Newco have two recent games against Celtic to inspire them to a degree of confidence ahead of Sunday’s trip to Celtic Park. When the clubs met at the same venue in January, a halftime tactical switch to attack the space down Celtic’s flanks was enough to see Wilfried Nancy sacked two days later. Manager Danny Rohl will know that Celtic team will be very different from the one he faces this weekend.
More importantly, the 0-0 draw at Ibrox in March, which saw Celtic progress to the Scottish Cup semifinals on penalties, was a procession towards Viljami Sinisalo’s goal, with practically nothing coming back. Celtic would not succeed too often in similar circumstances. This game will be Rohl’s tactical starting point.
Recent defeats to Motherwell and Hearts are also likely to influence Newco’s tactical setup. In Rohl’s favour, he is quickly finding out what doesn’t work. Diomande is an unloved midfield utility man, who was the only player to emerge from the Motherwell defeat with credit, when he played deep alongside Raskin.
That reflects the Newco line-up in the Scottish Cup tie against Celtic, so will almost certainly dictate their tactical setup at the start of the game on Sunday; a Diomande-Raskin base to build possession from.
Rohl regularly switches between one and two strikers. Controlling the midfield is crucial, even more so when away from home, so I expect them to go with Chermiti on his own and two out-and-out wingers: Moore (their best player) and any one of the unloved Skov Olsen, Gassama or Aasgaard. Moore is not fully fit and is unlikely to last the whole game, but he is so crucial to Newco they are bound to start him on Sunday. Chukwuani will fill the final midfield slot.
Their early-season bomb-scare, Fernandez, now occupies the “£20m player” fantasy-role, previously held by Alfredo Morelos. Fernandez and Djiga have made the central defensive positions their own, it is the fullback roles where they appear less sure of themselves.
Whatever happens, James Tavernier will walk out of Celtic Park on Sunday knowing he will never have to face Daizen Maeda again. The Newco captain deserves to celebrate the passing of this burden. Daizen made his reputation in these games and at 34, Tavernier does not have the legs to cope (not that he did five years ago). I expect Sterling to play right-back, leaving the very-unloved Meghoma at left.
Despite stability and an injury-free run, defensively, Newco are weak. Hearts scored two, Motherwell three, Falkirk three and Dundee United two, across their last four games. Rohl will be aware of the speed Celtic have on the counter and is unlikely to deploy a high press against our back line. He is in a hole, running out of goodwill and cannot afford to allow Celtic to narrow their goal-difference deficit on Hearts.
Our biggest criticism of Wilfried Nancy was that his tactics were figured out by opposition managers and he was unable to counter. That same allegation was levelled at Rohl after Monday’s defeat at Tynecastle. Derek McInnes bossed the second half, with Rohl statuesque until it was too late. The same scenario played out in Celtic’s 2-2 draw at Ibrox in March, when Martin O’Neill transformed Celtic.
My biggest confidence boost ahead of Sunday is that we know what to expect from Newco and we know how they will flex during the game. Neither the January defeat (Nancy), nor the Scottish Cup game (incredible injury list) are relevant for Celtic. You can also expect players falling within sight of a hooped shirt, especially in and around the box. We are only a week since a radical interpretation of Law 12 of the Game almost cost Celtic a win (the evidence bar required for VAR to intervene is the new Theatre of Operations). Expect more radical interpretations from officials on Sunday.
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Week is dragging in.
Friday eve!
Moisey17 @ 8:28 am,
“Being realistic and basing thoughts on what we have delivered all season nothing more. Being super positive based on nothing doesn’t play CF and we can’t will the ball into the net as hard as we try. I’m sure the support will get right behind the team as will I but the stats do not inspire confidence and the stats don’t come out of thin air.
My biggest issue is that despite what on all levels has been a very difficult and poorly managed season the club shows not signs of having learned anything. Buy your ST, here’s some new gear for you to buy, get behind the team……….OK but what are you gonna do?………….
Good points…
Being the CQN village idiot (according to some) I can predict the old firm game.
However, the interesting factor in this game is that R2ngers are quite capable of getting a draw at Celtic Park – which might be enough to hole our title ambitions….
However, R2ngers need a win if their European ambitions are to be realised.
Now, if they “go for it” in the final third of the game, we have players on our bench that can win us the game…
For that reason I’m opTIMisTIC…
Hail Hail
R2ngers left back Rommens is a very god player and came on as a sub on Monday after a period out with injury.
I’d also add that Moore isn’t a particularly effective winger, but he’s very troublesome when running through the midfield.
Whatever opponents are selected to play in whatever positions, Celtic need to turn up and turn it on.
The championship remains within our gift.
Oh Paul, you are being kind “Fernandez, now occupies the “£20m player” fantasy-role, previously held by Alfredo Morelos, …….Tod Cantwell, John Lunstram,Ryan Kent, Glen Kamara and who can forget hagi.
To name but a few
‘We are only a week since a radical interpretation of Law 12 of the Game almost cost Celtic a win (the evidence bar required for VAR to intervene is the new Theatre of Operations).’
———————————————————————————————————————
And yet not a peep from boardroom to dugout at Celtic regards this.
No wonder they consider themselves untouchable when carrying out such decisions.
A thorough piece on r2ngers tactics and team selection.
Ours meanwhile can be summed up much more succintly – 433 with out a few out of sorts players starting the game and a few better players being kept on the bench until the 65th minute or so.
Partial Decision Making
Sorry, meant to say ” with a few out of sorts players”.
“Expect more radical interpertations from officiuals on Sunday.”
MON and the club should be publicly putting focus on the officials ahead of this match using the handball and penalty not given vs Hibs to do what we can to prevent more shenanigans from the mibs.
Beaton is on VAR duty for a reason.
QUADBHOY – That would require Michael finding his voice which appears to be in the same place as Tooties’ marbles.
Or even Tootles . . . fat fingers today.
Excellent article Paul.
On your last point about the officials’ interpretation of clear laws …
… today (Thursday) is the day for the club to launch their bomb about last week’s disgraceful officiating.
It will need two full days to publicly grow into a critical mass before noon Sunday.
If any Celtic executives or their lackies are lurking?
If you want to save time on the statement?
Cut and paste TBB’s 10:31am comment and click publish or send.
I don’t know TBB but, at a guess?
He won’t ask for a royalty payment.
Being instinctively republican in nature, I’m not a fan of royalty 😂
DeniaBhoy on 7th May 2026 12:52 pm
If MN wants to keep schtum and (presumably) work behind the scenes then MON has more than enough wit and charm about him to do the job in any given press conference with a few carefully chosen comments.
It might not get us a fair crack of the decisions but it sends the right message compared to radio silence, imo.
Well done Luis Enrique and PSG.
Beautiful football
This is an insight into Enrique dealing with Mbappe.
https://x.com/i/status/2052155857161560510
HH
QUADBHOY – I have little confidence tha MN working behind the scenes would achieve anything. He has no gravitas, no presence and I presume next to no influence in the corridors of the SPFL. As you and others have said, a public statement should have been issued at the very least. Ibrox’s head honchos would have demanded a summit.
Regarding MoN, he seems much more relaxed these days. After the game he basically shrugged his shoulders when asked about the decisions as if to say “these things happen and there is no point on dwelling upon them”.
If we give Danny’s boys a Sunday beating it will be Rohl On The Dole.
Insha allah !
Paul 67 et al,
Why are we so obsessed with what others will do.
We should be more concerned what we will do..
We have won the league 12 times from 13 ( The huns winning in empty stadiums )
If the officials are so influential then we must be really really really good.
The truth is that we play to our full potential then we win regardless of what others do.
Simple as that.
HH.
No point in Dermot ever offering Luis the Celtic job, we can only dream
Luis Enrique in a previous statement:
I wouldn’t have accepted the Paris project if all its stars remained
I stipulated a change in approach and granting me full authority
With Mbappé, the team was playing for him, whereas today there is great diversity and a strong group
We will create our own stars, no more spending astronomical sums on players who don’t deserve it
“You come into my house on the day my daughter is to be married and you ask me to do murder, for money.”
https://bsky.app/profile/simonpegg.bsky.social/post/3mlbacxqlb22p
Ten Men Won The League on 7th May 2026 12:17 pm
‘We are only a week since a radical interpretation of Law 12 of the Game almost cost Celtic a win (the evidence bar required for VAR to intervene is the new Theatre of Operations).’
———————————————————————————————————————
And yet not a peep from boardroom to dugout at Celtic regards this.
No wonder they consider themselves untouchable when carrying out such decisions.
————–
100% correct, and infuriating. No wonder they act with growing impunity – we let them.
Like fixing the roof when the sun is shining, the time to complain loudly is after we win. That way we can’t be accused of sour grapes. We got the win at Hibs, but very nearly didn’t due to 4 referee/linesman gross errors and 2 VAR gross errors. If we don’t complain about this in the middle of a fight to the line for our title, we never will.
And for those who think these mistakes were honest, then heads should roll on the grounds of incompetence.
Of all the changes needed in the summer, a spokesman who will stand up against self-evident corruption/gross incompetence is a massive priority.
Paul67 et al
According to Paul’s earlier letter from Corinth Sunday’s game will be played out between two Glasgow clubs either of which will be SPL Champions by next weekend. And yesterday’s letter to the Corinthians which told the faithful that the game which takes place @ 8pm Saturday is not important. Mmm as Paul was wont to say.
Rangers* can play on the front foot….first half against us in the 2-2 game, likewise first half @ Tynecastle.
They cannot play on the back foot as the recent goals against tally shows. Problemo is, we line up our midfield the same way we have done recently even “the most talented player in Scotland” might not be enough to retrieve going a couple of goals down or more. And do we have the mettle Hearts showed in the second half to physically win back control of the game should we have to? $64 million question.
All that said, if, however, we take the game to them right from the kick off, and get in front, there will be no road back for them, or for Rohl.
I’m optimistic that the latter option is the more likely for Martin & Co’s Bhoys
4 days on since the scandalous decisions that could cost us this league title and not a mention yet again
!!
Correction 5 days
🙄
Unless you tune into the good guy’s
https://www.youtube.com/live/oe8gWoAPWgo?si=qmH-dqWD2i0inemp
I am sure last night the Munich fans were convinced the ref cost them the tie and the chance to get to the CL final. Such is football. Everywhere you go the officials are considered incompetent at best, bias and corrupt at their worst.
We know in Scotland things have never been as fair as they should but it hasn’t stopped us hoovering up the trophies this century. Our current position has come about from a series of self-inflicted wounds not from refereeing bias. Having watched the same refs in other games this season, they make just as many mistakes there too.
DeniaBhoy on 7th May 2026 1:12 pm
“He has no gravitas, no presence and I presume next to no influence in the corridors of the SPFL.”
I know nothing of the man or his connections in the SPFL (as the customer) or the SFA (as the supplier of the referee ‘services’). Must be hard to get any support though as most clubs are as likely to benefit (vs us) than suffer (vs huns). Perhaps this is how “these things even themselves out” for most clubs.
“Regarding MoN, he seems much more relaxed these days. After the game he basically shrugged his shoulders when asked about the decisions as if to say “these things happen and there is no point on dwelling upon them”.”
I met him after the recent Dundee game and he looked worn out and exhausted. Still had time for the kids waiting outside though, more than can be said for a lot of the players sadly.
I am hoping he is just keeping his powder dry and waiting for the right moment to speak up.
The big thing we have going for us is that we’ll know the result of the hearts match prior to kick off.
In the event that Hearts have got their theee points, then I hope to see a far greater urgency and determination to score as many goals as possible. We haven’t seen that in many months.
Cellic meeja and Chris Morris,most appearances in centenary year.
Enjoy
https://youtu.be/BHVgYR-4YjQ?si=5wm_zAh74zM6GIsw
HH
An Don
Its clearer for us AD.3 points and score is our goal.
BTW Down result means tie away to Kerry ffs
They will be out to avenge that last result!
HH
https://x.com/plzsoccer/status/2052377208560198005?s=48&t=pLERKYVBy2vfK2Cym_B3Tw
New manager is subtle…
I’m hoping for a win, but don’t expect it to be pretty or easy!
Celtic 2-1 Sevco
“… running out of goodwill and cannot afford to allow Celtic to narrow their goal-difference deficit on Hearts” 😂😂😂
Let’s be honest, it’s a coin toss between two crap teams. No result would surprise me but I continue to have faith in MO’N to somehow continue to deliver against all odds.
We also don’t know what cheating/ sabotage we’ll face from the huns with whistles/VaR screens this week.
AN TEARMANN
I think Donegal maybe had their eyes elsewhere but we were taken back to earth with quite a bump at Clones.
The advantage in playing Kerry in the first round is that they may still be a bit of their best form and you’ll likely be prevented from playing them again until the final.
An Tearmann on 7th May 2026 1:06 pm
Agree ref PSG.
Ref video :
Was Mbappe’s Spanish good enough to understand Enrique?
Why was someone sitting at the back filming this?
Mbappe is totally passive, while having his hair dried on film. I find that unlikely.
Is this video real?
Rohlling home ?
“. . . And 37-year-old former Sheffield Wednesday manager Rohl is top of Wolfsburg’s wanted list, according to reports in his homeland. Rohl was heavily linked with Wolfsburg last summer when he was still in charge at Hillsborough, but the move fell through.’
Meanwhile a welcome return to BBC Scotland is series 3 of ‘Icons of Football’…..10pm tonight
Not to be missed, the Icon of Icons……Henrik Larsson…..
Narrated by Joy McAvoy, and featuring, amongst others, Tony (Van Gogh) Curren
Later ‘Icons’ include er Chic Young….