Martin O’Neill has made 10 changes to the Celtic side that faces Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup today.
A plastic pitch, non-league opponents and a very demanding run of fixtures have forced the interim boss into changes.
O’NEILL TAKES NO CHANCES
It wouldn’t be a surprise if there were 10 changes to the side that takes on Bologna on Thursday night.
Callum McGregor retains his place and the armband but all around him it is changes.
Stephen Welsh was a Motherwell player a week ago but is in central defence alongside Dane Murray. There is no natural left-back but it could be that Colby Donovan slots into that position.
Michel Ange Balikwisha makes a very rare starting appearance. On Friday O’Neill said that the former Antwerp man wasn’t a left-winger, his role today should be of interest.
BACKGROUND
After the disastrous eight match spell with Wilfried Nancy as manager the return of Martin O’Neill appears to have steadied things at Celtic.
Simply be returning to a 4-3-3 system and using players in their natural positions the hoops have returned to winning ways.
Celtic have shown two sides to their game since the return of the legendary manager.
There was some style and flair in the 4-0 win over Dundee United. At Falkirk in midweek it was simply a case of job done, 1-0 win, escape with the points.
Auchinleck’s Scottish Cup run started in September with a 2-1 victory over neighbours Cumnock Juniors.
That was followed by a 3-1 home win over Gretna 2008 then an impressive 4-0 win away to Dumbarton to go into the draw with Celtic.
Clubs in their West of Scotland League are considerably stronger than those in the Lowland League.
Last season’s WOS champions Clydebank are currently top of the Lowland League.
Celtic require a drama free victory today ahead of a very demanding run of fixtures.
CELTIC: Sinisalo; Ralston, Murray, Welsh, Donovan; McGregor, Bernardo, McCowan; Forrest, Balikwisha, Kenny
SUBS: Schmeichel, Scales, Nygren, Yang, Shin, Tounekti, Maeda, Hatate, Haney
Big risk all these changes…
Or after Falkirk in midweek maybe not !
“After the disastrous eight month spell with Wilfried Nancy …”
Well it certainly felt that long.
Games against bologna and hearts comin up and we are stuck with Johnny Kenny as our only recognised striker and has been that way for months and will continue that way till the seasons finished guaranteed. Absolute shambles of the highest order. Even sevco got new 12 million pound winger to add to the 10 million striker they bought now im not saying these guys are world beaters but at least their board is trying to get quality in an they’ve not got a pot to piss in. Imagine what they’ll do if they get their hands on champions league cash they’ll blow us out the water! Never mind tho we can always double our corporation tax payments next year
Martin O’Neil will have learned that only 3 or 4 starters tonight are of any future use to Celtic,but will probably have to make do and mend.
What a dreadful shower of shite.
3 or 4 at an absolute push big mick that was soul destroying to watch! Can’t ever remember in my life being less excited about goin to watch celtic play as I have been recently we’re in a bit dark place atm tbh a few top quality signings through the door would give the place and the fans a huge lift to kick on for the rest of the season but let’s be honest thats not gonna be happenin
It’s desperate stuff Mick,eh!
Sinisalo,Cal Mac,maybe young Donovan, possibly Bernardo (though i doubt that now) were the 3-4 i referred to,but couldn’t make a really strong case for keeping any tbh. It’s grim viewing for sure…so much so that I’ve literally taken to having a 15 min power nap during games,in the hope i wake up and it’s all a bad dream.
My only take after watching that ..
At least we get a break for a few days from watching this garbage
Fair play Auchinleck Talbot.
A team of part-timers who train twice a week (at night after work?) gave us a game,
and their fitness levels were impressive too.
Our second team looked just as poor as our first team! 🙁
I know it is unfair of guys not playing regularly, then to expect them to slot in immediately. But too many changes didn’t help, neither did the abysmal surface, never seen a decent game on astro grass yet. A bit harsh that a young player like Donovan gets shunted to the left hand side to accommodate Ralston, he is the guy with experience.
At the end of the day, they won with ease, kept a clean sheet, just as well as I would hate to see them go a goal down. Quite what MON learned I can only guess at very – VERY little. Tonetki at least brought some energy and life to the game…but the rest would have been as well buying a ticket….effort, intensity, ideas all left on the training ground.
2-0 or 20-0 it’s all the same into the hat for next round and game consigned to the bin