Suddenly I’m looking forward to Sunday a whole lot more

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·30 October 2025

Suddenly I’m looking forward to Sunday a whole lot more

As my colleagues on the Celtic Star have rightly stated in previous articles this morning, last night was one of the more enjoyable viewings this season and felt like a moment where our season may be about to catch fire following the false dawn after claiming three points against Sturm Graz just last week.

Celtic v Falkirk 29.10.2025 Scottish Premiership. Johnny Kenny goal 1-0. Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO

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With all the chaos that has surrounded the club over the past few days it was great to get back to the football and the performance from the Celtic team has certainly lifted some of the doom and gloom surrounding the club recently. It may have only been a home win against Falkirk but it felt like a lot more than that.

While we haven’t suddenly shaken off this season’s early woes, there were certainly plenty of positives to take from that performance. Firstly I can’t criticise any of the players last night who all seemed to give 100% in what must have been a truly tumultuous week watching on as their manager and many of the coaching staff left the club so unexpectedly.

Many of these players will have had a close personal relationship with the likes of Brendan Rodgers and John Kennedy, and although many people perceive footballers as robots, plenty of those players will have been left despondent at the sudden exit of these hitherto influential figures at the club.

Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney celebrate Celtic’s opening goal during the Premier League match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on October 29, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney deserve great credit for being able to lift the spirits of the squad and lay the foundations for them to be able to go out and perform so admirably as they did.

Last night could have been a disaster if we had failed to win and claim all three points, so well done to all involved in being able to block out the outside noise and concentrate on doing their jobs to the best of their ability.

Auston Trusty of Celtic at full time during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on October 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The new management team went with a tried and trusted game plan bringing in the likes of Anthony Ralston, Auston Trusty and James Forrest to help steady the ship. This was a time for experience, not a situation where you want to be testing the mettle of future potential like Dane Murray or Colby Donovan.

Just a few things I personally liked about the performance. Engels playing slightly further back showed that’s where he’s most suited, it’s something most of us have been saying all season. Him and McGregor both showed their combative quality and it freed Nygren to be more attacking, which suits his game better.

Johnny Kenny scores Celtic v Falkirk. 29 October 2025. Scottish Premiership, photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO

When the teams were announced a friend had texted into our WhatsApp group stating he couldn’t understand why we were playing Johnny Kenny again as he’s hopeless. I fervently defended the Irish striker staying I think he puts a lot of effort in and gets into good positions, he just hasn’t had any luck in front of goals as of yet.

I even joked that the boys should put the house on him scoring tonight. Unfortunately I didn’t take my own advice, even though a few others did lump a few quid on him scoring first goal! Anyway I was delighted for Kenny. The goals will do him the world of good and at the moment he’s clearly our number one striker, which whether you rate him or not, is the truth due to criminal failure to improve that area in the summer.

Marcelo Saracchi of Celtic controls the ball during the Premier League match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on October 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Another who I thought was tremendous last night and would surely have been man of the match had it not been for Kenny’s double was Marcelo Saracchi. He is everything I like in a player. Worked his socks off all night and was as impactful in attack as he was in defence. He’s also not afraid to get stuck in and seems like a bit of a maverick, the type of player Celtic fans could easily fall in love with.

I’m gutted we don’t have an option to buy written into this loan but surely something can be worked out at the end of the season? Would certainly earn the recruitment team some much needed brownie points from the Parkhead faithful.

One final point I would like to add is that I think we should start the same eleven on Sunday that did the job last night. Those players earned it with that performance.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic is seen during the Premier League match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on October 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Many will be hoping Tierney and Maeda will be back in the starting line up but I think it would be a mistake. Saracchi seems to have struck up a good partnership with Tounekti and if I’m totally honest i think he offers more to the team at this very moment than Tierney does. If Maeda is to start we will be dropping either Johnny Kenny or James Forrest.

The Irish striker is in form and getting better by the game so I don’t think he should drop out and I feel like Maeda struggles out right so would prefer an out and out right winger like Forrest starting there, with Maeda coming in later in the game where his added burst of pace could be exactly what we need.

Things are looking up. Suddenly I’m looking forward to Sunday a whole lot more.

Conall McGinty

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, signed copies by Danny McGrain available from celticstarbooks.com

Don’t miss the chance to purchase the late, great Celtic historian David Potter’s final book. All remaining copies have been signed by the legendary Celtic captain Danny McGrain PLUS you’ll also receive a FREE copy of David Potter’s Willie Fernie biography – Putting on the Style, and you’ll only be charged for postage on one book. Order from Celtic Star Books HERE.

Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books