So many great performances, where to start? The left wing. Yang had a lot to do when Reo Hatate’s pitched cross dropped two yards beyond the far post. The outer edge of his right foot poked the ball beyond keeper Wellenreuther and Celtic were level. Yang has speed, the ability to get past a defender and is perhaps the best crosser among the multitude of wingers at the club, but he also has that innate sense of when to make a run.
What elevates forward players is often not their ability to shoot from within 8 yards of the goal (where the bulk of goals are scored), but how they unthinkingly find space to connect with the ball. Martin O’Neill knows a thing or two about footballers, listen to him on Yang:
“He does things that we can’t do. He can turn players he can beat players. He’s strong, and he can manoeuvre it. He can do all of those things. It’s just a matter of giving him confidence the whole way through.”
He arrived in Scotland in July 2023 having just turned 21 into an environment which sapped every ounce of confidence from him. Before Martin arrived in 2000, Celtic destroyed promising talent for decades – just like happened to Yang. Martin stopped the rot, which had again taken hold in recent seasons. You and I have a job to do to support this player.
Daizen Maeda had a typical Daizen Maeda game. He ran constantly and lost the ball frequently, but on two occasions, he timed forward runs which resulted in the second and third goals. Every goalkeeper in Scotland watches for his runs, Wellenreuther did not get the memo. The keeper’s waited too long for a pass to reach him and Daizen blocked the clearance.
Reo Hatate had even more to do than Yang when presented with his chance. The midfielder returned a fast moving ball with a first-time shot into the empty net. Anyone who has played football will tell you, putting the ball into an empty net is one of the hardest things in the game. Our players from Japan and Korea were simply too good for Feyenoord.
Arne Engels (22) joined the club as part of that much-maligned £32m spend in the summer of 2024. We paid significantly over the odds for a young player who was relegated to the bench in the early part of this season. He bossed the middle of the park last night and was a true leader.
Missing three defenders, at least two of whom would be first choices, Celtic were organised and effective at the back. Two left footed central defenders showed how ridiculous the myth was that they were not up to the task of playing at Tynecastle. Who knows what state the club would be in had Martin O’Neill not brought some sanity back to our game. Congratulations to all involved in a fabulous win.
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Tallking about “Dafties”,step forward Daftie of the Month,Meghoma,the much maligned,by the hordes,loanee defender across the City.
“Glasgow is their City,Its brilliant.In London,no one knew me,up here totally different, ( Anybody want to tell him ) playing for this fantastic club he chirrups. to a drooling Record hack,and he,only too willing to get it into print.Where do they get them?.
Thanks MON
hope it goes your way tomorrow
Evening all.
I’ve just been sent an exclusive clip from the recent AGM, WOW!!!!!
The Young Ones H/Q….On University Challenge
https://youtu.be/Wi5SJKI6RpU?si=14VyNLhgoGcuoLkj
Does the new man play the same system as Martin and we win everything in sight?
Or will he change a successful system?
mmmmmm?
Always liked Iwobi of Fulham since his Arsenal days….cost Fulham £25m from Everton and worth every penny…boy’s a machine……now if we could get him at the end of his contract…
PHILBHOY
Yer a bad Mhan 😉
I reckon you need proper time on the training pitch to make radical changes.
Not possible when you’re playing 2 games per week.
Gradual tweaks if anything would be my bet.
Nite y’all
A wee choon if the blog is ok with it.
David Bowie – Ashes To Ashes (Live On Later With Jools Holland 1999)
https://open.spotify.com/track/6cTfAK8JQPyQ74WgQIPmbY?si=e_jzlapPRvW52oM1I6wj-A
tomorrow
https://youtu.be/1NAWghuxGtw?si=v_3wteqiqXDRHR3L
No chance Nancy will be in charge for Wednesday,unless everyone at Celtic has had head knocks.Its just not possible.Martin for Hubs,Dundee,maybe Hearts,hopefully.
We have gambled enough already this season.Nancy has to see who is who.
Laxalt 7.56
Agree 100%. As another in the attended over 1000 Celtic games club. You made me want to add that up.
Welsh looks like he is becoming a player. Just like Calmac when he went to Notts.
My first time seeing Celtic live was on 29th December 1956 at Easter Road .
I seen then ,and maybe even now,my favourite player Willie Fernie.
I don’t know if I am in the 1000,club but Lisbon and Milan are in the locker.
Never mind ,once you see the Hoops you will always be a Celtic supporter.
One game or a thousand HH
Well we have had ‘The Celtic Cup’ (Netball) from cross the road in the Emirates Arena, then just finished watching ‘Songs of Modern Scotland’ (Celtic Connections 2024), highlight of which was Emma Pollock (The Delgados) backed by a fifty piece orchestra (and Roddy Hart) singing Gerry Rafferty’s ‘Night Owl’ fantastic….
In other words….there is a whole lotta Celtic going on…
And we’ll keep going on….in fact we’ll never stop
Good Morning Fholks – Grand Day To Be A Tim…
Saint Stivs @ 1:18 pm, 1:20 pm,
Thanks for the reply, looking forward to the follow-up, you put lot’s of invaluable information up.
Let’s hope we can shed more light on Celtic’s future and less heat on the past.
At present of course, we have the small matter of Martin and Shaun’s last game in charge.
Our league campaign is on track, we are in the final of league cup and we are still in contention for a UEL play-off spot.
So they have done a fantastic job.
An Easter Road result would be icing on the cake and keep the pressure up on Hearts – who, as many predicted are seeing the wheels come off the juggernaut.
Hibs 0 – 2 Celtic
COYBIG
Have A Great Day – Aff Oot
Hail Hail
Good morning all from matchday Govanhill.
Gerrintaethum Celtic!!!!
Morning all.
Game day.
For CELTIC MAC
Parks and Recreation – Emma Pollock
https://youtu.be/CTCbFQ046LM?si=ZajZ899jrvszKmVL
‘Mon the hoops
OK,just when is Nancy arrriving?The million Dollar question.This now becoming a farce.Its looking like another Board production.All reports saying this is Martins last game,and on Wednesday we play Dundee. Anyone with an ounce of planning in their head would have had Nancy,in the stands today and Wednesday to look over what he will be taking charge of.I willl even include next weeks Hearts game.Is MON working from day to day?No one seems to know.The communication never changes.
We are on a partial even keel at the moment.Please don’t fek this up.
Fully expecting to see Nancy in the stand today.If not,I will be worried.
Welsh play ing yesterday,as someone said,,like VVD.He was superb.Controlled the whole defence,added calmness and exuded an air of total confidence iin everything he did.Once again,I think that’s all down to the manager.Every player knows their job.They press high,retreat,then smother you in midfield,and then attack you.Excellent at playing out from the back.He has done a tremendous job,Motherwell,unrecognisable .
belmont brian
Pop Perfect! From one of Scotland’s (Glasgow’s) greatest talents, one of many…
Perfect start to St Andrew’s Day
And to Advent Sunday
The message of which is….
People get Ready!
Hail Hail
This is a big match, today.
Hibs at Easter Rd is typically a tight game and a draw is not uncommon.
A win sets things up nicely for the transition to the new coach and would be an apt end to MON’s stint as caretaker – matters will have been well taken care of.
MON the Hoops
Happy St Martin ONeill day
Hope we send him off with a goalfest, which would be a fitting end to a “magnificent” return
I don’t remember the year I first saw Celtic in the flesh. Probably 1954 or 5. The first defence I can remember (the attack changed every week, at the whim of Robert Kelly) is Haffey, Mackay and Kennedy, Crerand, McNeil and Price. I remember seeing the likes of Bobby Evans and Bertie Peacock too. Charlie Gallagher remains my alltime favourite. I have no idea how games I have attended in that time.
I spent my childhood sitting on the wall at the back of the Hayshed, close to what passed for a toilet. Mind you, I used to go to the Reserves, and wandered around the ground, depending which end Celtic were attacking. Does going to watch the Reserves count to the 1000?
Statistically our hardest away game of the season today
Only 27% win rate in 8 years ….1 0 will do me
27% win rate in 8 years – Jings! I knew it was a tight match but that’s a whole lot tighter than I had in mind.
CELTIC: Schmeichel, Donovan, Trusty, Scales, Saracchi, McGregor, Hatate, Engels, McCowan, Maeda, Yang.
Subs: Sinisalo, Nygren, Balikwisha, Tounekti, Kenny, Bernardo, Murray, Ralston, Tierney
live updates up
Vinnie the dog.. About 20mins ago.
Is that win rate at Easter Rd over last 8 yrs?
I checked myself and got over
19 games from 2017- 2025.
Hibs win 4, Draws 7, Celts win = 8.
That’s 42% win rate.
I really want the win today but those stats point to either a draw or Celtic win.
Mon to eff Mon HH
Three away wins in a row, one in Europe, all improving our position in the SPL and the EL. Dug one out, won one well and stuck it out today. Now three home games, all key matches which could see us top of the SPL and in with a chance of progressing in Europe. That did not look likely not so long ago. Need to keep things going. Good to see Saracci back, not just for his ability, but because it means the squad is a wee bit stronger at a busy time of the season. 0-0 @ Ayebrokes at HT lets see what the refs and VAR bring to the second half.