Nir Bitton

Would be my choice over both Soro and McCarthy. Doesn’t say much but for now, I’d play him alongside McGregor.

Zero * given at corners with the Brown tussle and I * loved that.

 

He's a bit slow, gets ran around too easy at time's, and pushes through the back too much for liking....but he deffo plugged gaps a fair bit today..

Had to score that header as well..

 

His passing is a major help, he frequently passes it through the midfield line and forwards with purpose. Honestly, from midfield I don’t mind him

 

The Dembele hat trick game he was unreal there.

 

I don't think he offered anything of note today.

 

Far better option than McCarthy and Soro.

 

I think he added a bit of defensive nous and good passing going forward. Not the answer in the long run but a decent option.

 

It’s funny how you remember games and how even having watched the highlights of that game so many times, I always forget that he played (never mind started).

He definitely has some qualities in midfield. He may not be perfect or the long term answer, but I honestly think he’s the best we have until January.

 

Might be needed until January but shouldn’t be trusted beyond that.

I’d probably have him in midfield with McGregor and McCarthy but would be reluctant to ask him to pick up the slack that Rogic or Turnbull leaves.

 

First 20 was very good...only gripe I have with him in midfield is silly fouls.

Defenately his best position.

 

Was decent enough yesterday, I know not long term answer, but best of a bad lot right now.
Would have him ahead of JMcC all day.

 

He played better yesterday than I thought he would've, simply had to score that header though.

 

Showed the strength of a wet tissue at their goal

 

I forgot it was him at their goal..

He's pathetic in the air for his size..

 

I like Biton as a player to have in our squad. He provides good cover for me as the 6 in the team as he showed yesterday with a decent performance. I have never really liked him as a centre back for any reason other then a major emergency cover due to injuries but as cover for the 6 role I think he is a good option for us.

 

For sure that was a bad miss.

 

IT’S a video clip that lasts only four seconds.

Yet it’s one Nir Bitton has been reminded about every day for the last four years.


S’appenin’ Bitton?” asked Kieran Tierney of his Celtic team-mate, as he walked into the club’s training ground in 2017.

It’s become a catchphrase the Israeli gets shouted at him whenever he strides down Glasgow’s streets.




Bitton said: “It became a big thing — in fact, it is still a big thing!

“Even now, wherever I go in the city, people say it to me all the time.

“I will be out with my wife and kids and people will shout, “S’appenin’, Bitton”?

“It’s usually the first thing I hear. But it’s OK by me, I like a laugh and enjoy the banter. If it makes people feel good then it’s all good.”




Israel star Bitton, 29, gets Scottish humour. After eight years here he’s virtually become an honorary Glaswegian.

His two young kids were born in the city and they have more of a connection to this country than Israel.

Although their old man just hopes they don’t end up with broad Scots accents.

He added: “Yeah, both my kids are Scottish. My daughter, Emma, is four-and-a-half, and my boy, Tom, is two-and-a-half.


They are young Scots. But with all the respect to the Scottish people I don’t want them to have the Scottish accent!

“But we love this county, we love the people.

“It’s been a good adventure for us as a family, and my wife and kids love it here.

“Sometimes I speak to my kids and ask them about Israel, but my daughter says she wants to stay in Scotland




“For her, this is her home. This is where she was born and this is what she knows.”

So when Bitton hangs up his boots he’ll be staying in Scotland, right? Wrong! He said: “I’m 100 per cent sure we will be going back to Israel.



If the weather was better I would maybe consider staying here. But for us it’s really difficult with the climate here.”

Bitton won’t be leaving Celtic or Scotland any time soon, though. He’s got another two years left to run on his contract, which will take him up until May 2023.




That would mean he’d have been at the Hoops for a decade. Testimonial, anyone?

Bitton added: “I’ve not even thought about that, and it’s not about that for me.

“I have been in Scotland for eight years now and I don’t take it for granted. I have seen a lot of people come and go at this club. So I believe it’s a great achievement for myself to be at Celtic so for long.

“But it’s not about the length of time you are at one club. It’s about trophies and titles.



When I first came to Celtic I couldn’t have imagined being here for so many years.

“If you had said that to me I would have said, ‘No chance’.”

Bitton has won an incredible seven Premiership titles, four Scottish Cups and five League Cups.

He said: “My first season wasn’t the best as it took me time to adapt. The weather was difficult and I didn’t know the language.




It was just a different mentality in Scotland. But with time I settled down, got into the team, and started to get the belief that you need. Since then I have really enjoyed my career at Celtic.

“It’s about paying back to the managers who have believed in me. And I have been through a few of them!

“But I will do whatever the club asks me to do, and if the coach asks me to play in goal then I will play in goal.

“Obviously the manager won’t pick me to play in goal, but I would do it if he asked me.”


But is Bitton any good between the sticks?

He smiled and added: “I’m good everywhere!”

Bitton’s trophy haul ain’t bad for a player who gets shifted from midfield to defence on a regular basis. Not that it bothers the versatile star.

He said: “How do I feel about that? I feel good.


For me, I don’t listen to the noise outside. I trust my ability and know who I am.

“A lot of times I think people judge me in the wrong way because I signed for Celtic as a midfielder.

“The fact is, I have played a lot of games in defence and I’m fine with that.

“I have watched a lot of games where top defenders make mistakes. All of them.




There isn’t one defender who doesn’t make mistakes.

“But if I make a mistake people say, ‘It’s because he’s not a defender’. That’s why I don’t listen to the crowd and I don’t listen to the noise outside.

“I just try and do the best for my team, and the coach who believes in me.

“The best proof for me is when the coach picks me.


If he doesn’t think I’m good enough then I won’t be picked to play.

“I think, with me, a lot of people are biased. They have their opinion of me and want to stick to that no matter what.

“They don’t need any excuse to make comment on me.

“I know when I have played a good game or played a bad game. Hopefully I’ll have a good game at Hampden on Saturday.”


If he does, maybe Bitton will be saying: “S’appenin’ KT”? when he sees the Scotland defender.

There are other connections too, with the Israeli really looking forward to going head-to-head with his Celtic skipper Callum McGregor, as well as ex-Hoops team-mates Craig Gordon, Stuart Armstrong and Jack Hendry.

He added: “It’s always good to play against those guys and have a battle.

“They are all very good players and I really respect them. But on the pitch there are no friends, no team-mates


We are all there to win the game and will try to do our best on Saturday to put ourselves in a good position.