“It’s a must-win game” is a comment managers often shy away from, especially this early in the season, but Brendan Rodgers was clear on the importance he puts on tonight’s Europa League clash with Sturm Graz. Three points are required.
To achieve that, it is likely Celtic will need to defend better than they have in recent weeks. This month’s three games have seen two goals conceded to Braga, Motherwell and Dundee. That’s a worrying trend for a team whose problems are supposed to be scoring goals.
The manager has decisions to make in the full back positions. Kieran Tierney is likely to start before Marcelo Saracchi, while Anthony Ralston should keep his place ahead of Colby Donovan, but the defensive frailty has been more about shape than personnel. When attacked, Celtic look open.
Much of that could be do with the middle of the park. Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor look below last season’s levels, while Benjamin Nygren has carried various roles, including that of top goalscorer so far this season. Nygren has delivered what he was brought in to do, but the shape around him looks off.
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We can do it.
Yes we can.
Manager has already said in Presser than Daizen is not fit for tonight.
Unless he was bluffing, we need a Plan B to put pressure on the Austrian backline.
Must have been some grave injury that has kept Jota out for such a long, long time.
Tis a shame that Shin wasn’t given a Euro spot – his speed may have been a nice element of surprise.
Ah well; Jonny Kenny to save the day I guess ?
Afternoon all.
C’mon Celtic, we can do it
I too hope that Celtic can do it tonight
Quad
Jota ruptured his ACL.
20 years ago that would have been curtains but the prognosis these days is much better.
They say 9 months recovery so we should be pleased if he’s back on the pitch before the end of the season.
TBB – he’s been a massive loss from our squad IMO. Pace, power and personality in spades.
Its a 6am showing for us in Oz; praying for a rejuvenating win !
Happy Friday eve all!
It’s a question of tempo . Can we play with the speed required? Watch Brendan’s presser and can see no signs of this key issue. It’s not the personnel but the system..You will be able to tell after 5 minutes tonight. We don’t seem to change during a game
Paul67
Did you watch the press conference of BR, he told everyone Daizen is not ready to play tonight, lower back and hamstring issues, he couldnt say for Sunday, he is not an option, so Forrest and Yang are our wide right options unless he plays AJ in the wide right berth with Tony or Colby behind him ,I would go with that, Yang unfortunately is not good enough for Celtic.
Good luck with the early rise Quad.
AIPPLE: Celtic, cornflakes and coffee – what’s not to like ;))
Per the line “That’s a worrying trend for a team whose problems are supposed to be scoring goals”
After 8 league games
Last season – 24 goals
This season – 11 goals
I suppose the problem has been correctly identified.
23rd October 2025 12:29 pm
Celtic Mac on 23rd October 2025 11:45 am (previous)
Our play has to be Schnell Schnell and if we are attacking up the wings we need Matt Braddock in a Mosquito .or alles ist kaputt.
If losing at half time and switching genre, we should bring on Limp Along Leslie and Wally Brand to secure VICTORy.
Auldheid, FYI
Sent: 16 September 2025 10:24
To: investorrelations@celticfc.co.uk
Subject: Shareholder Question
Dear Sirs,
Shareholder Reference Number XXX
As a Celtic plc shareholder, I am interested to better understand [such and such]. Would you please be kind enough to tell me:
1)
2)
Many thanks
Sent: 07 October 2025 12:39
To: investorrelations@celticfc.co.uk
Subject: RE: Shareholder Question
I note that almost three weeks have elapsed since I submitted this query. Given you aim to respond to such queries within 5 days, this is now considerably overdue a reply.
I’d be obliged if you would address the matter in early course.
Kind regards,
Sent: 21 October 2025 12:24
To: investorrelations@celticfc.co.uk
Subject: RE: Shareholder Question
Hi,
A further two weeks have elapsed since I first submitted this query, meaning it has been 5 weeks without acknowledgement or reply.
Would you be kind enough please to at least acknowledge the question. Given the published terms of the service, it doesn’t seem too much to ask.
Regards,
Auldheid
Who within Investor relations would you expect to deall with your questions? Is there a nominated person for this kind of questioning? Michael The Silent?
I suspect will set up the team along familiar lines due to him complaining about not having time between games to really get into major changes to shape …..
Assuming it would be madness to play AJ tonight after a hamstring pull , it will be along familiar lines
Kasper
Tony CCV Liam Kieran
Ben Calum Reo
James Kelche Seb
It will be a repeat performance re tactics etc, hopefully the players respond and start to move the ball quicker , 2 touch if you like.
HH
On the goal stats this LEAGUE season compared to last season after 8 games …
I think we were 24-3 last season at same stage?
This season is it 11-5 ?
BTW, IMHO they are two cheeks of the same you know what.
A team not scoring as much …
.. is often a team not penetrating as much
… and so not attacking as much.
Reasonable to assume the opposition are enjoying better territory (we still seem to be dominating possession) … and using that improved territory to create more snap chances and score more goals
(Not a huge increase).
If some statistical bright spark could show comparable territory and possession headline stats between last season and this?
… I, for one, would be interested to see them
Struggling to feel up for it.
We will have the biggest crowd in Europe tonight.
Loads at CP for their first European night.
Hopefully we get some lucky breaks.
Hopefully they are really crap.
Hopefully the owner doesn’t forget to sack this clown pronto. Ideally after Sunday.
EK Bhoy
,
So,the manager does have time to re- arrange tactics,formations,selections,and train,with a day off for the players,in a 4 day turnaround.Is that what you are saying?.
Its OK saying things.Problem is doing things.
Come kick off time I am sure it will be a different feeling. Let’s hope we don’t have idiots stopping play or seeking attention to deflect from the task tonight.
100% Celtic backing.
Sunday it was tennis balls and tangerines.
Hope Tesco have run out of apfelstreudle…..
Hopefully the owner doesn’t forget to sack this clown pronto. Ideally after Sunday.
100% Celtic backing.
I would play,3-4-3
Sinisalo
CCV,Scales,KT
AJ,Engels,Calmac,Nygren,
Tounetke
Balik,Iheanacho
Aj, Tounetke attacking on the right,backed by Engels.
Worked very well with Kuhn.Give it a go.
Again,WTF do I know 🤔
Soldier F not guilty.
Princess margaret was a virgin when she died.
BURNLEY –
I thought you were much better than your ‘sack this clown’ jibe.
I know you don’t care for others opinions, but IMO it’s an awful jibe and unbecoming of any genuine Celtic fan to show such disrespect for anyone of our managers.
Favourite Uncle
Im genuinely surprised (and disappointed) with that
My thoughts are with the people of Derry today
I really hope it doesn’t lead to any unrest there over the next few days.
imo our back starting 4 from the last game should all be dropped ,none of them can defend r jump to head the ball , no pace or positional sense opponent so easily lost, needs a total revamp.
or
Bloody Sunday decision….the usual corrupt farce
Nytol; early rise for us Aussies. HH
auldheid@12.31
Ja da ist richtig! How we go about it is another thing.
Then again you can move the ball forward quicker, you can improve the players momentum, ideally the forward player himself can improve his own momentum, and hope that others can react to it. We were good at this not so long ago. Better still do both.
Good to see you posting, keep up the good work.
By the way have you picked up on the re-showing of ‘The Great Philosophers’ on BBC4, (from the 1970s) with Bryan Magee? Episode 1 Series 1 on Plato with Myles Burnyeat, a discussion which on its’ own met all three of John Reith’s principles for the BBC “to inform, to educate and to entertain”. Finally, alles was klar
Hail Hail
TURKEYBHOY on 23RD OCTOBER 2025 1:03 PM
EK Bhoy
,
So,the manager does have time to re- arrange tactics,formations,selections,and train,with a day off for the players,in a 4 day turnaround.Is that what you are saying?.
Its OK saying things.Problem is doing things.
……
I’m just pointing out that the manager said he was limited with what he could do due to the time between games. So setting expectations for the fans and more concerning the opposition manager to expect more of the same. Why say this stuff ?
Trying to navigate a Celtic press conference at the moment would be a good case study for psychology students, seems to be serving one man’s purpose at the moment which is extremely disappointing.
I’m clinging to hope tonight and the thermals
HH
Burnley,
Yes your right.We have enough idiots sitting in the Directors Box.We would not want them upset by fans that have had enough of them.As for the players,you think they don’t know?.
Of course,you try to put the blame on the fans for the shitshow on the park,the run down stadium,no hot water in the taps,etc..Of course you do.Burnley Trump.I bet you loved the cartoon of Trump spraying the protesters from a plane with shit on No Kings Day.
Sure you know someone with a plane !!!!.
BR justifying the ‘Honda’ comments by saying we’ve lost a lot of speed since last year. If Bayern was the high watermark, we’ve now lost Khun, Idah, and Schlup from that lineup. I’d accept the Khun argument, though he wasn’t exactly a Ferrari. Still, I can’t figure out what he’s trying to do here, other than setting up the narrative for his next appointment.”
PPB & Celtic40me
Thanks for your responses last night. My post was intended to include a rhetorical question.
I am utterly dismayed at BR’s choice of words and the way he’s saying them with regards to HondaCivic-gate.
Most of us are bitterly disappointed with the summer transfer window dealings and will agree that we are weaker in attacking areas, especially with regards to speed.
But I do not believe in making comments that are detrimental to instilling confidence in the players that we have at our disposal.
No matter how poorly we play. I would never boo any player whilst at the game. It is counterproductive.
Similarly, our manager should never belittle the ability of any current player at his disposal. He is paid to get the best out of the current squad. He has to inspire them, motivate them, and make them feel great within themselves.
Given his recent – very public – utterances, I believe our manager is failing in this particular matter.
Btw – I was glad to see BR return to the club. I believe we are lucky to have a manager of his standing. I just wish he would stop covering his own ass with his recent comments. Yesterday’s media conference was awful viewing imo.
His actions and words are akin to the board appointing him in 2023 and publicly saying they tried to get a better manager at the time, and are aware that he’s not as good as his predecessor.
You just don’t do that!
Rant over, and back to work for me.
HH
The story about us not replacing Kyogo effectively is not true. Its a false narrative and an excuse.
In domestic football only we scored more from fewer games after he left than before.
With Kyogo last season – 74 goals from 26 games
Without Kyogo last – 78 from 23
The story about Kuhn loss being responsible for us not scoring is also false and also an excuse
He scored 6 goals in 2025. His form was poor but we still scored more than in 2024
In May we scored 4 goals against St Johnstone, 4 against Aberdeen, 4 against Kilmarnock before he was subbed on.
We need to stop making excuses for the downturn in form since the end of last season or else we’ll be waiting for January when we know we’ll not get the players we “need”
dessybhoy on 23rd October 2025 12:48 pm
Auldheid
Who within Investor relations would you expect to deall with your questions? Is there a nominated person for this kind of questioning? Michael The Silent?
===
The Investor Company is just a post box The Comp Sec checks every day.
Since I posed my questions the CST Resolution asks for a Strategy Report which means the issue will appear on the Notes to AGM along with a Board response.
My questions seek answers about the planning process itself.
I imagine what is in the Board published AGM response to CST will cover the matters I raised by my questions.
Now that CST have 100 sigs + the process of formulating a published reponse by the Executive group should be underway, to be approved by The Board.
Personally my interest is not so much on presenting a final strategy plan but how Celtic go about creating one as whatever is produced will need to stand scrutiny by the support or division will continue.
That is the reasoning behind my questions on process.