Time to take Kasper out of the firing line, for the time being at least…
Dane Murray’s clearance is deflected past Kasper Schmeichel during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Celtic FC and SC Braga at Celtic Park on October 02, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Recently I wrote about how I firmly believe that Kasper Schmeichel is the number one choice under Brendan Rodgers, and I still believe that to be the case, but I think it’s time the Dane was taken out of the firing line for a game or two after yet another unconvincing display in last night’s dreadfully disappointing defeat by Sporting Braga at Celtic Park.
Kasper was undoubtedly to blame for the opening goal, whilst his distribution was shockingly poor the entire night in yet another under par performance by both the goalkeeper and indeed the entire side barring Sebastian Tounekti, who spoke to The Celtic Star alongside Callum McGregor after the 2-0 defeat.
The veteran Celtic keeper’s poor showing wasn’t overlooked by the increasingly impatient Celtic support who loudly let the Dane know how they felt once or twice during the game.
READ THIS…Post-Match Interview – Sebastian Tounekti speaks to The Celtic Star
Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic FC during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26, Celtic FC vs SC Braga, Celtic Park, on 02/10/2025. Photo Colin Poultney PSI
Ironically it was Kasper’s distribution that was a vocal point in our success last season, but for some reason or another he’s been very poor in that side of his game, and whilst I wouldn’t say it’s the sole root of our problems, it’s effecting the way we play and last night it caused the momentum in the match to switch from Celtic, who had made a decent start to the match, to Sporting Braga.
READ THIS...Post-Match Interview – Callum McGregor speaks to The Celtic Star
Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo reacts during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Viljami Sinisalo has more than proven that he’s ready, and more importantly good enough to deputise for Kasper, so it’s only fair that he’s given that chance for starting on Sunday against Motherwell at Celtic Park. No-one is guaranteed a starting spot at Celtic and if form dips it’s only right that the player involved should drop to the bench, it’s the entire point of competition for places is it not?
READ THIS…“It’s my responsibility. I need to somehow find the solutions,” Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Celtic FC and SC Braga at Celtic Park on October 02, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
I believe it will do Kasper the world of good, but more importantly it will be of great benefit to the team, starting on Sunday. Then it’s up to Viljami Sinisalo to keep the gloves of Kasper to win them back as the two compete for to be the first name on the Celtic team-sheet.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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This comment to rest Schmeichel is long overdue —-There is nothing worse , as a defender , to have a dodgy keeper between the sticks and this nervousness and anxiety goes through the whole team . Schmeichel , to all intents , is a leader in the dressing room and was probably one of the reasons for Celtic’s success since he came to the club .
” All good things come to an end” and it now seems as though Schmeichel’s best days are behind him . A great shot-stopper but was always weak on cross balls . He cost us the Scottish Cup by an ” Own goal ” and by somehow managing to dive the wrong way for every one of Aberdeen’s penalties . He has also had a couple of poor games against (the) Rangers . Last night was an absolute “Nightmare” ; he passed the ball to Braga on about a dozen occasions causing ,” Gitters ” through the whole team —-Definitely , time for a change .
Another result of Rodgers selection policy in play, and kasper isn’t the only benefactor from such a policy either.
For kasper, I always felt that this season was going to be his last, especially within a world cup season.
Believe kasper would like to bow out after the world cup, taken Denmark even make it in the first place.
So doubtful kasper could even keep his place for Denmark in the qualification process, if he isn’t 1st choice for ourselves imo.
So with such a policy in existence, then finding it increasingly frustrating, that ourselves as a club, should be suffering with such a policy.
Well known that Rodgers likes his favouritism in certain players for selection, but at what cost to ourselves?
No player at a club like ourselves should be guaranteed a starting position.
That’s not the case for ourselves, and hasn’t been the case for some time now.
Form seems to mean nothing in our current selection policy, so who needs to start taking responsibility for the likes created?
Kasper in decline as is Calmac.
Sad to witness a great player losing the edge that enabled him to direct the team forward.
He is the onfield general and no longer has the legs to work in tandem with his football brain.
Hence this season we are witnessing the stilted displays with Calmac the conductor.
Hopefully Brendan will act now to give a fresh impetus after the break.
Treble there for the winning.
Hail Hail.