A browse at this weekend’s Scottish Cup fixtures tells you all you need to know about Celtic’s league title chances. The other contenders failed to reach this stage: Newco lost at home to Celtic, while Hearts did the same to Falkirk. We might be vulnerable, but we have won more games than anyone else in senior Scottish football. Winning is part of Celtic’s make up and is not an aptitude every club has acquired.
There is a possibility that Martin O’Neill will feel like a rich man as he contemplates his selection for Sunday. A steady drip of players returning to the squad gives him a wealth of options he was denied until recently. What he does in the middle of the park is of most consequence.
Callum McGregor, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Benjamin Nygren, Arne Engels, Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan all saw action last week against St Mirren. It was a perfect opportunity for Martin to see what works, and conversely what didn’t. I do not expect he will start with the same three (Callum, Alex, Ben).
Kelechi Iheanacho might flinch at the sights of St Mirren at Hampden, a re-run of who and where he picked up his injury in December. Managers have to consider the possibility of 120 minutes in cup games. Martin clearly does not think Kelechi fit enough to play more than 30 minutes, would he chance bringing the player on around the hour mark again? It might be safer to start him, give him the first half, then 10 minutes after the break, before asking Tomas Cvancara to see us over the line.
The rise of Gustaf Lagerbielke continues as less than a year after leaving Celtic, he helped Braga to a 2-4 win at Real Betis to secure a place in the Europa League semifinal. The player is now so far out of our reach he may has well have been spotted on the far side of the moon by Artemis II last week. Recruited in 2023, he fell out of favour when the manager secured his signature signing of Nat Phillips during the same transfer window. Criminal vandalism was done to our club.
292 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- »
Nygren only Celtic player in Team of the Year
the bada bing
Good news re AJ and young Callum, but having just watched Martin’s presser, be surprised if we see either or both this weekend, hope they are there or thereabouts. I mean they are our players, so no problem in hoping they can make a contro in the run-in. If we add them to the squad then we have a half decent group of players to choose from, eg 4 CBs, 2 RBs, a host of midfield options and though it might not look like it, if we add Callum and the Toun, some variations up front. Problem is we do not seem to be getting the best out of them @ the mo. That could change though, only takes one good game to do it. Sunday could be that game….
Martin, it’s a return to Hampden this weekend. How much do you enjoy the occasion and the spectacle of these big series finals?
Yeah, I’m looking forward to it, I really am. I thought that the last time I was there would have been the last time. But I’ve got an opportunity for a semi-final and, yeah, really looking forward to it.
I remember you said after the last semi-final that you’d secretly have loved to still be in charge for the final?
That’s probably true, really, at the time. But I think the club had gone down, a long way down, with Wilfried Nancy at the time. So I kind of understood that. So it was just a rather selfish thought at the time.
Yeah, just the story of your last ever game being the Scottish Cup final and potentially lifting the trophy?
Genuinely, I have not done, honestly. I don’t think we are good enough to dream that far down the line.
How much would you love another crack at a major final?
Oh, that would be lovely if we could do it, yeah. But I think St Mirren won’t be… They’ll obviously take great confidence from the fact that they won recently, played very well last week against us. And two, the last time they played each other at Hampden, they won the cup.
Have you ever allowed yourself to dream, I guess, of that perfect final day yet? Of course, that would be the very last game of the season, the Scottish Cup Final.
I was a dreamer. I was a dreamer of realism at one stage or another. But no, I have absolutely not done that at all. You’re talking about trying to get to the cup final?
What does the Scottish Cup mean to you, Martin? Obviously, you’ve had great success in it.
Loved it. Loved the competition. I know I’ve said this ad nauseum to the lads here about when the only game that was ever live on TV was the FA Cup final. You’d be getting moments of the Scottish Cup final. I’m talking about when I was growing up as a kid.
Not that I ever thought that I’d be participating in it. But, yeah, it’s a great competition. It’s got a lot of history. And, yeah, I just like to be part of it.
It’s obviously a great way for any club to finish off a season?
It is, yeah. We did it way back in 2005. It really was kind of bittersweet in many aspects because we’d lost the league the previous week.
Do you think this game can have a positive knock-on effect for the rest of the season?
Yeah, I think so. Yeah, that’s right.
If we can win the game, it definitely would have a positive effect. No question about that. Similarly, and quite the opposite, I suppose, really, it could have a poor effect on us. But we’re going all out to try and win the game.
What did you see from St Mirren at the weekend? It was maybe different to previously?
Well, first of all, I have to say, I think Stephen Robinson did brilliantly at the football club. They won a trophy and they were in there competing. It’s always been difficult, particularly the budgets that they would have and things like this. So he did wonderfully well and played, I thought, to St Mirren’s strengths, which is part of really good management at the end of it all.
I think that change in management, probably change in the manner in which they play. If I can compare it to us, when I’ve come in here, the way that the team has played for quite a number of years, they don’t really want to change too much.
Some things that I think, yeah, not sure, but just, I know, yeah, I’m not going to change it because the changes were too far through in the league to try and change things. So I think that that would be good for some sort of comparison with St Mirren as well, to ensure the manager is taking some really good, positive things from what Stephen had done and trying to implement his own character into the team.
I know you weren’t in the dugout for the league cup final against St Mirren, but for the players, do you think they’ll maybe feel they’ve got a score to settle back at hand and against the same opposition?
Yeah, I would hope so anyway. I would hope that they would want to try and retrieve that situation. It’s gone now, they’ve lost a cup final. So yeah, there’s this chance now to try and do something about it.
Is that something that you’ve used previously as motivation as a manager or you’ve seen players do it before?
Yeah, I’m sure I have. Yeah, I’m quite sure that I would have done something like that at some stage or another. But yeah, I would have done.
In terms of injuries, anyone able to make a return for the team?
Well, I think it’s probably a bit too early now for Alistair Johnson, but he has trained, so that’s really good news. There’s no ill effect at this minute. And I know doing some little small-sided games is not the big game at all, but that’s really encouraging for him to come out. And young Callum Osmand, he’s making progress as well too at the same time. So that’s really encouraging.
Are those two likely to be more looking towards the league game as well?
I would have thought so, yeah, definitely. But as I say, Alistair has done really well. Callum came in, to my recollection, a couple of days later. I’ve just seen him out there, so it would be early for him. But I think that had not Alistair taken a setback in Canada, I think he would have been ready for now.
Liam Scales is suspended. Are you confident in whoever does step up?
Oh yeah, absolutely. I would have no doubts about that. I’ve got two right-footers as well, so Trusty will move over to the left-hand side. But yeah, I’ve got lots of confidence in Benjamin Arthur and Dane Murray.
Can I ask you about the other semi-finals, specifically the job Neil Lennon’s doing at Dunfermline?
Well, first of all, the two managers have done brilliantly. Brilliantly. Really brilliantly. And Neil, who’s obviously a big part of my managerial life anyway, has done great. It’s no surprise to me.
I think he’s a top-class manager. His record, both as a player and as a manager himself, is quite extraordinary. Really, it’s extraordinary. I know the tough times during COVID and things like this here, but overall, his record is fantastic.
If your team was to do the business on Sunday and his team were to do the business on Saturday, how would you feel coming up against them?
I have the utmost regard for him, it’s been brilliant. And I think I’ve said before, had I not signed him from Leicester, I might not be sitting here with you, but I’d say he’s been brilliant.
Callum Osmand returning, possibly, to the league games. There’s obviously been issues throughout the season with the central striking role. I think he only played three games earlier on in the season. Do you feel he is capable of going in and making an impact?
Well, it’s a really good point. Yeah, he was coming off the bench in some of those matches and was making an impact, particularly in the semi-final, the cup semi-final against Rangers, and that was great news. And he was really building confidence as well to make the penalty, although we were well and truly second or third best against Midtjylland But he came on there, made the penalty, got in behind a couple of times and looked really sharp, and then picks up the injury. So I think over time, I think he’ll be a really decent player for us.
That fekin Bournemouth dragging their feet again.I mean,a whole 3 days to get a manager in.
Glad we are not run like that.
Paul,if you really wanted to see ” Criminal vandalism” being done to our team,you need look no further than the absence of a striker to replace Kyogo,who left the building,
16. Months ago.
TurkeyBhoy – I for one am under no illusions regarding Maeda’s form but I would have him up front before Cvancara. At least he knows how to press and unsettle the CHs and keeper. As per my post, Tounekti, Maeda and Yang is a better option than Maeda, Tomas and Yang (in my opinion). Neither is particularly inspiring but one has more pace, pressing and trickery than the other.
MON’s presser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn3k9w5PFdA
Apologies: this is long and, possibly, incoherent.
A recurring theme from unhappy fans is the team’s persistent failures to reach the latter stages of the Champions’ League. This ignores the fact that this competition was expressly devised to ensure that only very rich teams from very rich leagues would contest semis or finals.
This same principle dictates that Celtic cannot compete in the transfer market with EPL teams like Brentford or Brighton which have only a fraction of Celtic’s support. It’s unfair. So is life.
Various ad hoc fan groups demand change. If the current board and the majority shareholder find themselves so sickened by this season’s divisions then angry fans might just get their way. Change is possible but both Willie Haughey’s and David Low’s schemas are essentially a re-hash of Fergus’s plan from last century. Both could certainly deliver a new board but it’s eminently possible that, at some juncture, angry fans will demand that board’s resignation too.
A recent ‘zoom’ meeting of the ‘Collective’ was less than inspiring. Most speakers were sincere and constructive. But a couple of flaws emerged. There was no statement of the group’s objectives; and one or two contributors saw physical intimidation of board members as the primary goal.
Another alternative for Celtic is a take-over by a middle eastern or American consortium. Whether or not supporters would welcome the club being directed by people with no emotional link to Celtic or its history is definitely moot.
Is “ERROR ESTABLISHING A DATABASE CONNECTION ” the new way of telling us the hardware needs a wee service?
Anyone remember the days when we got some good news about injured players.I don’t mean” Coming along”kind of news.I mean,fit and in the team this week.
What were they like?.
A win this weekend would be very nice but the league is, given the state of play and potential hun CL qualification, the only game in town. Team selection this weekend should be entirely with an eye to the last 5 league games – give game time to those we need to get match fit and protect those we can’t afford to injure (including Kelechi).
Iheanacho,stated recently that he is 100% fit.Now,if anyone should know this information,it should be him.Why the worry about starting him?.
Maybe he is an injury prone liar,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,🤔
“Whether or not supporters would welcome the club being directed by people with no emotional link to Celtic or its history is definitely moot.”
Beware the enemy within the gates, for he is known and carries his banner openly.
AAT the moment,the Scottish Cup is the most important tournament for us.The League will return to that position next week.
Unless you are prepared to gamble on winning hee haw this season.
” Turkeybhoy on 17th April 2026 4:35 pm
What exactly do some fans see?.”
Well, whatever they see doesn`t really matter. What Martin O` Neill sees is all that really counts.
I am sometimes baffled by his decisions but I shrug that off by accepting that he really does know a lot more about the players ( and the game ) than I do.
Michael Stewart has been banned indefinitely from Hampden Park by the Scottish FA (SFA) due to his persistent and outspoken criticism of match officials. The ban, reportedly enforced by SFA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell, prevents the pundit from working at the national stadium for broadcasters such as BBC Scotland and Premier
The bhoys down in Govan pursuing a great idea for a Jim Craig tribute👏
If you could give time or anything:-))
https://jimcraiggovanfoundation.co.uk/donate-to-the-jim-craig-foundation/
HH
Tbb ta for the presser👍
HH
DB – I’m sure the BBC will back their pundit and boycott hampden. He was only reacting to questions in their programme
Why should Michael Stewart be prevented from doing his job, that is censorship , hope he is backed by his employers and fights this. Maxwell has been watching too much Trump.
Daniel Kinihan lifted in Dubai, the house of cards is……
Nygren only Celtic player in Team of the Year
—
he would be the only celtic player in celtics team of the year!
We have st Mirren Falkirk and Dunfermline standing in between us and a cup final. MON when asked if he was dreaming of the final replied I don’t think we are good enough to dream that far down the line.
Now that’s almost like a manager suggesting that he is driving a Honda civic instead of a Ferrari is it not?
Now that’s almost is squad vandalism.
In the 10iar Covid season we signed Shane Duffy a lifelong fan and respected experienced EPL defender and what happened? He couldn’t defend from the halfway line where our centre backs are usually pitched. Lagerbielke was the same, caught out for speed trying to get back. Good defender but in the wrong movie due to a scattergun recruitment policy where we signed according to an age/ cost/ potential international caps criteria rather than to fit the needs of the team.
Fritzsong on 17th April 2026 5:14 pm
A recurring theme from unhappy fans is the team’s persistent failures to reach the latter stages of the Champions’ League. This ignores the fact that this competition was expressly devised to ensure that only very rich teams from very rich leagues would contest semis or finals.
*and who was part of this sleekit revision of the at one time Champions Cup, the rag and bone man, aye the same one that ruined the Scottish game completely, as he had campbell ogilvie as part of the committee intended to make the Cup only for the bigger clubs, with his introduction of a group stage format, unfortunately he forgot tae realise that 1872 were NEVER a big club.
Meanwhile the much maligned DD has Peter Lawwell on a committee to try and undo the damage that is now in place.
We should try 4 4 2 on Sunday, and stopping us being so predictable. after all , the two wingers thing is clearly not working
kinglubo
Ziggydoc1 @ 2:57 pm,
“Wasn’t today meant to be the launch of the season ticket holders alliance? Haven’t seen anything’.
Apologies – thought someone with more knowledge of the event would have replied by now…
Yes, it was launched at midnight, Bada Bing posted the link to register…
https://stat26.com/
Interesting debate on another channel.
Hail Hail
Paul 67,
Now for something completely different.
I note you mention the Artemis 11.moon voyage in your article.
Interesting. One of the similarities between the Artermis11 and the 1969 Apollo 11 ” Moon Landing” is the mysterious disappearance of NASA scientists connected with said projects
Coincidence???????
Ticket sales closed for Sunday, truly ridiculous
thanks paul67 for the objective view . F me I appreciate this topsy turvy season.
and for stating the FECKIN OBVIOUS, we’ve had a dire injury run
getintaetheycnutscsc
Right – it’s Friday night; I got the Malbec in – it’s time for Celtic v Inter Milan on youtube.
hashtagwhatpossessedbertietosinginthetunnel
CQN auld guard – a query !
Inter were awarded a penalty against the Lions – James Craig is on record as saying ‘never a pen’.
Some of the lions protested this with the ref but were pushed away by a one of the lions…
who was the lion who pushed the protesting lions away when Inter were awarded a dodgy penalty?
I don’t know the answer btw – can’t make it out.
Anybody see Hegseth addressing the Army and quoting a chapter of the Bible to them.What he read out,word for word,was the scene from,Pulp Fiction,by the actor,Samuel L Jackson.😅😅
Maniacs.I swear to God he would shoot the Pope if ordered.Religious butter.
Nutter.
weird cnut TB
jackiemac on 17th April 2026 7:57 pm
JOHN CLARK
‘Gemmell a great goal and that could be the goal that wins it for Celtic’
What is wonderful about having a few drinks and watching the ’67 final is the commentary – he says it as it is !!!!!
we are conditioned to a defunct hunosphere , a wasting community who have nothing to contribute to the future.
COYBIG the league is ours.
‘he’s a great man for indirect free kicks this fella’
Bada.
Re that arrest what does
`on foot of Irish warrant` mean?
On foot???
Thanks FU – thanks. wouldn’t have ID ed it.
have you spotted newcastle Irish centre are doing a csc day on 6th June (I think)
colburn celts will get up, wim the tim, I think are going