Raw at times, but with plenty of potential and improving. An excellent piece of business getting him tied down on a long term contract.
Hopefully he continues to kick on! 💪🏼
✍️ Colby signs a new long-term deal!
We are delighted to announce that Colby Donovan has signed a new long-term deal which will see him remain at the club until the summer of 2031 💚
#Donovan2031 | #CelticFC🍀
📸 𝑽𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒐 𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
He has a noticeable stature, and is physically good alongside that. Reasonably athletic, his running feels more powerful than necessarily pacey, coming from his good frame, long strides and decent build.
His role in this Viking side is more one of a supportive full back than an overlapping, attacking wing back, which probably suits him. I don't think he has the technical ability or sharpness of movement to be dribbling at and trying to beat opponents himself. However, he does like to get forward but more so to arrive onto the ball in space to then put in that final cross, or even score himself as he's done 7 times so far this season.
Defensively I think he has good anticipation to read play, cut out attempted passes and challenge aerial balls. As a result of his physical profile, he does noticeably challenge well in the air, especially against often less physically imposing wingers. His 1v1 defending I found less impressive, sometimes appearing a little heavy or slow to react to shifts in direction by an opponent, resulting in failing to stop crosses or dribbles.
❗ 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏
The report that Henrik Heggheim's name stemmed from highlighted him as a centre back, but he hasn't played there for two seasons, so I'm not convinced that's why Celtic would sign him.
I can't see a world where Celtic sign him without a departure, maybe two, with Johnston, Donovan, Ralston and Lotomba all on the books. However, if Johnston does move on in January, and Ralston too in search of regular football, I could see he and Donovan being the two fighting it out. Donovan young, with potential and more attacking, Heggheim more experienced and defensively sound, it could prove a nice balance. There's also the potential that if Hassan can nail down a place on that right wing, they may view Heggheim as an ideal profile of player to just nicely shore things up behind him without this often modern day desire to overlap and attack as much.
Overall, Heggheim is a decent player, unlikely to be the next big thing, but potentially with good attributes to fit a certain kind of role. He's not a swashbuckling attacking fullback, however, if he's profiled for the correct role, he could be a useful addition.
Whats your thoughts on the sound of Heggheim? 🤔
Also, to highlight individuals, it's going forward he's caught the eye but Donovan was defensively excellent today. Murray with some really important interventions too. The two of them had McPake nullified all afternoon.
Tierney, also brilliant. Nygren far more involved 👏🏻
I think we knew we'd be in for a good game, but 6 in the first half? Wow.
Celtic absolutely purring in that first 45, ruthless. Osmand at the double on his first career start! Hearts, some of the defending has been abject.
2nd half to come, lets hope there's as many goals! ⚽
Hearts vs FC Nordsjælland ☑️
A really interesting game, I thought. Hearts as decent as they looked going forward seemed open at times on the counter. Prince Junior alone had a number of excellent opportunities in the first 25 minutes alone but couldn't maximise them. My pre-match analysis piece (which was never released as I didn't get it finished in time 😑) highlighted Janssen as an excellent talent at the base of that Nordsjælland midfield and he showed glimpses of it - he'll be due a step up some time soon I'm sure.
But, back to Hearts, thought the first goal did settle things down and give them a bit more control. McPake really felt like he was the centre of everything good that came from Hearts for me. Good decision making, strong, direct, thought he was relentless at points.
We could be set up for an excellent game on Sunday, both Celtic and Hearts able to score goals but also concede chances. Would be nice to have a cracker of a game!
Celtic vs Benfica ☑️
Thought 4-1 is a bit harsh. Benfica clearly the better team, but such a scoreline would suggest a battering, but I don't think it was quite that.
Why Celtic persist with Tounekti and not Hassan who can actually go past a man, I don't understand. He doesn't give you as much defensively, but neither does Tounekti - in fact he cost a goal on Thursday. The Tunisian has had his run of games, and showed glimpses of improvement, but it's not enough in my opinion. Hassan's turn to stake a claim.
Saw a number of posts on Dane Murray, and apart from the penalty, I thought he was perfectly steady honestly. Felt it was quite glaring the number of times he was left exposed or had to cover for Donovan who can be miles out of position. He needs to cut out mistakes, clearly, but the one on Thursday was not one that Scales, Carter-Vickers or many top centre backs haven't done themselves.
Didn't think Oxlade-Chamberlain, or more so Osmand, did any harm to themselves when they came on. I'd be going with the front line that finish the game as the one to start vs Hearts on Sunday. Speaking of which, now time to watch Hearts vs FC Nordsjælland... 🟣
Wasn't able to watch the games on Thursday, so my Saturday shall consist of catching up on Celtic and Hearts European escapades...
Wish me luck, particularly for the Celtic one 😭
Just on Baur, as much of a surprise as it was, I think you can see why Klopp included him as part of the Germany squad and gave him that glimpse into the national side.
Plenty he can improve, but there's moments of real potential where you can understand what they see in him.
👤 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒆
𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞: Sonny Inzalaco
𝐀𝐠𝐞: 19
𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 6'2"
𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: Australian 🇦🇺
𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭: Left
𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Goalkeeper
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛: Perth RedStar FC 🇦🇺
Inzalaco has been at Perth RedStar FC since he was aged 8, making his debut at 16 for the National Premier League side, which is a regional league in Australia. In 2025, he was capped twice for Australia Under 18's at the UEFA Friendship Cup, taking the starting spot against France and USA. He received further call ups to the U20's also. The Aussie is reportedly desperate to test himself in the United Kingdom and at a higher level, spending time on trial at clubs like Charlton, Blackburn, Wrexham and now Celtic. He holds a British passport, which makes a move much easier and more appealing to clubs in the UK.
🎥 𝑽𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒐 𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
Managed to source both of his Australian U18 games to see what I could make of him.
Bearing in mind the really limited footage I had to watch of him, I found him to be a slightly above average goalkeeper, in my estimation. Despite perhaps not being the most fluid visually on the ball, materially he performs well and is comfortable. His range of passing was good, able to recycle possession short, or find teammates longer up field or in wide areas. One thing I did note was he could could scoop his aerial passing at times, making them a bit lofty and making it easier for opponents to anticipate where the pass would drop, making any decision to challenge for the ball easier. Otherwise, he didn't panic under pressure, remained composed and kept it tidy.
As far as the actual goalkeeping went, mostly positive. He impressed me with a few reactionary saves from shots at closer range or that had taken a deflection. A couple of moments of questionable handling did concern me, though we should consider the game this predominantly occurred in was very wet, so that may have been a factor. Decision making when to come for crosses, play sweeper etc were all good and didn't cause any issues.
🧐 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏
I could see why Celtic would give an opportunity for a trial to the Australian. Showing promise back in his homeland, capped in national youth teams and with Celtic not having the strongest of goalkeeping personnel at present, it would make sense.
There's not a whole lot to go off given his previous playing level and age, however Inzalaco appears to me a good all round goalkeeper, with a strong basis to build on aged just 19.
In my view? He's obviously not going to be challenging for a starting berth immediately but get him in, out on loan and playing around League One level and see where he goes from there. It would be a relatively risk free opportunity for Celtic to get a reasonably highly rated young goalkeeper.
