Celtic

Tino
Fan writer

The thing bothering me most about Celtic right now - well, apart from the defeats and the three wins in 10 - is that I'm struggling to work out what this team is actually meant to be.

For years, through different managers and squads, there were certain things you always associated with Celtic. Intensity. Control. Aggression. Playing on the front foot. Making teams uncomfortable.

And at the moment too much of that has disappeared.

Yes, there have been a few good results. There has been flashes of exciting attacking play and even a couple of occasions when Celtic have blown teams away.

But too often lately the overall picture has felt disconnected.

The midfield hasn't controlled games consistently, the defence has been particularly vulnerable, the press hasn't always looked coordinated.

And in too many games Celtic have seemed to be waiting for one player to produce something special rather than imposing themselves on the opposition.

That's the part I find most concerning. Because defeats happen, bad runs happen, and even very good Celtic teams have had poor afternoons.

But usually even during those spells you could still see what the team was trying to be. I'm not sure we can say that now.

And that's why the conversation has become bigger than just one defeat at Falkirk, one bad European performance or even one bad managerial decision.

Celtic need a clear identity again. Do they want to dominate possession? Press aggressively? Play with pace? Control games through midfield?

Ideally you'd want elements of all those things.

Instead we're seeing flashes of each without any of them becoming a consistent feature of the team. And maybe that's why performances have felt so Jekyll and Hyde lately.

There is talent in this squad. Plenty of it. We've got players capable of producing brilliant moments.

But Celtic need to start looking like a team again rather than a collection of individuals waiting for something to happen.

That's the real challenge now. Not simply winning the next game - which will be tricky enough against Besiktas - but rediscovering what Celtic are supposed to look like every week.

Whether Martin O'Neill and his coaches can actually implement that is another question entirely. And increasingly, I'm not sure they have the answer.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

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Celtic fan grievances will be "taken on board and learned from", says chairman Brian Wilson, after the board and manager Martin O'Neill faced "hard but fair" questioning at a supporters' club meeting.

Around 120 fans from six supporters' clubs attended the meeting in Greenock on Monday night and raised issues including recruitment, transfer policy, communications and the club's ambitions and strategy.

O'Neill and Wilson were joined by chief executive Michael Nicholson, chief financial officer Chris McKay and other club officials in a two-and-a-half-hour question and answer session.

Celtic are four points clear at the top of the Premiership, having played a game more than Rangers, but have won just three of their past 10 games in all competitions, losing six. Having failed to reach the Champions League, O'Neill's side are second bottom of the Europa League with zero points from a possible nine.

"We were grateful to the Greenock Celtic Supporters' Club for hosting this event in a way that allowed everyone to make their points, many of them critical, and to ask searching questions which we did our best to answer," said Wilson.

"We didn't expect an easy ride and didn't get one, but the meeting was conducted in a constructive and mutually respectful way and the messages delivered by supporters will be taken on board and learned from."

O'Neill acknowledged supporter frustration amid a "difficult few weeks" but insists his "resolve and the commitment of the players is as strong as ever to continue to bring success and progress to the club".

Celtic say progress on the club's new engagement initiative, Celtic Connect, and further fans forums will be announced soon.

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Colby Donovan understands Celtic fans' frustration but has stressed the need for unity after another turbulent week.

Celtic have dropped five points in two games, with supporters reacting angrily to players and coaching staff after Sunday's 2-0 loss at Falkirk.

Martin O'Neill' side remain four points clear at the top of the Premiership but have now played a game more than Rangers.

The Green Brigade are boycotting the Europa League game against Besiktas on Thursday in protest at the club's board and divisions are prominent again after an amnesty during the nine-match winning streak that sealed the double in May.

But right-back Donovan said: "We all stick together. We had a tough time last year as well, probably worse than this, but the boys just stick together, even the staff as well. We just try and keep giving the same message and I'm sure it'll click.

"Last year it was a tough time for the club and everyone knows that. We came through that with flying colours, we went on to win a double, so I'm sure nothing changes.

"We're the same group of boys here, there's still a good core group from last year, so I'm sure it'll click for us.

"It's never a great feeling when you see your fans like that, but that's how Celtic fans are.

"We don't pick up wins, it's the same. We've seen it at home the other night. The message is that we all just need to stick together.

"You see in the (fixtures after the) split last year when the fans are on our side and they give us noise, it's like a 12th man.

"When they turn on us it's not great, we just need them all together.

"I know what it's like to look in from a fan's perspective. It's not great, you want your club to win every game. When we can't deliver for them, it's not going to be all happy. The fans are going to be upset.

"But it's just trying to get that message across to them that we need them."

Given his background as a Celtic fan, Donovan feels the pain as much as anyone.

"It's tough, it's never easy to lose a football game," he said. "When you lose games like this, it's such a big club. As it's your boyhood club, it does take a big toll on you.

"I look round the changing room and all the boys are the same, none of us want to get beat. Nobody turns on each other, we stick together and go on to the next one."

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Celtic are among a host of clubs to have scouted BK Hacken midfielder Abdoulaye Doumbia, with Everton, Sunderland also watching the 19-year-old. (Africa Foot - in French, external)

Portuguese clubs Torreense, who will face Celtic in the Europa League, have sacked manager Luis Tralhao. (Scottish Sun, external)

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Celtic principal shareholder Dermot Desmond has been urged to face questions and address concerns at the club's annual general meeting by a prominent fans' group.

The Celtic Fans Collective say this year's event will focus on "scrutiny rather than protest" after former chairman Peter Lawwell abandoned the meeting last year.

That came after a noisy reaction to a statement being read out by Ross Desmond, Dermot's son.

Celtic supporters have continued to demand change among the hierarchy amid struggles in the transfer market and European football.

A statement from the Celtic Fans Collective read: "For 20 years, Dermot Desmond has not attended Celtic's annual general meeting, despite wielding considerable influence over the direction and decision-making of our club.

"Although only a minority shareholder, Desmond appears to exercise influence far beyond his shareholding. With that influence comes a responsibility to be accountable.

"We call on Dermot Desmond to publicly commit to attending the 2026 AGM in person and answer questions about his role in the running of Celtic.

"Sending his son, another representative or a prepared statement in his place is no substitute for attending personally.

"The decision by Peter Lawwell to prematurely conclude last year's AGM left a clear impression among supporters that the board had taken an opportunity to avoid scrutiny. Responsibility for how that meeting was conducted and ultimately concluded rests entirely with the board.

"This year, however, the focus must be firmly on scrutiny rather than protest.

"There is a clear understanding across the support that the AGM must provide the opportunity for important questions to be put directly to those running the club, without allowing scrutiny to be evaded once again.

"Celtic supporters have repeatedly sought meaningful dialogue and a more constructive relationship with the club.

"At a time when fans want to see decisive leadership, a public commitment from Dermot Desmond to attend the AGM in good faith would be an important demonstration of his willingness to engage directly with supporters and shareholders."

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Besiktas were left lamenting their poor away form as they let a two-goal lead slip in a 2-2 draw with Kasimpasa in the Turkish Super Lig before visiting Celtic in the Europa League on Thursday.

Vincenzo Italiano's side have won two and lost four of their latest seven games on the road, leaving right-back Amir Murillo to lament: "We are strong at home, but we have to improve in away games.

"We are disappointed. After going 2-0 up, we didn't do what we needed to do. We could have scored more goals, but we lost our rhythm."

Italiano concurred, adding: "I think we relaxed too much after going 2-0 up.

"We had the three points in our grasp yet ended up dropping two points due to lack of concentration."

The draw leaves Besiktas in fourth place, six points behind leaders Galatasaray and two ahead of Sunday's hosts, having now only won once in four games overall.

However, they sit eighth in the Europa League after wins over Marseille and Hoffenheim were followed by a 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace.

Two former Rangers players had contrasting nights against Kasimpasa.

Left-back Ridvan Yilmaz played a clever through ball for former Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Leandro Trossard to slot the opening goal after 28 minutes, with both players prominent throughout.

However, winger Vaslav Cerny missed one good first-half chance before going off at half-time.

Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic's close-range strike increased the lead just after the break, but Kasimpasa right-back Claudio Winck's back-post header reduced arrears on the hour mark before midfielder Marcus Rafferty ghosted in to nod the 87th-minute leveller.

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Chris Sutton has called on his former manager Martin O'Neill to be forthright with his Celtic selections and stick to the same plan going forward.

A sixth defeat in 10 matches, suffered at Falkirk on Sunday, has intensified scrutiny, with Sutton among those asking questions.

The former striker, who enjoyed great success under O'Neill during the veteran manager's first spell at Celtic in the early 2000s, says his former boss' team selections are "a lottery".

Sutton has regularly voiced his concerns about Celtic's midfield but says the problems run far deeper, delivering a scathing post-match assessment.

"They've got massive problems in midfield, but it's not just there," he said on Sky Sports.

"The goalkeeping situation seems to be a real mess. Sam Johnstone doesn't really excite or inspire me. Liam Scales is dribbling out from the back thinking he's Baresi. He's not.

"We know how lightweight they are and what they lack in midfield, both athletically and physically. And then the two strikers [Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh] have been signed, but Martin can't play them together.

"Why can't he play them together? Because he can't play 4-4-2 because the midfielders aren't athletic enough to do that.

"Martin needs to be forthright about the way forward and how he's going to play, and stick to one thing."

We asked for your views after Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic slumped to a disappointing defeat at Falkirk.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Jack: Being top of the league means absolutely nothing at the minute. We've struggled against Hibs, St Johnstone, St Mirren, Falkirk and Dundee - teams accounting for more than half of our league wins. We're still top because our challengers are a poor Rangers side, but we won't be for long if things continue as they are.

Danny: Summed up in one word - embarrassing! Can't defend. Can't beat the first man at set-pieces most of the time. Callum McGregor is not a leader on the pitch. Constantly pointing to players to pass sideways and backwards. No heart, no plan and no conviction!

Joe: Not for the first time this season, Celtic have enjoyed overwhelming possession and had plenty of shots at goal, only to come away with nothing. The problem is clear: the strikers are badly misfiring. Except against Hearts.

Christine: Not even angry any more... Unimaginable, even this time last year, that I should feel such apathy towards my lifelong club. This dreadful football, no strategy, no tactics... from the boardroom to the pitch. An all-time low.

Johnnie: It pains me to say it, but Martin O'Neill and his backroom staff have to go. There is enough talent in that squad to dominate domestic football and perform better in Europe, but whatever is happening off the field and at the training centre clearly isn't working and doesn't look like changing under this management. Thanks, Martin, for everything, but it's time to do the right thing and step down.

John: Testing times, but I think we will come good. After such a poor run, the teams below us will still be just one point behind us. Every team will have a bad spell over the season. Let's hope this is ours. Keep the faith in the team.

Watch Falkirk beat Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic and make it four wins in a row (UK only).

Falkirk earned a stunning first victory over an abject Celtic in 19 years to move up to fourth place in the Scottish Premiership.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Celtic manager Martin O'Neill: "Naturally disappointed. We lost the game. Tough old match for us. We conceded some poor goals from our viewpoint and naturally one so very, very early on in the game but we created enough chances to have won three games.

"I do believe that we should tighten up defensively and I think that we should be looking at some clean sheets, definitely.

"Today, I thought we played some really decent stuff as well too on the surface and I thought we created a lot of chances, we just didn't take one of them.

"[Scott Bain] was absolutely magnificent. He made some stops that I'm not so sure that that many goalkeepers would've got to. On the day, he was fantastic.

"I don't know whether [supporters] are angry. Every single time that Celtic lose a game, people can be angry and frustrated. Every single time that we lose game, we come under scrutiny and so we should because this is it, the club is used to winning.

"It's a long season, it's a long season ahead. This time last year, we were in a worse position.

"Why would you not change the team? Because we have an abundance of games. We're playing European football. We're trying to hold the Scottish flag up at the end of it all, so we have to change. It's hard for the same players to play every single week."

Martin O'Neill insists frozen-out midfielder Luke McCowan can still have a Celtic future. (Scottish Sun), external

Celtic will be forced into a league fixture switch after Rangers beat Aberdeen to reach next month's League Cup final. (Scottish Sun), external

Haissem Hassan is determined to eliminate doubts about his end product by racking up goals and assists in a Celtic shirt. (Daily Record), external

Read Sunday's Scottish football gossip

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Dane Murray admits he is playing "catch up" after the academy graduate lost two years of his Celtic career to injury.

The 23-year-old centre-back had a "stunted" youth development with two serious knee injuries costing him important game time.

Murray made his sixth consecutive start in the 2-2 Scottish Premiership draw with Dundee United on Wednesday night but said of his injuries, Murray said: "It stunted it a bit.

"I think I was 18 the first time and then came back, did my rehab, and then 19, done it again. So I missed two years.

"I think they're probably really important, vital years for a footballer.

"So, from that perspective, it was like just trying to play catch-up, almost.

"But I think I just try and really focus on where I am just now. And just try and play as many games as possible.

"You can't really dwell on the past. You can get caught up in a lot of it. I think it's really just trying to now just focus on the present."

Murray is grateful to Celtic for keeping faith in him.

"Trying to string a number of appearances together, it's just everything, just trying to learn as much as I can," he added. "Just learning on the job, really."

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Falkirk have forward Ethan Laidlaw pushing for a comeback, but Aodhan Doherty, Joe Gardner and Keelan Adams remain out.

Celtic remain without Alistair Johnston, Yang Hyun-jun and Auston Trusty.

Former Celtic recruitment chief Mark Lawwell has returned to frontline football as Chelsea's senior scout working within their first-team scouting and recruitment department. (Scottish Sun, external)

Former Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk has been cleared of misconduct allegations over allegations of a conflict of interest over son Sydney's switch from Breda to Estrela da Amadora on a free transfer. (The Herald, external)

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Sunday's Premiership game at Falkirk (13:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines:

• O'Neill is in "total agreement" with Callum McGregor after the captain said Celtic lack a "a nailed-down profile" for attacking positions, with strikers often deployed out wide, leading to a lack of control and "basketball" games.

• The Celtic boss adds: "I totally agree that Callum Osmand is actually really a centre forward. He probably would play off somebody strong alongside him, I'm not so sure he could lead the line on his own. And that Camilo Duran is really a centre forward, so the players are getting to know each other, it's as simple as that. I'm in total agreement with Callum. We'll sort it out, we seem to be doing okay domestically, trying to sort it out."

• O'Neill says players being used out of position wasn't a "big issue" when Osmand impressed as a half-time substitute against Benfica.

• He later insists Celtic are "doing fine" and says: "Don't try and throw a lot of divides in at the end of the day."

• He adds: "A lot of lads here that we have didn't even do pre-season with us. A number of players came in quite late on, so it will take time for us. So we need to hang in there, and at this minute I think we're hanging in."

• Assessing the first round of games, O'Neill is "really pleased" with Celtic's domestic form, but their four-point lead is "nothing at all at this stage of the season".

• On the chance to go seven points clear on Sunday, O'Neill is braced for a difficult test against a Falkirk side who are now "flying" after a slow start.

• Auston Trusty is unavailable on Sunday as he returns to the US for a family matter.

• Falkirk have lost 17 of their past 19 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D2), including their latest 10 in a row - they have never lost this fixture 11 times in a row.

• Camilo Duran leads the Scottish Premiership this season for both goals (7) and goal involvements (12) and could become the youngest Celtic player to score in five successive league games since Odsonne Edouard in February 2021 (23 years 29 days).

• Celtic have only lost one of their past 26 league games against Falkirk (W22 D3), a 1-0 defeat in March 2007.

• Falkirk have won two of their past three home league games (L1), as many as in their previous nine games (W2 L7) and could win successive such matches for the first time since January/February last season.

• Celtic have won eight successive away league games, one more than in their previous 15 games on the road in the league (W7 D3 L5).

Callum McGregor believes the return of Celtic "difference maker" Jota can be crucial for the club this season.

The 27-year-old winger, working towards full fitness after an 18-month injury lay-off, came off the bench for the fourth time this season on Wednesday night and swung in the cross for Liam Scales to head the equaliser against Dundee United.

Captain McGregor was pleased to see Jota make such an important contribution and is certain there is more to follow.

"Obviously, he's a top player, he has been for us over a couple of spells and great to see him back," the midfielder said.

"He's a real talent and certainly someone who makes us better. We can give him the ball and he can do special things with it.

"So, hopefully we keep him fit. He's enjoying being back and we're enjoying having him back.

"He's one of these guys that loves playing football, loves being on the ball, loves making things happen.

"So again, when you've got a player like him, you try to serve him the ball as much as you can.

"He can be the difference maker for you in tight games."

McGregor also backed striker Kasper Hogh, who was replaced by Jota at the break having failed to find the net again, albeit he assisted Camilo Duran for his close-range opener.

McGregor said: "Obviously he can score goals. He's scored goals at a really high level as well.

"So we have to respect that and it's the same thing. It's trying to make the game more consistent for guys like him, the strikers, the wingers, that we can get them in the most effective areas.

"Sometimes you just need a goal to hit off you and then the floodgates open.

"He's come in with a big price tag. There's obviously a lot of expectation, but it's our job to protect him as well and make the game as easy as it can be for him so that he can get his goals. So yeah, we're all in it together.

"We're working hard with him and we back him to get goals."