James Forrest

Was very good and is going to be important until we get a RW in.

 

had a feeling Jonny Kenny would grab a couple before match , think he will score again against sevco this weekend and James Forrest to score at least one against sevco this weekend.

 

Spot on mate. The fact Rodgers never started our only natural right winger in games is baffling.

 

James Forrest was just eight years old when Martin O'Neill stood on the steps outside of Celtic Park in the year 2000 and vowed to do everything in his power to bring some success to the football club. A quarter of a century on, the aura of the Northern Irishman remains.


One of O'Neill's key managerial attributes is instilling confidence in players. That was no more apparent on Wednesday evening when a reinvigorated Celtic team swept aside Falkirk by four goals to nil.

A much bigger test lies in wait at Hampden Park tomorrow, but O'Neill's early impact is visible. "He spoke with us for like 10 to 15 minutes in the morning of the Falkirk game," says Forrest. "You could just see all the boys really bought into what he was saying. Especially for me, knowing what he's done for the club.



"The aura, when he was in the room, when he was speaking, everyone was properly tuned in, and that's what he deserves.

"Straight away, he was talking, he was so positive, he was praising the lads, he was being really confident. And that was, I think, maybe what the lads needed in the morning of the game, just obviously because it was a difficult 48 hours for everyone at the club.




He just made it really light-hearted. He was just telling us what happened obviously, the phone call on the Monday, him coming back, and I think he said he was nervous but excited and wanted to do well for us. He was going round the lads and telling us that there are winners in the changing room, and just bigging us up, and I think it was good, it really hit home.

"He spoke for 10 to 15 minutes, and I feel as though the boys were really tuned into him.

"You've got Cal [Callum McGregor], great captain, everything he says, everything he takes on as well, so it's great to have that, and obviously it's a wee difficult period just now, but I think it will show the characters and stuff coming out now.

"It's just part of playing for a big club, you're going to get ups and downs, and you need to take both along the way."

In O'Neill's Celtic side that reached the 2003 UEFA Cup final in Seville, the mercurial Didier Agathe was an ever-present figure on the right flank. Forrest was asked if the new manager wants him to replicate the £50,000 man. "Aye," he instantly replied. "That was what I was worrying about when he came in. I haven’t got the legs for that!

"He keeps comparing my age with his age, but I don’t know if I have got that in me anymore. But, even for me as an older player, you can take great confidence from hearing him tell you he has watched you over the years. It makes you feel good. You do need that kind of feedback sometimes as a footballer."

With O'Neill's return came Brendan Rodgers' unexpected departure. The 52-year-old resigned as Celtic manager on Monday evening. "I've had Rodgers two different spells now, and some of my best football has been under him," admits Forrest "What he's done for me has been great over the years."

Along with Rodgers, John Kennedy left Parkhead for good after over 25 years of service to Celtic as a player, scout, assistant coach, and interim manager. "I've known him for so many years," continued Forrest. "I don't think anyone at the club can say a bad word about him. I think what he's done, maybe people don't see on the outside what he does every day.




For me as well, anything off the pitch or on it, if you ever needed or had a problem, you could go to him, and it wouldn't go anywhere as well, and I think that's big in football.

"So definitely sad, but these things do happen in football, and you do need to move on, but loads of great memories with them, and you can look back on it positively."

Forrest and Co can't afford to look back in anger. While O'Neill has provided a welcome oasis in a desert of chaos, more furore is in store at the national stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Celtic haven't beaten Rangers in 90 minutes in 14 months, with their last victory over their fierce rivals coming on penalties in last year's League Cup final. "You don’t want to hear stats like that," admits Forrest. "You want to get positive results against your rival, but these things happen.

"We played them in the League Cup Final last year, and we got a positive result, so we can focus on that. It has been a long time, and this one is at Hampden with the chance to get into a final so there is no better time to do it. Getting to the final would be really good for us.

"The first time we saw the manager was the day of the Falkirk game but as a footballer you need to deal with obstacles. Cal [Callum McGregor] was talking about it the other day, we are not top of the league just now, so to start winning games every week and playing really well would show a different type of character.

"The intensity and pace the other night was good, and we can hopefully we can bring more of it against Rangers."

 

Excellent impact sub - calm, positive and caused them all sorts of problems

 

Vintage Jamesy today.

 

* toyed with them when he came on.

 

Gave us a real boost all over the park when he came on, were looking 2nd best before then.

 

Excellent when he came on...

 

Ripped them up shreds. That one for Osmand would've been assist of the season..

 

He’s a great sub

 

What a performance man, the most intelligent player in the building by far. Top, top quality.

 

His footwork, in game intelligence all on point today. Nearly took the bar off the posts. A real threat. Great impact.

 

Looks like himself again as well, his play for Osmands chance was class. Great impact player for us.

 

Forrest coming on as an impact player is exactly what should’ve been happening all season. It is absolutely critical that we get a starting RW in January.

 

I can't believe how much this wee guy still has left in the tank. He was fantastic today

 

He frustrates the life out of me but that was an excellent cameo.

The nutmeg and pass for Osmand was just top drawer and was deserving of deciding any game.

 

Absolute class today. That nutmeg and pass to set up Osmund was top tier. Great option to have in later stages of games.