O'Neill's big calls pay off in Celtic's 7-1 win over Hearts
The Football Show LIVE panel credited Martin O'Neill's team changes after Celtic beat Hearts 7-1, but warned Celta Vigo will be a different story.
By PLZ Soccer,
Celtic's 7-1 win over Hearts dominated The Football Show LIVE on Monday 19 October. The panel credited Martin O'Neill's team selection but warned that a harder test lies ahead against Celta Vigo.
Tam McManus pointed to "a wee bit of arrogance about Hearts" in the way the visitors approached the match. The panel asked whether Hearts had bought into the hype after Tony Bloom's comments on the way they had played in dismantling St Mirren. They also questioned whether Hearts believed they were good enough to go to Celtic Park and play an open game.
The panel's view was that Hearts went toe-to-toe with Celtic and played man-for-man at the back. That left Kingsley and McCart exposed to the pace, power and athleticism of Celtic's front three, and it was suggested the scoreline could have been eight or nine. That approach was seen as easier for Hearts at Tynecastle, where a tighter pitch suits pressing. One panellist did not think Hearts had won away from home since January. The panel also noted individual errors and suggested the Thursday-Sunday schedule may be starting to catch up with Hearts, given their side was very similar to the one that faced Nordsjaelland on the Thursday.
O'Neill's selection
"Big calls there for Martin O'Neill," the panel said, highlighting the decisions to bring in Osmand, drop Høgh and play Durán through the middle. Those changes were described as really big calls and influential in the game.
Peter Martin said "you go from one extreme to the other with Celtic" this season. The panel contrasted fans' anger over European performances with domestic displays like this one. In those moments, criticism of the manager's tactics and claims that he is too old give way to a comfortable win. The panel added that it is all about winning games, and winning them comfortably.
The bigger picture
The discussion sat against a wider concern that the standard of Scottish football is slipping and the gap with other European leagues is widening. The argument was that, season after season, Celtic have sold players of a certain standard and replaced them with worse ones.
The win over Hearts was seen as a step in the right direction, but the panel expected Celtic against Celta Vigo to be a different story.