Author: David Faulds

Brendan Rodgers described Tomoki Iwata as a cover player in his Celtic squad but promised the Japanese holding midfielder that there is always an opportunity to force his way into his team at Celtic. Tomoki’s main barrier to that happening is of course the competition for places within the squad and he’s up against Celtic captain Callum McGregor in that holding ‘no.6’ role in the current Celtic side. Of course McGregor, who is currently on the sidelines with an injury issue, can play further forward in the advanced midfield role that is his more natural position. Celtic v St. Johnstone…

Former Celtic manager Ronny Deila has today been sacked after his controversial, and frankly ill-advised switch from Standard Liege to Club Brugge turned sour. The Norwegian lasted just ten months at Brugge. But he has endured a nightmare season in charge of the biggest club in Belgium. Branded as a traitor He was branded as a traitor by furious Standard supporters after his move to Club Brugge last summer. Now amid poor results and performances the ex-Celtic gaffer paid the price with his job. Brugge today pointed to “disappointing results and level of play” that has seen them slip to…

Celtic forward Daizen Maeda is away on international duty with Japan this week. And in his first sit-down with the press back in his homeland he’s tried to explain the burning question in Japanese football. Why has he ditch the ‘baldy heed’ to instead grow his hair? Takumi Minamino Daizen revealed that the change in hair style has nothing to do with style, fashion or football but is instead an instruction from his daughter. She apparently is no fan of her dad’s shaved head signature look! Instead wants Daizen to grow his hair so that he can look like his…

Tash Flint scored both Celtic goals during a dominant Celtic performance to inflict a first domestic defeat of the season on Jo Potter’s side. The Goal Machine The Goal Machine was feared by theRangers Women last season when she was on loan from Leicester City and they must have been delighted when her good form in the Hoops came to the attention of Liverpool and they snapped her up from right under the noses of Celtic. Sadiku’s tremendous opportunity But given the strength of the women’s game south of the border, Flint struggled for game-time and a second loan move…

Has the recent VAR controversies at Tynecastle and elsewhere across the Scottish game, caused the first head to roll? It certainly looks that way with the announcement today that Scotland’s head of referees Crawford Allan is to leave his post at the end of the season. Pursue new opportunities The Scottish FA is now conducting a review of the role in light of ongoing VAR controversies, with the game’s governing body saying that Allan, who has been in the role for four years, is leaving “to pursue new opportunities”. “VAR processes need to improve” The chief executive at the Scottish…

Nicolas Kuhn is beginning to look like a bargain buy for Brendan Rodgers. The Celtic manager sanctioned the £3m deal that brought the German winger to Celtic in the January transfer window. Things initially got off to a decent start for Kuhn at Celtic. He came off the bench on his debut at Pittodrie to score Celtic’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Aberdeen. Looked out of sorts But from then until last weekend’s Scottish Cup quarter final against Livingston at Celtic Park, he has looked out of sorts. The Celtic manager reckons that this was caused by weight loss…

Paying £25m for a sensational footballer is only really sensible if you then go onto play the player in question. Otherwise people will start to think that you’ve got more money than sense. Maybe the powers that be at mega-rich Saudi side Al-Ittihad will be a little embarrassed, or perhaps somewhat surprised but certainly delighted to see their investment from last June starting to pay dividends. Former Celtic hero Jota The former Celtic hero Jota is now getting some game-time at Al-Ittihad and is showing his new club plenty of signs that they should be playing him on a regular…

Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi certainly looked more like his old self on Saturday.  The striker was restored to the starting line-up by Brendan Rodgers for the Scottish Premiership match against St Johnstone at Celtic Park. Goalscoring exploits It’s hardly surprising that Kyogo’s goalscoring exploits have been somewhat subdued this season.  That can be attributed to two factors, firstly the absence of Reo Hatate.  The midfield maestro always exceptional at linking up with his countryman and Kyogo usually does the rest when he is given the service. Indifferent form And secondly the indifferent form of Celtic wingers this season seems to…

Celtic FC Women match-winner Tash Flint was understanding feeling good after her first half double gave the Hoops a Beautiful Sunday over at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie this afternoon. Natasha Flint le tadhal dha Celtic anns na chiad mhionaidean den gheama!Flint with an early goal for Celtic! pic.twitter.com/dKtEyIZOPQ— BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) March 17, 2024 The loan signing of the Goal Machine from Liverpool was a master-stroke in the January transfer window from Celtic, particularly as it happened as we changed managers from Fran Alonso to Elena Sadiku. Celtic have the firepower And with a front three of Kit Loferski,…

Celtic certainly put on a show yesterday against St Johnstone at Celtic Park and so too did the North Curve where the Green Brigade’s St Patrick’s Day Tribute was stunning. This evening they released a few photographs which we can show you now… “North Curve Celtic St. Patrick’s day tifo, defying current restrictions on tifos at Celtic Park.” North Curve Celtic St. Patrick’s day tifo, defying current restrictions on tifos at Celtic Park. pic.twitter.com/LPU5wguc7k — North Curve Celtic (@NCCeltic) March 17, 2024

Celtic posted this teaser post on their social media channels earlier today, suggesting a summer tour to the United States and Ireland is on the cards. Goal Machine Our attention today has been focused on Elena Sadiku’s Celtic FC Women side turning St Patrick’s Day into a Beautiful Sunday with a 2-1 win over theRangers. Two goals from the Goal Machine Tash Flint gave us the three points and now it’s a three way title fight in the SWPL1. But what about this summer tour to America and Ireland? Well the place we looked for details was over on the…

Celtic FC Women 2-1 theRangers Women – Tash Flint double sets up tight SWPL1 title race… Celtic FC Women manager Elena Sadiku got her first taste of victory over theRangers this afternoon as a Tash Flint first half double was enough to earn Celtic the three points and in doing so they have reduced theRangers lead to just one point. Natasha Flint le tadhal dha Celtic anns na chiad mhionaidean den gheama! Flint with an early goal for Celtic! pic.twitter.com/dKtEyIZOPQ — BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) March 17, 2024 Celtic’s superior goal difference And Glasgow City took advantage of theRangers losing for…

Brendan Rodgers was certainly well pleased with his side’s performance at Celtic Park yesterday afternoon in the 3-1 win over St Johnstone. And the Celtic boss will now take full advantage of the international break to strengthen his squad by reducing drastically the injury list. That will see a much stronger Celtic side going into the title run-in. James Forrest scores during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and St. Johnstone FC at Celtic Park  on March 16, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Veteran super-sub  Speaking to Celtic TV after the victory the manager also praised Nicolas Kuhn…

Make no mistake, the Rangers will be delighted by Dundee postponement. If you’re looking for a game to watch there’s Celtic FC Women v theRangers on BBC Alba at 4pm… I wasn’t holding out for much hope of a Dundee upset today, but with theRangers a bit leg weary after their midweek excursions and on a plough field of a pitch you just never knew. Waterlogged pitch  BREAKING 🚨: Dundee 🆚 Rangers has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch 🌧️ pic.twitter.com/o9UUe5gmC7— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 17, 2024 But fortunately for them the elements came to their aid as…

Celtic reclaimed top spot in the Premiership table –  after sweeping St Johnstone aside with a 3-1 scoreline that hugely flatters the visitors. Celtic celebrated St Patrick’s weekend in their own way, including of course releasing an adidas range of clothing. St Patrick’s Day celebrations The Green Brigade opted for colour, song and a history lesson for the stadium to enjoy. There was also a Palestine flag in there too and was that an Israel flag in the away end displayed at the kick-off? Celtic started slowly but picked up the pace as the first half progressed.  It was 1-0…

Bosun Lawal’s outstanding season at Fleetwood Town continues to attract significant interest in the Celtic central defender come midfielder who is set to return to Lennoxtown at the end of the season. And the Ireland U21 defender is, despite interest from around England, fully focused on making the breakthrough at Celtic next season. Fleetwood hero Lawal has become a Fleetwood hero netting three goals in recent weeks and turning into a real leader in the team playing more recently in an advanced midfield role. Speaking to Irish Independent Bosun made his intentions clear as he eyed a first team opportunity…

Celtic will be without six key players for today’s visit from St Johnstone to Celtic Park in the final Scottish Premiership match before the international break. Usually these breaks are dreaded by a Celtic support that seldom has as much passion and engagement in international football compared to watching Celtic, but this time it’s something of a relief. Celtic’s Medical team  This will allow Brendan Rodgers and the medical team at Lennoxtown to work their magic and hopefully clear up our injury woes for the title run in and also the defence of the Scottish Cup. https://youtu.be/0rCUFDI5HTY?feature=shared Following on from…

Chris Sutton reckons that Matt O’Riley should be cut some slack from those who are complaining about the Danish international going off the boil somewhat since the short winter break. Huge burden to carry The former Celtic striker dismisses the theory that the Atletico Madrid bid for his services in the January transfer window that was rejected by Celtic, has somehow unsettled the former MK Dons midfielder. He reminds the Celtic support this morning that O’Riley is a young player and this season through various circumstances, he’s been given a huge burden to carry in the Celtic engine room alongside…

Greg Taylor, who was named in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad this week, was asked about the anticipation of playing for his country at Euro2024 at today’s media conference at Lennoxtown. While the focus remains on the task at hand, which is winning the three points against St Johnstone at Celtic Park tomorrow, Taylor is understandably excited about the prospect of heading to Germany this summer to represent his country if he is selected. Brilliant text message  Later in his media conference he was asked about that text message and the Celtic left-back remembered he’d still got it on his mobile.…

Our Exclusive interview with Caitlin Hayes, Celtic FC Women’s inspirational defender ahead of the St Patrick’s Day Glasgow Derby against theRangers in the SWPL1… https://youtu.be/fldJLp1oI8Y?feature=shared Celtic Shorts spoke to both Elena Sadiku and Caitlin Hayes yesterday ahead of Celtic FC Women’s  huge match this Sunday against theRangers in the SWPL1. It’s the first match of the post-split fixtures and a Celtic victory will narrow the gap to just one point, heating up the title race considerably.  We started with the manager’s interview earlier today and now we’ll covering what Caitlin Hayes, the Ireland International defender had to say to…