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Celtic picked up another important win against Aberdeen at Celtic Park with a convincing 3-0 result. Several things caught my eye about the performance. From Hassan’s directness to the Ox continuing to improve. Here are five talking points from Wednesday’s match.
1. Hassan looks like he is going to be asset
Watching Hassan from the start against Aberdeen I thought he looked a real threat. His direct running and pace reminded me of Didier Agathe during O’Neill’s first run as manager in the 2000’s. His ability to take on his man out wide and beat him is not only something this team has been missing, but it’s also a dying art in football. If he settles into the rhythm of the team moving forward then I think his running power could be a real asset for us this season. With Jota’s quality on the left and Hassan’s pace on the right, we’d have a really good mix. I can’t help think he might have turned the tide had he come on during last week’s horror show in Austria.
2. Shim Mheuka had something coming off the bench
The young Chelsea striker got around 20 minutes off the bench last night and looked a real handful. He was lively and keen to impress on what was his first ever top level appearance. I was specifically impressed by his physicality, his energy and his eagerness to close down. His scoring record at Prem 2 level would indicate that he will be an asset when called upon this season. I still expect Høgh and Duran to be the main strikers but Mheuka showed he is here for game time this season.
3. Oxlade-Chamberlain is looking better with every game
I thought Oxlade-Chamberlain offered very little last season and was surprised to see the club renew his contract this summer. However, the former Arsenal man played well again last night after a positive start to the season. He seems to be getting better the more he plays, probably down to his improved fitness levels after a pre season. He seems both calm and composed on the ball and you can see him use his experience throughout the match. I don’t expect him to play a huge amount for us this season with the number of midfielders we have signed, however the former England international will be a useful option for O’Neill based on the start he’s made.
4. Yang ahead of Tounekti
Based on what I’ve seen between the two wingers I would pick Yang every single time. Last night did nothing to change my mind on that. While Tounekti flatters to deceive, Yang is direct and purposeful. Preferably neither would be a starting winger for Celtic, however the South Korean is at least dynamic and offers an attacking purpose. While Tounekti passes the ball backwards too often. For that reason I think Yang will be a miss for us during the Asian games.
5. Sinisalo Looks Like he’s Celtic’s No.1
It looks like Sinisalo will start the season as No.1 despite the arrival of Sam Johnstone. The former wolves goalkeeper was on the bench last night after arriving on loan earlier in the day. Early indications are that Sinisalo will start the season in goal with Johnstone having to wait for his opportunity.
Martin O’Neill is said to be a genuine fan of Johnstone from his time in England. Based on last night, it looks like he won’t walk into the club as automatic first choice. The manager will be looking for genuine competition between the sticks ahead of a long season with a lot of games.
Opinion
Last night was a chance to get a look at some of the new signings and it was promising. We’ll have to wait to see how they fit in longer term, but Martin O’Neill has some real genuine competition for places now heading into a long season. A solid 3-0 home win, which could have been more if they didn’t take their foot off the gas in the second half. Early days but signs are promising for this team going forward.
What do you think? Did you notice anything different from last night’s match?
All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only
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