Luke McCowan added his name to the all-too-short list of Celtic players who have scored a competitive goal on German soil. Alan Thompson got the first at Stuttgart (and the third at Bayern), Chris Sutton the second, also against Stuttgart, Moussa Dembele scored a penalty at Borussia Monchengladbach, while Nicolas Kuhn got the fifth in a memorable draw at Bayern Munich a year ago.
None of those earlier games resulted in a win for Celtic. Last night’s victory was as merited as it was surprising, to some of us. I listened to Martin O’Neill’s pre-match comments, where he talked about taking the game to Stuttgart, without actually taking him seriously. I should have known, Martin is always serious when it comes to Celtic.
I got my wish with selection. In came Viljami Sinisalo, Colby Donovan, Dane Murray, Reo Hatate, along with Luke. I doubt if even Martin O’Neill knows who will start in goals on Sunday, but Viljami is entitled to wonder what more he needs to do after a flawless performance against a side far stronger than anything we will face in Scotland.
Dane Murray endured a torrid few minutes in Europe at Aston Villa last season, but he was imperious alongside Auston Trusty last night, while Marcelo Saracchi left more evidence on the field that Celtic should look to secure him permanently.
Did you notice how well Reo Hatate played – and where on the field he did most of his work? Callum McGregor is Celtic’s sitting midfielder, while Reo typically occupies one of the two advanced midfield roles. Last night Celtic ‘inverted the triangle’ [J. Wilson]. Reo sat deeper, allowing him to take the ball off defenders and the keeper, and move possession up field.
He can take the ball while under pressure, hold off the challenge and open his body to give him options. This is the link Celtic have been missing. We have been poor when pressed for around a year now. Last night, a deep lying Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor controlled the game, despite having a novice defence behind them. Martin O’Neill has plenty to think about before Sunday.
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Friday and we won away!
DeniaBhoy- Schmeichel definitely not the same since he injured his shoulder last season, I think he will start on Sunday
Definitely agree about Reo. One of a very limited number who can take a pass whilst being marked. Still needs the outfall though
Happy St. Leander of Seville Day!
Petition:
One Celtic. Back our Board, Manager, Players and Charity.
https://c.org/kC24nkswRn
Ave Ave
Paul 67,
Back on board with your article.
Bada from previous.
How good was it to see everybody happy and united. The atmosphere at Parkhead recently has been ( how can I put this ) Not good and not what we all desire.
Putting aside any blame, let’s hope we can get back to what we do best. Ie supporting the team, club and thoroughly enjoying our games.
HH,
As I mentioned last night, I think a wee surprise in the line-up/formation could work a treat.
Minor (maybe picky) point re Dane Murray
Imperious?
Bit of an exaggerated superlative but fine
Great performance 0-80 minutes.
Don’t know if it is physical or mental fatigue … but Dane’s performance drops off noticeably as the end of the game nears.
Three little errors – 2 offsides, 1 poor treatment of a long ball – late in the game last night went unpunished.
He’ll be 23 in four months time.
He’s a man, not a boy. (Colby is still a boy)
Over to Dane to own and address.
Murray played well last night but Ibrox will present a different challenge for our defence.
The Huns wont try to play through us. It will be long balls,knock downs, long throws and of course, free kick deliveries.
So we need our defence to be solid under crosses and set pieces. We need our midfield to control the game so as to minimise the hun opportunities for set pieces.
If we do this then there’s little else to fear from them. They’re not a good side.
I say there’s little else to fear but of course that assumes we don’t make big personal errors that gift them goals. We’ll be enormously helped in that regard should Sinasalo start.
I agree Reo had a good game in an unfamiliar position last night. However, I think he is too often easily dispossessed to trust him in that position on Sunday.
Narrative doesn’t go your way……..
Start talking about Afghanistan versus Pakistan……
Ye couldnae make it up
Then again you don’t have to….
DesperateDeflectionCSC
Well done Martin and the bhoys. First win in Germany and only our second knockout game won in 22 years. Be good to think it might be the start of something bigger, but then that’s what I thought after the other one, when we beat Zenit under Brendan Rodgers in 2018. Instead we got the following 15 months! And that’s when the penny dropped. Fool me once……..
The reality is that we will be stuck in the European slow lane for as long as we remain hitched to the old firm wagon. But that does seem to be the popular choice…….
I think MON will stick to Kaspar as his default keeper ,Sinisalo will continue to be the ‘league cup’ and Euro dead rubber choice and we will be less secure at the back as a result . Dane Murray was steady last night but will face more intensity at Ibrox , not to mention dark arts from diving huns and dodgy refereeing .
Despite all that , i’ll watch the game with a teeny bit more confidence after last night’s morale booster .
Back to Basics.
You were asking of plans initiatives.hoping this helps
Asking Ai
What is Willie Haughey Share initiative?
What is David Low Share initiative?
Willie Haughey’s new initiative is called the “Celtic Season Ticket Alliance.” It’s a plan to create a fan-led trust that would use his money to buy shares and give supporters a formal voice at the club .
Here are the key details of the proposal:
· The Core Mechanism: For every 10,000 fans who join the Alliance, Haughey pledges to gift £2 million to a trust to buy shares. If all 54,000 season ticket holders sign up, that totals a £10 million share package for fans .
· Primary Goal: The main aim is to restore “harmony” between the supporters and the Celtic board. This includes addressing fan discontent over club spending and trying to bring the “Green Brigade” group back into the stadium .
· Fan Voice & Board Representation: The long-term goal is for this trust to become the official channel for fan views. If the shareholding grows large enough, Haughey hopes it could eventually lead to a fan representative on the Celtic board .
· How to Join: It is free to join. Supporters simply need to provide their email or mobile number to a secretariat that Haughey will fund . While initially focused on season ticket holders, the scheme is open to all Celtic fans, including the global diaspora .
The initiative has raised some questions among supporters regarding exactly how much voting power a £10 million stake (estimated at ~5.26% of the club) would hold and who would control the block vote of the trust .
2
David Low’s current initiative with Celtic is called Celtic Supporters Limited (CSL) . Launched in late 2025, this organisation aims to build a significant bloc of shares to give fans a stronger voice and challenge the dominance of major shareholder Dermot Desmond .
🎯 Core Goal: The main objective is to trace and “activate” dormant shares (estimated at up to 20% of the club) left unclaimed since the 1990s, building a voting bloc that can influence board decisions .
🛡️ Strategy and Influence: CSL plans to consolidate shares to reach key thresholds—like 5% to call an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) or 25% to block special resolutions—focusing on corporate governance and board accountability .
👥 Leadership: The group is led by David Low, who previously helped architect the 1994 Fergus McCann takeover, alongside Duncan Smillie and Peter McGowan .
This isn’t David Low’s first involvement with Celtic share initiatives. In the 1990s, he was the strategist behind the share-buying plan that helped Fergus McCann successfully take over the club and save it from financial ruin . CSL represents a modern revival of those tactics, using fan power to influence the club’s direction .
Are you interested in the specific governance issues CSL is raising with the current board, or how their strategy compares to the historic 1994 takeover?
3
There is of course The Celtic Trust also who have years of experience being active on behalf of fans,writing resolutions and pursuing shareholder rights,all monies in the group go into buying shares.
https://celtictrust.net/
👍
Hail Hail
glendalystonsils
Leading 1-0 away with about 90 minutes to go….
A game in which a second goal at any time during the match, as Martin himself acknowledged, eg Tounetki near full time…and we could have taken it to the wire……..
Did you decide it was a “Euro dead rubber” before the match and stick with that analysis throughout?
It’s a funny ol’ game Saint…..
Can you imagine the shit show we would have created for ourselves if we had taken the game to extra time with such an important tie on Sunday. BBC would be slaughtering us. Shambolic management etc etc.
Am I missing something or does Willie’s initiative not make 100% good sense for everyone ?
The Fridge Magnate
Always makes me laugh.
Fantastic and unexpected result. Especially with the B team. Reo can up his game when he chooses to, eg when in the shop window in Europe. Turning it off when he doesn’t is precisely why so many of us have had it with him.
Paradoxically as our team has been weakened hugely by our incompetent Board we have shown sustained form away against very decent European opposition – Red Star, Feyenoord, Bologna, Stuttgart…. Kairat…
The less said about our home form the better – Braga, Roma, Stuttgart (3 defeats, 1 goal for, 9 against).
At best this team is skittish, which makes Sunday’s match all the more difficult to predict. I am not without hope we can secure at least a draw. Equally I wouldn’t be shocked if we got spanked 3 nil.
An Tearmann
Wouldn’t it be preferable, rather than buy up exisiting shares, (which would become progressively more expensive during such a process) but for say the Celtic Supporters Collective, to suggest to the Board that they have a new share issue, (Willie Haughey is good or £10 mill) available to the wider Celtic Support, equiv eg to 10% or more of the current shares, in numbers, giving us pro rata representation, and simultaneously introducing new Capital into the Club. Add that to any buy existing share issue strategy…..you’ve got yourself a seat on the Board…
Celtic Mac on 27th February 2026 12:47 pm
Dead rubber in the sense that it was a nothing to lose game with the tie already lost . Martin’s not going to come out and say that but he , and we, all knew it . Had the tie been more evenly balanced I think Martin would have played his strongest team regardless of Ibrox
I didn’t decide anything . A tie I would have loved to win but we’re talking fairy tales . Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have been praying for one had that second goal gone in .
burnley78@12.56
Only if you’ve got a few to sell at a share price high…..
Then you could be talking 110%
Burnley78 on 27th February 2026 12:56 pm
Am I missing something or does Willie’s initiative not make 100% good sense for everyone ?
____
I think he’s a real Celtic man. Good friend of jinky. Good to see someone of his stature and finance becoming involved. Let’s gets 100,000.
Reo was engaged in a game of football last night against the Hun , the referring will quite happily allow our midfielders to be tackled just before they collect the ball , hence Reo often loses the ball as he tries to hold off players.
For this reason he is often played further up and when we are out of possession in a 442 , Reo triggers the press. We have been hopeless at pressing recently, taking to play a longer ball.
Thought he played well last night
HH
Maestro on 27th February 2026 7:45 am
Top the morning bhoys after a fantastic result and much very much needed all round good performance from our bhoys.
😀
I must say very true as mentioned the officials went about doing there jobs correctly and it sure is noticeable and also very glad Martin like Brendan is making his viewpoint known publicly.
My local priest was spotted on tv last night after he took a well earned few days off and made the trip so I am now trying to sort him out for seat in the free broomloan for Sunday as he has a very good record of late all the prayers being answered. 🙏
We all play football manager and suggest who plays and what style or formation but Martin,Sean, Fozzy & co know best and have found a way especially in Europe so hopefully hitting form and the right formation in time for a double if they can replicate Euro form domesticly our bhoys like us should be mentally strong this morning so let’s use this as springboard and build on it and
us as supporters play our part also in helping and bring postive energy to one another as it will be needed in abundance to help these young men deliver the title for us.
—–
Great post. Just the kind of positive attitude we all need for Sunday.
And maybe the good father can put in an extra novena. 😊
The TNT highlights are hopeless to understand the match last night so I can’t make any comment on individual performances.
Interested to know what fholk thought of Adamu at point last night? I haven’t seen him bar a backheeled goal with his first touch. Great start, nothing since.
For Sunday, I’d have CalMac and Ox as a tight two, anyone from Hatate, Nygren or McCowan ahead. Hatate and McCowan trouble the opposition more without the ball, while Nygren is an extraordinary contrast of goals and invisibility. Perhaps that’s his secret – no one can see him. Thinking about it, you could put Maeda there as a first press.
I think Tounekti will give their right back serious trouble and his partnership with Tierney is highly productive.
On the other side, it’s Ajauro and Yang for me. Fingers crossed Ajauro is perfectly fit.
Sinisalo in goal and Murray alongside Scales.
Presumably since Iheanacho played 15 minutes last night he’ll be out for the next 3 weeks.
That leaves one of Cvancara or Adamu. Thoughts?
Our old friends Bodo avoid the big guns in last 16 draw with a tie against Sporting.
Last 8 a real possibility.
TBB – Adamu started well last night though I can’t remember him having any goal scoring opportunities. When he went off and Cvancara came on nothing really changed. Iheanacho also had a run out. Don’t think any of the three had a sniff at goal.
Or maybe I had my eyes shut.
Ta
B2B- Murray will tire in high pressure games like last night due to not being used to first team football, unfortunately due to injuries, I think there’s a good player in there,but he needs to stay fit
The Battered Bunnet on 27th February 2026 2:14 pm
I would rather we flooded the midfield than played two wingers. Adamu is very mobile, but he did fade after a lively start.
great confidence booster last night, very good against a better side, all about results.
My biggest gripe with our “bored” is the total lack of communication, showing their continued contempt for us, the life blood.
On a lighter note I would not be averse to Alan Morrison or Jim Orr being on our board with St Martin being Director of Football Operations. That would be a step in the right direction for me.
I fancy us to win on Sunday, really do even against 16 men from the ludge
kingLUBO
How about, Wulie Haughey has just called season ticket holders bluff to torpedo the “Not A Penny More” pretenders?
You don’t sit in the directors box every game whilst you are proposing to let the Collective Clownshow onto the board.
100% season ticket boycott should just be the start of regime change.
Anything else is just more pretentious piss to let the board remain in place untouched.
Haughey remained on the board in 1994 AFTER Fergus McCann went back on his promise to give the club to the fans at a reduced share price deal.
Only Brian Dempsey refused to go along with Fergus’s shafting of the Celtic fans.
And now Haughey is a Sir AND a Lord.
These types will do Zero for working class socialist, pro Irish Republican, pro Palestine Celtic fans.
And these same fans are cheering on the degenerate Green Party who say that Catholic education should not be a thing.
Just look at what the Irish Green Party did to keep Sinn Fein and SF’s Jeremy Corbyn hand written manifesto out of power in Ireland!
At 2024 General Election, The Greens, Labour, Conservative, Reform, Libdems, SNP, all shared over 20 hours of live TV in the build up to that election and not one of these parties mentioned the “live” Gaza Genocide taking place.
The Scottish Greens sign off on the SNP sending Scottish Tax Payers monies out the back door to isreal to carry out the Gaza Genocide, then both sleekitly disgusting SNP/ScottishGreens go public about their concern for Palestinians????
Only dim Tims would trust such fiends!
Tell me something I don’t know.
Sad are the homes….
Firstly sorry for filling up the blog with personal stuff.
However, way ahead of schedule I can now announce that I have added mad mitch to my growing list of stalkers. I’d like to thank the committee for this great award, I’m very, very proud.
We’re on target for a five a side team before season end.
An T @ 12:47pm – thank you.
Any new info gratefully received.
It’ll all come out in the wash.
I’m genuinely curious to know the intent of the Willie Haughey initiative.
Is it to replace, subsume or merge with other initiatives?
… such as the collective or the David Low thing (apologies – can’t remember the label).
Was also why I was curious about Willie Haughey’s relationship with existing individual board members … as this will need sold to them.
If WH already has a pot of honey he is sharing with them?
Easier to sell.
But if it is a pot of vinegar? Hmm.
Details will be interesting but my initial (hopefully glass half full) response to it?
Interesting how WH has framed his offer around season ticket holders rsther than small shareholders.
That feels smart. Their relationship with Celtic is more current, its annually recurring and it involves handing over money.
This group should be easier to engage.
I think previous efforts to engage have failed often because share ownership isn’t automatically at the forefront of a fan’s relationship with the club.
There’s a simple truth that the WH initiative seems to recognise.
Many ST holders are also shareholders !
Go figure !
In terms of measuring up against David Low’s offering?
A guy with deeper pockets is asking 54,000 people for their contact details but no money.
Game, set and match to Willie.
On the face of it, feels safe and benign enough.
Time will tell.
BTW
IF … I sign up … (TBC)
.. AND WH then uses my contact details
… to ask if I’m in the market for an industrial refrigerator complete with a service contract? …
… the answer will be “NO”.
Why would anybody stalk you?
Is your head not big enough?
Sad are the homes….
timmy7_noted on 27th February 2026 2:31 pm
I thought Adamu was willing to run the channels and in behind. So far Cvancara hasn’t really done that.
Not the best footballer but that may be a better option than trying to out muscle the Hun giants.
What is the point in bringing in big high tall giant strikers, and NOT playing big high tall giant balls up to them?
That is the type of mumbojumbo pish that Rodgers dished out to big high tall giant Adam Idah, forcing Adam to hit the booze to escape his Rodgers hell.
Sad are the homes….
|
timmy7_noted on 27th February 2026 2:34 pm
I thought Adamu was willing to run the channels and in behind. So far Cvancara hasn’t really done that.
Not the best footballer but that may be a better option than trying to out muscle the Hun giants.
Celticmac 1.04.
Wouldn’t it be preferable, rather than buy up exisiting shares, (which would become progressively more expensive during such a process) but for say the Celtic Supporters Collective, to suggest to the Board that they have a new share issue, (Willie Haughey is good or £10 mill) available to the wider Celtic Support, equiv eg to 10% or more of the current shares, in numbers, giving us pro rata representation, and simultaneously introducing new Capital into the Club. Add that to any buy existing share issue strategy…..you’ve got yourself a seat on the Board…
=================
Preferable to… Cmac? (Whits your starting point)
Its an initiative,put out there and it am sure more will be heard as more is revealed.
I think The Collective is a net of fan groupings who have banded together unhappy at how our club,there will be a crossover in all 3 and collective membership.aĺl finance Celtic,they pay,alas like us all.no say.its the remoteness.
Wullie could do all that,the board say no! :-)Celticmac.
Our board could have given other fans a seat on the board years ago Cmac.They didnt..
Re a Capital injection,i would say if main stand was refurbished there may be some form possibly
We have our monies in the bank unused.
not dynamic enough for me Celticmac.
its a source of problems we can alleviate by investing our monies in us from top to bottom we are on hunt for talent.
Hail Hail