We need a clear plan for next week. Pick a centre half you trust, decide whether two up gets the best from Chermiti, and sort the midfield so Hatate doesn't run the show.

Defence — who do we trust at centre half?

Let's be honest: the Souttar aerial issue has been glaring and it's understandable folk are rattled. At the same time Djiga still carries baggage in people's heads after that Braga moment. It's a choice between a shaky known and an uncertain alternative. Danny needs to pick the pairing that gives the team composure on the ball and a real presence in the box. That might mean changing who comes in when the game gets physical, not merely swapping names for the sake of it.

Midfield — shore it up or gamble on two up top?

Two up top helps Chermiti, no doubt. He looks livelier with support and causes headaches for defenders. But Celtic's midfield will be sturdier with Hatate involved. If we leave ourselves light in the middle we'll get run over in transitions. My thinking is to start with an extra body in midfield to contest the second balls, then bring a forward on if we need to quicken things. Questions for Danny: who wins the central battles, who drops to press, and who keeps the width without leaving lanes exposed?

Attack, attitude and who steps up

Would I start Olsen again? I can see both sides. If he showed enough in the last outing to keep a place, fine. But the real issue is mentality. We couldn't handle that second-half collapse and that needs fixing more than a tweak to the front three. Players like Raskin and Moore have to grab games by the scruff of the neck now. The lads must start with the right tempo, press smart, and see the match out. Win every game from here on? That's the goal. But first, give us a performance that makes doubters believe again. I'll be right behind the team, but I expect them to make a statement next week.

Written by jv1: 18 March 2026

Tags: spfl injury match-review tactics