Neil Lennon pleads for Ange Postecoglou to transfer to Celtic

In a charming twist of Celtic camaraderie, Neil Lennon, has advised modern Tottenham head honcho and former hoops gaffer Celtic, Ange Postecoglou, to steer clear of Celtic’s gem, Matt O’Riley, in the January transfer window.

Ange, the man who firstly introduced O’Riley from MK Dons to Parkhead two years in the past for a modest £1.5 million, is now one of Celtic’s pinnacle players and prized assets.

Cited by SunSport, Lennon couldn’t conceal his admiration for Postecoglou’s work at Spurs, saying, “The job Ange did at Celtic used to be great. The fans loved his style of play, the all-out attack, the rotations — and you can see that style being implemented at Tottenham as well.” He praised the Aussie’s knack for turning Tottenham into contenders for the pinnacle four, a testament to his superb yr and extraordinary recruitment, which includes standout names like Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, and James Maddison.

But when it comes to O’Riley, Lennon playfully pleads, “I just want him to remain away from Matt O’Riley for the time being, please and thank you very much!”. Lennon has a clear message for Celtic: face up to January’s temptations and intention for a record-breaking £30 million in the summer.

He couldn’t assist however heap reward on O’Riley, noting, “Under Brendan he’s scoring a lot of goals, and developing so many opportunities for the team. He’s continually a threat, and he’s received a real knack of making those late runs into the box, undetected.”

For Lennon, the key is to preserve onto this exceptional Genius at least till the season’s end, acknowledging that while progress can’t be halted, a summer season cross may be inevitable. With O’Riley shining brightly, particularly in the Champions League, Lennon believes he’s worth every penny of the £25-30 million valuation.

“He’s demonstrated himself at the very best level, in the Champions League.

“He’s been the exceptional player in Scotland this season — so you’re looking at £25-30m for him, at least.”

For Celtic fans, they’ll no longer welcome any bids in January or the summer time but there is pragmatism among the guide understanding we can’t hold onto top players forever.

Brendan Rodgers discusses the unexpected post-match incident

Brendan Rodgers has defined his emotional post-match embrace with Reo Hatate after Celtic’s 3-0 win away to St Mirren.

With 71 minutes on the clock and Celtic leading 3-0 the midfielder changed Paolo Bernardo to deliver an give up to two painful months out of motion with a hamstring injury.

Hatate only lasted seven minutes of the Champions League tie in opposition to Atletico Madrid at the give up of October, realising that he had suffered a bad hamstring harm he looked distressed as he walked off the pitch knowing that he was in line for a lengthy absence.

The return of Hatate and Liel Abada adds significantly to Rodgers’ preferences in the 2nd 1/2 of the season even even though the midfielder is about to be part of up with the Japan squad at the Asian Cup.

After the last whistle the Celtic players and manager thanked the away support, as they made their way off the pitch Rodgers had some special words for Hatate that have been shielded from Sky Sports viewers.

Explaining the post-match scenes the Celtic boss advised the Daily Record:

You may want to see afterwards Reo used to be without a doubt pretty emotional to be lower back out on the pitch again. He’s put in so lots difficult work and he’s a big, large player for us. So with a bit of luck he can go away and get some minutes and hold his health up due to the fact when he comes returned he’s going to be big for us in the second half of the season.

So it’s great for him to be returned and Liel as nicely due to the fact he brings a exclusive dimension to the crew – he’s a purpose scorer however he plays wide, so he’s usually going for walks into score. Having those two players will assist us play the type of soccer we prefer to see.

After suffering two hamstring injuries and a calf trouble in the course of 2023 Rodgers and Hatate will be hoping for an injury free run to contribute for club and country.

Game recognises game 🤝Hey, oh Reo Hatate
The Celtic get excited when we see you play.
It’s strange that the feeling grows more and more
But we’ve had a player like you before… 💚 pic.twitter.com/w2D0YTxBVw

— Ewan (@ewancorky) January 2, 2024

Matt O’Riley’s transfer worries are allayed as the Celtics management talks about the window

IT was a one-word response to a question that will be on the minds of many Celtic followers all through the month of January, and while it may also have been meant as an emphatic one, it will be not going to quell their fears till the winter window closes.

When Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers used to be asked if he fears losing any of his key players this month, and mainly Internazionale-linked Matt O’Riley, he simply replied: “No.”

While Rodgers’ grin said that he wasn’t searching to talk about that particular be counted further, he was inclined to expand a little on his own body of thought as he goes into a month you feel he has been looking ahead to for some time.

Celtic supporters of a certain vintage might also fear that the one downside of the win over Rangers would be that their club’s board would take the result as a signal that everything used to be simply fine, and that they would seal that fabled ancient metaphorical biscuit tin shut once more.

But Rodgers has been beating the drum continuously for months now about the need to add ‘quality’ in January – and he took the probability to do so again right here – and he is not going to brook any resting upon laurels at Celtic Park over the subsequent few weeks. Even if he isn’t quite certain what he, or the fans, can expect.

“I don’t know, I don’t know,” he said.

“I’ll inform you as soon as they’re announced, once they’re in.

“I’m cosy however focused. I choose quality. And that’s what we need to improve.”

That center of attention on enchancment is a consistent one for Rodgers, and whilst the win over Rangers quelled any speak of a disaster at Celtic – a subject he railed towards in the build-up to the Old Firm derby – he does expect extra from his modern-day crop of players in the 2d half of the campaign.

“We’re clearly fine,” he said.

“Sadly, it’s the noise that follows a Celtic or a Rangers crew [that we’re in crisis]. But I’m skilled enough to tune out of the noise.

“I can center of attention on the growth of the team, and I can see gamers creating and I can see players improving. I can see the place can get higher too.

“I have picked up this squad at a special time to when I picked up the final squad when I first arrived. So, there can be a little bit of a drop off with one or two.

“But the job is to maintain that widespread or performance and mentality, as I’ve said to the players.

“It’s my job to pressure that and I will do.”

The instant task in that regard is to keep focal point on a tough-looking time out to face St Mirren in Paisley this evening, where Rodgers has to make certain complacency or a sense of flatness doesn’t set in among his players after the highs of the weekend.

“I have trip of warning against that,” he said.

“Listen, the performances are never perfect so there is continually lots to analyse on the place you should be higher and where you may want to improve.

“But listen, when you win a big recreation it’s truely vital that you go and deliver that identical electricity into the team for the subsequent one.

“We’re performing now with a style and a metal that I prefer to see in the team. Against Livingston and Dundee we didn’t provide away so much. Then against Rangers we once more didn’t give up very much in the sport either.

“So, the work rate, mentality and consistency that’s so essential is improving all the time.

“But we want to bring that into each game.”

It may be tempting then for Rodgers to inject some freshness into his line-up in the shape of returning duo Liel Abada and Reo Hatate, though he is wary of managing their workload as they integrate back into the first crew picture.

“We will see,” he said.

“At this stage of the season you are looking at bodily circumstance and what the gamers can bring. I am not in any rush with these two, it was once first-class for them to be worried [against Rangers], Liel is barely in advance of Reo so it’s why he gets his minutes [on Saturday].

“We obviously have one extra recreation and then we have a length of time to get them up to pace but I do not want to rush them.”

After the St Mirren match, Celtic will of direction get an extended smash after a annoying December, and Rodgers is hoping that his squad will be in a stronger role each in terms of their condition and their quantity when they choose matters lower back up towards Buckie Thistle on January 21st.

“The players will get a little bit of time – they need that,” he said.

“They’ll have a wreck to maybe spend a wee bit of time with their families.

“They’ll have some work they want to do whilst they’re away but it’s a proper hazard to reset earlier than going again.

“We have a spell without any video games earlier than we play in the Scottish Cup. So we can do a lot of work in that period.

“We’ll with any luck have some of the injured gamers returned and maybe one or two in the door.

“Then we push on for the second half of the season.”

Watch: Magnificent Moment Kyogo’s Family Reacts From The Stands To His Derby Surprise

Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi silenced many of his critics on Saturday afternoon with a Glasgow derby goal for the ages. It was a strike that eventually proved to be the distinction between the sides.

On the side of the opposition box, the striker picked up the ball and struck it with his weaker left foot into the top-right corner. Jack Butland had no chance.

The supporters interior Parkhead went into a joint sense of jubilation and shock when the goal went in, and the reaction from one of the containers in the stadium was once particularly pleasing.

Indeed Kyogo’s family have been pictured in the stands. The Japanese internationalist waved high up into the crowd when he scored, and it seemed as even though he was searching towards his cherished ones, who waved back and mimicked his trademark celebration:

Morning Everyone! 💚☘️

Can’t stop thinking on Yesterday…It really was just a Magical day! 💚☘️⚽⚽☘️💚😜💫 pic.twitter.com/U8OOOs0rck

— SAMINA MARWAHA💕 (@samina_monaghan) December 31, 2023

Kyogo’s Mum’s reaction to his goal 🍀💚 pic.twitter.com/WQ791GwEyg

— Hon2109 aka OneMalloy (@HughONe93622860) December 31, 2023

For the 28-year-old to have bagged a goal as he did with his family in attendance will have most likely blissful him. Everyone desires to do their loved ones proud, and the proficient centre-forward will be no different.

If Kyogo scores desires like he did against Rangers each time his family are in the ground, it is positive Celtic will be inviting them again to Paradise regularly.

Quick fix syndrome: Celtics’ triumph over the Rangers highlights the biggest weakness of our opponents

In the today’s installment of the Glasgow Derby, Celtic triumphed over Rangers with a 2-1 victory, a result that no longer solely fueled the age-old rivalry but also laid bare the deep-seated troubles plaguing our Glasgow rivals. As we celebrate our second Derby traveller my of the season it’s well worth delving into why this victory is more than just bragging rights—it’s a reflection of a broader narrative in Scottish football.

The Rangers camp, craving for immediately success, has turn out to be its very own worst enemy. The board and fans, with their insatiable urge for food for on the spot glory, seem to have forgotten that Rome wasn’t constructed in a day. Each season, a new messiah is anticipated to lead them to the promised land of league victory, but as quickly as the ship indicates signs of rocking, the boo boys emerge in full force. The thinking of a gestation duration for a supervisor to nurture and develop a team looks as alien to them as the idea of persistence itself. They sacked a man that managed to get them to a European final against all the odds because he couldn’t first-class Celtic in a brief length of time.

Comparisons to Celtic’s fairytale under Ange Postecoglou are inevitable, but they miss a imperative point. While Celtic’s success below Ange might also have appeared overnight to the green with envy eye, it used to be the fruit of a well-laid graph and a coherent method as soon as he bought in the door, now not a mere stroke of luck. Rangers, on the other hand, appear to be grappling with a quick-fix syndrome, believing that a few months and a handful of signings are all it takes to mend a club’s deep-rooted issues. And when they lose, they pander and moan alternatively than deal with their own failings. As the pronouncing goes, you can’t polish a turd. And Clement, in spite of addressing some fundamental issues, is still left juggling the same historic duds and the heavy baggage of £20 million well worth of misfired signings.

The financial woes are apparent. The board’s reluctance to open the purse strings further until they’ve recouped some of their losses screams of a membership walking a tightrope. Clement’s first signing being a loanee who can’t even impervious a spot in his own club’s starting lineup speaks volumes of the dire straits they find themselves in.

Yet, let’s not be blinded with the aid of the schadenfreude. Rangers are still a force to be reckoned with, with the second-largest finances in Scottish football. Their victories, although expected, shouldn’t be dismissed. However, as they proceed to stumble against better teams, it’s evident that there’s a chink in their armour—a chink that Celtic, even in their off-form moments, have exploited.

As the iciness destroy looms and the switch window beckons, Celtic underneath Brendan Rodgers look poised to capitalise on their momentum. The recent victory is not simply a testomony to their modern electricity but a foreboding of what’s to come. Rodgers, with his acumen and experience, has the practicable to mildew this Celtic side into now not just a crew that wins but one that dominates.

Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Celtic v Rangers – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – December 30, 2023 Rangers manager Philippe Clement reacts Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough

While Rangers grapple with their identification and strategy, Celtic have once again shown why they are the team to beat. The Glasgow Derby wasn’t just a game; it was a microcosm of the present day Scottish football landscape. And as the dirt settles, one issue is clear: the avenue in advance for Rangers is long and fraught with challenges, whilst Celtic, with a combo of intelligent management and tactical nous, appear all set to continue their home dominance.

In this age-old battle, it’s now not simply the points that rely but the route in which both groups are heading. And for now, the compass genuinely seems to be pointing in Celtic’s favour.

Alex’s Angel: Doors Open For Wide Bhoys

CELTIC go into today’s derby skirmish in the association know-how they will have to earn the victory.

They will now not assume any breaks from the match officials, on and off the pitch, as they pursue three necessary points. The situation has no longer changed in living memory. It has been ever thus.

You and I will get a clear indication of how the wind is blowing the first time Abdallah Sima falls over. The on-loan Brighton winger need to trust he has died and long gone to heaven.

Any time he caresses the turf after any sort of mission – real or imagined – from an opponent, a free-kick almost inevitably follows. Hollywood beckons for this guy.

It’s blatant and boringly repetitive, but it can produce dividends as it lets in his team-mates the probability to go ahead and take up attacking positions at set-plays. Alas, Celtic’s vulnerability to deal constantly with this kind of aerial hazard is regarded to all.

Alistair Johnston will have to make sure his timing in the tackle on Sima is crisp, firm and correct throughout the afternoon. Or consequences will follow. The Canadian right-back has an necessary function to play today. Likewise his team-mate Greg Taylor on the contrary flank.

Today’s opponents favour playing down the right where James Tavernier likes to push into space, however they additionally have the functionality of switching shortly to the left where Borna Barisic and Sima have developed a reasonable understanding.

I doubt if Brendan Rodgers requires any advice from this tired historical scribe, however it’s greater than obvious each of the opposition’s full-backs are greater relaxed going forward.

Wingers jogging at them and balls over their heads or inside them can create chaos with central defenders tasked with covering for them which also puts the onus on midfielders to get returned to help out.

Rodgers has the dependancy of changing his wingers around the hour mark, so Daizen Maeda and Luis Palma – if they get the go-ahead, of direction – will get the roles to push Tavernier and Barisic into positions where they are no longer pretty so comfy and then it may additionally be over to Yang Hyun-jun and Mikey Johnston to take delivery of the baton.

The Japanese touchline ace has the electrifying acceleration to terrorise any defence, however he has hardly carried out given that coming lower back from injury and Owen Beck, Dundee’s on-loan left-back from Liverpool, had him in his lower back pocket for the 66 minutes he was on the pitch at Dens Park on Tuesday before the introduction of Yang.

Undoubtedly, Maeda has more to provide earlier than he comes off the radar along with Kyogo Furuhashi and a fully-recovered Reo Hatate before they nearly really get the nod to signify their u . s . in the Asian Cup subsequent month.

I’m a regarded admirer of Joe Hart’s goalkeeping capabilities, Stephen Welsh and Liam Scales are greater than capable of coping with some thing thrown at them while Paulo Bernardo produced by means of a ways his first-class display since arriving on mortgage from Benfica in opposition to Dundee. He regarded to get concerned right from the kick-off which was heartening to see.

We understand what Callum McGregor and Matt O’Riley can also make a contribution in the engine room and Kyogo, with only one aim in nine games, is definitely poised to explode. Today would be the perfect platform for him to take off in the trend to which we have become accustomed.

So, as I said at the start, Celtic will get no favours today. There have been three UK Prime Ministers – Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak – considering a league penalty was once awarded towards them lower back in January 2022. Enough said.

Celtic can pull a flanker, however they will need Maeda bringing his A sport to proceedings with Johnston concentrating utterly on his challenges on an awkward opponent.

On the left, Palma can produce little flashes of genius that can free up even the most cussed of rearguards. Taylor, so often the unsung hero, will be required to put in every other unselfish shift.

This is a game in which the champions can slap down their noisy neighbours.

We can’t have enough money to omit the opportunity.

Amidst the Fabio Silva ripple effect, Celtic secures Lawrence Shankland’s transfer pitch as the Rangers fan element is “weighed up.”

Stephen McGinn has told Brendan Rodgers to make his cross for the Tynecastle hero.

Celtic will be thinking about a January cross for Hearts captain Lawrence Shankand – even if he is a Rangers fan.

That is the view of pundit Stephen McGinn who reckons that the Scottish Premiership leaders could face a rethink of their iciness enterprise with Wolves star Fabio Silva set to join Philippe Clement’s side on loan. Brendan Rodgers has been open in his desire to add more firepower with Oh Hyeon-gyu heading off the Asian Cup in January with South Korea – and Kyogo Furuhashi likely to join him at the match with Japan.

But it’s Rangers who appear to have bolstered their firepower early with £35million man Silva set to arrive at Ibrox on loan until the stop if the campaign. It seems to have introduced to an end any hazard of Scotland cap Shankland making a pass Govan this summer with reviews swirling that Hearts are pushing to sign the 28-year-old to a contract extension – with his contemporary phrases set to expire at the end of next season.

But pundit Graham Dorrans and McGinn reckon that the Hoops may want to make their cross for the frontman – no matter the striker being a boyhood Rangers fan. Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, Dorrans used to be requested if Celtic could now step in to deliver in Shankland.

The former Ibrox midfielder said: “I think Rangers may have been his preferred destination but Hearts will try and pull out all the stops. He is their captain and the in-form participant in the Scottish Premiership, so they will be doing the whole thing to hold him. He has done unbelievably nicely so he is going to get hobby from teams in Scotland.

“He might even have teams abroad – you seem to be at the Saudi league and gamers have went over there and executed well. That might be an alternative for him.”

McGinn: “i do not suppose Celtic would think ‘we cannot signal Lawrence Shankland due to the fact he is a Rangers fan’ – I suppose they will be weighing that up. There is no doubt they want a striker and I’m certain he will be a identify that has come up. But he is so vital to Hearts they will pull out all the stops.

Snodgrass responded: “I assume you are right, if Celtic are fascinated in Lawrence Shankland it will definitely be something that they weigh up. He is now not going to turn his nostril up at them. It’s short profession and he will determine his options.”

Kris Boyd is unable to quit discussing Celtic

Kris Boyd used to be on the pundit team for the Edinburgh Derby on Wednesday nighttime as Hearts defeated Hibs at Easter Road with a late goal. However, in his post suit comments he by hook or by crook managed to wedge in a dig at a Celtic player.

Boyd, while covering the game, which had nothing to do with Celtic whatsoever, took the possibility to compare Shankland’s capabilities to these of Celtic’s forward, Kyogo Furuhashi.

He expressed his admiration for Shankland’s putting prowess, in particular noting his capacity to rating with his weaker foot. Boyd said that while Kyogo is a proficient striker in his personal right, he believes that the Celtic player doesn’t possess the identical degree of ending talent as Shankland.

Speaking live on Sky Sports, he said, “The goalscorer, or the attacking player, will inform you there is time for one greater opportunity, there is time for me to end up the suit winner. He would have been looking for it, backing in, trying to get it down. The little touch simply opens the intention up and doesn’t supply the keeper any chance. What a finish it is. It’s his weaker foot as well. I’ve spoken about Kyogo in this league, they are distinctive types of strikers but Kyogo couldn’t end like that. His finishing is unbelievable and, for me, he is the best in the league.”

Celtic are in the market for a striker this January, any person who will come to challenge Kyogo and Oh and greater than possibly get a run of games whilst the Asia Cup is on.

If Shankland is a higher finisher, you’d assume Celtic to be linked with a cross for him rather than Aberdeen’s Miovski. This would signal that Shankland isn’t ‘the high-quality in the league’.

“What a fantastic player,” The 26-year-old Celtic star has excelled for Scottish football, according to a BBC Pundit

I assume each Celtic fan will agree that their team have a quantity of players that light up the Scottish game.

Off the pinnacle of my head, Kyogo Furuhashi, Matt O’Riley and Cameron Carter-Vickers are three that have vastly expanded the nice within the Scottish league.

But when you genuinely delve into it, there are at least half a dozen. Look at Callum McGregor. The Celtic skipper has emerge as one of the most adorned gamers in the history of the game due to his achievements with the club.

But it was none of these players that BBC pundit, Allan Preston, mentioned. In fact, Preston believes that Daizen Maeda is the one player that Brendan Rodgers has

mortgage at Avispa Fukuoka.

Former Greuther Furth boss Damir Buric previously heaped reward on the player, though, saying:

“In regards to Yosuke, I can only speak the best. He is an exquisite individual with top notch character. First of all I was very impressed with the way he got here returned from that serious injury. What impressed me most was once the way he was working for the duration of his time out with the injury.

“It was simply unbelievable, nearly like soldier. He confirmed such a remarkable attitude and high-quality approach. He was extraordinarily disciplined, took in each and every additional coaching session of bodily rehabilitation and invested all of his time in getting returned as quickly as he perchance could.”

He appears to be a player with quality when fully fit, however, unfortunately, Celtic haven’t viewed that model of the participant enough, so a everlasting exit ought to make sense for all involved in 2024, whether that be with Avispa Fukuoka or Vissel Kobe, making this one to watch.