Benjamin Nygren was an unused substitute two weeks ago as Celtic fell to St Mirren at Hampden. He opened Celtic’s scoring account in the two subsequent games, against Aberdeen then yesterday at Livingston. That moves him onto 8 league goals for the season, second in the Premiership scorer’s table behind Lawrence Shankland. No one in the league comes anywhere near Nygren in terms of goals per 90 minutes.
For a player who is not a striker, that is a heady position, made all the more impressive considering it is his first season in Scotland and he has been in and out of favour with three managers. Benjamin has become Celtic’s most valuable player.
No matter how many Nygren and his team-mates score, Celtic will struggle in every game if they remain as open to counter-attacks as they currently are. The calamitous defending during the opening minutes at Livingston would prove more costly against better teams. Defending corner kicks also remains a case for concern.
The most hopeful I can be is that Wilfried Nancy is still learning what this squad can give him. If the League Cup Final was played again, Nygren would be first name on the team-sheet. Wilfried is hampered by injuries to Cameron Carter-Vickers, Marcelo Saracchi and Alistair Johnston, but I expect he will make changes before we visit Motherwell on Tuesday.
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IF the forwards take their chances and the midfield works to protect the defence then that takes a massive pressure off the backline.
None of the parts are working but the players actually doing basics would be good.
An Tearmann on 27th December 2025 3:00 pm
Any of our Canadian poster know or hear tell of Tontine Tim? Ask him to check in.
*still here but I left because I was fed up with the personal attacks, not so much to me, but others and it wisnae all hunterlopers either, we are for the most part Celtic supporters and only want whats best for the club, in saying that this site is still the best out there but last night on my first venture back on here it was a combination of wtf and ffs as the usual suspects were going at it hammer and tong and very little was about the Celtic.
Right now we are in a bind, half the team are injured and possibly because they were requested to play through the pain barrier and we, the club, are now paying the price for that, but we will bounce back, I am sure of that.
We also have a segment of our support who have NEVER known anything but success and like society as a whole want everything instantly, it disnae work that way, I can recall my da telling me the Empire Exhibition side, it was like a litany rolling off his tongue, this was a Celtic that had been in the doldrums for several years but won that trophy plus the League and SC within a couple of years of each other when he was still a bhoy and then came WWII when unlike WWI fitba was literally shut down.
On its resume our greatest ever goal scorer and some say player was poached from killie, but with a team full of veterans and youngsters we almost got relegated, however just like his poor start at Rugby Park he managed to turn things around again signing the likes of Charles Patrick, the wee barra Bobby Collins, the juggler Willie Fernie, Bertie Peacock and a former miner who was brought in just to work with the reserves to join the likes of big John McPhail and Bobby Evans, the rest they say is history, as Jimmy’s sides won 4 Glasgow Cups, 5 Charity Cups, 3 Scottish Cups, 1 League Title including our first double in 40 years, the St Mungos and Coronation Cups as well as 2 League Cups which included IMHO our greatest victory ever, Oh Hampden in the Sun.
One thing that I would like to add is that although he only won 2 SC as manager it was his side that beat the Pars in big Billy’s bumper final, ok Jock took over after we beat the title winners that season killie in Jimmys last game and ours wearing the shamrock strip in the quarters and although Jock was in charge for the semi it was a fortuitous draw against a Motherwell side led by man of many clubs the veteran Joe McGoals who tore big Billy a new one, we did win the replay handedly though but I’m still giving that cup win to Jimmy, oh and it was him that first tried Bobby Murdoch at right half but couldnae find a suitable partner for him until Jock allegedly demanded the return of wee ten thirty as part of his returning to us, as well as the Bear out on the left wing, again short of fire power through the middle forcing us to play him as a centre again until we signed the aforesaid Joe.
Anyway back to the dark days or as some would call it the years in the wilderness, well to be fair they wurnae that bad its just that we didnae win any trophies other than a couple of Glasgow and Charity Cups, but the honours were well spread out until the last two seasons of that spell when 1872 won back to back trebles and even so we still got to the semis of the old Cup Winners Cup losing a 3-0 lead due to some dodgy refereeing as well as naivety on Bob Kellys part who said Celtic don’t know how to defend, yet 3 years later the Big Mhan showed him how to in Prague.
It was during those dark days that my da decided to as he would say “no give Bob Kelly any more of his hard earned money”, he had one of those “good” jobs back then like the majority of men of his ilk in the country, 2 nights late, a Saturday morning shift and all day Sunday, so his routine then was lousing at noon straight to the blower to put a line on and then home tae watch the racing in the afternoon, then early to bed as he had a double bubble shift the following day, he did take me to the occasional semi and final as well as the celebrated Real Madrid game where the Celtic Cha Cha Cha originated.
vinniethedog on 27th December 2025 4:09 pm
We might win 5 4
It was during one of those Saturday afternoons round about 4:15 when David Coleman announced on Grandstand that John Hughes had put Celtic into a 5-1 lead up at Tannadice, both of us jumped out of our seats with surprise as well as joy, however in true Celtic fashion we almost hibsed it when the arabs pulled us back to 4-5 with Jim Irvine grabbing a hat trick, what is more galling about that day is 5 of our defence were full internationals with the always steady and Scotland under 23 Billy Price being the 6th member.
As I said the last 25 years have been magnificent and that’s NOT because Scottish fitba was that poor, the 1872 side was still strong until Peter Lawwell and Brian Quinn led by that mhan fae the Rebel County Dermot Desmond put an end to their financial shenanigans.
Talking of DD lets be clear here that everything goes through him so all this sack the board scheidt is academic as he is on record stating that 1994, when we almost went to the wall, will NEVER EVER happen again as long as he’s around, IMHO he has only made 3 major mistakes with his appointments and that is sending Peter Lawwell out on to the field on Tommy Burns Thursday to convince WGS to stay for another season while the removal van was in his driveway and the rest of his possessions back down in his english home, we know how that turned out, as the same wee mhan had said the shelf life on a modern manager is only around 3 seasons.
The second was again sending PL into the dressing room, NOT the shower, offering Lenny a new contract for winning us another treble and rescuing the season after the previous manager had did a midnight and thirdly offering that runaway manager a 3 year contract while the rest of the Board had other in their opinion better candidates.
However in saying that, when the Bunnet approached prospective investors for a chance to invest in the club he asked them for up to 4m, after DD read the prospectus he told the wee mhan fae Croy that he needed more and invested 8m, he also underwrote our shares when offered, btw that’s a very risky business as when the charlatan fae Ayr did it on the other side of the Clyde their “loyal” support didnae buy intae it so he was left carrying the proverbial can which allegedly he had to sell a piece of his company to finance it, DD also allegedly bank rolled MON, the 2 Keane’s and rogers twice, as well as seemingly paid the latter his garden leave money from Liverpool and Leicester, so just be careful what you wish for or as Joni Mitchell once said “don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone, they paved paradise, put up a parking lot” and that’s what could happen to us if we get some fly by night investors in
So lets be careful out there as the smsm and hsm along with their algorithms are leading us down a very dark path, the huns like to sing “nobody likes us and we don’t care” but it is us that feel the wrath of the national body and we do care, they have never liked us since we assisted the World Champion Renton inaugurate the first professional league in the country thereby removing their grip, pun intended, on the game, unfortunately we allowed them control of player registration and the officials on and off the field, we would pay for that many times over as we all know.
Oh and the hunterlopers are still there ffs
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS on 28TH DECEMBER 2025 6:56 PM
I watched the highlights of Motherwell v Them
Motherwell played through the Huns with 4 at the back
They will carve us open at will
…..
No they won’t ….
1st bore fest at Ipox , Tony more than held his own against the Hun diving winger
Getagripbhoyscfc
back in the room
Tontine Tim on 28th December 2025 7:26 pm
Great post
EKBhoy on 28th December 2025 7:27 pm
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS on 28TH DECEMBER 2025 6:56 PM
I watched the highlights of Motherwell v Them
Motherwell played through the Huns with 4 at the back
They will carve us open at will
—-
No they won’t ….
1st bore fest at Ipox , Tony more than held his own against the Hun diving winger
—-
Yes, but that was part of a back four with a midfield that knew what they were doing. AR being asked to defend the entire space between the goal and the corner flag with no midfield support will be ripped up. So would anyone. Not AR’s fault.
TontineTim
A good read as always.
Good to see you on again.
The pen Motherwell didn’t get was pretty woeful. The usual aitken in var is a plant. Do the job properly and rangers would be 2-5 points worse off – it’s plain cheating. Curious how Willie cover this up. We cannot let it be normalized.
Tontine Tim
Great read.Great post
All the best
Hail Hail
Tontine Tim,DO NOT stop posting!!
Tontine Tim.
Welcome back.
Perspective.
Respect.
stebhoy on 28th December 2025 8:09 pm
The pen Motherwell didn’t get was pretty woeful. The usual aitken in var is a plant. Do the job properly and rangers would be 2-5 points worse off – it’s plain cheating. Curious how Willie cover this up. We cannot let it be normalized.
—-
I hear you stebhoy.
Couple of points.
First, Celtic have no mandate to challenge (or “ask for clarification” about) decisions made in games not involving us.
As it should be.
As for Aitken?
Shoogly peg.
Promoted to grade one too quickly
Immediately undermined before his first gig at Ibrox when outed as a bluenose by his mates online. (Talk about a lack of self awareness)
Couldn’t cut the referee fitness standard (rumours of 4XL referee tops unconfirmed) … so became a “specialist VAR” (aye right)
Previously got called out publicly as a VAR failure for the non penalty award for Kyogo.
Then a quite astonishing, indefensible, non-intervention yesterday.
Enough evidence to bin him tomorrow.
If he doesn’t get at least a final warning, the strength (or lack of) of Willie Collum’s position becomes clearer.
From jobo
*SENTINEL CELTS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025-26*
*RESULTS FROM GAME #30 LIVINGSTON 2 CELTIC 4 (NYGREN(2), YANG, ENGELS)*
Good evening, friends.
When the teamlines came out yesterday we learned that Wilf was going with the same outfield 10 who started against Aberdeen but with Sinisalo in goals, replacing the injured Schmeichel.
Celtic kicked off and came flying out of the traps with Maeda zooming down the left in the first minute, then sending an inviting cross into the box which Kenny failed to convert. But just a minute later Livi scored with their first attack. Tierney’s crossfield pass was intercepted and despite Yang’s sliding tackle we couldn’t stop the shot from Mantano coming in, off the post and into the net.
4 minutes later and Celtic equalised. An Engels corner on the right was headed towards goal by Maeda and Nygren was at the back post to tap his volley home. Back to all square but for less than 2 minutes as Livi again took the lead. A cross into the box from May evaded his intended targets but fell nicely for Mantano who smashed the ball home.
This time Livi’s lead only lasted 90 seconds. Maeda’s good work down the left led to a cross into a crowded 6 yard box. A wee stramash ensued and Kenny backheeled the ball to Yang to knock it home from 4 yards. 9 and a half minutes played and 4 goals scored!
The game then settled down with Celtic enjoying most of the possession. In the 19th minute McCowan broke well down the left, nutmegged a Livi defender then crossed to Yang whose header went inches wide.
In the 31st minute Celtic finally took the lead. There had been a series of crosses into the box and when one broke to Nygren on the left hand side of the penalty area he fired an excellent left footed strike across goal and into the opposite top corner.
5 minutes later and Celtic scored the final goal of the game. An intervention by the VAR convinced the referee to award a penalty for handball. And Arne Engels made no mistake this time around, putting Celtic into a 4-2 lead.
An incredibly entertaining first half of football which unfortunately wasn’t replicated after the break. There really was very little of note in the second half and Celtic ran out comfortable winners.
We have now played 30 games, and have won 16, drawn 6 and lost 8. We have scored 52 goals and conceded 32. We sit 2nd in the league, 3 points (and 4 goals) behind Hearts but with a game in hand. Triggers Broom are in 3rd place, 6 points (and 7 goals) behind Celtic.
As for the voting numbers, Christmas festivities have perhaps taken their toll. But it’s still a big thank you from me to the 72 who joined in this time around. Unfortunately that’s well short of the target and so no further donation to CHAS this week.
The total votes cast for each player are as follows, with my own nominations asterisked.
Sinisalo: 1
Ralston: 2
Trusty: 43
Tierney*: 30
Yang: 16
McGregor: 7
Engels: 13
McCowan*: 31
Nygren*: 67
Kenny: 0
Maeda: 5
Hatate: 1
Donovan: 0
Bernardo: 0
Unused substitutes: Doohan, Forrest, Murray, Scales, Simpson-Pusey, Yamada
And so, the POINTS earned by each player for the game against Livingston are as follows –
25 points: Nygren
22 points: Trusty
19 points: McCowan
16 points: Tierney
14 points: Yang
12 points: Engels
11 points: McGregor
10 points: Maeda
9 points: Ralston
8 points each: Hatate and Sinisalo
5 points each: Bernardo, Donovan, Kenny
1 point each: Doohan, Forrest, Murray, Scales, Simpson-Pusey, Yamada
And the cumulative points achieved after 30 games played are now –
434: Scales
422: McGregor
365: Tierney
315: Hatate
311: Engels
296: Maeda
277: Nygren
273: Trusty
249: Tounekti
237: Schmeichel
216: Yang
209: Forrest
213: McCowan
203: Donovan
188: Iheanacho
160: Ralston
158: Carter-Vickers and Saracchi
145: Kenny
120: Bernardo
85: Murray
70: Balikwisha
60: Johnston
59: Yamada
51: Sinisalo
40: Osmand
23: Inamura
19: Idah
13: Simpson-Pusey
6: Doohan
1: Hale and Isiguso
0: All the other players who’ve not yet made a matchday squad!
Just 2 more sleeps until our next big test when we visit Motherwell on Tuesday evening, kick off 8.00pm. A win puts us level on points with Hearts.
Hail Hail!
Tontine
Great to see you back on.
Best post of 2025 but won’t make any impact on the Celtic Footballsheviks who would cut off their noses to spite their faces even if it leads to Paradise being paved.
Tontine
Yes , unfortunately there are a number of interloper posters who just spread negativity hoping to spread their influence …..
Good thing is we know who they are ……..
Night fellow hoops ……
TT- Quality……HH
https://youtu.be/kcGFdnpf7To?si=XGIsZyJ6V7_z9oQD
Howlin Wolf gives it tight to the hun.
tontine tim
Good to see ye back on and in this dear green place. Was wondering what had happened to you, should have known ye wouldn’t let the poor bhoys down. Thanks too, and not for the first time, for bringing back a sense of perspective on all things Celtica, something a section of our support has given up lightly. Too lightly.
Tontine Tim; great to see you posting and not a lot I can disagree with. Would be great to see a post from Melbourne Mick.
RC on 28th December 2025 1:51 pm
Ccv and pace ?
CCV is not super quick but he is very good positionally gets his body in the correct position and has enough strength and pace to play rcb of a back 3 or in the middle of a back 3. He is actually fast over 10 to 20 yards, which is enough given his other qualities.
The manager wants to play 3-4-3. He will need to add players to play the 3-4-3 but it is by playing the 3-4-3 he will get to know what is needed to get it working best. Who can and cant do it.
The manager would not habe been my first pick but he is here now so we need to get behind him amd teh team. Hopefully the board step up and back their man.
HH
LR67….apologies for my posts/language the last few days….I went too far and im sorry.
HH
Turkeybhoy
You can blame players, not the system?
The same players were all playing reasonably well under MON and his pragmatic systems, of course the system can have an effect on a player’s performance, if the player is not comfortable or suitable playing in that system.
This back 3 and sometimes back 1 is madness. Tuesday night and the month of January will show up Nancy for what he is, a coach who is out of his depth.
MMc C,
I am not disagreeing with you.The jury,for me is still out.As I keep saying,anyone who plays Ralston,in that position,bewilders me.We can all see it.With 2 CHs sitting on the bench!!!!,both RS.
The Board hired him.Now they must furnish him with player that can play that system.Can you actually see this?
Huge game tomorrow night , chance to wipe out the Diet’s lead before facing Sevco on Saturday, 2 wins would be lovely
Tontine Tim,
Good to see you posting. Stirred a lot of memories. Many thanks.
“Motherwell players were “lost for words” at the decision not to award them a penalty late on in their defeat at Rangers on Saturday, says midfielder Elliot Watt. (Daily Record)”.
Does anyone know if their actual employer kicked up a fuss? Ditto for Livingston.
Nothing will ever change for these teams until they learn to speak out.
Tontine Tim
Great to see you back on and telling it like it is in your own special way. I was asked earlier by An Tearmann if I’d heard any news of you lately – as I live in Scarborough ON. I then realised how much I don’t know about you, though I’ve assumed that you lived outwith the City. I came over here for the Hamilton Cup in 1994, met a girl, married her and drove with the TTC until my retirement a couple of years ago. I used to sit in the Celtic club on Midland Avenue in Bobby Craig’s company listening to his Celtic tales, which I loved.
We’ve probably been at the same events over the years and know the same people.
Welcome back.
Hail Hail☘️
Tontine Tim 7.26pm
Thanks for a great post.
Really good to read you back.
Great perspective and really great personal interpretation of those events.
There is financial implications for the Motherwell players, and any other teams denied a result at Ibrox due to horrendous referee decisions. I’m pretty sure clubs pay bonuses for draws or wins away from home. These referees are denying them the financial rewards from these games, surely the Scottish PFA will be having a look at this. Aye a no, that’s a laugh eh? por cierto.
Bada: “When we lose the ball from midfield forward the back 3 is totally exposed”
When we lose the ball from midfield forward the back one is totally exposed.
There, fixed that for you.
Well players ” Lost for words” at the denial of the penalty.Keith Jackson wasn’t.” Never a penalty”.
Watching both Hibs,Celtic games,I watched with interest the performance of Bowie.He scored,had 3 or 4 other attempts,gave the Hearts back line a really uncomfortable time,chasing down,roughing them up.Link up play,OK.
Compare with Kenny’s anonymous performance on Saturday.I have no idea what the boys strengths are.His goal against the Huns doing some really heavy lifting for him.
Shipped out ASAP.
Anthony Ralston must be doing the work in training, by that I mean the distances and effort required to play that role. If there was someone at training doing better or even the equivalent then he would be on the park or coming on as a replacement. Obviously the like of Pussey and Scales are NOT outperforming him in training. Remember, they all wear those devices that map what they’re doing in training as well as the games. Technically Pussey might be better but, unless you are totally committed then you’re not going to be picked, por cierto
Sorry not Scales, Donovan, por cierto
TurkeyBhoy – Correct. we’ve said on here before that Bowie would be a good signing. He is a much better CF than Kenny so would not be coming to sit on the bench. important when trying to secure Scottish talent. Papers saying we are interested in Josh Mulligan, also from Hibs. Don’t know much about him though. Apparently a stand out for them.
Is Bowie’s movement good enough to play for Celtic? I think the jury is still way out on him. Watched, albeit highlights, in games. Tends to stand in the one place and knock it off or down to Boyle. Willing to be convinced. Can anyone see him in Wilfried’s system? por cierto
Papers saying we are interested in Josh Mulligan, also from Hibs. Don’t know much about him though. Apparently a stand out for them.
WELL DENIA BHOY That just about sums him up. What will BURNLEY and the rest of the BOARD
LACHIES have to say about that.
BACK THE BORED ??????
POR CIERTO – I have no doubt AR trains like a Trojan. He is a trier. He also does ok in most games as AJ cover in a back four. We know he is limited but in most SPFL games he does fine.
He is however being brutally exposed in the current format.
It would defy belief if Nancy and his team cannot see that.
I assume they can see it but keeps choosing to play him there (with Yang in front of him) instead of reverting to a back four because that is their way. End of.
As someone else said, any of the other players would also be badly exposed in the current set up with the current players. He could play there if AJ was the wingback.
Likewise on the left, KT would excel with Andy Robertson in front of him. We need wing backs that can defend, not wingers who find the concept completely alien to them.