Bring it home Celtic

Celtic FC Women start their SWPL1 one season with a visit to newly promoted Aberdeen this afternoon. A game live on BBC Alba with a 4.10 Kick Off…

On the back of a season where the underdog prevailed Celtic finished second, qualified for Champions League football and completed a green and whitewash of an expensively assembled theRangers team, the start of this campaign has been long awaited after an extensive pre-season, a Covid disrupted League Cup stage and of course a Trondheim trip for Champions League football.

There have been many changes this season as Celtic look to build on last year’s success. Well-known and high impact performers such as Lisa Robertson, Sarah Ewens, Anna Filbey and Mariah Lee have all moved on to fresh challenges. However Celtic haven’t rested on their laurels as they’ve become the United Nations of Scottish football, recruiting new players from the likes of Iceland, China, New Zealand, Canada the USA and closer to home in Ireland and England. In total seven new faces have arrived at the club and over the course of the next few weeks Fran Alonso’s famed squad rotation will ensure we get to see all of them in action.

Yet behind all of this remains a strong core of talent that saw Celtic have great success in the domestic league last season and ultimately, despite tasting defeat to both Levante and Minsk in Norway earlier this season, have a very commendable introduction to the top level of the European game in Champions League qualifying, certainly enough to whet the appetite for more.

The defence in particular was strong last season with two goalkeepers you’d struggle to separate in quality in Chloe Logan and Rachel Johnstone behind the likes of the versatile and fiercely competitive Jodie Bartle, the set piece and defensive strengths of Chloe Craig and Caitlin Hayes and the breakthrough performer last campaign, and looking to kick on in this, Chloe Warrington have been retained offering a real solid base on which to build.

READ THIS…Aberdeen v Celtic FC Women – “We know it’s going to be a tough game and we’re ready for it,” Charlie Wellings

Meanwhile Captain Kelly Clark, utilised in midfield against Levante also remains a defensive option to be relied upon. Celtic have also added American centre-back Cheyenne Shorts via French and U.S football. There is an argument to say Celtic may still be a little light in defence, particularly cover for Warrington at left full back, yet that could be countered by both the numbers and the versatility of others in the squad, so it is a minor quibble to be honest.

In midfield Celtic retain, but still await the return from injury, of Natalie Ross, a player who could go a long way to replacing the energy and commitment of Lisa Robertson in midfield, alongside Rachel Donaldson, Rebecca McAallister and the now fully recovered and focused Sarah Teegarden, the sort of player Celtic will need to pick the lock of low-lying Scottish defences.

Into that environment comes further depth by way of new Chinese international signing Shen Mengyu, Olivia Chance an experienced 27-year-old New Zealand international versatile enough to play in midfield and up front and Tyler Toland a young Irish midfielder highly regarded and with the right coach to aid her development.

Meanwhile in attacking positions Celtic retain a strong core and have added more to the mix. Jacynta will be looking to add consistency this season to her undoubted talent, Izzy Atkinson has blown us all away with pre-season and Champions league performances, the directness of Tegan Bowie returns once again, the undoubted promise of London Pollard will surely develop further this season, and Kathleen McGovern returns to the fold looking to put on loan experience to good use and stake a claim for regular involvement.

The new additions to bolster that attack meanwhile come in the form of Charlie Wellings, who has already scored in the League Cup and looks a well-rounded player, the deadline day signing of Canadian Clarissa Larisey looking to catch the eye of the Canadian national team by bagging a bucketload of goals having signed from Valur in Iceland and a youthful wide player addition María Ólafsdóttir Gros who already looks a player, despite her tender age, who could stretch opposition defences.

Fran Alonso has stated ‘we are stronger’ this season and although the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, on paper at least it looks as if strength in depth will be an advantage Alonso’s Celtic side will have over most other Scottish teams this season.

And whilst last season, taking the league title race right to the wire and qualifying for European football was deemed a success story, and rightly so, the demands of any team pulling on a Celtic strip is to improve, entertain and bring home silverware.

As such despite talk of the underdog tag being once again wheeled out by Fran Alonso it’s hard to believe that message is being replicated behind closed doors or believed in the dressing rooms of rivals. If Celtic are to be seen as progressing then a sustained league challenge, qualification for European football and a trophy to validate the club’s professional status have to be the targets for this season. In fact, why not just say it, the league flag flying has to be the aim!

This afternoon we’ll get an early indication as to how this new look side will line up, the shape they’ll adopt and we may even see some new stars help us forget the key losses from the summer break.

This promises to be a huge league campaign for Celtic and Fran Alonso and it all starts in Aberdeen this afternoon. It is a game not to be missed.

All the best to Celtic today and for the rest of the season. Bring it home Celtic!

Niall J

SWPL1 Sundays are back! 🤸‍♀️

🆚 Aberdeen
🏆 @SWPL 1
🏟️ Balmoral Stadium
🕓 4:10pm
📺 BBC Alba
🎫 U16s free, adults £5 (cash gate only)

Ready to do it all again!⌛️👊#SWPL1 | #ABECEL | #COYGIG pic.twitter.com/dHUhzC3TOI

— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) September 5, 2021