Celtic FC Player of the Year 2023/34

Last Game Picks for Celtic Player of the Year 2023/24

As chosen by readers of Sentinel Celts & CQN

*RESULTS FROM GAME #45 DUNDEE 1 CELTIC 2 (FORREST(2))*

For the most part it was not an enjoyable watch yesterday although ultimately it was a result that I think all of us would have gladly accepted at the start of the day. With 3rd and 4th places in the league pretty much assured it is the battle for 5th spot and the resultant European place that gives a huge incentive to both Dundee and St Mirren. And both of those teams gave it a real go yesterday, with both just losing by the odd goal. Arguably that is our toughest fixture out of the way. Celtic only have one more away game to play in the league and it might even be that the title has been won before our trip to Rugby Park. But only if we play better than we did yesterday!
To be fair, I thought Celtic started well, creating several chances and getting a few shots on goal during the opening 15 minutes. But from then on Dundee came much more into the game and our early promise soon faded. But then, out of nothing, came a moment of real quality when Kyogo’s touch sat the ball up nicely for James Forrest to volley home our 100th goal of the season. James was to double our lead in the 2nd half to briefly calm the nerves until Adam Idah’s unfortunate own goal gave us a nervy final 15 minutes. Apart from a very good strike off the post from Reo Hatate, who had grown into the game and was producing our few moments of skill, we didn’t really look to threaten Dundee’s goal.
4 minutes into stoppage time and referee John Beaton decides to book Joe Hart for time wasting. I mean, what is the point in that? Showing a card for time wasting is surely designed to make the offending team get on with things for the rest of the game. Joe didn’t even have another touch of the ball after being carded. Oh and an additional minute was added on to the already generous 5 that had been shown. But all to no avail – Celtic came away with the 3 points and remain on top of the league.

We have now played 45 competitive games. We have managed 30 wins, 7 draws and 8 defeats, scoring 101 goals and conceding 47. We have 4 league games left, 3 of them at home. We are 3 points and 5 goals ahead of our nearest rivals. Match our closest rivals results and that will be enough to secure our 54th league title.
My thanks to the 75 who voted this time around. One voter cast just 1 vote and one other donated one of his votes to the St Mirren ball boy! And, for the first time in a very long time every single one of our 14 players received recognition! The total votes cast for each player are as follows, with my own nominations asterisked.

Hart: 11
Johnston: 2
Carter-Vickers: 40
Scales*: 48
Taylor: 3
McGregor: 1
Hatate*: 15
O’Riley: 5
Kuhn: 6
Kyogo: 2
Forrest*: 72
Iwata: 14
Idah: 2
Palma: 1

And so, the players receiving POINTS for the game against Dundee are –
Forrest – 5 points
Scales – 4 points
Carter-Vickers – 3 points
Hatate – 2 points
Iwata – 1 point

The overall positions after 45 games played are as follows –
88 points – O’Riley
86 points – Scales
62 points – Carter-Vickers
57 points – McGregor
42 points – Johnston, A.
40 points – Hart
34 points – Kyogo
28 points – Maeda and Palma
25 points – Yang
22 points – Bernardo
20 points – Oh
19 points – Kuhn
18 points – Taylor
16 points – Idah and Iwata
15 points – Forrest and Hatate
10 points – Ralston
9 points – Johnston M, Nawrocki and Turnbull
6 points – Lagerbielke
4 points – Bain, Bernabei and Holm
3 points – Welsh
2 points – Abada
0 points – Frame, Haksabanovic, Kelly, Phillips, Starfelt, Tilio and Vata

*APRIL PLAYER OF THE MONTH*
The Player Of The Month award is based simply on the total votes received across all games played. There were only 4 games during February – away trips to Sevco and Dundee, the cup semi final at Hampden against Aberdeen and our home win against St Mirren.
In 3rd place with 95 votes is Reo Hatate and the runner up on 119 votes is James Forrest. The player of the month for April, with 139 votes is Cameron Carter-Vickers.

So far the monthly winners have been –
August: Kyogo (4 games, 164 votes, average 41)
September: O’Riley (5 games, 259 votes, average 52)
October: Scales (5 games, 243 votes, average 49)
November: Scales (6 games, 191 votes, average 32)
December: McGregor (8 games, 281 votes, average 35)
January: O’Riley (3 games, 132 votes, average 44)
February: Hart (6 games, 206 votes, average 34)
March: Kuhn (3 games, 142 votes, average 47)
April: Carter-Vickers (4 games, 139 votes, average 35)

Our next game is a 3pm Saturday home tie against Hearts and a chance to open up a 6 point and 6 (at least) goal gap at the top before Sevco next take to the field on Sunday (they’re at home to Kilmarnock).
Hail Hail!

Printed by kind permission of JOBO BALDY

This is NOT an Official Celtic FC POTY Choice.

CELTIC FC PLAYER OF THE YEAR