The champions dominated and won their opening game of the season, made a shed-load of chances and we all spent the final 10 minutes on edge, fretting every time a Celtic player lost possession, which was frequent, or failed to clear their lines.
I am assured every Norwegian would expect Kasper Hogh to score several goals from the chances he got on his Celtic debut. Instead, he passed up most of the aforementioned shed-load and left frustrated. The old adage about strikers holds, at least he was there to miss them. He will score plenty for Celtic.
Isn’t it good we’ve got a proper target man up front? The lack of familiarity between Kasper and his more established team-mates was evidenced by the frequence balls were played short when Kasper pushed long, or vice-versa. Less than a week at the club, this will hopefully resolve, expect improvements for Sunday.
Camilio Duran had hands on knees, a sign of exhaustion, long before he left the action on 78 minutes. I did not see him preseason, when he played and scored on each occasion as the main striker. He looked less suited to the winger role. Options up top were lacking last term, at least that issue has been resolved.
As was the case so often last term, Benjamin Nygren was the man with the plan to win the game. The timing of his run to meet Kieran Tierney’s cross was worthy of the points, he made impressive work with the finish too.
Dundee, playing their fifth competitive and ninth game overall in five weeks, were clearly fitter and it is no surprise Celtic struggled to dominate the closing stages of the game. These early season tests against lesser but energetic Premiership opponents are valuable. As long as we get the result, of course.
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Ahhhh
Afternoon all
(Joint) Top of the league on week 1. The big question is: Will the Saints (plural) last the course?!
P.S. Remember that St. Johnstone are the (joint) second most successful team in Scotland over the last 15 years (I think)…
BigChipsUK @ 11:39 am,
“Chairbhoy, perhaps you could run a POTY type poll amongst the CQN readership to come up with a best ever Celtic XI based on players in the hoops during voters’ lifetimes…”
Yes, that CQN best ever Celtic XI would be very interesting – also some of us saw the lions, some saw some of the lions (me), some didn’t see the lions, so it should be interesting.
However POTY is Jobo’s baby, and although I could put a mean spreadsheet together back in the day, can’t remember the last time I opened excel in anger….
See, if I was a family man, multi-millionaire, jetsetter, running my portfolio of corporations I’m sure there would be time available for frivilous blog activity…
However as a “part-time” working single man, the projects I have on the go take up most of my “free-time”.
Having said that I don’t have “time” to organise such a structured activity – I do find some time for some time for blog activity – so if fholk want to put up their all time Celtic XI in their lifetime, I’ll certainly collate that…
Hail Hail
Optimistic view, Paul.
I am a little more pessimistic. We look stale. Stale and dare i say, boring! It’s an obvious statement, but fresh blood is badly needed, and soon.
The keeper is a worry. He pulled off a very good save to ensure we got all three points, but his use of the ball, from both his hands and feet, is as bad as I’ve seen. For Celtic, it’s critical that we turn defence into attack with speed and accuracy. This guy will never do that.
Good 3 points, Dundee were well set up and some decent individuals
We relied on the old favourites. Competitive match
One debutant appeared out of position and the other had a bit of a stinker. I’m confident he’ll come good, so no accusations of ‘written off after one game’ please
The subs were a concern. Saracchi and Iheanacho came on v Motherwell and we won that game. The rest is history
The first XVI appears weaker than last season.
To paraphrase my own post from this time 12 months ago
‘You cant hope to beat Dundee by more than one goal when you sell your best players and replace them with rumours’
Off the top of my head Bigchipsuk :
Forster
Hay
Tiernay
Connelly
Virgil
Calmac
Murdoch
Lubo
Naka
Dalglish
Larson
Lennox / Maeda
Sorry last 2 are subs lol.
My all time XI might give the manager more problems with the formation tha MO’N currently has…
Boruc
McGrain
McNeill
Murdoch
Burns
Lubo
Jinky
Lennox
McClair
Dalglish
Larrson
Yet as the manager is Big Jock, I’d expect another big cup…
Hail Hail
Last night we had players coming back from the World Cup, back from injury, first proper game for us and transfer speculation.
Think only two players didn’t fall into at least one of those categories.
We weren’t great, we won .
The CL qualifier is obviously a worry, somehow we have to navigate it. If anyone leaves they must be replaced immediately.
In a few weeks there could be as many as four or five different starters from last nights team.
Chairbhoy 👍
I’m knackered just reading your response. 🙃 We could do with a few more in the current Celtic squad having your work ethic! 🤜💥
Two at the back CHAIRBHOY 😂
I thought AJ s body language & waving to the fans tells us he is off soon
I enjoyed the game. We were decent and clearly deserved to win, Dundee did well until the final third where they offered little.
Interesting the Huns have supposedly bid for the Frosinone winger after Martin’s public comments. Are they trying to push the price up for us? Is it even true and the agent or club are trying to inflate the price? Or are they seriously instigating a bidding war with us?
Always enjoy reading others favourite eleven.
Invariably as the team ends up with three or four extra players as they can’t make their mind up.
Me included.
The Battered Bunnet on 4th August 2026 10:46 am
Auldheid
You were watching the same game as me last night by the looks of it. It will never catch on.
I’ve reflected long and hard at trying to make sense of how Celtic go about their xfer business
I have arrived at 5 possibilities.
1 Apart from CL income the other source of income apart from that set out in (shhhh) FSR, is profit on player sales. To keep the wage wheel keep on turning the lower the buy price the higher the sell price the greater the profit which goes into the SCR calculation to offset the cost of buying new players.
That cash generated helps sustainability but it stays in Celtic’s account not DDs.
2. There has been an accumulative underspend each season on players wages that FSR limits. This provides rainy day money so that there is no need to sell AJ or Engels (for whom anything over his buy price is a good deal). If they go it will be for as high a price as possible to negotiate in order to make a profit to maintain current wage levels.
3. Perhaps the price of ambition is not worth the risk so Celtic are ok with EL level of competition. I have yet to see a price of ambition quoted that does not start with a £40m CL reward as the start line and no mention of cost.
4. In spite of higher income over recent years Celtic’s wage bill and Rangers have been close which suggests Celtic do not want the SPFL were they are successful becoming shooty in.
5. The system that was functional if CL performance is the barometer, ceased to be last summer and why is subject of a debate which generates more heat than light.
In short I haven’t an effin clue, just like everyone else but happy to hear the thoughts of others . :)
I doubt the truth of an eight million bid by the hun.
Either the sellers trying to get north of eight million from us by creating a fear of losing him to the hun or the hun have bid just over six million and this has been inflated by msm to make the Huns look good.
notthebus on 4th August 2026 12:21 pm
Optimistic view, Paul.
The keeper is a worry. He pulled off a very good save to ensure we got all three points, but his use of the ball, from both his hands and feet, is as bad as I’ve seen. For Celtic, it’s critical that we turn defence into attack with speed and accuracy. This guy will never do that.
I saw the other way round. Many times he was looking for someone who had taken up space for an attack and he had no options.
Borgo67 @ 12:39 pm,
Truth…
There could be some high scoring games…
…………………………Boruc
……..McGrain – McNeill – Burns
Jinky – Lubo – Murdoch – McClair – Lennox
……………..Dalglish – Henrik
Hail Hail
Burnley78/Chairbhoy, sorry to disappoint you both, but I get Larsson as you both spelt his name incorrectly!
Forster
McGrain VVD Aitken KT
Burns Broonie Petrov Thompson
Larsson McClair
My god that was tough, and I can’t believe some of the fantastic players I’ve left out. If you asked me tomorrow I could come up with an equally incredible team with eleven different players!
From last blog “sack the board”
We could hear clearly several “ sack the board “ chants from the ultras are of the ground during a period of the second half where Celtic seemed to be labouring a bit.
However the chants weren’t taken up by the rest of the ground so probably less noticeable to people who weren’t actually at the game but watching on tv or listening to commentary.
PLB,
The Huns have been interested for a while.They have seen our £ 6 million knocked back,and thought that they could up the bid,get the player and gazump us.Big win for them.
Sadly,I think this shows his club want upwards of £10 million to even come to the table.They sound serious.
We would not be interested,well,at least not until we sell..Another of MONs wants,shelved.He now 2ants cover for KT.We had Sarrachi,but he did not get him
Is it any wonder he is off at the end of the season.?.
We really need an injection of something new. Atmosphere not great and it won’t take much to descend into last year.
Best eleven:
Boruc
McGrain
Gemmel
Connelly
McNeil
Murdoch
McStay
Dalglish
Jinky
Larsson
Lennox
McGregor the best player on the park. His fitness levels are off the scale. A magnificent player.
KT, Trusty and CCV good.
Hogh. Don’t play to the crowd. You are here on business. Put the ball in the back of the net.
Engles. Time to move on. Plays it safe because when he tries something it doesn’t come off.
Auldheid, you’ve overlooked one further possibility… That they’re just not very good at it. It’s a problem of competence. The people responsible for our activities in this area are simply inept.
I think Brother Ockham would go with this one.
Good three points from a group of players, some of whom are short of fitness, some with moves on their minds, some just in the door, and some short of confidence.
Yang carried on from his showing against Hearts where he lacked the confidence to take his man on and unsure who to cover in his defensive duties. He had a few great tackles to retrieve possession.
The two new boys, one of them barely in the door, are still trying to adapt to their new surroundings and deserve time. It was great to see Carter Vickers back as he brings a level of calmness with him.
Unless new players arrive we will be found out in Europe and possibly even domestically.
I’m of the opinion that Engels and Johnston will be sold before anyone is bought. How we have arrived at this situation beggers belief.
Perhaps someone can enlighten me: are the Board’s bonuses based on business figures or playing success?
It seems to me that to justify their bonuses, on top of their handsome wages, the business itself needs to turn a profit and to now turn that profit all valuable assets are being sold regardless of how poor the playing squad becomes.
This is the conundrum we are juggling with: we won’t commit cash to possibly return more profit but will weaken the team to generate profit. The bonus structure needs altered where 70% of any bonus is based on Champions League qualification. That may focus minds on the Board.
The lack of creativity in this Celtic team is shocking.
Tounekti is a richer version of Mikey Johnstone: jink, jink, cut back while Balikwishy can’t even get in a match day squad. We have no one who will drive at players and commit them and no one who can take a ball on the half turn. The amount of times last night players could have turned with the ball but instead chose to play the ball back to the central defender was alarming.
We have been reduced to a workman like team by shoddy recruitment by people who seem more intent on the bottom line that progressing the playing squad. These same people continually drive us to a weak bargaining position by selling players before buying replacements when deadlines are looming. They then end up overpaying for players who the struggle.
The people charged with recruitment and delivering what the manager and playing squad require are simply not up to the job. How many transfer windows need to pass before they are relieved of these duties.
GGHS
Good that the Edward song with ‘add ons’ gained zero traction outside the standing area. It is a dirge anyway and no help to the team. That aside the North Curve were positive imo last night. A really good anti far right banner at start of second half.
Bigchipsuk
It is so difficult. Now got a totally different team in mind already.
Turkeybhoy
Clearly if the papers and the guys agent say rangers have bid £8m then it must be true.
If anyone believes that they bid £8M for the winger from Frosinone, then please contact me as i have the winning lottery numbers for tomorrows draw for sale for a £1k.
GGH,
Do you honestly think tthe Ultras will give up with these clowns running the club?Maybe the rest of the support are prepared to give them yet another chance,but that will soon change if they maintain this snails pace in the Transfer Window.God forbid we go out of the CL once again,but that would surely be the fuse lit for the majority of the support.
With the manager already telling us,he wont carry on next year,thats not a great message for the fans.On the field disaster will put many over the top..After last season,many would have thought this unthinkable.
But there you go,too many underestimate the heights of folly this Board can accomplish.
Ten Men
You mean that agents and media might not be truthful ?
The Battered Bunnet on 4th August 2026 1:00 pm
Auldheid, you’ve overlooked one further possibility… That they’re just not very good at it. It’s a problem of competence. The people responsible for our activities in this area are simply inept.
I think Brother Ockham would go with this one.
====================
I didn’t want to sound condescending :)
😂😂😂
Burnley,
Frosinone rejected the bid.End of story.You dont reject a bid,that was never made.People mocking forget that mob paid £ 10 million for their striker last season to Everton.Maybe Everton were in on the lie.I would’ nt know.
Would seem rather unlikely,as would Frosinone being in on the same lie this time around.
I am really more worried about what your Darlings on our Board are willing to spend.Some think,like yourself,that mocking Hun bids somehow makes us look good.
It does’nt.
garygillespieshamstring on 4th August 2026 12:53 pm
From last blog “sack the board”
We could hear clearly several “ sack the board “ chants from the ultras are of the ground during a period of the second half where Celtic seemed to be labouring a bit.
However the chants weren’t taken up by the rest of the ground so probably less noticeable to people who weren’t actually at the game but watching on tv or listening to commentary.
I was in the main stand and they didn’t register with me.
One scuffed half chance,one stick out a foot and try to divert a shot going wide one gettig in front of the defender,from a cross to put narrowly past.Great attempt.
Not really a disaster from Hogh,but can do better.
Looks like i’ve got a buyer for those lottery numbers….
On a slight deviation from the theme I had to dig deep to find a goalkeeper for this line up of ‘Mc…’ players that have been on Celtic’s books during my years of attending games, though Michael McGovern never actually took part in a competitive match, remaining firmly planted on the bench or out on loan throughout his five years at the club.
Could this lot McHammer the opposition?
McGovern
McGrain McAdam McManus McNamara
McGeady McGregor McStay McCourt
McClair McGarvey