Celtic: in general. – 10/02/2026
A brief look back, and ahead.
This will probably be quite boring. A re-hash of many things you’ll have read on here and various other Celtic pages, ad nauseum for the best part of a year now. Celtic are not very good, and this was maybe them at their worst. They won though, snatching the necessary draw to force extra time, in the last few seconds of the game.
A last-minute goal of importance is never not fun. It’s the best thing in football and better than many things out with it as well. That split second of euphoric rapture, is a release unmatched. In that respect, let’s just try enjoying it, if we’re still capable of such a thing.
Not to speak on anyone’s behalf but enjoying Celtic seems like a real challenge for anyone at the minute, me included. The constant waring with the club has predictably become inverted and the culture war, and division have started.
I didn’t go to the game, it would be convenient for me to say I was boycotting but, left to my own devices, I might well have ended up there. I will be there on Wednesday night. Strangely, despite everything, I’m still excited at the thought of it.
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The football specifically – how novel – was drab, non-descript, a weird sort of unmeasured tactical lack of tactics. The most concerning pattern for me is the amount of possession that Celtic seem willing to give up. The average passes made in game are down roughly 30% from that of the last four winning seasons. While the idea of being more direct, is understandable, conceding the ball so often is not. There is a corelation here, but it has swung too far: from the Uber possession of Ange and Rodgers to a complete disregard of its importance. Over 129 minutes on Saturday, Celtic mustered 55% of possession. Bizarre.
There was something almost abstract about Falkirk and Dundee, receiving such a share of the ball. So often, these teams fight tooth and nail for a touch, only to cough it up once they win it. That’s caused by fatigue from chasing it. Both these teams enjoyed not just spells of the ball, but periods of sustained control. It’s majorly concerning. Added to similar concessions made against Utrecht, then it makes for a strange trend.
Having a 6ft 5 striker lends itself to the idea, that it’s by design.
Those were the days.
In a very general sense, the level of player plying their trade at Celtic has regressed rapidly. During the game I found my mind wandering to our very recent history. This team is screaming out for the intelligence and poise of a Matt O’Riley or the explosive 1 v 1 ability of Nicolas Kuhn. His impact for me, is the most distinct difference between this season and last. The ability to smoke his full back and curl the ball in the corner, put many a point on the board – domestically and in the Champions Leagues. Even the chaos inducing, churn milk into butter type industry of Daizen Maeda has been sorely absent to this point.
The days ahead.
If you came here looking for reassurance, you’re in the wrong place. It’s going to be nerve-shredding.
The game at Pittodrie has now been rescheduled for Wednesday 4th March. An arbitrary date in isolation but it has made a tough period, look like a monumental 10 days. A potential event horizon for the season.
It is sandwiched between a trip to Ibrox on Sunday 1st and another trip to Ibrox in the cup on Saturday 7th. Trips to Stuttgart, Pittodrie and Ibrox twice, in the space of 10 days. This hellish run is bookended by home games against Hibs and Motherwell in the league. What could possibly go wrong? What could possibly go right?
Thers’s work to do before we can worry about that. We need to keep our end of the bargain up.
Theres potential for both Hearts and Rangers to drop points this midweek, while we have the relative comfort of Livingston at home. The other two contenders then square off at Ibrox on Sunday, whilst we go away to Kilmarnock. By this time next week, there’s a good chance the table looks different. At which point we’ll be heading into the last 11 league games. Aka squeaky bum time.
What we don’t know is how good Rangers and Hearts will handle the run in?
Neither Danny Rohl, or McInnes – or their players – will have found themselves in such a scrutinised, high-pressure environment before. We obviously remain focused on Celtic’s problems, but neither of those teams, have been over the course before. Tip toeing on the brink and spinning plates, is a skill, that is learned not given. Rohl’s plaudits have been of the “most improved” player variety, in the sense that, it was not hard to make Rangers competent or simply better. Clement done this but when push turned to shove, he fell at the final few hurdles.
McInnes foaming at the mouth and running to confront our bench, speaks to the emotional wreck, we are already familiar with. Trying to build a siege mentality may help some, but it’s got a bit of the Kevin Keegan’s about it.
Much like Kevin, I would love it we beat them.
I’m looking far into the future here but having both Hearts and Rangers at home in the split, provides us with an opportunity to take the reins, at just the right time. It’s something to hang onto.
Seb.
Sebastian Touunetki’s impact was tangible on Saturday – for once.
With all eyes on him he stood up his fullback; a sure-fire pre-cursor to one of football’s lovely little subplots: the brinkmanship of winger vs fullback. This is a statement of intent; a gauntlet being thrown down.
Bradley Halliday had a fine game on Saturday but on this occasion, he got ghosted by the Tunisian; left looking arthritic as the winger chopped outside him, towards the byline. The toughest test of all awaited, the delivery. A sharp, collective intake of breath is drawn by the crowd before he swings his left foot. At this point, there is no margin for error; it either finds a teammate and is converted, or it is a moment of inadequacy and Celtic go out the cup.
Thankfully, Tounetki found the poise that has often deserted him this season. More importantly he found a striker. The cross was perfect; zipped along the floor inside the corridor of jeopardy. Adamu did not run onto it but towards it, producing a deft back heel to steer the ball towards the bottom corner. Parkhead – just over a third full – erupted.
The winger was not done yet. A smart one-two with Luke McCowan and a lashed finish in the bottom corner gave Celtic the win in extra time, bringing an end to a fraught evening at Parkhead.
There is plenty room for heroes in this current side, the talisman position is vacant and in general, it is a team crying out for someone to show themselves as special.
A confident and more effective Tounetki – who undoubtedly has ability – would be a both welcome and timely.
Next up.
Tomorrow night we play Livingston(H) in the league. As good an opportunity as any to manage the squad and continue to integrate the new signings. AOC might get a run-out and ideally, we’ll see a performance with a bit more verve and creativity. Ears will be tuned to Fir Park and there’s a chance we get one of those lovely moments, when good news filters round the ground, and we head home happy and optimistic.
Fingers crossed.