Less said the better about Celtic’s showing, but Russell Martin had plenty to say | OneFootball

Less said the better about Celtic’s showing, but Russell Martin had plenty to say | OneFootball

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·4 de agosto de 2025

Less said the better about Celtic’s showing, but Russell Martin had plenty to say

Imagen del artículo:Less said the better about Celtic’s showing, but Russell Martin had plenty to say

Celtic started the defence of our league title with a 1-0 victory over a resolute St Mirren at Celtic Park, but just and no more as it took a very late goal from super-sub Luke McCowan to give us the three points which were certainly merited but securing them was something or a struggle to say the least.

Imagen del artículo:Less said the better about Celtic’s showing, but Russell Martin had plenty to say

Luke McCowan of Celtic celebrates with teammates Callum McGregor & Johnny Kenny after scoring to give Celtic a 1-0 lead. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 03 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace. IMAGO / Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)


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The less said about this Celtic performance the better

It was a valuable three points in the end, but the less said about the performance the better. Celtic, despite what Brendan Rodgers was saying afterwards, to me looked out of sorts, and in particular lacked a serious cutting edge up top in a game we treated very much like a pre- season friendly.

On the day the Maestro Paul McStay himself unfurled the league flag, we could have done with a player of his ability on the pitch as we badly lacked a creative and cutting edge as an attacking force with Benjamin Nygren failing to make the expected impact and both Adam Idah and Yang fluffing their lines in any attempt to justify a starting role in the team.

Defensively we looked fine and Liam Scales certainly played very well with Sandman awarding him the MOTM in his Definitive Ratings posted earlier this morning on The Celtic Star. We were rarely troubled by a St Mirren side who looked content just to sit back and soak up the pressure, as was well within their rights.

Too many subdued performances from players wearing the Hoops

It was up to Celtic to breach and better those tactics, but we were continuously foiled by a mixture of bad luck, woeful finishing and some questionable officiating. But mostly by too many subdued performances from players wearing the Hoops.

Imagen del artículo:Less said the better about Celtic’s showing, but Russell Martin had plenty to say

Former Celtic captain Paul McStay walks out the tunnel before raising the Scottish Premiership flag. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Football, Celtic Park, Glasgow, 3 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)

A wins a win as they say, but anyone who thinks that this title is something of a mere formality should maybe think again. It never is, just ask Paul McStay.

Next up for Celtic is a trip to Pittodrie

Next up for Celtic is a trip to Pittodrie on Sunday where we will get the chance to see the Scottish Cup being paraded around the stadium ahead of kick-off. Aberdeen get their own campaign underway this evening at Tynecastle in the 8pm kick-off that’s live on Sky Sports. Might be worth a look to see how these two top six challengers are shaping up for the new campaign and to get any early indications that they can split the big Glasgow pair.

If Celtic were far from impressive in getting the job done, theRangers were woeful and even their new manager admitted that they were extremely lucky to leave Fir Park with a point on Saturday. That was more down to some comical finishing from Motherwell who could have scored a handful before eventually grabbing an equaliser in the closing stages. Even then they had a glorious opportunity to win the match but missed another sitter.

theRangers manager throws his players under the boss

So Russell Martin began his first domestic season as theRangers by spilling two points on their opening day at Fir Park. And the former Southampton manager certainly wasn’t shy in letting rip at his underperforming superstars (in their own heads) as he very publicly questioned their commitment and attitude. Martin on day one of the new campaign threw his players under the bus, even for the 2012ers that is something of a record.

Imagen del artículo:Less said the better about Celtic’s showing, but Russell Martin had plenty to say

29th July 2025; Spiros Louis Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece; UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round Second Leg Football, Panathinaikos versus theRangers; Russell Martin speaks to the media. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The scoreline was a perfect Saturday pick me up for the Celtic supporters and we all had a little chuckle at Russell Martin’s post match outburst. Having watched the game he certainly had a point.

The former Scotland international was pretty open about his feelings towards his Galacticos without naming names, but one name he did drop raised more than a few eyebrows.

Martin clearly stated that Cyriel Dessers was the only one of his players that the club had received an offer for, which had a few Celtic supporters saying the same thing, and that was concerning Dessers strike partner Hamza Igamane.

Feel good transfer fairy stories in the Scottish media

After all it was just a few short weeks ago that the SMSM were boasting that the Ibrox club had knocked back a very significant offer for the Moroccan. It’s not like them to make things up is it?

Imagen del artículo:Less said the better about Celtic’s showing, but Russell Martin had plenty to say

29th July 2025; Spiros Louis Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece; UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round Second Leg Football, Panathinaikos versus theRangers; Russell Martin speaks to the media. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Next up for Russell Martin is a double header starting at Ibrox against Czech side Viktoria Pizen in the third qualifying round for the Champions League with a game against Dundee at Ibrox sandwiched between those two crucial ties.

Celtic are at Ibrox at the end of the month, looking for our first victory over theRangers in 2025. The system Martin is playing looks like it might suit Celtic but that’s a good few weeks away yet and much is going to happen before the Glasgow Derby on and off the park for both clubs.

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