Whether you’re checking form, injuries, and stats every week or only drop the odd bet every once in a while, Celtic will no doubt have caught your eye plenty of times this season.
What will go down in history as a turbulent time for the team also represented a dynamic opportunity to get to know some of the team’s most prominent players. Throughout the season, some of the top betting sites offers in Ireland centred on the team thanks to their ability to keep eyes locked on them, even when the going was tough.
And we all know that at the end of the storm there was a golden sky at Hampden as Brendan Rodgers led his team to the Double in his first season back at the club, winning both the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup, beating theRangers to both trophies to the delight of the Celtic support.
Here are a few who got the bettors’ pens scratching this season.
Celtic’s Midfield Metronome: Matt O’Riley
If you put money on Celtic matches this season, chances are Matt O’Riley paid off handsomely for you. The midfield maestro was head and shoulders above the rest, rated as Celtic’s top performer by the respected FotMob stats app with a lofty 8.03 rating.
O’Riley racked up an impressive eight Player of the Match awards, consistently dictating play and proving to be a constant thorn in the side of opposition teams. His composure on the ball, range of passing, and eye for the killer ball made him a focal point of Celtic’s attacks. Bettors who backed the Dane in anytime goalscorer markets would have cashed in frequently too.
For sports bettors who pay close attention to underlying metrics, O’Riley’s standout numbers would have been a flashing green light all season long to back Celtic when he was in the line-up. His impact was simply too big to ignore from a betting perspective.
Celtic’s Unsung Hero: Liam Scales
While not grabbing as many headlines as some of his teammates, no-nonsense defender Liam Scales quietly put together a phenomenal individual campaign according to the data. FotMob rated the Irishman as Celtic’s second-best performer at 7.88.
Scales may have flown under the radar for some, but astute bettors would have noted his consistent excellence at the back and the stabilising presence he provided in the Celtic defence. For those betting on clean sheet or under goals markets, having Scales marshalling the backline was a reassuring factor.
His impressive rating indicates Scales was an underrated contributor to Celtic’s defensive solidity amid the team’s turbulent title charge. Sports bettors would have been rewarded for recognising Scales’ underrated importance before the masses caught on.
Celtic’s Captain Marvel: Callum McGregor
The Scottish Premiership isn’t the first time the unflappable Callum McGregor has excelled as Celtic’s inspirational captain. McGregor earned a stellar 7.77 rating from FotMob, demonstrating his continued importance to the Hoops’ cause.
McGregor’s ability to control tempo, connect play, and provide a goal threat from midfield makes him a nightmare for opponents to handle. For bettors, having the classy McGregor pulling the strings represented a mark of quality that could sway them towards backing Celtic, especially in the bigger matches.
The captain’s consistency was also reflected in him earning one Player of the Match award this season. That steady influence in the engine room made McGregor a relatively bankable commodity for punters assessing Celtic’s chances on any given match-day.
Celtic’s Summer Coup: Luis Palma
One of Celtic’s key summer arrivals, winger Luis Palma lived up to his billing with a highly impressive first season, as underlined by his 7.74 rating that put him just behind McGregor.
Pacey, direct, and possessing excellent end product, the Argentine’s four Player of the Match awards highlighted the impact he made for Celtic in the final third. Bettors who spotted Palma’s potential to terrorise Scottish Premiership defences early doors will have profited nicely.
When assessing Celtic’s attacking potential for any given fixture, having Palma’s name pencilled into the starting XI was a big tick in the positive column for bettors. His productive knack for goals and assists made him a popular pick in anytime scorer markets too.
Rollercoaster Campaign Provides Betting Headaches
Despite the impressive individual performers outlined above, Celtic’s 2023/24 title defence under returning manager Brendan Rodgers proved to be a turbulent roller-coaster ride in reality, albeit one that had a happy ending.
Injuries ravaged the squad, disrupting momentum and consistency at key junctures. The backdrop of narratives around Rodgers’ re-appointment and discontent from sections of the media also added subplots to an already dramatic campaign.
For bettors, those fluctuating circumstances and lack of a stable, predictable Celtic side for large swathes of the season represented a challenging puzzle to solve when trying to identify value betting opportunities.
However, backing the key performers like O’Riley, Scales, McGregor and Palma – players whose individual quality shone through regardless of the noise – would have provided some welcome islands of profit amid the stormy seas of Celtic’s up-and-down title defence.
And the proof is in the pudding as Celtic delivered a double delight to send the support into the close season with huge smiles on their faces.
