DUNDEE, SCOTLAND - APRIL 05: Celtic Manager Martin O'Neill pre-match during a William Hill Premiership match between Dundee and Celtic at Dens Park, on April 05, in Dundee, Scotland. (Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Martin OāNeill didnāt spare Tomas Cvancara following Celticās 2-1 win away to Dundee.
The on loan striker had four decent opportunities to score but was substituted in the 57th minute. As soon as Dundee equalised through Simon Murray.
The Dundee skipper has never threatened to earn a Ā£10m transfer to the Bundesliga but has attracted plenty of admiring comparisons from Celtic fans.
Recently turned 34, yesterdayās goal was the fifth time in 2026 that Murray has scored in the SPFL.
It isnāt an outstanding record but it is clearly better than Celtic are getting from their strikers.
From the summer sale of Adam Idah the issues in front of goal have been obvious to all Celtic fans.
O’NEILL SHUFFLES THE PACK LOOKING FOR GOALS
In January the club brought in Cvancara and Junior Adamu to solve that issue. So far they have scored two goals in the SPFL Premiership. Not the solutions that O’Neill would have been hoping for
Both have had their moments in the Scottish Cup but that is very much the secondary target of the season.
At Dundee Cvancara lasted less than an hour. Adamu never made the bench. Thankfully Kelechi Iheanacho scored his third SPFL goal since September to keep Celtic in the title hunt.
6 minutes
QUESTION– What did you make of Tomas Cvancara’s performance up front today? He missed a few chances?
O’NEILL
Yeah, naturally he was pretty down there, even though we had the win. He was down because he needs to score.
In his mind, he needs to score a goal. Some of the chances that he had today, I think he could have easily had two. And it becomes frustrating, because no matter what you say, centre-forwards are those things.
They thrive on scoring goals. The confidence is big when you put the ball in the net. And so it’s a frustrating time for him today.
Up until yesterday Cvancara had looked like the best of Celtic’s striking options.
There has been a strong argument that Celtic don’t create enough opportunities for their strikers. That case ended yesterday.
Twice Cvancara was sent through one on one with Jon McCracken. He clipped one unconvincingly off the post. In the second half a poor touch allowed McCracken to collect, soon afterwards Murray equalised with a penalty.
Last time out, away to Dundee United it was Iheanacho that started as striker. In the previous match Daizen Maeda was tried through the centre but that plan was binned after 45 minutes with Cvancara influential coming off the bench.
It almost seems that the striking position is jinxed at Celtic this season, fortunately there is only six SPFL matches left with substitutes having a big influence on results.
Maedaā¦.why?
Itās like a 10yr old has been given a game with the adults.
We are starting games with 10 players when he lines up.
When he runs onto a pass itās like watching your dog chase down the baw u just threw for him and it gets all tangled up in his legs.
If we had any strength in depth at all he wouldnāt get near the squad.
Heās gone from a genuine match winner to absolutely honking.
If I was MON Iād be paying more attention to that tbh.
As for the defence, havenāt been more feart since the Efe Ambrose daysā¦.an absolute bombscare at the back every attack.
Trusty is a better player on the left side of the centre of defense. Maeda looks so erratic but would be hard to leave out. In my opinion, Callum Osmand would be a welcome return to the front line.
There’s a reason why players are made available on loan,
…and there’s a reason why our Board is continuously attracted to loan players!
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Just how do u build a team for the future when all u ever seem to bring in are loanees?
When the chips are down, there arenāt any āloansā who are gonna be giving all for the cause, there all off back from whence they came and avoiding the flack for a disastrous season, they just arenāt invested.
Can anyone actually recollect the last time we actually had a ā teamā in the proper sense of the word?
A settled squad over several seasons that u just knew could and would deliver?
By the time this season is over, I fully expect Sevco to be champions, cos if we are all honest, they actually look the most likely, if MON manages to get this title it will be his and the clubs greatest league achievement considering the absolute bollocks that has gone on, but letās be honest, I know as fans we all want our team to be champions, but this team just doesnāt deserve to be as we are crap, and it would be embarrassing to all other clubs to see Celtic lift the title having had such a dis-functional season, and equally embarrassing to Sevco to actually finish second in a season we have been so bad.
But yet, even with the narrative that abounds, we are still only 2 behind them and 3 behind the diets.
Itās just too close at the top for us to win this title, the establishment will see to that.
McInness will soon witness the dark arts now heās trying to close out a title, as will we.
Operation CL for Sevco cannot be stopped, itās already written.
By the time this is over, from last yr CL qualification to this yearsā¦our spineless gutless egotistical suits will have cost the club circa 80m, almost in a calendar year, and it could be more if we end up third.
In any other business thatās unsurvivable for the suitsā¦..except at Celtic of course.
SHOULD WE TRY YANG AS OUR MAIN STRIKER,HE IS QUICK,LIKES TO SHOOT AND IS A WILLING RUNNER,UNLIKE OUR OTHER STRIKERS ? MAEDA NEEDS TO PLAY LEFT MID
Cvancara was the worst of a bad bunch yesterday where we witnessed yet another turgid performance complete with our now habitual second-half drop off allowing Dundee to get right back into the game. McGregor was evidently weak and slow while Scales looked like a disaster waiting to happen.
Donovan showed early promise in his first games but now looks like an even worse option than Ralston at RB. Nothing short of a mammoth scale rebuild (Ange Postecoglou style) might stand us in good stead for next season with loanees Araujo and Saracchi two among the very few players I’d like to keep at the club.
Goes without saying that this rebuild should also be at board level because the future with the present incumbents looks totally bleak.
if carlsberg did s..t teams……….? this has got to be the worst celtic team since the nineties although it must be really disheartening for ALL the rest as were still thereabouts despite that !
Imo our best chance of winning this league is keeping it tight for an hour then bringing on Iheanacho, Forrsest & whatever midfielder is left on the bench. The Ox showed decent signs yesterday 1st half, passing & vision were both decent but tires after 30 mins, which heaps more pressure on Calmac.
We still have game changers in the squad however NONE of them can play effectively for a full 45 mins, so that needs properly managed. As does our defense – particularly RB.
Doesnāt matter what we try – Theyāre too poor to see it over the line !
No disagreement with the comments so far but really disappointed with our fans. Yes it might sound good to chant āsack the boardā but what does that actually mean? Who are the new board and do we want our version of the Glazers taking over !
Letās just support the team as best we can. We are actually not in a bad position, on the shoulder leading into the home straight. With united support ( and no fā¦ing tennis balls etc) we can do this !
Editor: Another visitor in from Thick News. Every opportunity needs to be used to highlight the incompetence/self sabotage of the Executives who have created such a ‘thrilling’ SPFL title race. Plus their silence on the multiple attacks on Celtic employees at Ibrox on March 8.
NOTE We already have our Glazers in place.
Editor…
We certainly have plenty Glazers in the team for sure…
All these bloody players made of Glass !!!
DD is a lot worse than the Glazers on all fronts.