Celtic shrinking violets are told to leave by Rodgers if they wish to avoid pressure from Parkhead

Rodgers solely wants gamers who can cope with the heat – and each person who cannot is free to leave.

Brendan Rodgers has challenged his under-fire Celtic players to deal with Parkhead stress – or locate every other club.

The Hoops boss is up for a title hostilities with Rangers, who are now 5 factors clear at the top of the Premiership table. Rodgers, whose facet take on Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday, admits the scrutiny his crew are underneath will be like nothing they’ve faced before. But he’s told them it’s part of the deal in Glasgow and if they can’t handle it, they’re in the incorrect city.

After being eight factors clear in the title race at the turn of the year, Celtic have slipped up and allowed their Old Firm competitors to take over. They were booed off the pitch after ultimate weekend’s 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock at Parkhead. Rodgers has vowed to continue to be calm under criticism as the champions seem to get again on track – and says his players have to cope with copping flak.

The Celtic gaffer said: “I’ll be fine. For me it’s about 38 video games over a season. I’ve heard throughout my career that I’ve never had this earlier than and by no means had that before.

“That’s ordinary – however it’s not my story. If you can’t take care of pressure, specially at the biggest clubs – those aren’t the golf equipment for you. Go away, there’s lots of clubs for you the place it’s like a holiday. You play one recreation a week and there’s no drama.

“If you draw a couple of games and win eight, you’ll be held up there. But with the largest clubs, that’s section of the deal.

“You have to be capable to deal with enjoying domestic and away here. In my ride of Celtic Park, it has been an notable location to play. For gamers coming here, it’s top notch when you look on YouTube and see 60,000 fans singing You’ll Never Walk Alone or Champions League nights. But in the small print it says, by way of the way, there’s huge pressure. Deal with it.

“You have to receive that as a Celtic player. You can prepare and can create an phantasm for them of what it may be and would possibly experience like. But now not till you definitely sense it yourself and go via the process, do you sincerely recognize it.

“That’s why I have massive admiration for gamers who come here. Because the expectations are so high, as excessive as anywhere I’ve ever been in my career.

“That’s why I’m always keen to support the players and convey them thru that. Every man and his canine will criticise them now. It’s my job to help these players, specifically when a lot of them are nonetheless young.

“This is a ride for them, to come through to be a Celtic player. It’s all about time. It’s difficult for any participant or supervisor to come into a club where the expectations are clearly huge, if you’ve never felt or sensed something like that before.

“At a club like this, that comes onto you notably quickly. Then you have to get through that. So this is all part of a section of players getting used to that expectation.”

Despite their current demise, Celtic are still in contact with Rangers and have two Old Firm derbies to play earlier than the stop of the season. They’ve additionally bought a quarter-final tie at domestic to Livingston in the Scottish Cup.

That’s why – with two trophies nonetheless up for grabs – Rodgers is refusing to panic. He said: “I don’t need to remind myself that we can nonetheless win the Double, I be aware of that’s the case. To do it, you want to step up and meet the challenge.

“I can see the players are excited by using that, as we all are. This title race is going to be remarkable for the league. And we know what we have to do.”

Part Three of Welcome To Paradise, Martin

MARTIN O’NEILL stormed thru his first Premier League campaign as Celtic supervisor by guiding the team to the title with a whole of 97 points – FIFTEEN ahead of also-rans Rangers.

The Hoops, in fact, took their eye off the ball when they lost their last two league video games towards Dundee and Kilmarnock when the championship had already been received on April 7 with a Tommy Johnson purpose against St Mirren leaving O’Neill and his players to go thru the motions in the closing five video games of the league campaign.

Today, in Part Three of CQN’s EXCLUSIVE extract from Alex Gordon’s publication, ‘CELTIC: The History Bhoys‘, we appear at Six of the Best as O’Neill all-stars rampaged to the title.

Please enjoy!

YOU only get one chance to make a first impact – and Martin O’Neill’s expertise in the timing branch didn’t desert him all through his competitive introduction to existence as Celtic’s new manager.

The Irishman took his bow in front of a frenzied 11,761 supporters at a noisy Tannadice on radiant Sunday night in summer. The sun shone as his players, embellished in their gold shirts, took the area with two of O’Neill’s initial line-up making their debuts for the club, defender Joos Valgaeren and striker Chris Sutton, who had arrived at Parkhead for a combined £9.8million in switch fees.

Like O’Neill, the Belgian and the Englishman seized upon the chance to insinuate themselves with their new followers. One aspect which used to be abundantly clear from the onset of this confrontation used to be that the Parkhead performers had determined again the commitment and wish that had been absent underneath the previous regime.

O’Neill’s man-management capabilities had been one of the essential elements in the group boss’ profitable reign at Leicester City.

It took Celtic till eight minutes before the interval to get their reward against a tenacious Tayside outfit who have been decided to pull the red carpet from underneath their newly-charged opponents who had a lot to show following an embarrassing campaign that had viewed them end 21 factors adrift of Rangers in the league.

Paul Lambert and Sutton had been worried in the build-up before the ball broke to the ever-reliable Henrik Larsson and he almost casually swept a first-time left-foot effort from sixteen yards past the diving Alan Combe for the first aim in the Martin O’Neill era.

Four minutes after the turnaround, though, Dundee United have been invited returned into lawsuits when they have been introduced with an equaliser. Neil Heaney curled over a left-wing free-kick and keeper Jonathan Gould collided with Jackie McNamara as he attempted to deal with the cross.

David McCracken was once left with a vacant goal in the front of him and he keenly established the invite to thump a header into the net.

Under John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish the previous season, the players’ spirits can also have nosedived. This, however, was a different Celtic. They met the assignment square-on and, in the 66th minute, fought their way to the triumphing goal.

McNamara noticed a vicious pressure pushed away by means of the sprawling Combe. The ball rebounded to French defender Stephane Mahe and he whipped in a low cross to the again submit where debutant Sutton raced in to blast the ball into the net. Celtic have been on their way to a magical season.

TEAM: Gould; Boyd, Stubbs, Valgaeren, Mahe; McNamara, Lambert, Berkovic (sub: Johnson), Petrov; Larsson, Sutton.

HOORAY, HENRIK…Celtic’s super Swede celebrates his wonder goal in the derby romp in Paradise

CELTIC 6 RANGERS 2 (August 27, 2000)

IT WAS dubbed the Demolition Derby. It used to be the day Martin O’Neill’s renascent Celtic team exploded out of the shadows of their age-old competitors and proved they would no longer be the walkover they had been for the preceding 12 months.

It took Chris Sutton a mere FIFTY-ONE SECONDS to provide the domestic aspect the advantage in a gleefully lop-sided stumble upon that noticed the Ibrox crew mercilessly and ruthlessly uncovered whilst being demolished via a well-primed unit.

The first aim arrived earlier than the disagreement had ticked beyond a minute. Lubomir Moravcik, the little Slovakian sorcerer, despatched in a left-wing corner that used to be knocked down by way of Alan Stubbs. Henrik Larsson – of all people! – miscued smack in the front of intention and the ball ran on to Sutton, lurking with intent at the a ways post, and the striker rammed the ball domestic from two yards.

The party had began early. Astoundingly, Celtic had been three goals to the good by the eleventh minute.

Another deadball effort from Moravcik caught the Rangers defence doing a fair imitation of reveals at Madame Tussaud’s and Stiliyan Petrov raced in unattended to throw himself at the ball to furnace a header previous the dumbfounded Stefan Klos.

With the Celtic followers going crazy with joy, Paul Lambert got here onto a Moravcik omit to blast number three into the net. It used to be bedlam at Celtic Park as supervisor O’Neill bounced up and down the touchline.

There used to be a transient reprieve for the visitors when Claudio Reyna pulled one lower back with a header at the returned submit five minutes from the turnaround.

In the fiftieth minute, Larsson scored one of his memorable dreams for Celtic. Jonathan Gould punted the ball downfield and it was knocked to the Swede by way of Sutton. The svelte frontman took the omit in his stride, totally bamboozled Bert Konterman with some nifty footwork and then audaciously chipped the dumbfounded Klos from the facet of the penalty area.

AIR WE GO…Henrik Larsson’s nonchalant lob over Stefan Klos for Celtic’s fourth goal.

Five minutes later, with the action certainly pulsating, Billy Dodds slotted in a penalty-kick, however it used to be negated once more by means of Larsson as he rose to a Bobby Petta free-kick to look a header into the keeper’s top right-hand corner.

With a minute to go, Stephane Mahe flashed over a go from the left and Sutton completed what he had commenced by way of sliding in to touch the ball over the line for quantity six.

Amid the chaos and the carnage suffered by using the Ibrox side, manager Dick Advocaat stated sportingly: “Quite simply, we have to provide the credit to Celtic. The scoreline doesn’t lie and and they deserved to win.”

TEAM: Gould; Stubbs, Valgaeren, Mahe; McNamara, Petrov, Lambert (sub: Mjallby), Moravcik (sub: Boyd), Petta; Larsson (sub: Burchill), Sutton.

PUSH OFF…Neil Lennon is welcomed to Scottish football by Dundee’s Argentinian ace Claudio Caniggia

DUNDEE 1 CELTIC two (December 10, 2000)

NEIL LENNON, a future captain and manager of Celtic, made his debut for the membership on a freezing Sunday night on Tayside shortly after his £6million arrival from Leicester City.

The Northern Ireland global midfielder had rejected the provide of a new deal with the English aspect to group up once more with mentor Martin O’Neill at Parkhead. He swiftly realised what he should anticipate in the course of his years with his boyhood favourites against an thrilling Dundee team, closely laced with colourful Latins and managed through eccentric Italian Ivano Bonetti.

Former Argentina World Cup winner Claudio Caniggia was a foremost protagonist in Dark Blue for the duration of an eventful 90 minutes.

Celtic started and completed well, but, in between, superb deposit should be given to a line-up that made existence relatively uncomfortable for  the visitors. In took Martin O’Neill’s crew only four minutes to snatch the initiative when Didier Agathe, a good deal purchase from Hibs, kicked off the move with a probing run down the proper touchline.

His lengthy crossfield pass used to be gathered by Lubomir Moravcik who, in turn, switched it inside to Stiliyan Petrov. The Bulgarian carried it on earlier than blasting previous the exposed Marco Roccati.

Bonetti’s guys were stung into immediately retaliation and the Celtic defence, stubbornly marshalled by way of Johan Mjallby and Joos Valgaeren in the front of ex-Dens goalie Rab Douglas, held out till the 55th minute when they have been undone by using team-mate Tommy Boyd.

Caniggia, who had been performing supremely on the left wing, raced free once greater to launch a low ball throughout the face of goal. Juan Sara was about to throw himself at the inviting ball, however Boyd beat him to it and to his horror his clearance flew straight into the returned of his personal net.

Dundee had the bulk of play as they sought the winner, but, in the fading moments, O’Neill’s crew staged a basic smash-and-grab act.

Petrov swung in a corner-kick, Mjallby bought his head to it, the ball bounced on the six-yard line, Rocatti failed to collect and Agathe seemed at the some distance post to stab the ball home.

Welcome to Scottish football, Mr Lennon!

TEAM: Douglas; Boyd, Mjallby, Valgaeren; Agathe, Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, Petta (sub: McNamara); Larsson, Moravcik (sub: Johnson).

TAKE OFF…Alan Thompson demonstrates his delight after his strike against Rangers

CELTIC 1 RANGERS zero (February 11, 2001)

THE heavens opened and Paradise beckoned. Celtic went into this rain-lashed come upon in the knowledge a win would provide them a twelve-point advantage over their Ibrox rivals at a vitally necessary stage of the campaign.

Equally, Dick Advocaat realised his team had the opportunity to claw back three large points from the Parkhead outfit’s lead before they disappeared out of sight. The sodden stipulations didn’t interrupt every other hell-for-leather meeting of the Glasgow giants as they went for every other’s jugular.

It was once all too a good deal for touring defender Fernando Ricksen who didn’t last the entirety of the first-half. The Dutch right-back, who had been taken off after only 21 minutes of his team’s 6-2 thrashing at the identical ground in August, didn’t give his supervisor the opportunity to alternative him on this frenzied occasion.

He was once booked early on for a foul on Alan Thompson and left referee Hugh Dallas with no alternative but to e book him once more in the forty fourth minute for a nonsensical venture on Tommy Boyd and invite him to take no similarly phase in the proceedings. Celtic were already a goal in advance by this stage even though argued it must have been a two-goal advantage.

PRIZE GUYS…Alan Thompson is mobbed his Celtic team-mates after his matchwinner against the Ibrox outfit.

In the eighth minute, Swiss defender Ramon Vega, who joined on loan from Spurs the preceding month, nodded in a corner-kick from a Thompson delivery. It looked a professional goal, however the match reliable dominated it out for reasons only known to himself. TV pix later proved Vega had achieved nothing wrong in the execution of his header.

Martin O’Neill’s men, however, had higher fortune in the sixteenth minute when they claimed the winner. The hapless Ricksen literally had a hand in the only intention of the game. He dithered so long in taking a throw-in that referee Dallas awarded the shy to Celtic.

With his team-mates out of position, Boyd took it shortly to Henrik Larsson who performed a neat one-two with strike accomplice Chris Sutton before putting up Thompson. The midfielder raced ahead and prodded the ball left-footed away from Stefan Klos.

Disappointed Ibrox boss Dick Advocaat stated moderately at the end: “We have to be realistic. It’s now going to be very challenging to catch Celtic.”

He obtained that right.

TEAM: Douglas; Mjallby (sub: Tebily), Vega, Boyd; Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Thompson, Petta; Larsson, Sutton.

TITLE JOY BHOYS…Henrik Larsson congratulates matchwinner Tommy Johnson.

CELTIC 1 ST MIRREN 0 (April 7, 2001)

THE historic aim didn’t pretty fit the occasion. A crowd of 60,440 – the biggest in Scotland at some point of the season – grew to become out to see if Celtic should clinch the title in Martin O’Neill’s debut season in charge.

There have been five games nonetheless to go when the Paisley outfit, except an away success all through the campaign, turned up in the east end of Glasgow in the hopes of postponing Flag Day and the crowing of new champions. Some hope!

Johan Mjallby and Alan Thompson hit the woodwork, Henrik Larsson proved he was once human through fluffing his closing effort with just keeper Ludovic Roy to beat and a range of different efforts flew excessive and wide. It used to be left to Tommy Johnson to snatch the glory purpose seven minutes from the interval.

CROWNING GLORY…Tommy Johnson leaves St Mirren keeper Ludovic Roy helpless with the title clincher.

With an anxiety-riddled rearguard backing off, Larsson danced his way into the danger zone before pushing a pass in the front of the unmarked Johnson. The fans groaned in unison, though, as the former Aston Villa and Derby County forward took an lousy first touch. However, he managed to regain his composure before sliding the ball goalwards.

Frenchman Roy appeared surprised, perhaps believing the possibility had been lost, and the effort rolled into the net. It wasn’t a traditional and it wouldn’t be rerun in TV sports activities programmes for years to come, but that didn’t rely to the home support. They almost lifted the roofs of the stands with their delirious yells of unconfined joy.

It was once Celtic’s 37th championship triumph and it was once made distinctive due to the fact of O’Neill’s presence. He had invested accurately in bringing gamers such as Chris Sutton, Alan Thompson, Neil Lennon, Joos Valgaeren, Didier Agathe and Rab Douglas to the club.

GREEN-AND-WHITE PARADISE…Martin O’Neill acknowledges the Celtic fans after his first title triumph.

Ramon Vega arrived at the proper time on mortgage from Spurs, but again to the London outfit in the summer. The new supervisor had to be complimented, too, with the work he had finished with left-winger Bobby Petta who had been rejuvenated with the arrival of the Irishman.

The handsome league championship trophy used to be returning to Parkhead, but O’Neill knew there used to be the little remember of a Scottish Cup to be gained to preserve it and the League Cup company.

TEAM: Douglas; Mjallby, Vega, Valgaeren (sub: Boyd); Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Moravcik (sub: Healy), Thompson; Larsson, Johnson (sub: McNamara).

HENRIK’S HALF CENTURY…Celtic hero Henrik Larsson celebrates his 50th goal of the season in the 3-0 win at Ibrox.

RANGERS 0 CELTIC 3 (April 29, 2001)

DELIGHT abounded in Govan as Henrik Larsson scored his fiftieth goal of a spectacular season, Lubomir Moravcik claimed two brilliant solo efforts, Martin O’Neill’s crew beat Rangers for the fourth time in five conferences and Celtic, newly-crowned champions, tasted success at Ibrox for the first time in seven years.

There was once a carnival atmosphere among the visiting help who had considered their favourites emphatically overwhelmed via four clear dreams in their previous two visits – 5-1 in November all through this campaign and 4-0 thirteen months beforehand.

The turnaround in fortunes between two of world football’s largest adversaries used to be nothing short of incredible. Fact, indeed, can be stranger than fiction.

There used to be the regular sparring between Scotland’s two heavyweights earlier than the deadlock was damaged in the 61st minute. A swift free-kick from Neil Lennon launched Larsson and the Swede underlined his extraordinary vision with a deft contact interior to set Moravcik jogging free.

The Slovakian dodged previous Bert Konterman and made a beeline for intention earlier than the opposing defenders ought to hold close the situation. Moravcik carried on, Lorenzo Amoruso was too sluggish and ponderous to close him down and he rifled an effort large of Stefan Klos.

The cheers were still ringing around the Celtic give up when Moravcik repeated the feat in the seventy-fourth minute. This time Rab Douglas cleared a ball downfield to seventeen-year-old Sean Maloney, making his first look as a substitute for Tommy Johnson, and he nudged it in front of his veteran team-mate.

Moravcik confirmed a surprising burst of velocity as he raced away from Fernando Ricksen and as soon as again carried the ball into the field earlier than cleverly clipping it vast of Klos who had predicted a shot going throughout him to his left. Little Lubo not often did the expected.

WAIT FOR IT…Henrik Larsson rounds keeper Stefan Klos with defender Scott Wilson racing back to cover to no avail as the Swede prepares to slide in his 50th goal of the campaign.

With 4 minutes remaining, the intention anybody had been ready for arrived – Henrik’s half-century.

Jackie McNamara robbed the dithering Turkish midfielder Tugay on the Celtic left. He knocked a bypass into space behind the Ibrox defence and Larsson, with his standard eager anticipation, latched onto the ball, waltzed away from the outrushing Klos and stroked the ball into the vacant net with his left foot.

Could existence as a Celtic supporter get any sweeter? On May 26, the Parkhead followers would get their answer when they took on Alex McLeish’s talented Hibs aspect in the Scottish Cup Final at a sun-drenched Hampden.

TEAM: Douglas; Mjallby, Vega, Valgaren; Agathe, Lambert (sub: Boyd), Lennon, Moravcik (sub: McNamara), Thompson; Larsson, Johnson (sub: Maloney)

Given what Johnston did in the last match, Hughes wants another Celtic player to sign a loan deal with West Brom

John Hughes would like to see a return to Celtic for Mikey Johnston after what he did for West Brom in opposition to Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday (20 February).

The former Hoops player tweeted on Tuesday that the Republic of Ireland global ought to return to Glasgow and forward Nicolas Kuhn ought to as a substitute go to Albion on loan.

It comes after the 24-year-old winger scored a awesome purpose in the Baggies’ 3-0 victory over the Pilgrims following his loan move from the SPL club.

“Can you nonetheless recall players from loan? I’d have Mikey Johnston again (let Kühn go to WBA) and Adam Sir Bernard Law to start with,” stated Hughes on 20 February.

Mikey Johnston may want to be difference-maker for West Brom

Johnston has put in some gorgeous performances so some distance for West Brom after making the switch north of the border in the January transfer window.

After his contribution to the astonishing victory over Plymouth, the Baggies would without a doubt now not like to see him return to Parkhead before the season is out.

It’s rather clear that Kuhn hasn’t made lots of an impression in Glasgow since his move from Rapid Vienna in January, having scored one goal in his opening four video games for the club.

Can you still recall players from loan?
I’d have Mikey Johnston back (let Kühn go to WBA) & Adam Montgomery to start with.

— John Hughes (@yogijunior3) February 20, 2024

While it needless to say wouldn’t be a possibility for the deal to show up anyway, Albion would be lots happier to hold keep of Johnston than convey in the 24-year-old German forward.

Views: Embarrassing Celtic response to Mikey Johnston’s unjustified actions at West Brom

Mikey Johnston was once at it again on Tuesday night, scoring his second intention in West Brom colors to assist secure a 3-0 victory away at Plymouth in the Championship.

Since joining on mortgage from Celtic in the wintry weather switch window, 24-year-old Johnston has had quite the impact with some Albion followers scratching their heads as to why Brendan Rodgers would let the Republic of Ireland global leave.

Of course, some gamers are better desirable to different clubs, whether it’s because of the manager, the tactics, the other gamers or whether it’s clearly down to any person walking their course.

For Johnston, it might also have been all of those however greater than anything, it was once in all likelihood the latter.

Other than a 2022/23 mortgage spell at Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal, Johnston – a Glaswegian via birth but now a fully-fledged member of the Ireland squad thanks to his Derry-born grandfather – has spent his complete career on the books at Celtic.

However, notwithstanding the reality he’ll be turning 25 in a number of weeks’ time, he’d now not even broke the 100-appearance mark for a Celtic facet consistently taking part in in Europe and constantly prevailing trophies.

In total, Johnston performed 92 instances for Celtic, scored thirteen goals and furnished 12 assists after making his debut for them in opposition to St Johnstone in May 2017 when Rodgers was in his first stint at Parkhead.

What happened to Mikey Johnston for it to all go wrong at Celtic?

Johnstone’s time at Celtic has been blighted by way of injuries. His largest involvement in the league got here in 2018/19 when he played 14 times and scored five goals to assist the Bhoys win their treble of home trebles after Neil Lennon replaced Rodgers at the helm.

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The following season, he played a role as Celtic won a fourth treble in a row however at that point, harm problems commenced to creep in.

Johnston has groin troubles and a serious knee ligament injury.

In 2020/21, he performed simply 244 minutes of senior football due to his knee difficulty and the following campaign, it was once a lack of fitness and ankle accidents that cost him recreation time.

Johnston’s damage problems at some stage in this duration filled newspaper column inches that would attain to the moon and lower back – but it looks like the expectations of him in no way changed.

What are Celtic followers now saying about Mikey Johnston?

Celtic fans demand a a hundred per cent win record. It’s a tough thought to get your head round as an English football fan due to the fact now not even Manchester City supporters would have that kind of expectation, let on my own a West Brom fanbase entirely conscious that their membership is hamstrung by way of financial problems in the Championship.

It’s a complete different world up there in the Scottish Premiership, particularly among the two Old Firm clubs. And that’s why there’s such a meltdown going on in Glasgow’s East End proper now due to Celtic dropping top spot in the league to Rangers.

Will Brendan Rodgers be regretting his decision for Celtic to loan out Mikey Johnston to West Brom?

Rodgers isn’t doing nicely on his return to Celtic Park with Rangers, guided with the aid of Philippe Clement, closing down a massive gap to the reigning champions to take top-spot within the final week.

So for Celtic followers to see their contemporary gamers struggling whilst Johnston goes from power to electricity at the Albion have to be frustrating for them.

It led to former Hoops famous person John Hughes announcing on X on Tuesday (20 February) that he’d take Johnston lower back in a heartbeat with the winger now on two dreams in two starts offevolved (and three sub appearances) for Carlos Corberan’s Baggies.

There are, understandably, other followers asking the query as to why Celtic loaned out a player who’s been at the club his whole career, has been fairly proper for them and signed a bunch of duds, along with German forward Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn.

But in response to the annoyance of some Celtic fans over the loan deal, there’s a bunch of supporters on social media who appear to think that Johnston has “found his level” at The Hawthorns.

Johnston now has dreams towards Cardiff and Plymouth, two teams who’d in all likelihood finish third and fourth if you have been to plonk them in the Scottish Premiership right now.

It doesn’t seem like every body north of the border of a green-and-white persuasion sits on the fence with Johnson. Either loaning him out was the largest mistake ever, or he used to be no extra than a participant who solely stepped up when he played in opposition to Dundee.

As is continually the case when you have two extremities of footballing opinion, the reality in all likelihood lies someplace in the middle.

Johnston has truly had his day at Celtic. It doesn’t make him a horrible footballer and it doesn’t suggest that West Brom can be disrespected as being a stage lower. We’re no longer a stupid bunch, we recognize Celtic are a much larger club with more pressure – but there’s pressure here, as well, it’s simply not the same.

With the exception of league-leading Rangers, Johnston is going to play towards better teams each week in the Championship than he’d play in opposition to in Scotland.

As lengthy as he can avoid injury and keep taking part in well, there’s no doubt that West Brom will strive to signal him permanently in the summer switch window and Celtic should seem to sanction that deal.

Adam Montgomery of Celtic sends Mikey Johnston, the star of West Brom, a three-word message after what he done

Adam Sir Bernard Law has despatched a message to Celtic loanee Mikey Johnston after what he did for West Brom against Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday (20 February).

The Republic of Ireland worldwide scored a magnificent purpose in the Baggies’ 3-0 victory over the Pilgrims after making the mortgage switch from the SPL club in the January transfer window.

The 24-year-old winger posted a image of himself celebrating his aim on Instagram on Wednesday (21 February), with Montgomery, who is presently on mortgage at Motherwell from Parkhead, responding through announcing “what a guy”.

Mikey Johnston proving an first-rate West Brom signing

It’s clear to see that Johnston’s Celtic teammate is delighted for the winger after he registered his 2d aim on account that joining West Brom on loan.

He showed lots of pleasant in getting on the scoresheet in opposition to Plymouth after indicating over the previous few weeks that he could be a big player for the Baggies over the subsequent few months.

The Irishman has delivered a bit more flare to Carlos Corberan’s attacking choices as he looks to guide his aspect to merchandising to the Premier League this season.

Mikey Johnston scored his second goal for West Brom against Plymouth Argyle.

While his future in Glasgow remains in doubt following his loan change to The Hawthorns, he will simply be focusing on placing performances in for Albion earlier than his scenario is reviewed in the summer.

If he does have a top loan spell, though, then possibly a permanent cross north of the border ought to be a opportunity at the quit of this campaign.

West Brom’s manager has a theory on why Mikey Johnston is doing so well at Hawthorns

Ireland global Mikey Johnston has been rejuvenated by way of his recent mortgage go to West Bromwich Albion, with the 24-year-old endearing himself instantly to the club’s fanbase.

Johnston had struggled to get any variety of significant sport time in the first 1/2 of the season with Celtic. In fact, the Irish winger only managed four starts offevolved in all competitions earlier than Christmas, leaving him eager to take some time away from Celtic Park to get ordinary minutes.

The early signs are that Johnston’s pass was once for the best. He has scored two desires in his first 5 appearances for the Baggies, together with the second in their 3-0 win over Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night.

Speaking in the aftermath of that game, West Brom supervisor Carlos Corderan explained why he believed Johnston had taken so quickly to the Championship after his struggles in Glasgow.

Ireland MNT: West Brom manager extremely joyful to see Mikey Johnston thriving

Corderan defined that the exchange in tempo of the Championship had in all likelihood helped Johnston to straight away fit in and excel, whilst he also counseled that the stress of European opposition may additionally have had an influence on the Irishman’s performances early in the season:

It’s not the equal for Mikey to play at Celtic and West Bromwich Albion. When you discover Celtic, when they are taking part in at home in a league game, they are very dominant and attack. When you put Celtic in a European competition, there is any other scenario.

What is essential is that Johnston had a mortgage in Portugal previously. He was once in a team which was special to Celtic, so it is new to him to be in a one-of-a-kind environment to Celtic, it’s now not the first time he is had a specific style. That allows us to have faith more in his adaptation.

It is incredible to see Johnston now not solely enjoying nicely but doing so for a team mixing it up at the business cease of the Championship table.

West Brom presently take a seat in the play-off places, as they seek to return to the Premier League after a three-year absence.

Though Johnston has only started two of the Baggies’ 5 games on account that his arrival, he has sincerely made an have an impact on in the minutes he has received. Given the praise he has acquired from instruct Corderan, greater regular starts have to be on the playing cards in the run-in.

Johnston’s accelerated form and minutes are excellent information for the incumbent Ireland supervisor – whoever they may additionally be. Though the Glasgow-born attacker used to be one of the extra awesome performers of 2023 in an Ireland jersey, he did so while struggling to function normally at club level.

Watch: Mikey Johnston, a Celtic loan star who harnesses his inner Messi, blows West Brom brains

Johnston scored his second aim in a week and is taking matters with the aid of storm at West Brom.

Mikey Johnston blew minds at West Brom with his 2nd purpose for the club – even if the teamsheet is not completely up to velocity with his title yet…

The winger is making his presence felt in the West Midlands and scored within 30 seconds of his first start for the club towards Cardiff City remaining week. Last night time the Baggies took on Plymouth Argyle and after former Motherwell cult hero Cedric Kipre gave them a second-half lead, the Celtic loanee grabbed the headlines again.

Johnston led a counter-attack all by himself, before changing passes with Alex Mowatt and charging in from the left. He left his marker on the flooring with a shimmy and curled a splendor past his ex-Celtic teammate Conor Hazard – something one punter on X mentioned used to be ‘Messi-esque.’ He was cited as ‘Mickey Johnston’ on the West Brom teamsheet – but you experience like they won’t be getting his identify wrong for long if he keeps this up…

What a goal Mikey Johnston !🇮🇪🤩👊🏼

What a start to life at the Hawthorns☘️ pic.twitter.com/A2cItbYbwD

— Rep of Ireland Player Tracker (@reptracker) February 20, 2024

After watching the goal, West Brom legend Tony Brown instructed BBC Radio WM: “What a corker. What a awesome strike.

“He’s performed the whole lot right, he’s obtained it on the left-hand side, he’s come into the box, he’s got it on his proper foot and he’s launched an unstoppable strike straight in the top corner. No hazard for the Plymouth goalkeeper. Brilliant play from Johnston, truely brilliant. Unbelievable.”

Sutton is correct about Rodgers, but he ignores the board’s leading role in the Celtic disaster

Chris Sutton’s depressing precis of Celtic’s season is accurate enough in that few Celtic supporters will locate fault in what he says however will have plenty of objections about what the former striker didn’t say as he tried to select the bones over a dreadfully inconsistent domestic marketing campaign the place if some thing the consequences have on the total been higher than the performances merit

Celtic captain Callum McGregor and his team mates look dejected at full-time. Final score Celtic 1 Kilmarnock 1. 17 February 2024. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

When Kilmarnock determined to press Celtic high up the park at the weekend with that pleasant header from Kyogo keeping apart the sides, this must have applicable Celtic, who have been complaining about taking part in in opposition to groups with a low block and a parked bus. Yet they had been determined out and discovered out badly when the possibility to punish a crew like Kilmarnock for taking such dangers introduced itself.

While there’s nothing many Celtic supporters will disagree with in what Sutton had to say the day past lunchtime on Sky Sports, as Celtic grip on the title weakened as theRangers moved two points clear with a predictable win against St Johnstone in Perth, it’s what Sutton didn’t say that they’ll have a hassle with.

The Celtic Board misplaced Ange Postecoglou last June. Aaron Mooy determined to retire due to a lower back injury, Carl Starlet used to be allowed to leave, Jota offered to Saudi Arabia of £25m, we had already lost Josip Juranovic and Giorgos Giakoumakis in the January 2023 window and there has been no alternative anywhere near the level of the personnel leaving the building.

Having had incredible success with the good buy buys Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley, the Celtic powerbrokers reckoned that this was once the way to go and devised a formula and set Peter Lawwell and Gordon Strachan’s (other) son (the one who preceding managed a golf shop) to work to discover from round the world players in their early 20s, paying no extra than £3m in costs and with a wages cap in their remit. And we bought a pile of dross.

David Watson of Kilmarnock scores with a header to tie the score 1-1 during time added on after 90 minutes. The goal stood following a VAR check for a foul. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Cinch Scottish Premiership, Football, Celtic Park, Glasgow, UK – 17 Feb 2024. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

The of the two central defenders signed we had one sitting behind Peter Lawwell and Michael Nicholson at the weekend (see picture above) and the different sitting on the bench, and alternatively we had Liam Scales and Stephen Welsh at the centre of our defence.

Reo Hatate and Cameron Carter-Vickers have been massive losses this campaign thorough damage whilst Liel Abada is now not section of the way forward, and it’s practical for these in charge at Celtic to pin that one on the guide the resistance banner from the North Curve in early October.

Celtic v Kilmarnock – Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell and CEO Michael Nicholson during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday February 17, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Brendan Rodgers changed Ange Postecoglou after Celtic officials and Callum McGregor met him in Majorca however he got here returned to a club in transition and without any manage over the transfer business, admitting he’d coach what he’s given, and no doubt he’s heard of how clever Celtic now had been in the transfer market.

The fashion of soccer is nothing like it was beneath Postecoglou, the squad is nowhere close to as right and why Sutton factors the finger of blame at Brendan Rodgers, it’s no longer his who controlled the switch commercial enterprise or is sitting with greater than £7m in the bank. In the January window we bought a striker struggling for a recreation at Norwich and a participant that leads to the conclusion we’ve been shafted by way of Rapid Vienna yet again. Sometimes it helps to have longer recollections in football. Kuhn leaves mny pining for Mickey Johnson!

Kyogo’s now not scoring as many desires this season, yet closing season his assists got here normally from Jota and Hatate, this time around our (millions of) wingers are growing nothing, every and each one is dreadful. After the recreation at the weekend I said Rodgers have to now go 4-4-2 and just no longer start a single winger. Unless something modifications quickly then this league is gone.

Mark Lawwell used to be curiously noticed at the sport at the weekend and acquired an earful. He played a part in recruiting Ange Postecoglou – credit where it is due – but is he the first-class qualified person to build a squad succesful of beating St Johnstone, Motherwell and Kilmarnock at Celtic Park? That’s a fairly low bar but right there we’ve spilled six points.

If arguing the case for the defence then be equipped for the knock-out blow: Mark Lawwell is assisted through the other Strachan boy who would be extra suited to shifts in the Celtic superstore. Put it this way if his dad wasn’t WGS he’d be nowhere close to the job that he’s currently in and Celtic go on about exceptional practice. It’s superb that these two are depended on but the supervisor we are supposedly paying £3m per 12 months is not.

“The end result yesterday, I don’t suppose it came as a wonderful shock. Celtic have been bang common this season. The wins have papered over the cracks – performances haven’t been there – they’re not a accurate crew this season.

“Everybody talks about the board, signings and this being a long time in the making this precise moment. Brendan Rodgers has to take responsibility. I can’t think of one participant at Celtic who he has expanded – that’s on the manager,” Chris Sutton stated on Sky Sports.

“You seem at the points they’ve dropped domestically in isolation, they’ve been poor. They’ve been outplayed, I cant keep in mind the final time a Celtic team were outplayed in halves of soccer via so many teams. That’s on Brendan. Why is it? We’ve touched on the extensive players before. They have been taking part in speedy and livid below Ange Postecoglou – the manufacturer of football is slow, predictable.

Celtic v Kilmarnock – cinch Premiership – Celtic Park The Celtic board after the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Saturday February 17, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

“There isn’t a concern aspect when groups go up against Celtic – groups fancy getting a result. The end result as awful as it used to be wasn’t a fantastic surprise.”

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers, Hyunjun Yang and Paulo Bernardo at full-time. Final score Celtic 1 Kilmarnock 1. 17 February 2024. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Sutton added: This is on Brendan. Celtic need to be inserting groups away domestically. Since Brendan’s come again all we’ve heard is the need for speed, passing, play. Celtic are predictable.

“You appear at Celtic’s backline – I fancy enjoying against them at my age!”

🗣️ “I can’t think of one player he has improved… Their brand of football is slow, it’s predictable.”

Chris Sutton has his say on Brendan Rodgers and Celtic’s current form 👇 pic.twitter.com/oXCxyxhcJ0

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) February 18, 2024

It has to do with mentality: has Rodgers breached a boundary that calls for action?

One comment from Brendan Rodgers honestly ought to be causing panic in the Celtic boardroom this morning.

Most of the issues of this season surfaced in the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock, the fourth time this season that Celtic have failed to win at domestic in the SPFL, the third time in 4 video games that they’ve failed to beat Kilmarnock.

Four wingers have been used at some point of the fit with barely a single cut-back for strikers to work on, when Greg Taylor went off injured Rodgers turned to Alexandro Bernabei who was restricted to four alternative appearances in the first 1/2 of the season, more often than not failing to make the matchday squad.

Whatever issues are going on at the membership the manager is predicted to get the excellent out of the players, the majority of whom have been worried in triumphing a domestic treble closing season.

A manager has to get the nice out of the 19 players he selects after working with them for a week in training.

With one comment the previous day suggested by The Scotsman it appears that Rodgers has given up on the gamers he selected:

It is not about capability or approach now, it is about mentality. It is about now not letting that man go past you and having that power and composure to play. We saw it the second half, even although we have been now not underneath extremely good strain we kept making it challenging for ourselves.

Questioning the mentality of gamers is a very serious issue, it isn’t something that can be worked on in training.

Throughout soccer the answer in these situations is to eliminate the manager, that is easier to do than clear out a dressing room of players on long time period contracts.

If Michael Nicholson and Peter Lawwell require any proposal into taking tough choices they can appear throughout the metropolis to see what happened when Michael Beale used to be removed before the first spherical of SPFL fixtures had been completed.

Callum William McGregor comments on Celtic dressing room admission