The games are coming thick and fast at the moment but enjoy it will you can, very much like these two Celtic supporters brilliantly captured by Ian MacNicol at our recent match against Falkirk at Celtic Park…
The reason it’s happening is that FIFA in their wisdom have decided to combine two international breaks this autumn into one long one.
Effectively that means that after Celtic take on the Rangers at Paradise on Sunday 20 September we’ll have to wait until THREE WEEKS before the Bhoys are back in action with an away trip to Fir Park to take to Motherwell.
Feast to famine so far as Celtic matches are concerned
So next up for Celtic is St Johnstone away on Wednesday night. Martin O’Neill takes his exciting Celtic side to McDiarmid Park and the Championship winners on their return to the top flight of Scottish football have confirmed that Celtic supporters will occupy three stands for this match.
Sharp contrast to St Mirren opting for empty seatsÂ
That’s in contrast to St Mirren on Saturday evening who continue to opt for empty seats rather than fill their stadium but of course it’s their decision to make.
Earlier today the Scottish FA confirmed that match officials for the St Johnstone v Celtic match which will be shown live on Sky Sports, with an 8pm kick-off. Â You can’t imagine that the match officials for this game can be any worse than the shambles at the weekend as Celtic had two goals incorrectly ruled out and were denied a clear penalty kick for a blatant push in the back on Liam Scales.
Liam Scales pen a stonewaller: Keep your eye on Henry Fieldson & ul see it (not Paul Nsio as I wrongly did 1st time, who was protecting his space). Fieldson sees Scales getting head on ball so huge push on the back at last mo. St Mirren given 2 goal start in 1st half by SFA pic.twitter.com/4DDbjytPFk
— The Global Tablet of Jurisprudence (@gtj1247) September 6, 2026
Matthew MacDermid next up with the whistleÂ
Matthew MacDermid has been appointed as the referee for the match at McDiarmid Park. He will be assisted by Ross Macleod and David Dunne while Dan McFarlane will be the fourth official.
On VAR this time we will have Grant Irvine in charge assisted by Duncan Williams.
Thoughts on Celtic team newsÂ
Martin O’Neill was hopefully on Friday afternoon that both Kasper Hogh and Kieran Tierney could return to the squad for Wednesday night’s trip to Perth. If that is the case you would imagine that both would be on the bench.
Yang was a worthy Man of the Match at the weekend but has now left on international duty and will miss the action over the next few weeks. It will be that trip to Fir Park before he’s back and that is clearly a real blow for Celtic.
Sebastian Tounekti is often ineffectiveÂ
The manager will have some thinking to do regarding how his front three set up and in particular who will get the nod in Yang’s absence on the left wing. The options are Sebastian Tounekti who is often ineffectual or James Forrest, who usually plays well against St Johnstone.
Martin may well fancy giving 18 year old Shim Mheuka his first start for the Hoops after impressing coming off the bench in the wins over Aberdeen and St Mirren. That could see Duran playing wide left.
Bring back the OX
The middle of the park remains Celtic’s weakest link this season and perhaps the experience and class of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be in the manager’s thoughts after the former England international dropped to the bench for the match in Paisley after starring against Aberdeen.
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1 Comment
Certainly MoN has plenty to consider, regarding the prospect of 4 matches in 12 days, starting Wednesday?
Complicated even moreso with the start of our europa league campaign, in-between 2 Glasgow Derby.
So Wednesday is potentially the last game available, to get playing time, along with maybe rest time for some players? Before the intensity of matches really increases imo?
So plenty for MoN to consider,
Within our upcoming programme of matches?
Of course it would be brilliant to have Tierney and Hogh available again, but just how many minutes could we expect from them, within such a schedule?
So is such a risk, required on Wednesday regarding Tierney and Hogh?
Could young Hatton be considered also, with yang and jota unavailable?
Could MoN even consider changing shape on Wednesday, to say a 3421?
Where it might be easier to get game time into his midfield options, by going within 2 attacking midfielder?
So despite players missing, MoN has still plenty available for Wednesday, and options available, which we struggled badly with last season, when key players were unavailable?
Still think team selection for Wednesday, could well be determined by the visit to the toxic shithole at the weekend imo?
A game where our youngsters, would have never experienced such a toxic environment, within there careers to date?
Getting some game time into
Lotomba on Wednesday, could be very important with such a schedule in place imo?
Even de burg might be considered also for game time on Wednesday?
But it’s easy for ourselves to think, that showing up on Wednesday, is all that’s required to walk away with the 3 points?
Understandable really, while on such a winning run of victories at present.
Certainly MoN won’t be thinking along the same lines, despite the amount of consideration that has to be given, within his decision making process for Wednesday and the upcoming footballing schedule in place imo?