A return to a back four!
Araujo, Scales, Hatate & Tounekti in from the start. O’Neill prefers Maeda upfront given the lack of alternatives. Kenny scored a few goals in his last spell but was more often out of the side as time went past. As expected he’s retained Schmeichel too.
Schmeichel;
Araujo, Trusty, Scales, Tierney;
Engels, McGregor, Hatate;
Yang, Maeda, Tounekti.
Will Ferry starts for the Arabs.
I’d have preferred Kenny over Tounetki but no real complaints. Looking forward to seeing Araujo instead of Ralston.
Hatate fortunate to start but think there’s been a general amnesty for the last game.
Yyyyyaaaannnnnggggggvv
Brilliant recovery from Scales there after Trusty had been too casual.
85% possession and completely dominant but they’ve had two chances out of the blue.
Eeeeeeennngggeeeellllllssssss
That’s a great team goal
Well that was an improvement.
Still some defensive issues there. Possibly partly related to the switch from 3 to 4 at the back. The full backs have come too narrow a couple of times and left men over - though not sure our defensive cover in the middle has been there throughout.
Wingers and midfield have been excellent and completely bossed the game.
That was a good first half. Two very well worked goals & sharp, incisive passing against a defensive set up. Scales’ block after Trusty’s mistake was very important.
Two nice assists from Scales and Tierney. We looked comfortable up until Trusty had his brain fart, needs Scales or anyone to cover him all the time, something Nancy couldn’t see.
Should be looking to boost the gd here a bit
They’re really trying to box us in with long balls. Their keeper is launching his kicks from a couple or yards outside his box. Think they’re expecting Schmeichel to be rooted to his line and want Scales and Trusty trying to win headers at the edge of their own box so they can pin us back deep in our half. Weird decision from Walsh to penalise Maeda when he was a few yards outside their box. Keeper had loads of room to kick it.
Remember this time last year Yang went on a run of goals & assists after looking well off the standard before that? His season kind of petered out after that but I wondered then if he could kick on this season after Kuhn left. It looked like he was leaving in August & was a bit part player under Rodgers…but he came onto a game under O’Neill, was one of the only bright sparks under the headbanger (albeit being played as a wing back) & this has been another promising half. Now offering goals & assists quite regularly, but needs to keep it up.
He did brilliantly tracking back there. He’s had a terrific game.
Maeda playing and missing at everything now. He’ll edge one soon surely.
Nnnnnnyyyyggrrreeennnn
Can’t get to see this, but christ… the players mustn’t have listened to Nancy whatsoever.
That was the sort of chance which suits Nygren, ie. one where he didn’t have to move.
Some players need to be told exactly what to do and no more , especially the limited players Celtic have .
Mmmmaaeeeddaaaa
No celebration there from Maeda. Does that mean he’s leaving?
Could be. But he’s just a bit like that anyway.
It was almost like an anti-celebration.