Matt O'Riley

Same has been said by others in the 80s 90s and so on games a bogey

 

Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley issued a defiant “they still can’t stop us” message after his side bounced back from a contentious penalty decision to move nine points clear in the cinch Premiership.

O’Riley was penalised for handball in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Ross County when the ball hit his arm from close range right on the side of the penalty box.

The midfielder was moving his arm even closer to his body at the time but referee David Munro’s decision to point to the spot was backed by video assistant referee Euan Anderson.

It was the fourth penalty for handball that Celtic have conceded in their last four games – O’Riley was also one of two players to be penalised against Real Madrid.

David Cancola netted from the 50th-minute spot-kick but Celtic were ahead within 18 minutes following goals from David Turnbull and Sead Haksabanovic.

O’Riley told Celtic TV: “I don’t really know what I could have done to be honest. My hands were by my side. I don’t know if the ball hit my arm first or my hip and then my arm but I don’t know where else I can put my arm.

“We have had some strange decisions go against us recently to say the least but they still can’t stop us.”

 

Bit harsh to moan about him failing to convert given his assist count but every attempt he has on goal is so weak I'm beginning to wonder if last seasons goals were a mirage.

 

Matt O’Riley loves his music. His No.1 passion is obviously football, and that love of the game is allied to the talent he possesses, which has propelled him to Paradise.

His performances in the green and white Hoops since he arrived in January 2022 have continued to impress, and the 21-year-old midfielder has established himself as a key figure in Ange Postecoglou’s squad.

And while his full focus in on continuing to progress his playing career, O’Riley continues to find music a source of inspiration, comfort and a constant presence in his life.

So for this year’s Christmas Celtic View, there was only one candidate we could ask to select some of his favourite songs, not least because of the family influence on the player’s musical tastes.

“Music is probably one of the most important things for me,” O’Riley told the Celtic View. “The way I was raised in terms of my Mum and Dad, they’re both really into music.

“My Dad plays music himself so it was always around me. His style of music has become involved in my life as well. I wouldn’t say that I just like what he likes but it’s definitely played a part.”




And as well as revealing his pre-match tunes, his initiation song and his top Celtic chant, Matt O’Riley also revealed his favourite Christmas song.

“I’d be a really bad son if I didn’t say my Dad’s song, because he’s got a Christmas song called Christmas Time’s A Time To Rock (performed by Stir Crazy),” the Celtic midfielder said.

“I’ve showed it to a few of the boys and they’re not being biased or anything but they actually think it’s quite a catchy song. So if people who are a similar age to me quite like it, then that’s usually a good sign.

“I’m probably the only player who’ll do this feature who can choose one of their Dad’s songs, although I made the mistake before when I was asked for my favourite Christmas song and I didn’t choose his song, so I’m making sure I do it now!”

 

Nice plug, let's get it to nr1 for Christmas instead of that * awful Ladbaby *.

 

IT has been quite the year for Matt O’Riley. The midfielder’s seamless adaption to life in Glasgow’s goldfish bowl can make it feel like he has been a fixture of the Celtic team for some time now, and it can be easy to forget that he hasn’t even celebrated his one-year anniversary at the club yet.


The Parkhead faithful have taken the playmaker to their hearts since he arrived from MK Dons in January as they have learned more about the 22-year-old, who first arrived in Scotland as a largely unknown prospect


O’Riley’s time at Celtic has been an educationfor the man himself, too. It has been a year of firsts for the former Fulham man – there has been a first European appearance, a first call-up to Denmark’s Under-21 squad, a first league title secured and a first Champions League outing. Not bad for a player who, as recently as 12 months ago, was plying his trade in England’s third tier.

There has been another first too, recently, with O’Riley included in Celtic’s squad for their mid-season trip to Australia. The team weren’t as successful at the Sydney Super Cup as they would have liked, losing 2-1 to Sydney FC and being defeated on penalties by Everton after playing out a goalless draw, yet the midfielder still learned just how big a club his employers are and witnessed firsthand its reach around the globe.


“Every new experience is an eye-opener,” O’Riley said. “Even just our support for the Everton game was crazy.

“Compared to Everton, we were a lot louder. We showed that we have very dedicated fans. I spoke to a few Australian fans at the beach the other day and they said they get up at three every morning to watch all of our games. That just shows how big our club is.

“Definitely, [it has been a mentally draining experience] and even with the travel involved in playing in the Champions League. Personally, that was something new. You’ve just got to adjust to it, that’s how football works.

“I think we dealt with it well. We’ve managed games that were tough and we’ve come back from difficult positions also playing against Everton was another good test for us.




“I know it was a friendly against Everton but we still wanted to win the game because there are so many fans supporting us.”

“Listen, it [going from League One to the Champions League] was cool,” he added. “I’ve got my head around it all now.

“In the first game in the Champions League, I was probably a little nervous but as I got more experience it was positive. Then there’s also the environment, generally, with Celtic. It’s massive. It affects your general well-being.

“I feel comfortable in my environment now and I’m enjoying it. I’m looking forward to going again after the break, for sure.”

As O’Riley alludes to, a well-earned rest for Ange Postecoglou’s side awaits ahead of the Premiership’s resumption once the WorldCup in Qatar is concluded. He is reluctant to call the recuperation a necessity but he believes the chance to recharge the batteries can only be a good thing due to the crowded fixture list Celtic often have to contend with.

“I wouldn’t say I need one but I think it will still be beneficial,” O’Riley explained. “We’ve had so many games in such a short period.

“I’ve also played quite a lot. So to be able to shut down the system, and completely rest for a week or so will be good. In the summer I got about two weeks off and I really felt that just one week of switching off and relaxing your body can help you come back really flying. So that will be my aim.”



O’Riley is adamant that once he and his team-mates are back in action, it won’t be long before they fall back into their old routines. Postecoglou famously demands that his teams never stop and O’Riley is confident that there will be no slacking off with the Glasgow club chasing back-to-back Premiership titles.

“No chance, it’s not going to happen,” he said. “We lost the game the other night and we also probably didn’t play the way we wanted to either.

“So, I think the consistency and mentality have to be the same every game, regardless of it being friendly matches. So when you transition into a league game, then you’re going to keep that form and momentum.

“We are aware it’s a good position to be in [in the league]. We’re aware of the table but at the same time, we’re not really looking at it.

“We’re just focusing on our own stuff every day. That sounds like a boring answer, I know. But it’s true. There’s a process to it and if we keep following that then I’m sure we will be in a good place.”

 

Really poor overall I thought..

Poor first touches
Poor crosses
Poor shots on goal

Wasn't impressed..

 

All players have bad days. He'll come good again.

 

It's funny, I actually thought he was alright, and was far better than Hatate, who had a rotter.

Has to be said, we really do need some pace in there, hopefully it's something we're considering in the next two windows.

 

Jota was stinking too imo

 

Both were poor but for whatever reason I always feel like with Hatate even on a bad day he offers something, even if it's the only thing he does all game. But when O'Riley is off it we may as well field one of the training dummies. He has a good football brain and can be an exceptional passer but boy is his shooting foot weak.

 

The return to football following the World Cup break has also seen a return to Matt O’Riley’s regular role in the advanced midfield position with Callum McGregor back in the starting XI from injury.

With the captain out for two months of the season through injury, O’Riley took the responsibility of his role at the base of the midfield and did so expertly as the Celts continued their fine form that sees them sit nine points clear at the top of the table.

However, just like the rest of the Celtic squad and support, O’Riley is delighted to see his captain back and playing to such a high standard again.

He said: “It speaks for itself his importance both on and off the pitch, what he brings in terms of his leadership whether that be on the ball or vocally.

'I know the position well but I think it takes one or two games to remember where to be exactly. I played it a lot in the past so I felt very comfortable.'

“He’s a very good player first and foremost and I think he gets underrated a bit, if you understand football you understand how good he is in terms of all the details.

“In terms of what he brings on the pitch he adds a layer of calmness and vocally he’s very good at organising everything.”




The next test for Celtic is the Christmas Eve home clash with St Johnstone, as they look to make it three wins from three since returning back to action.

After a 2-1 win over Livingston on Wednesday night, O’Riley hopes for an improved performance against the Saints and is confident they can break down their tough defence.

He added: “They’re hard to beat like most teams in this league, they set up in a certain way to stop us rather than winning the game in my opinion.

“It makes it difficult that they will have a lot of men behind the ball so our ball speed and circulation needs to be high and that should help us.

“We know what we need to do and you saw against Aberdeen how extreme it was with nine men behind their box, but we won that game so we proved we can break teams down.

'It might take a while but if we can commit to our football then it should end up working.'

“Everyone knows where they need to be, the structure is very clear and we’ve worked on it a lot every day in training so there’s no real excuse for being in the wrong position that goes for all of us.

“I’m sure in the next game we will come back with that in our mind.”

 

Everything that Celtic midfielder Matt O'Rileysaid to the media ahead of the St Johnstone game...

Callum (McGregor) has been back in for a couple of games now what sort of impact do you think he has made back in the side?

His (McGregor) importance speaks for itself both on and off the pitch. We know what he brings in terms of his leadership whether that be on the ball or vocally. Yes, we are all happy to have him back.

What is he (McGregor) like to play alongside because is a huge influence on this team?

He (McGregor) is a very good player first and foremost. I think he is under-appreciated a little bit. If you really understand football you understand how good he is in terms of all the details. What he brings on the pitch in terms of adding a layer of calmness on the ball and vocally, especially, he is very good at organising everybody.

Livingston manager David Martindale rated him a top four to top six English Premier League player do you agree with that?


I agree. In another world, he probably would be playing in the English Premier League if he took an opportunity in the past. You know how much he loves this football club and I don't think he would ever leave it. I agree I think he is a top player. He could easily play in the top four or six in England.


Does it feel different for you to play further forward having had a couple of months in the McGregor role?

I know the position well but it does take one or two games to remember where I need to be exactly. I do think I know the position well enough to know what I need to do because I have played it a lot in the past and I feel pretty comfortable.

St Johnstone are one of the teams that have really challenged Celtic and brought their A-game what was it about them in the last game that made that possible?

They were hard to beat. Like most teams in this league, they set up in a certain way to stop us rather than win the game in my opinion a lot of the time. It makes it difficult as we know they are going to have a lot of men behind the ball. Our ball speed and our circulation is going to have to be high as usual and that should help us a lot.

Is it frustrating for Celtic to play against teams who have that mentality?

I don't think so. We come up against it so much now that we know what we need to do. You saw last week against Aberdeen how extreme it was in terms of nine men pretty much sitting in their box. I don't think it will be that extreme against St Johnstone but we won that game against Aberdeen and we proved we can break those teams down. It might sometimes take a while but if we commit to our football then it should end up working.

The manager was frustrated in the Livingston game as he said players weren't in the positions when balls were flashing across the box is it good to get a reminder sometimes about things like that?

It's those good habits, I think. Everyone knows where they need to be. The structure is very clear we have worked on it a lot. We do it every day in training and there is no real excuse for being in the wrong position and that goes for all of us. There were probably a few too many that got flashed across the box and I am sure next game we will come back with that in our minds and make sure that doesn't happen again.

Is that one of the things that don't click instantly when you have had a six-week break?

Maybe, I don't know. I am not sure. I do think we know what we need to do well enough for that not to be an excuse really. We've played this type of football a long time and everyone knows their jobs and their roles and I don't think that should be happening much.

 

Don't disagree with any of that, think O'Rileys pace doesn't help him in games, and he doesn't have the skills Rogic had to make up for it (and tbf to Rogic, he was quicker than O'Riley too)

A class player in his own right, but the lack of Goal threat he offers does hurt us.

 

I’d entertain bids for any player outside of Calmac, Jota & CCV.

 

Add Abada to that list!