The Celtic Underground

Celtic made it five league wins from five with a 2-1 comeback victory at St Mirren, but much of the post-match discussion inevitably centres on VAR after two Celtic goals were ruled out in controversial circumstances.
Andrew, Saint and Stephen pick through those decisions and debate whether, for all its flaws, Scottish football is still better with VAR than without it. There’s also plenty on the football itself: Celtic’s increasingly potent attack, the continuing vulnerability of a midfield without a genuine defensive presence, Yang’s improvement, Duran’s emergence and what happens when Høgh returns, the criticism of Sinisalo, and whether new arrival Sorensen might finally provide the balance the team has been missing.
With St Johnstone next and Ibrox looming, the discussion turns to team selection, horses for courses and whether Martin O’Neill should be prepared to change the system when the occasion demands it.
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Celtic followed up the home win over Falkirk with a comfortable 3-0 win over Aberdeen, and Andrew and Stephen join Harry to discuss a side that suddenly looks enjoyable to watch again. There’s plenty on the performances of Duran, Yang, Donovan and McGregor, first impressions of the new arrivals, and why increased competition throughout the squad may be lifting the level of those already there. The discussion also returns to the painful European exit and the uncomfortable truth that two things can be true at once: Celtic should have strengthened earlier, but the players and management should still have seen out a four-goal advantage.
With the transfer window now closed, the focus turns to what Celtic have actually built. Has recruitment finally moved away from hedging bets on several cheaper players towards spending proper money on better ones, or does another frantic deadline week demonstrate that the underlying problems remain? The guys go position by position through the squad, debate the missing defensive midfielder and the goalkeeping situation, and look at the increasingly difficult UEFA homegrown-player problem.
Finally, attention turns to St Mirren and how Martin O’Neill begins integrating a raft of new players while preparing Celtic for the bigger tests ahead.
This podcast is available to members of the CU community immediately with everyone else able to pick it up from Friday lunchtime.
We have excellent content for free and paid subscribers. There’s the main podcast available to all on a Monday morning with Harry’s post-game Monopods to all paid subscribers within 12 hours of the final whistle. Wednesdays sees Matthews History podcast available to all and Sunday has Andrew exclusive guests available to members of the CU community. These are all interspersed with various articles and Ross Hall’s postgame coverage of the B-Team.
If you want to ensure that you never miss any content you can become a paid or free subscriber by clicking the links.
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

In Celtic’s history, the name John Thomson will always be tinged with tragedy.
95 years ago, the Fife goalkeeper died whilst representing the Celts.
This is the story of his life.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
From next month, you can also buy the two-part book series ‘Green, white and silverware’ by Matthew Marr, describing Celtic’s less well-known trophy wins.
To get details, follow Hail Hail History on Twitter/X and Bluesky or keep listening to the Celtic Underground.
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

For this weeks free podcast, Harry is joined by Matthew & Keith to pick through the aftermath of Celtic’s extraordinary European collapse against LASK and the response at Celtic Park in the weekend win over Falkirk.
Despite the anger surrounding the Champions League exit, the backing for the team provides a reminder of the difference between supporting Celtic and being satisfied with how the club is being run. The guys assess the Falkirk performance, the early impressions of Celtic’s new arrivals and where the squad remains worryingly short, with left-back, defensive midfield and goalkeeper among the areas discussed as the transfer deadline approaches.
The conversation then widens to the bigger question of what Celtic do next. With Europa League football now the reality, should the club reset and set an ambitious target for the competition rather than dwell on Champions League failure?
There’s discussion of recruitment, Martin O’Neill, the coming games with Rangers and the continuing frustration at a club sitting on considerable resources while investment is needed both on and off the pitch. From the ageing Celtic Park experience to the inadequate facilities currently provided for Celtic Women, the question running through the episode is less about one disastrous European night and more about whether Celtic have the ambition and strategy to make the most of the position they are in.
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

25 years ago, the life of one Celtic legend came to an end.
Bobby Evans was a massive player for the club in the 1940s and 1950, best remembered as the captain of the 7-1 side.
This latest history podcast tells his story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also soon buy the two-part book series ‘Green, white and silverware’ by Matthew Marr, describing Celtic’s less well-known trophy wins.
To get details, follow Hail Hail History on Twitter/X and Bluesky or keep listening to the Celtic Underground.
Enjoy…
Apple podcasts
Spotify
Amazon
Player.fm
Spreaker
Audioboom
Youtube


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe