An opening day win for Celtic fails to hide deficiencies throughout the squad, and only highlights how tough LASK will be…
Unless there are major additions to the squad over the coming fortnight, Celtic will struggle at home and in Europe.
Eric Knott 
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 03: A general view of a Celtic fans banner during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park, on August 03, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Last night, it was as you were at Celtic Park.
The side that took to the pitch against an at times, well organised Dundee side, looked and felt no different to what we watched last season.
Despite the fact Martin O’Neill has hinted at the fact he will play two upfront, he was left with no choice but to start yesterday evening’s opener with a 4-3-3 formation.
He simply does not have the personnel to do anything else right now.
Forced to play out on the right, Camilo Duran did not look comfortable in that role.
Kasper Høgh showed flashes of what he can do, but if truth be told, the supply to him left an awful lot to be desired.
Arne Engels looked like a player who has already checked out.
Both his distribution, and his corner taking reflected that.
Everton had a scout at Celtic Park last night to watch Alistair Johnston, but to be fair to the Canadian, he put in a decent enough shift.
Overall, last night had a very makeshift, transitionary feel about it.
This cannot, and will not, be the the finished squad we take into the season once the transfer window closes.
Every Celtic fan knows and understands that.
That doesn’t stop us worrying about the ineptitude of those in the Celtic board room though.
It doesn’t stop us from still scratching our heads when it comes to the fact we started the season with just two new signings.
Last night, despite the win, told us little to nothing in footballing terms.
But what it did tell us is that we are in no way ready for the season ahead, or our Champions League qualifier with LASK.
We need to see major movement in the transfer window in the next fortnight.
In addition to that, we need to retain Arne Engels and Alistair Johnston until the CL qualifier against LASK.
Martin O’Neill hinted that he hoped this would be the case in his post match interview:
Alistair and Arne both said to me that they would want to play in the game if things had not progressed. And I thought they did fine. Alistair has got a very strong mindset anyway.
But you are naturally worried about transfer speculation in the background and how you might take the game into consideration psychologically as well ask physically. But I thought they did fine..
Would I like to keep them for the play-off? Ideally that would be brilliant, that would be really good.
We wouldn’t know if the other clubs would want to pursue that, if that was the case.
Fair enough, both players have said they want to play in the qualifier.
But regardless of what Martin O’Neill, or the players say, what Michael Nicholson and the board do is the issue here.
He may want them to play.
They may want to play.
But if huge bids land on the table in the next week, does anyone imagine Celtic and Nicholson will not accept them there, and then?
The EPL kicks off on the 21st of this month, with EFL season kicking off on the 14th.
If Everton or West Ham want Johnston and Engels, does anyone imagine they’ll agree to wait until after our CL quailifier?
If they’re interested now, it’s because they want them in their squads when their seasons start.
Either way, we should be more concerned about incoming transfers, rather than outgoings.
Last night proved to us how badly we need fresh blood.
Although, once again, Martin O’Neill’s comments on this subject wouldn’t exactly have you brimming with confidence:
Well, I’m hoping that we’ll get some players in. That’s the aim. We have two and they’re decent players for us but we’re striving to get some more in.
I have a good idea of what we need – I should do I’m the manager. But that wouldn’t have made any difference to the result or performance tonight – I still know what we need.
I still think that we are [getting closer to signings]. I will speak to Michael tomorrow morning and see where we are. I spoke to him briefly today. But it was about just, let’s concentrate on the game tonight. So tomorrow is another day.
He’s hoping that we’ll get some players in?
We’re surely gone way beyond the point of hoping here?
The manager should now be at a point where he’s certain we’re getting players in.
Listening to Martin O’Neill answer questions on transfers is the exact same as listening to Brendan Rodgers a year ago.
Same language, just a different person speaking it.
Hope.
He knows what we need.
He’s talking to Michael.
We have just been handed the toughest draw possible for our CL qualifier.
Hope needs to transition to certainty.
Martin O’Neill needs to put a firecracker up Michael Nicholson’s arse.
I can’t put it any plainer than that.
Otherwise, if last night was anything to go by, this season is going to be painful.
It’s time to stop f*****g around.
It’s time to get real.
Get the manager the players he needs.
End of.
Key Takeaways
- Celtic’s season opener revealed a makeshift squad with many players lacking form and readiness.
- Despite a win, the performance left fans concerned about the team’s preparations and transfer activity.
- Martin O’Neill emphasised the need for new signings and player retention before the Champions League qualifier with LASK.
- The author criticises the Celtic board for inadequate transfer movement and ineffective communication from O’Neill.
- Fans worry that if significant bids for players arrive, Celtic may sell before the CL qualifier, hindering their chances.
Choose Read Celtic as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to the news you value.
Aodhán Ó Conchobhair 
Bhoycie 
Phillip Cooney 
O’Neill has turned into a board lackey. Thiis season is going to be a shocker due to the fuckwits on the board. And there is no way to get shot of them.
I’m hoping MON has a plan that changes our monotonously boring style of play. We have a captain who has been more than a brilliant stalwart for us over his spell but time catches up with us all.
Our play goes through him because it has to as we have no other variation in our game. Other teams know this and it’s therefore easy to anticipate how we play.
If Calmac is moving to his left the ball might go forward. If he’s moving to his right it’s definitely going backwards. All our left footed players are the same and extremely limited due to this.
We need a change in our style of play. Ange brought one in and we played some of our best football in years. As an ex-season ticket holder, I feel for our fans who have to watch the repetitive fare that we see on show every week.
Mix things up a bit. Sign another playmaker who can give Calmac a break and excite the fans as well as surprise opposition. More signings needed than just a playmaker but i’d start there.
It’s only the first game of the season and things will get better i’m sure but there does need to be some change in our style of play.
I don’t think Lask will have taken more than 5 minutes to have summed up our style and figured out how to negate it.
It was a typically leggy 1st game of the season. Match sharpness is clearly not there yet for most of the starters. Nygren and Johnston appeared the only ones truly on to a game. Thankfully there aren’t any clubs circling around Nygren, or any that we know of! He will be pivotal once again this season. I felt he took up a lot of the space from Høgh, but the goal justified it. Hogh just didn’t look like scoring, seems a lack of pace or ability to find half a yard to get a shot away will be an issue for him. Durán looks a sharper box striker than Hogh and will be disappointed to have found himself pushed out wide given a good pre-season. It’s clear a reliable 442 will be needed to accommodate both. But will limit Nygren’s forward positioning as a CM, because he’s not a winger either. McGregor will need solid support in any 442, he was exposed a few times last night, and his recovery pace isn’t there, nor should we expect it at his age. So it leaves a bit of a dilemma having splashed that cash on 2 STs. Tierney looked solid, as did CCV. Trusty still rushes into challenges too far up the pitch and gets the ball played around him, needs to think about his positioning and exposure if he doesn’t win those balls. Yang was typical Yang, getting into good positions only to take a poor touch or make a poor passing decision. Reliably inconsistent! Engels was playing it safe for obvious reasons, and threaded a few decent opportunities, but get him off corners please. Sinisalo stepped up when needed but an easy enough game for him. The result didn’t live up to the anticipation, but which opening game usually does? There are issues about formation, shape, energy and creativity in midfield and quality in the final third for MON to consider. This is hardly a revelation, but comes increasingly into focus for the first CL qualifier against what will be a tough opponent. Who will have left by then, and what quality will have been brought in to either replace them or bolster elsewhere is the obvious question. No point purchasing two STs with CL pedigree if you play one out of position and starve the other of decent service… And certainly not much point if you then still don’t qualify for the CL group stage! Any injuries to McGregor or Nygren and this current squad is in deep trouble as it stands. Signings urgently needed this week. LASK appear to be a better team than I gave them credit for. As Sutton said last night – “Squeeky bum time”.