After the fright we got at the Falkirk Stadium last month there was significant trepidation ahead of yesterday’s game. The newly-promoted side who exited the League Cup after a 4-1 defeat at Celtic Park in August have grown in stature and look certain for a top six finish.
For all that Falkirk put into this game, they did not have the players to make the clinical difference. For that quality, Celtic turned to Tomas Cvancara and Benjamin Nygren. As every football fans knows, a new striker needs to get off the mark early. Otherwise, he is cursed with “XX games without a goal” references. Cvancara’s contribution at Tynecastle a week earlier gave Celtic the lead. His deft header in the first half against Falkirk turned a low-probability chance into a welcome lead.
You and I discuss Benji Nygren regularly. If we win anything this season, it will be significantly due to the goals he has scored and created. There is an expectation when he lines up a shot which does not exist with any other Celtic player.
Man of the Match yesterday deservedly went to Julian Araujo. He successfully linked with Yang in the first half and even-more so with James Forrest in the second. Martin O’Neill can reflect that our win was largely due to the value of our two January signings.
A point in yesterday’s officials. Like the referee, I didn’t see the two-handed push on Daizen Maeda which moved him into the way of Araujo’s shot. Sebastian Tounetki scored with the rebound.
As a consequence of an attacking player being fouled inside the penalty box, he was adjudged to be offside and a goal was disallowed. It is scenarios like this which VAR was intended to deal with. That VAR confirmed the offside is inexplicable.
Let’s hope for a busy evening!
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Just another manic Monday, aye!
I agree
“Let’s hope for a busy evening!”
A busy afternoon would be preferential.
Here’s hoping our expectations are exceeded for once.
See verona have just sacked their manager. Spending 6 million on Bowie clearly didn’t buy him a stay of execution.
February is the new January…….
Deniabhoy
Bowie – what say a summer return to the huns?
:-)
HH
That’s crazy. Sacking the guy a matter of days after spending 6 or 7m.
End of last blog I posted some thoughts on Engels,and what he brings to the team.
Just read Sandmans Ratings,always brilliant,and he says the same,probably better.
Saying when Engels went off Falkirk ran the show for the last 20.Sorely missed,especially by Calmac when he is not there.
Verona have won 2, drawn 8 and lost 13 games this season. They are bottom of Serie A and likely to be in serie B next season. They got beat 4-0 at the weekend by Cagliari.
What’s amazing is that they bought Bowie knowing they were about to sack the manager.
Wonder what their fans think of their board.
Timmy 7,
Not the manager that bought him.It was the CEO,the owner,Michael Nicholo’s,son.
See wit ah did ther.
TB,
I agree re Engles.
Unfortunately in the pub after the game I was outnumbered by about 5 to 1.
Chris Sutton ‘s disgraceful comments didn’t help.
HH.
Happy St. Joan de Lestonnac Day! Ave Ave
Petition:
One Celtic. Back our Board, our Manager, and Players.
https://c.org/nngJCmRNcC
Engels probably covers more ground than anyone
I’d imagine with really good players around him he’d blossom
Having said that ….anything over 20 million is a no brainer…unfortunately we’d replace with a 1-2: million punt
Interesting point about Maeda being pushed.
It was actually a double whammy as the push initially led to him blocking a goalbound shot – and then being deemed to be offside as part of the subsequent goal scored by Tounetki.
Either the goal should stand or Celtic should have had a penalty.
The Engels situation has brought some unforeseen spice to the day’s proceedings.
I am on record as saying that (IMHO) we don’t have a midfield worthy of the name. It’s practically non-existent and my heart’s in my mouth anytime we try to play football in the middle of the pitch. More often than not we can’t win 50/50s, let alone second balls.
I’m not placing all the “blame” on Engels, but I’ll be absolutely delighted if we can get 20m for him and sign a replacement today.
If what we’ve seen so far is a fully motivated Engels, imagine what a demotivated Engels who has downed tools looks like.
That Maeda decision was the latest disgrace… and glossed over on Sportscene as “a funny one”.
10.5 hours to go. Haven’t seen any rumours of an experienced CH coming in which surprises me. Are we going to keep Welsh?
Tick, Tock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqo8Oug43vI
Brightened up a dull day
Mulligan from Hibs could be an option if we sell Engels
I am not suggesting Watson at Kilmarnock is a replacement for Engels, but were we not supposed to be interested in him a few weeks back? Was supposed to be up there with Lennon Miller as a future Scotland star. Apparently Kilmarnock have just said no to Bolton who offered 500k for him. Out of contract this summer.
So we paid 11m for a flop who other clubs are wiling to pay even more for. There’s one in the eye for all the detractors. The anti Rodgers brigade ridiculed the Engels Idah and trusty signings. Well count how many games they have played between them. And we still made a profit from that trading window. Signing the three of them did us no harm whatsoever. Unlike the decision to revert to type in the summer which cost us a multi trophy winning manager and kicked off a season of utter chaos.
Bada Bing
Fair point re Mulligan
Sadly I think Hibs might face fan revolt if they sold Mulligan and Bowie in same window.
Personally I prefer Mulligan of the 2. I also think it could good business if we do it and we get a guy who knows our league well.
Still no rumours of a center back or defensive midfielder – for me we win nothing if we don’t solve those glaring issues.
Identified by MON and every pundit in Scotland , against physical teams we are bullied.
I’m not a fan of Engels although I admire his work rate and professionalism. 20m would be an absolute bargain as I thought we’d lose money on him. But typical Celtic have no proactive plan in place.
If we rely on nygren defensive duties we are winning nada.
Hoop Hoop
£20m for him would be good business.
IF we have someone lined up.
Burnley78 on 2nd February 2026 12:53 pm
Hoop Hoop
£20m for him would be good business.
IF we have someone lined up.
Comedy gold… if we have some lined up…..so funny…
Most are obsessed with incomings.
But who’s heading out on the Deadwood train? Bali, Paulo, Reo, Johnny, and
Elsewhere in blogland, one Celtic site just broke this pearler of breaking news…
‘After having two bids for Arne Engels rejected Nottingham Forest are being linked with a move for Hayden Hackney of Nottingham Forest.’
IBlameRaSkools CSC
I hope the Engels bid will now put an end to the accusation that BR wasted millions on his summer 2024 trio.
A functioning Club, would of course be able to sell Yang, Maeda and Engels and move swiftly to bring in long identified replacements.
However, it’s Celtic, so Engels will need to wait.
Arne Engels IS a quality player no doubt, but for some unknown reason he doesn’t fit at Celtic, why I know not.
Take the money, get Malwanhise in, I’d be happy with that
kingLUBO
Elijah Just is the midfielder I’d be taking a closer look at
The Battered Bunnet
Yes , but the question is …..
could we sell Elijah at a prophet ?
Lennon Miller not settled in Italy seemingly…..🤔
There seems to be consensus (even that delicate wee soul Celtic40Me) that selling Engels for a large profit would make perfect sense/ align with the model… on condition we bring in a decent replacement for less money.
Can Nicholson make it happen? If yes, kudos. If not, hell to pay if he sells without a replacement. And that would just be from MO’N.
As for others leaving, I would be perfectly happy to sell this version of Hatate. Welsh deserves to return to Motherwell and I would put Kenny out on loan to a St Mirren – a good SPFL team crying out for a decent SPFL forward. He has potential as a Celtic player and such a move would suit him much better than sitting as 4th choice for the rest of the season. Win-win-win.
Bada
Lennon Miller would be perfect replacement for Engels.
PLB
Don’t disagree with much of your post apart from the obligatory abuse of another poster.
“Could we sell Elijah at a prophet?” Excellent!!!
Thanks Burnley, makes sense.
Just responding in kind to earlier thread and was really quite gentle… You’re given to a wee bit of abuse yourself I’ve noticed!
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 2ND FEBRUARY 2026 1:21 PM
There seems to be consensus (even that delicate wee soul Celtic40Me) that selling Engels for a large profit would make perfect sense/ align with the model… on condition we bring in a decent replacement for less money.
Sorry to pull you up but you’re misrepresenting what I said to set up another attack on MN.
But fair play for making the effort to make your post more readable than usual.
Sleekit moves on the officiating front.
Dickinson for rangers v Killie
McLean / Beaton combo for Hertz at St M
Robertson for us at the Pen