What a heroic week in stoppage time at Celtic to maintain this season alive – Martin O’Neill’s magic nonetheless continues.
The query stays: what would have occurred to this workforce if Wilfried Nancy’s disastrous tenure had been prevented? O’Neill gained 14 of his 17 video games in cost throughout that point, shedding only one within the Europa League.
They continue to be six factors away from Hearts within the Premiership summit conflict, however with video games in hand, the champions are nonetheless firmly within the desk and ready for a chance to pounce if Hearts falter within the coming weeks.
It must be stated that Celtic are removed from their finest kind in the intervening time, however issues are slowly however certainly beginning to fall into place with the membership’s January enterprise increase giving this workforce a distinct complexion after such a summer season of misguided spending.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is undoubtedly a participant to look at, and the Englishman’s begin to life at Parkhead could not have been higher, and he might very nicely characteristic in O’Neill’s finest eleven going ahead.
Celtic’s finest beginning lineup after January
Regardless of lacking key figures equivalent to Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnstone, Glasgow have new depth, with the Northern Irishman blessed with two, if not three, choices in each place.
The skilled Kasper Schmeichel, who begins behind the squad, stays O’Neill’s man even after his apparent errors like in Derby, whereas it is arduous to miss the centre-back pairing of Auston Trusty and Liam Scales in entrance of him.
At full-back, Kieran Tierney wears the left jersey, and on the best, January mortgage signing Julian Araujo has firmly outpaced Anthony Ralston as the principle man in Johnston’s absence, though Marcelo Saracchi was shut behind after the sport at Livingston.
In the meantime, on the high finish of the pitch, Tomas Kvankala and Junior Adam seem like in a head-to-head battle for the quantity 9 spot, with the latter already off the mark after making his backheel debut in opposition to Dundee on the weekend.
Whichever of those two strikers is signed, it’s probably that Daenen Maeda and Sebastian Tunekuti can be flanked in the meanwhile, with the Tunisian winger scoring three objectives and offering an help in his final appearances.
Predict Celtic’s finest eleven after January | |
|---|---|
place | participant |
GK | Schmeichel |
R.B. | Araujo |
C.B. | trustee |
C.B. | steadiness |
lb | Tierney |
CM | oxlade chamberlain |
CM | mcgregor |
R.M. | Maeda |
morning | Nygren |
LM | Tunekti |
ST | Adam |
In the meantime, Celtic’s high scorer Benjamin Nygren will proceed to drag the strings at quantity 10, with the ever-present Callum McGregor sure to begin orchestrating deep midfield.
Maybe the most important battle will hinge on who will accomplice McGregor transferring ahead within the coronary heart of the park, with an excessive amount of competitors more likely to show notably detrimental to the star’s future round Parkhead.
Forgotten Celtic participant mustn’t begin once more after Livingstone’s absence
Arne Engels’ early withdrawal because of harm gave Reo Hatate the chance to carry out nicely in his place in opposition to Livi, with hopes of regaining a daily position within the midfield trio.
As dangerous as the usual bearer: O’Neill should take off Celtic star who made six passes in opposition to Livi
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain grew to become Celtic’s hero on Wednesday night time and Reo Hatate nearly grew to become their villain.
Frustratingly, the 28-year-old was once more with out the ball in his 60-minute look, bringing down Robbie Muirhead contained in the field as one other energetic efficiency from the Japan worldwide continued.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s spectacular stoppage-time purpose and emergence as a second-half substitute might give the midfield pecking order a distinct really feel, with the skilled Englishman lined up as the ultimate piece of the puzzle, health allowing.
Paulo Bernardo wasn’t even talked about on the time, however the Portuguese’s omission from the match-day squad is additional proof of his declining standing underneath O’Neill.
The 24-year-old was given an opportunity to impress in Saturday’s Scottish Cup recreation in opposition to Dundee, however didn’t take it in stride as Celtic’s early struggles noticed him despatched off at half-time together with new signing Joel Mvuka.
There have lengthy been requires Bernardo to be given an opportunity, however this 45-minute efficiency offered perception into why he has remained on the periphery, having up to now didn’t blossom underneath Brendan Rodgers.
The truth is, he performed in 82 video games underneath Rodgers, however solely began 36 of them, and since then has began simply 4 video games in the course of the years underneath Nancy and O’Neal.
As with the case of Balikwisha, who has been largely ignored by all three Celtic managers this season, the query arises as to why each supervisor would come to the identical conclusion about Bernardo and favor a spread of different choices in entrance of him.
With Oxlade-Chamberlain arriving and already bettering, the depth in midfield means Bernardo’s longevity at Celtic Park is numbered after he made simply seven Premiership appearances all season.
It will be an actual shock to see the previous Benfica man chosen from the beginning XI once more for the rest of the season, regardless of the Hoops competing on three fronts after the catastrophe in opposition to Dundee on the weekend, and his no-goal/help report in 17 video games throughout all competitions in 2025/26 says all of it.
Bernardo, now in his third season in Scottish soccer, is unfortunately among the many gamers who had the possibility however missed it.
This summer season needs to be a time for change for all involved.
Parkhead flop should not play for Celtic once more after Oxlade and Chamberlain signing
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was unveiled in entrance of Celtic supporters on Saturday night time.
