A few of the current Celtic squad are splitting opinions amongst the supporters when it comes to their place in the team, one being our Great Dane, Kasper Schmeichel…
Benjamin Nygren and Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic after the match Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 September 2025. Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock
Kasper admittedly has produced a few clangers in recent months, most notably his blunder in the Scottish Cup final, and his distribution has been called into question once or twice, but in my opinion he’s still very much the number one choice when it comes to pulling on the gloves.
His critics will tell you he’s ’overweight’ and whilst he’s naturally piled on a few pounds due to the ageing process, like every other professional footballer, he wouldn’t be near a football field if he was bursting the scales. Incidentally it’s most likely the same folk who accused Kelechi Iheanacho of being too ‘tubby’ after seeing some photoshopped mischief.
Kasper is an experienced player, one who is still deemed good enough to be first choice for the Denmark national side, and even at 38 is still a class act.
Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo after Daniels Balodis of St Johnstone scored to give St Johnstone a 1-0 lead. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, , McDiarmid Park, Perth, 06 April 2025: Photo Stuart Wallace/IMAGO Shutterstock
Viljami Sinisalo is a terrific back up, and has a great future ahead of him at Celtic, but will have to bide his time to take top billing, Maybe that will come next season, but the Finland international keeper clearly has time on his side.
Yes, Kasper has his faults, but what keeper doesn’t? He has after all only conceded two goals in competitive games this campaign thus far, which is in a big way down to the defenders in front of him, but Kasper has also played his part too.
Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel celebrates with Benjamin Nygren of Celtic at full-time. Nygren score 2 of Celtic’s 3 goals. Final score Celtic 3 Livingston 0. Celtic v Livingston, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 23 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock
Sure he had a couple of sloppy moments last night, but what about his terrific save which proved monumental in the end? Kasper is still a very solid and talented keeper, who is undoubtedly still the number one in Brendan’s eyes and that’s what matters most. However I’m sure that the majority of Celtic supporters would opt for Kasper to keep the gloves this season.
In the Europa League in particular his experience is going to be crucial as the team looks to go deep into this competition. Last night was a decent start with Kasper’s spectacular first half save probably the best of the night across all of the matches.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Readers of The Celtic Star and indeed all Celtic supporters joining the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and paying by direct debit will be able to claim a FREE stadium tour worth £18.50. This promotion will run from now until the 20th October 2025. Click on image to join.
CELTIC IN THE EIGHTIES by DAVID POTTER – OUT NOW!
Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Out now on Celtic Star Books. Click on image above to order.
Sinisalo wasn’t perfect with his feet as well against the main other big club in Glasgow (Partick Thistle).
So Kasper in league and Europa and Sinisalo in the cups. Fair deal I think
Kasper is starting to show signs of hesitancy. Maybe the time has come to give the gloves to Sinisalo and let Kasper become his backup.
No shame there!