NEIL LENNON yesterday described Olivier Ntcham as a ‘moody Frenchman’ who is too good not to be in his starting eleven.
Ntcham missed out on the sponsor’s Man of the Match on Wednesday night – they gave it to debut Bhoy Jeremie Frimpong – but both The Celtic Star in our Match Report and Sandman in his outrageously hilarious Player Ratings with agreed that Ntcham was the main man against Partick Thistle in what was an impressive performance from Celtic. No-one grudged Frimpong his award though, least of all Olivier.
Ntcham, as the manager hinted in yesterday’s Media Conference – which you can watch below – is likely to start today. The gaffer admitted that he prefers Ntcham in the more forward role he was deployed in that second half in midweek – those two goals were awesome, the second incidentally (in case you missed it) featured the added bonus of a nutmeg.
Last weekend against Kilmarnock James Forrest played on the left and provides an enhanced goal threat coming in from that flank.
He was left scratching his head how he never managed to get on the goal sheet – he could have had three or four on another day, hitting the woodwork twice and forcing a couple of outstanding saves from the keeper, one of which was gratefully received by Ryan Christie for a tap in to take him into double figures for the season.
Christie was played on the right last weekend and we could see that again today, with Ntcham taking his Number 10 position.
Factoring all this in Neil Lennon could be looking at lining his starting eleven up to look like this against Hibs today…
Forster
Elhamed, Ajer, Jullien, Bolingoli
Brown, McGregor
Christie, Ntcham, Forrest
Edouard
And Scotty Sinclair did more than enough on Wednesday to earn a place on the bench, we could see him as the first chance of the game. Tom Rogic too is back in contention after having his best game of the year against Thistle.
Celtic are going for a Magnificent Seven straight league wins today. Easter Road is always a tough place to get anything so we’ll have to be approaching our best to take the three points. Here’s Lenny’s Media Conference from yesterday…
Today both sets of supporters will honour Pat Stanton, a Hibs legend who was a class act in his year wearing the Hoops. We have featured his time at Celtic earlier this morning – well worth a read…
Today is Pat Stanton Tribute Day at Easter Road, this is his Celtic Story…see HERE.
It’s a new ticket system at Hibs today, allow yourself a wee bit additional time ???????????? @CelticFC pic.twitter.com/dEE0c6zhWX
— Celtic FC SLO (@CelticFCSLO) September 28, 2019
