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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GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 2ND FEBRUARY 2026 5:21 PM
If we were better run we’d be able to accept that bid and get in a player closer to what we need. When was our last good ball-carrier? Rogic? Could maybe make a case for Mooy, but he wasn’t with us very long and you’re still going back three years.
________________________________________
Bingo!
3 bids don’t come in unless Forrest have spoken with Engels agent in terms of willingness.
Just listening to a Sky News story about Ronaldo not being happy with his club not getting new players in. They said he is 0n 550,000 euros a day, 200 million a year. Mindblowing.
We’ve got the easy part of the model right with Arne (although he hasn’t brought in any profit yet).
The tough work is doing it in enough numbers to fill the team with the sort of players who can help us compete in Europe (which didn’t happen even with Arne) and still be able to sell one or two a season for big profits.
We stopped thinking about it over two years ago and we’re reaping what we sowed today.
I don’t think we’ll get another offer as big for him in the Summer.
BhoyjoeBelfast
Thanks, I wish I was around to see it (12 years before I was born) although it was just great when I was growing up to say “my da played for Celtic” :) It was a short career but he played alongside some of the best of that era. Ian Lochhead was his name. Hail Hail!!
Wonder if Pistol Pete is on the blower to MN. “Get the 25 million up front son and close the deal. That will offset the fall in European revenue for this season. “
It’s all very well knowing who the opposition was when Celtic first played under their new floodlights back in 1959, but who on here knows the opposition when Celtic unveiled the even more impressive Big Pete’s Disco Lights? And what else was memorable about that unforgettable evening…?
DrummingToTheBigPeteBeatCSC
BSR
Yeah. One day…………
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 2ND FEBRUARY 2026 5:21 PM
If we were better run we’d be able to accept that bid and get in a player closer to what we need.
If we had been better run they’d already be in the door and gave games under his belt already
No amount of well-runness can magic up a suitable player whos club will sell in January without the opportunity to replace them and who will want to come to Scotland in the 24 hours between the first bid and now.
Sky Sports have just said we told Forest “no” because we told them we didnt have time to find a replacement.
This is how horrendous our board are at managing a plan or dare I say a strategy, they even screwed up their own objective of selling players for a healthy profit. Any reasonable plan for the January window should have created an opportunity to manage an exit like Arne Engels.
Of all the things that have happened this season this one will sicken them the most.
Luke McCowan is Engels replacement…….starts tomorrow
LIAMCELTIC1888
In one of my scrapbooks I have a photo of your father playing against Stirling Albion on a very mucky surface.
SMALL WORLD CSC
Lawwell coming out of retirement, to run Engels to the airport…
Luke McCowan should be Arne Engels replacement.
bournesouprecipe on 2nd February 2026 5:21 pm
An excellent post. Thanks.
That was the Wolves team that the English press named the best in the world, especially after they beat the Honved team of Puskas etc. The French and Spanish got fed up with it and thus began the European Cup. We won that before any English team. Glory days.
https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/sport/brentfordfc/25818741.brentford-defender-arthur-set-join-celtic-loan/
Not played a game this season
Although Brendan seemed to think Nygren was, so who knows?
Or Bernardo?
Bhoyjoebelfast
Very small world. All the pictures that I have the pitches back then look more like a muddy field than grass pitch.
Benjamin Arthur now in talks to join us.
CELT55
HEAR! HEAR! ….and ‘they’ will never get over it….and should be reminded as long as possible.
Brentford youth who is on verge of first team. 20 years old, About 6ft 3 and their under 21 player of the year.
HOT SMOKED on 2ND FEBRUARY 2026 5:48 PM
Commenters furiously scrolling backwards to look for my first ever excellent post 👍
I’d sell Engels as long as we got him on loan until the season ends and used the funds for the team. Not sure which of them is less likely.
Dont think NF would agree as they are in a predicament this season and he may not be as valuable to them in the summer.
Rumours are we are sounding out Hibs for Miguel Chaiwa if Engels is sold.
Liam
Wonderful memories.
Hibs boy injured yesterday
Mulligan is out for another 6 weeks too
Engels is on a hiding to nothing if he stays. He’ll be reminded in every game that he underperforms in we should have punted him when we had the chance. Such reminders will of course be shouted politely from the stands with no intent to upset him.
Welcome to Celtic
Junior Adamu ☘️
Welcome Junior Adamu ✍️ – View now in the Celtic FC App – https://celticfc.shar.estori.es/go/d8f23077-17e6-4b86-1c6b-3a1f2ff93b96/0aa8b1a1-856e-0dba-d5a6-3a1f30dd2d86
And mama used to say “Take your time, young man!”
As I mentioned earlier Chaiwa is in the frame, he did go off injured yesterday, but was an eye injury so nothing remotely seriuos. Good player hope we do deal, por cierto
Adambu gets the number 9 jersey.
THE BADA BING on 2ND FEBRUARY 2026 6:05 PM
You’ve got to love it when we get our business done early.
Welcome junior
https://x.com/i/status/2018385175361847370
HH
Not sure loan deals should get numbers 1-11 personally. However if he scores like a 9 I will be happy.
The under 21 guy from Brentford seems to be really well rated apparently. Not sure he will get much game time mind you.