then possession would be lost, never materialised.
The calamitous opening goal Bologna conceded resulted in Celtic pressing an Italian home side out of their comfort zone. Cheaply given but thoroughly appreciated.
Racial stereotypes are best avoided, but is it safe to say Japanese players are just too honourable? A minute after Reo Hatate’s opener, Daizen Maeda was clean through 40 yards out when he was bundled from behind. Daizen is made of sturdy stuff, so was able to continue; if it was me, I’d have collapsed like a proverbial sack of potatoes. Had Daizen fallen, a red card would have followed.
Daizen stayed on his feet, Yang latched onto his pass and came close to adding a second goal with a shot the keeper only just got a hand to. A goalscoring chance was not denied, so the referee was unable to act.
Small incidents can change the flow of football games. On receiving a ball out of defence, Reo Hatate tried to hold the ball in, but it ran through him, allowing Bologna to open an attack and put Celtic under sustained pressure for the first time. The same thing happened 10 minutes later, when Reo was bundled to the ground, again Bologna were able to press Celtic for several minutes.
The two yellow cards Reo received soon thereafter were inexplicable for an experienced player. They should be a learning experience for the whole squad.
With Bologna still trying to figure out how to react to their one man advantage, Daizen forced a corner from a long ball into the right channel. Kieran Tierney has been written off by a few of us. His return has not delivered the same form he last enjoyed in green and white. Perhaps another appraisal is due.
A decision at Lennoxtown to have Kieran take corners from the Celtic right proved inspired. KT’s delivery was excellent and Arne Engels proved he can get on the end of deliveries. Auston Trusty was dominant throughout the game but no more so five minutes from the break, when he knocked this set-piece over the line.
The second half is so difficult to assess from a tactical point of view. Celtic had a two goal lead to defend, away in Italy, with 10 men, so doing so as deeply as they did was understandable. Martin pulled the full backs inside, Out of possession, Daizen dropped into the traditional left back spot.
There was a six-man back line with Yang, Engels and McGregor 10-15 yards in front. The relentless series of crosses and passing in front of the Celtic box inevitably led to a goal. Whatever the plan was at halftime, an early change in shape may have been more effective.
I have seen chat that Kasper Schmeichel could have done better at each Bologna goal, but I disagree. The first was from point-blank range and he was unsighted at the second. More than that, he pulled off saves I have yet to see from Viljami Sinisalo. The big Dane still has a part to play.
The match stats tell one story: Bologna 36 attempts, Celtic 8. Not all attempts are equal, though. All of Celtic’s were from inside the penalty box and four of those were inside the six-yard box. Bologna were hitting shots from 30 yards. Their two goals only slightly under-delivered on an expected goals of 2.46.
The prospect of playing 18 minutes plus added time after the equaliser was daunting, but Bologna had fired their bolt. Celtic’s defenders dominated the game from that moment on.
I don’t want to touch on a negative after such a good performance, but Colby Donovan, Anthony Ralston, Liam Scales, Auston Trusty and Kieran Tiernay have all looked poor this season. Each betrayed by a system which left them exposed. See what happens when a management team who can structure a midfield and defence are in charge? They were all excellent, Liam and Auston in particular. Even the recently maligned Anthony, who was calm personified in possession. Honda Civics they are not. It’s all about the system.
This remains Celtic’s worst season in five, but the club which wins more games and trophies than any other in world football is edging back on track. That will confound those who spend their emotional energy trying to convince friends, readers and media colleagues that Celtic are a badly run football club. God help them if the result on Sunday goes against their world view. It’s so much easier just to complain than to self-reflect.
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Barkas is a goalkeeper
Oxymoron.
BSR @ 1:09 pm,
Truth:)))))
Hail Hail
BABASONICOS71 on 23rd January 2026 12:54 pm
Outstanding point all thongs considered.
I’ll keep it ‘Brief’ “Oo err Missus”
Paul
An excellent article today – until the end. By no stretch of the imagination are Celtic a well run club. The appointment of Wilfried Nancy shows that the people responsible are absolutely amateurish.
“It’s all about the system”
I thought it was all about the Data ???
Anyway
Great performance last night
How did we sleepwalk into Tisdale and Nancy???
I hope lessons learned
67ECW
Pauk67:
” ….but the club which wins more games and trophies than any other in world football is edging back on track. That will confound those who spend their emotional energy trying to convince friends, readers and media colleagues that Celtic are a badly run football club. God help them if the result on Sunday goes against their world view. It’s so much easier just to complain than to self-reflect.”
On reading the above, I felt in complete agreement with Paul.
I then read some other responses which reinforced my view of some of the more negative Celtic `supporters ` on here.
Apparently everyone is entitled to an opinion but surely that opinion could be better expressed than this:
`You really come across as a right dick sometimes Paul.`
James Forrest on 23rd January 2026 12:32 pm
… and this:
timmy7_noted on 23rd January 2026 1:05 pm
`.. that last paragraph is quite frankly a heap of pish. `
It got the response it deserved.
🐛🪱
Celtic may well be a well run business
They have however got a football department that is an absolute shambles!!
The big sponsorship deals are on the back of supporters being excited by the product
The product through gross incompetence has gone through the floor
A competent football operation would have seen Maeda leave for big money, his replacement identified and purchased BEFORE he left – Idah the same …NOT last day comedy Farce !
No Paul you are gravely mistaken
TBB @ 12.26
Never a truer word
Have you started a petition to get a new Chairman
I hear our man is getting board waiting !!!!
67ECW
Lol – it’s a full house today.
You know you’ve hit a nerve when James Forrest jumps on to shout abuse😂
“…..and then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like ‘well run club’…..”
James Forrest bang out of order .
Fritzong
The Tom English article. When I read it at the time, I knew instantly that it was a keeper. 🤣
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57995957
TEABHOY
Cheeky 😊
BSR @ 12.56
Very observant
Brilliant and simplistic
And more importantly- factual
67ECW
bournesouprecipe on 23rd January 2026 1:09 pm
CHAIRBHOY
Now we’ve got nothing Toulouse v Utrecht 👍?
——–
Outstanding 😁😁👍
Can you have a ‘heap’ of pish. A ‘pool’ of pish perhaps. You can have a heap of the other stuff though as demonstrated by Tom English.
Still grovelling to your master I see.
Pathetic.
Just read the headline of your article Paul and couldn’t help myself.
If other posters got there ahead of me, apologies for the repetition.
“It’s all about the system”
IMHO … No it ain’t.
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast”
(Peter Drucker)
The system is VERY important.
Hat tip to Martin, Shaun and “Fozzy”.
The culture Martin brings in spades is more important and valuable.
Proper leadership.
BTW – a poster a few days ago – apologies I can’t recall who – posted about a successful coach in American sport?
I’d be grateful if he or she could repost.
Did I read something yesterday about swapping Balikwisha for a Crystal Palace winger?
Bada Bing, any updates?
HHH- Excellent post
DeniaBhoy on 23rd January 2026 1:56 pm
Did I read something yesterday about swapping Balikwisha for a Crystal Palace winger?
Bada Bing, any updates?
I seen us linked with a CP winger,I would swap Balikwisha for a Crystal vase
vale bhoy on 23rd January 2026 10:12 am
Pat Bonner is as good a football analyst as he was a goalkeeper.
He made maccoist into a superstar.
On his arse before a shot, like Dracula with crosses.
———————–
I had to go out mid first half so ended up listening to some of the match on shortie.
I did have a little chuckle when Pat complained that modern day keepers have a habit of not clutching the ball when saving shots and instead palm the ball away.
Forgetting offcourse the number of times in big crucial games where Packy himslef would spill the easiest of balls, usually right onto a strikers feet.
anyways it is like mccosit, who couldnt conquer Alloa or Raith comentating on the champions leage.
Saint Stivs
As a rule, I think it best to listen to neither.
Bonner, known in North West Donegal as The Keadue Donkey.
Toulouse Utrecht…wasn’t he a famous artist.
TBB – ,😂
Reminds me of my last ever football bet 2018……took Toulouse to win but they drew.
“Celtic FC achieved a new world record for completed passes in a 90-minute professional match, recording 1,020 successful passes in their 5-1 win over Kilmarnock in April 2025. This surpassed the previous record of 1,018 set by Spain, and broke the UK record of 992 also held by Celtic.
—————–
I found it funny that several comments on the match blog urged celtic not to just clear the ball but instead build some passes together to retain possession.
You know, the keep ball horse-shoe football so loathed by posters during Brendans reign.
1,000+ passes, 5 goals, no wonder people were bored and leaving early, it make your eyes bleed so it does.
and that was April 2025, but people said the fottball was boring for 18 months or so.
theoriginalsadiesbhoy@12.09
What particularly annoys me is the consistent and persistent negativity of some on here, many at times towards Celtic FC as a whole. I’s not just the CEO, or the Board, it is across the board, including just about every player who has donned the Hoops this season. Those who, a couple of hours before the kick off could not bring themselves to even look forward to to Celtic playing In italy, (even if apprehensive about it) but felt it was more important for them to continue to villify those who run the Club. I cannot be doing with that level of hate and animus, of villification to and for all things Celtica, especially when we still had a chance to maintain an interest in European Football, and thanks to all involved yesterday still have. Paul67 is right Celtic FC is a well run football club, but one which has had its’ fair share of disasters in recent times. (No pitchforks in September 2024 though) Amongst the negativity I am trying to find the positive, not always easy trust me. As Bourne will tell you I’m the guy sitting on my wagon still rolling along….
CherokeesaftermeCSC
Good afternoon you old duffers.
this is a serious question, asked already but no one seems to have an opinion.
why is it desirable to retain MON in a DOF position aged 74, but we want directors and owners , replaced and cite age as being one of their problems, DD 75, TA 77, BW 76.
Anyone offer an opinion ?
Some very good comments from the realistic supporters of Glasgow Celtic Football Club there
Vinniethedog @ 1:25 pm,
Spot-on
Celtic may well be a well run business
The only way Celtic PLC can be described as a well run business, and I take your point, is the way it manages to fleece Celtic supporters, by mining them as gullible customers, utilising pr and marketing to maximise revenues and profits from good fholks emotional attachment.
It might be common buisness practise is many industries currently – yet for me it’s still an immoral ruse.
Hail Hail
SS @ 2.25
I would welcome MON as DoF for 2 reasons
His obvious passion and respect for our football club his experience and he has a better understanding of football matters than most
The second reason is because we have DD 75. TA 77 and BW76 on our Board
67ECW
Celtic may well be a well run business
The only way Celtic PLC can be described as a well run business, and I take your point, is the way it manages to fleece Celtic supporters, by mining them as gullible customers, utilising pr and marketing to maximise revenues and profits from good fholks emotional attachment.
It might be common buisness practise is many industries currently – yet for me it’s still an immoral ruse.
————————–
do you have any emotional attachment to any other brand , that you prefer to spend on rather than others ?
genuine question, because all those things you listed , is that not just what business is ?
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on 23rd January 2026 1:35 pm
Fritzong
The Tom English article. When I read it at the time, I knew instantly that it was a keeper. 🤣
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57995957
____________________________
Thank you, TOSB. That article is one for the ages. English is the sycophants’ sycophant.
Kenny injured, out for Sunday