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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A bit anyway
Celtic keeper Tobi Oluwayemi is set to join Leyton Orient on loan.
Waiting for our best development players to attract a big enough offer to make a sale worthwhile then trying to sign a like for like replacement in the final hours of a transfer window is an absolute mugs game.
“Pep, you got any young CHs that need more game time and European experience?”
“You mean like Simpson-Pusey? sling your hook”
MO’N plays Engels every game . That’s good enough for me . Keep .
Why sell when we have 3 games every 8 days for the next 2 months.
We aren’t exactly skint . The idea of having a ready made replacement, means you haven’t been paying attention to how we do the player trading business.
Feck the glorious balance sheet. The value of Engels won’t recede between now , and the summer.
Wise up . HH
Paul67 & Tim Malone Will Tell (12.31pm), I commented on that last night within the wider context of our lack of “cuteness”, something which our main challengers and opponents appear to be much better at than us.
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/celtic-v-falkirk-live-updates-4/comment-page-11/#comment-4059138
“IMHO we need a “cuteness” coach.
Hearts managed to get their opponents reduced to 10 men for a DU player obeying the laws of physics – by Leonard planting his foot where Fatah’s foot was destined by momentum and gravity to land. VAR then had the simple task of decreeing a foul challenge and advising the dismissal.
Then Braga engineered a penalty from what was really little more than a collision between two players. Strain planted his leg to block the ball, and Braga then did a drag back and his momentum carried him into the defender… but he made sure that he moved sideways so that he went over Strain’s trailing leg, barely in the penalty area. It was very clever by Braga and Kyziridis was happy to reap the reward from the spot.
In Celtic’s game today we had a goal disallowed after a Falkirk defender pushed Maeda into an offside position in the goalmouth, where an initial shot struck him (denying a goal), and when the ball was eventually put into the net, Maeda was ruled offside.
Had Maeda gone to ground when he was pushed, it is difficult to see how the officials could have failed to award Celtic a penalty kick.
Sadly our players aren’t as d̶i̶s̶h̶o̶n̶e̶s̶t̶ cute.
There have been other incidents in recent games (including the European games) where Maeda I’m particular could have got opponents into bother, to Celtic’s advantage, but he’s just too honourable and honest!”
ANGELGABRIEL on 2ND FEBRUARY 2026 1:37 PM
I’d be trying my best to convince him but it’s easily said, not so easily done.
This might be a crucial point in his career, things change, he might not get another offer like this. He spent so much time on the bench at the start of the season I’d forgive him if he wasn’t having any chat about loyalty and how his development at Celtic is guaranteed.
Hopefully he’s a Matt O’Riley rather than a Nic Kuhn
I take it that we haven’t actually signed anyone yet – dioes the window slam shut at 7pm as in England.
We need a ball-carrying midfielder. Somebody who can get us up the park when the passing lanes are closed off.
Why is NF not interested in Raskin?
In a properly functioning football department, Arne would be sold and a replacement already sourced and ready to step in, I think that is a good offer for him. We can’t obviously as we don’t have the football department.
Gene – Scotland window shuts in about 9 hours so we can sign players that didn’t get a move during the English window :)
Gene
11pm in scotland
Brighton agree deal to take MoR back.
Cause if he played in the premier like he does in at the ringers he would be yellow / red most games ?
Or smashed which I would like to see.
Now we have a serious outbreak of near civility on here let’s hope we get some players in.
2 really good loan deals so far so hopefully a wee bit more positive movement in the offing and we can all feel better.
What happened to the Chermitti money?
DENIABHOY on 2ND FEBRUARY 2026 1:37 PM
“Pep, you got any young CHs that need more game time and European experience?”
“You mean like Simpson-Pusey? sling your hook”
I’d definitely be asking City about Kalvin Phillips who looks like he’s going to the championship on loan
leftclicktic, DeniaBhoy
Thanks
Transfer windows can obviously cause all sorts of emotions. I remember at the end of the summer thinking r2ngers had made a good signing in Miovski, that he would score plenty for them. Now they think he’s a donkey and a waste of money.
Dont think,as Celtic40 Me does,that any effort is needed to make an attack on Nicholson.In fact,it is now seeming like an act of cruelty.Picking on someone who is” Not right”as yer Mammy used to say.
So,I shall refrain from calling out Nicholson,and instead,sit back and admire the mans,
indefatigabilty,in his quest to be the biggest Buttplug on the planet.
Paul67 et al
“….significant trepidation ahead” of playing Falkirk yesterday? By and from you perhaps Paul, not from this poster, or indeed anyone else on this site most of whom predicted a victory. From my perspective, that we had already beaten them three (count em) times previously this season, twice under Martin & Co. Still had to earn it though, and did just about enough to do so. That said, we have the paradox, of having a half decent midfield, which gets outplayed by Motherwell & Falkirk, and overpowered by Hearts. The one positive I will take from the Maeda offside fiasco, is Tounetki’s awareness and finish at the time. As others have pointed out, one for the VAR folks you would think, but you would think wrong.
Celtic40me,
Calvin Phillips,nah,his music is not what it was.
jkjkjh
Have not seen the boy play,but a Canadian International,Niko Sigur of Hadjuk Split was desperate to sign.Teammate of AJs,18 caps,holding midfielder,around £3.5 million.
That was last week.as far as I know,just checked he has not gone anywhere.
Why are we not interested,?????????????????,get rid of Hatate,Bernardo,,WHY ?.
glendalystonsils on 2nd February 2026 1:12 pm
😂😂😂
Maybe Just.
And the winner is…
“Waiting for our best development players to attract a big enough offer to make a sale worthwhile then trying to sign a like for like replacement in the final hours of a transfer window is an absolute mugs game.”
Lylle Cameron is better than Bernardo and Engels if you play LC next to CalMac in midfield NOT out wide but Central next to CM and moving LC into CM’s position once CM retires.
And, LC will transform the form of Luke McCowan in midfield and they’ll be pretty effective and tidy with the ball like they were with Dundee. Imho.
Eight hours to go. Relax. Sure the directors are having a wee afternoon nap before getting down to business which will kick in once the English window shuts in four hours time.
My Hibernian friends consider Mulligan to be the next McGinn. I think they mean John!
Celtic40Me
Wasn’t having a crack at MN in that post. A bit like Tounetki you need to work on your concentration levels.
Good move for Johnny Kenny. Will further accelerate his development.
If the two guys coming in today are at a similar level to the excellent so far Araujo and Cvancara (Shaun and Foz showing Tisdale how it’s done) it has been a very decent window. So long as we don’t lose anyone we can’t afford to lose. Attack would be well covered with Iheanacho back too and hopefully remaining fit. I’m not bothered about a JSF-type replacement for centre back. Only worth doing if the person is going to play at least some games.
Midfield remains the concern. With Hatate out of form and the absence of tackling capacity that will remain the weakest part of the team.
Have we actually confirmed Mvuka and Adamu yet?
I see rangers guy has ‘jetted in’ for a medical from his mid table german 3rd tier outfit.
Another world record for rangers in paying
More than anyone ever for a German 3rd tier player.
No mention Rostock lost 3-0 at home to 10th placed Inglestock at weekend. Their man did not contribute anything of note.
Jetted in for a medical. lol.
As if he would arrive by submarine ffs.
Burnley78 – ours are coming on a slow boat from China.
BigChipsUK on 2nd February 2026 1:44 pm
All valid points but subject to two major and perhaps fatal caveats:-
1. the willingness or otherwise of officials ( especially domestically and , as is becoming increasingly clear, where Var is or should be involved) to give us the kinds of decisions that Rangers have always gotten and , now, Hearts too. They simply wouldn’t be given in our favour to the extent those two get them – how the VAR yesterday failed to spot the Maeda incident you refer to and then allow the goal to stand or award a penalty is , to put it kindly, a mystery and
2. we’d be getting cards for simulation all day long if any of our players attempted what Hearts did at the weekend.
bognorbhoy@9.18am
Very good indeed. Bet Ged wished he could have came up with that riposte as quickly as you did. But alas, I think he comes from that Blue Peter school of posting, ergo, here’s one that I prepared earlier…which sadly precludes knowing the Celtic results in advance….
Deniabhoy
Keep the faith.
I know I know.