Martin O’Neill has one big dilemma for Sunday’s trip to Ibrox in the Premier Sports Cup. Does he give the gloves to Viljami Sinisalo or Sam Johnstone?
Martin O’Neill chose to go with on loan goalkeeper Sam Johnstone for last night’s win in Perth over St Johnstone, and the former English international impressed the manager and supporters alike with a commanding and assured display as he registered a clean sheet on his first start for the club.
Sam Johnstone impresses on his Celtic debut
Sam is a highly experienced and talented keeper, as he showed throughout the 90 plus minutes at McDiarmid Park as the Hoops made it six wins out of six in the Scottish Premiership thanks to a Mika Baur strike early in the second half.
The Germany under 21 international will naturally take the plaudits after grabbing the winning goal, his first for the club, but credit should also go to the big Englishman as he produced a terrific display between the sticks in what proved, as expected, to be a tricky away fixture.
Johnstone made a stunning save to deny Saints the lead
Although not being severely tested due to Celtic’s dominance in proceedings, Sam was alert when he needed to be, producing a stunning first half stop to deny the home side taking the lead.
It wasn’t just his shot stopping skills that impressed, it was his overall commanding performance, as he looked calm and composed, showcasing all his years of experience as he looked a secure figure behind a vulnerable looking Celtic defence which was without first pick performer Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kieran Tierney.
Food for thought for Martin O’Neill
Sam Johnstone’s impressive display has certainly gave his manager some much needed food for thought going into a vital run of games over the next ten days.
Martin O’Neill now has a tough decision in regard to selecting a goalkeeper for the Premier Sports Cup quarter final at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon.
Will the Celtic manager go with Viljami Sinisalo who has done little wrong since stepping in to replace Kasper Schmeichel at the end of last season, or will he opt for the experience and assurance of Sam Johnstone?
Sinisalo perhaps could have done better at the recent Falkirk goal at Celtic Park and he was perhaps at fault for two of the five goals Celtic conceded in Linz in the Champions League playoff disaster against LASK. With the Europa League campaign beginning next midweek, Martin O’Neill may have it in his mind that he needs an experienced keeper between the sticks.
However Johnstone has no idea what he’s walking into at Ibrox, especially as it will be wall-to-wall Rangers fans at the game. Sinisalo has played well in a number of games at Ibrox and even did Michael Nicholson’s job after one, calling out the throwing of objects into his penalty area by the home support.
James McFadden reckons that Sam Johnstone is the new Celtic No.1
James McFadden on Sky Sports last night was adamant that Sam Johnstone will now be the first choice Celtic goalkeeper until the end of the season, after the decision by Martin O’Neill to make the swap last night. He may well be right but we are unlikely to know for sure until the Celtic team is announced on Sunday.
It’s a difficult decision for the veteran Irishman, but he’s the main man, and it’s his choice to make.
Sunday’s starting XI will be interesting for sure with hopefully Cameron Carter-Vickers returning alongside Camilo Duran and Benjamin Nygren.
And a word about the Ox
Perhaps Alex Oxlade Chamberlain sitting out the two away matches against St Mirren and St Johnstone was with these Glasgow Derby matches in mind. Remember he will serve his third and final UEFA ban in midweek against Ferencvaros.
Martin O’Neill may well see him as the perfect midfielder to play at Ibrox alongside Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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1 Comment
Was very surprised that Johnstone got the keeper position ahead of Sinisalo last night?
Justified the decision with such an outstanding save in the first half, which could well have made for a different outcome on the result last night?
So personally believe that decision could well have been made, between our keeper options for Sunday imo?
On the bigger picture, we already know, that MoN is leaving the overall defensive set up, for any incoming manager to decide upon imo?
Sinisalo will be 4 years into his 5 year contract?
No news upon Ralston and a new contract?
AJ still expected to leave at some point also, whether that might be in January, could still be in the offering?
Along with a couple of loan signings also?
So wouldn’t class our defensive set up as stable with the longer term in mind?
But potentially a defensive set up, that will pick itself, if fully fit for the season ahead, especially within our bigger matches imo?
With so many injury concerns within our best available defensive set up, the rotational policy, will be possibly used moreso this season?
Than managers really want to do, where stability is what a manager really wants, especially as subs really don’t want to be used defensively in order to change the course of a match imo? Moreso in order to seeing a game out.
Still believe that we have enough defensively for our season ahead, even if it’s not totally convincing at present imo?
Hardly helps matters defensively, without the stability factor, not able to have been formed yet this season to date imo?