After a defeat like last night’s a generation ago, the English media would be limited to a handful of hacks destroying the reputation and social life of the national team manager. What they did to one of their own, like Graham Taylor and Bobby Robson was bad enough, what they would have done to a German coach is unimaginable.
Today, while Tuchel is getting the blame for England’s second half capitulation, there is a wider ecosystem in journalism and another theme has emerged. You can change the players, coaches and manager, but some teams are culturally compelled to win when things are tight, and some continually blow it. Argentina, Spain and France win, England and a host of gifted smaller nations don’t.
Last night was a carbon copy of Celtic’s final league game of the season against Hearts. Just like England when they needed to hold what they had, Hearts sat ever-deeper as the game went on, Celtic hit the post and relentlessly prodded for an opening.
We will wonder how we won that league for the rest of our lives. Martin O’Neill’s run-in saw us 2-0 down at Kilmarnock and Ibrox, going behind at home to Newco and then at Motherwell, and that finale against Hearts. 15 points won from losing positions across the last 13 games – 15 points! It was statistically unlikely, achieved by the weakest Celtic title winning squad this century, but they are winners.
Some teams in football have a winners’ mentality, while some are cursed to be losers, who can get results under no pressure but will bottle it when they come up against a genuine challenge.
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Interesting comments from Martin at the AGM of the Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs
“Martin O’Neill mentioned his previous time at Celtic and mentioned how much easier signings were. He mentioned specifically Sutton and Lennon, both who he knew inside out as a player, and knew they would thrive in Scotland.
“He mentioned now that players are different. Older players will push to display themselves in the Premiership albeit at a bottom table team, purely for more money.
“He mentioned Bournemouth, who when he was finishing up as a player, nobody would envisage being a Premier League team, but are now competing massively in the transfer market, but with no Champions League to entice players.
“He also pointed out that, our better chances are a younger player, who will take the gamble in Glasgow, purely to play in Europe. They have better drive, ambition and are more suited to Celtic because they can be developed and aren’t swayed as much by wages.”
● Which Celtic player scored a hat trick for Scotland v Israel 2018?
Turkeybhoy on 16th July 2026 12:59 pm
100%.
Martin feels he owes a debt to our “owner” and very much toes the party line.
His latest comments re our “signings” are both predictable and worrying however do we expect anything more from him? He simply will not rock the boat.
We are rudderless and things will only change when the gravy train boys are shown the door…
Hmmmm.
I guess it’s hard not to react to yesterday’s WC semi final, but linking this to Celtic with the old “winning mentality” thing, is as predictable as it is pointless. We already celebrated the 25/26 double, surely it’s time to move on.
Many of the traditional press outlets are covering the minutes emerging from the recent meeting where MON, MN and BW addressed, and answered questions from, members of the Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs at their AGM in Cork on July 4th.
I’ve no reason to trust the SMSM, but when reporting is simply the repition of these minutes, I feel like it can be consumed without too much concern.
Fascinating revelations; “focus on finding talent and developing it, because targets identified already, were difficult to attract to Glasgow”. Nicholson, who spoke on the issue, highlighted the challenges posed by agents and competition with the Premier League and even the Championship; “the easy signings are the players who are out of contract”. Noting the club’s “silence being intentional because the media will run with any story and paint the club in a bad light”.
Beyond these startling revelations, the reporting also surfaced more reassuring insight into what the executives have been working on.
It’s noted that Cork No 1 CSC put it to club chiefs that Celtic seem to be operating on a year-by-year basis with no long-term vision or strategy apparent.
And the minutes refer to Nicholson pointing out that this had just been signed off by the club: “Michael Nicholson initially took the question and advised that the club had just signed off on their long-term strategy for the club, which has always been in place, and has always been the same goal.
“And that is to be the best club in Scotland, be financially sound, and to compete in Europe.
“At this point Martin O’Neill took the mic and advised that aside from a long-term strategy (which he was only reading the week previous), his strategy as a manager is more selfish and short-term.
“But he did state that both strategies need to align, because you can’t be the best club you can be, without performing on the pitch week to week, and he has acknowledged that the product on the pitch at the minute is not good enough to compete at a higher level without strengthening.”
Well, in that case, we are all good to go. Exciting times ahead, no doubt!
It’s a month since Paul67 gave us the “Recruitment requirement begins to look urgent” article, so I wonder if we might expect a status update tomorrow.
#wakeupandsmellthecloverCSC
GB news suggesting Argentina be punished for ‘banner waving’,
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cdrvleyd8xvo
Bans are typically issued to those publicly criticising – to excess – a decision THEY HAVE WITNESSED and were directly impacted by.
Far more egregious (and totally unprecedented) for someone not involved, not sighted to call it “disgusting”
Four match ban for the Motherwell player.
McInnes’ ban should be at least double that
James Forrest
For all I wanted both teams to lose last night I suppose the better team won at the end of the day, but I am seriously worried for the coming season, if elbows in the head, shirt pulling and leg breaking tackles don’t even amount in a foul, what chance do we have with hun refs, it seriously worries me, add in the fact we have a powder puff team of players and are set to lose a few more with, at the moment no prospect of any incoming, especially battle hardened players, it will be projects at best and possibly a loan or two if we are lucky and blessed, it ain’t looking great, but it will be what it will be and as suckers we will just have to lap it up and be grateful.
Another week almost past with our squad augmentation still in slow motion.
World Class ennui from Dermot’s mood deflating execs.
There’re fully committed stoners with more zip than our suits.
SnailSnailCSC
In the Georgic, a few degenerate hun polluting the aircon. Danse Macabre in Shawlands right enough.
Argentina deserved their win.
Many of us are aware they are amongst the most racist and backers of zionism on the planet.
Strange that many on here support that entity.
Imagine planning a friendly when pride is on the same day in Glasgow. Pride has moved on and it’s a great occasion. even for a white heterosexual male.
HH.
HH.
Popped on to Bert Kassies to see how our old friends Kairat got on with their first qualifier.
(They won)
Good luck Hearts who’ll be playing 2nd qualifiers starting next week.
They’ll need it.
The current 5-year coefficient table … incl. the now underway season 26/27 … below … makes for interesting reading
https://kassiesa.net/uefa/data/method5/trank2027.html
Those imperious, selfless, majestic, over achieving standard bearers for Scottish football, R2ngers …
… are in 50th place
That “joke”, “embarrassment”, “laughing stock” of a club who (according to some deluded souls) are single handedly responsible for Scotland’s coefficient plummeting .. with July qualifiers as a result?
Are in 51st place.
Strange how the facts don’t fit the narrative
Very strange.
England are very good. Kane is one of my favourite players of all time. But over the ‘golden generation’ they haven’t had a modric or zidane or messi; a midfielder to who makes the tournament theirs. End result – they’re the best of the rest.
https://x.com/alexbur81282210/status/2077460607201063369?s=20
< AICSC 2026…
PDF reader
Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs
Annual General Meeting – SMA Parish Hall Wilton, Cork
4th. July 2026
Hosted by Leeside C.S.C.
There were 29 Clubs in attendance
Athlone CSC.
Charlie Murray CSC.
Cork No.1 CSC.
Fr. Murphys CSC.
John O'Leary CSC.
Linn Dubh – Thomas McCurtain CSC.
Lurgan No.1 CSC.
Martin Savage CSC.
Midleton No.7 CSC.
Pairc Naomh Eoin CSC.
Portlairge Emerald CSC.
Sliabh Bladhma CSC.
South Kildare CSC.
Tom Boyd CSC.
Wicklow Emerald CSC.
We had 15 apologies.
Brian Hogan CSC.
Clare Celtic Supporters
Dan Breen CSC.
Graiguecullen Croppy Bhoys
Leeside CSC.
Lewis Capaldi CSC.
Malahide CSC.
McGowans CSC.
North Kildare CSC
Patrick Sarsfield CSC.
Sean Sabhat CSC.
South Dublin CSC.
Tain Bhoys CSC.
Tralee No.1 CSC.
The AICSC Chairman welcomed and introduced our guests from Celtic FC.
Brian Wilson, Michael Nicholson and Martin O'Neill.
Then the interim Celtic FC Chairman addressed the meeting. A question and answer session with Celtic FC Chairman, CEO Michael Nicholson and Manager Martin O'Neill followed, with questions being taken from the members in attendance so as to get a better feedback from the Clubs in attendance.
• Kildare South CSC – What are the Club doing to create a better line of communication between Supporters and the Board – We are deafened by silence in a lot of cases.
Brian Wilson addressed the meeting and acknowledged the clubs' failings when it
came to communication with the support and confirmed that it is something they are He emphasised that this was a major part of their request to attend the AGM whilst in Ireland. He also mentioned their wish to further develop and strengthen the connection with the Irish support, as he doesn't class it as a Scottish Club, but a club based in Scotland founded by Irish immigrants and with a strong connection over the
years to Ireland. He also mentioned his own personal connection with Michael Davitt,
and thanked those in attendance for their constant support over the years,
acknowledging the effort of the Irish support to attend games at all costs.
• Cork No. 1 CSC – The club appears to be only operating on a year-by-year basis. There seems to be no clear vision or strategy, except to stay one step ahead of the others across the city. Has the Club a long-term strategy or a 5-year plan?
Michael Nicholson initially took the question and advised that the club had just signed off on their long-term strategy for the club, which has always been in place, and has always been the same goal. And that is to be the best club in Scotland, be financially sound, and to compete in Europe. At this point Martin O'Neill took the mic and advised that aside from a long-term strategy (which he was only reading the week previous), his strategy as a manager is more selfish and short-term. But he did state that both strategies need to align, because you can't be the best club you can be, without performing on the pitch week to week, and he has acknowledged that the product on the pitch at the minute is not good enough to compete at a higher level without strengthening.
This fed directly into the next question which everyone in the room was keen to ask.
• Brian Hogan CSC – Player Recruitment. Why are we so slow? Silence is deafening – We should be signing players as a matter of urgency. Our champions league fixture is literally round the corner and we have nobody. All other clubs are active, while we are silent with no signings.
Michael Nicholson took the question and advised of the difficulty in dealing with agents, competing with the premier league and even the championship. He advised that the easy signings are the players that are out of contract, and these are being worked on immediately. Without any real hint of active engagements with potential players, Martin O'Neill then proceeded to confirm that he has put to the board that we are in major need of signings, as the current squad, despite their heroics last season, are not strong enough to compete. He mentioned the focus on finding talent and developing it, because targets he has identified already, were difficult to attract to Glasgow. Michael Nicholson also mentioned the silence being intentional because the media will run with any story and paint the club in a bad light no matter what the barriers to signing a player may be.
• Pair Naomh Eoin CSC – This prompted a second question from the floor as to what are players looking for – where are we looking for players and how can we attract them?
Martin O'Neill mentioned his previous time at Celtic and mentioned how much easier signings were. He mentioned specifically Sutton and Lennon, both who he knew inside out as a player, and knew they would thrive in Scotland. He mentioned now that players are different. Older players will push to display themselves in the premiership albeit at a bottom table team, purely for more money. He mentioned Bournemouth, who when he was finishing up as a player, nobody would envisage being a premier league team, but are now competing massively in the transfer market, but with no champions league to entice players. He also pointed out that, our better chances are a younger player, who will take the gamble in Glasgow, purely to play in Europe. They have better drive, ambition and are more suited to Celtic
because they can be developed and aren't swayed as much by wages.
• Lewis Capaldi CSC – Can you talk about the slanderous attack on Celtic and their Supporters after the events from the last game against Hearts?
Brian Wilson took the question and advised that their silence on that in the immediate aftermath was intentional, as they knew they had video evidence. He advised that they let the media run with their story and waited until the actual footage was released and it spoke for itself. Brian Wilson also mentioned that this was one example where not engaging with the media had a hugely positive outcome. Martin O'Neill also mentioned how he was questioned on the matter while doing some pundit work after the season was finished and mentioned how amused he was when they were made to eat their words after being made aware of the facts.
• Leeside CSC – Are there plans to go digital in terms of season books and matchday tickets, with an option to transfer tickets?
Michael Nicholson took the question, and advised that there are no immediate plans to go digital with tickets just now, aside from their existing hospitality app. He did go on to say that they have looked at several UK clubs with digital ticket schemes in place, but was worried about the ease of sharing season tickets, which would directly impact the Irish clubs. He said he was happy to look at something to help the Irish CSC's, as he was aware that mid-week fixtures, in particular, meant a lot of empty seats in the stadium due to the Irish ST holders not in attendance. He invited suggestions and feedback from the Irish SC's and said he would happily re-visit this once we compiled some feedback.
At this point, we had run out of time, despite that more questions still to be asked. The Board members had a driver waiting to take them to Dublin, and we still had our entire AGM to get through in a short window. We only had the re-arranged venue until 5pm, with the Leeside CSC having arranged Food for 5.30pm and the Friars Walk Tavern prepared to kick off the evening events at 6pm with special guests Frank
McAvennie and Joe Miller in attendance. At this point we thanked the guests for taking time to meet and take questions openly from the floor. We asked for the possibility of a meeting with more time, in which we could tackle other questions that we were unable to ask on the day, as well as questions from members who had sent apologies. This was unanimously agreed and we will notify members well in advance to allow us all Clubs time to prepare an agenda and list of questions for this. The three guests then left the Meeting' and there was a brief interval, before we moved onto the AGM itself.
Good luck to Craig Gordan – he had many great games for us and he’s still spouting the injustice shite to the jambos – they’ll never win anything believing that shit.
Poor Michael having to deal with those pesky agents. Not up to the job, by a mile. Brian Wilson was quick enough to go on BBC Scotland and speak, in the aftermath of the Mandelson fiasco (and get suckered into being asked about the boys club issue). Allowing days and weeks after the lies about Hearts being attacked, allowed the narrative to be written. A boardroom of heavyweights, we have.😮
Really,
How can we critise anyone for competance when we have Hearts at the top of the league.
See below 😃
CELTIC40ME
that makes it even stranger that we signed AOC and are pursuing KI ….
Funnily it seems very easy for other clubs to sign players.. Huns topping up their midfield with a 20 year old ( easier) CAPTAIN of P Belgrade’s ..and spending ANOTHER 5 million…
A now deceased friend worked in Buenos Airies for eight years. He attended both infamous Racing Club fixtures and, in fact, acted as an unofficial interpreter for the Celtic party.
A few years later we both witnessed Atletico’s performance in Glasgow. Joe’s verdict was that the Argentines resorted to thuggery when threatened with defeat. It was part of the machismo embedded in the culture.
Mind you they have also produced the world’s best ever players in Maradona and Messi.
Maybe Michael finding it hard to deal with agents because of his reputation from last season 🤔
Or maybe he’s just very very poor at his job ?!
Turns out he never did have that chat with Martin O’Neill that the manager mentioned and he worked out on his own that being behind Dane Murray for a spot is a crap idea.
Goodnight, sweet prince 🫡
Tomasz Włodarczyk@wlodar85
Translated from Polish
🚨💣 Maik Nawrocki (Celtic Glasgow) close to RC Lens! The center-back is already in France ahead of undergoing medical tests.
If nothing happens at the last minute, he will join the recently signed Michał Skóraś:
Gedinte
Of course I meant PE lol
Stuck between selling my own business to PE and raising for my daughters new enterprise from VC. School boy error.
I totally disagree PE would be a way to go for Celtic. I am busy right now but aware I had not got back. I will share why in more detail tomorrow. Essentially it is to do with the glass ceiling and how it has to be acknowledged.
Our rivals have made a good appt in Jim Gillespie but most of the other key metrics are working well against them. Another year and they really will be in ‘stick or twist’ territory if we prevail.
If we can maintain our position domestically this year, even with costs 25% above last year and with no hefty punts that keep giving then we have space to address the structure and ideally let steam out of the current toxic background which is really impacting on our ability to recruit decent talent off of the field.
Heading to golf for a few days, in morning, so will have time to respond fully on train. Who knows if CQN is to be believed I may even bump into DD in the hospitality ? lol
Portuguese club Boavista will cease operations after failing to deposit the funds required to cover the club’s ongoing expenses for June into the creditors’ insolvency account, the insolvency administrator announced this Wednesday.
“As the conditions set by the creditors’ assembly for the continued operation of the insolvent entity are being completely disregarded, on July 15, at 3:30 p.m., the insolvency administrator will carry out the resolution, proceeding with the closure of the insolvent’s establishment and shutting down all activities conducted by Boavista at Estádio do Bessa and adjacent facilities, including all sports disciplines,” announced Maria Clarisse Barros in an email message accessed by the Lusa news agency.
Boavista failed to comply, the insolvency administrator could order the immediate closure of the Porto club’s activities, effective 15 days after the decision, without needing to reconvene the creditors’ assembly – a scenario that has come close to happening several times since December 2025, but was always avoided.
“So far, no deposit has been made into the insolvency account, by any party, of the donation (with a releasing effect) that would allow the club’s structure to cover its current expenses for June, as well as the estimated deficit for that month’s sports disciplines,” she noted.
Maria Clarisse Barros ruled out “any prospect that the donation in question, as well as what would be needed for the current month,” will be deposited into the insolvency account, which has seen “monthly debts” piling up due to the “operation of the establishment.”
“All that remains is to thank all the directors, assistants, and coaches for their tremendous, almost limitless dedication, and for the excellent athletes they have developed, who have greatly enhanced the already prestigious name of Boavista. Finally, and as it could not be otherwise, a big round of applause for the athletes who have honoured this century-old institution around the world,” emphasised the insolvency administrator, informing that the keys to the facilities, cleared of people and belongings, must be handed over by July 31st.
“A child of five could understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five”.
BRRB getting his drink bill in Dublin. 😳
Was it Boavista we played, in the 70s or early 80s, who had the wee guy with the gloves? Very good player, I think
Ziggydoc1
Think his name was Alves. Dixie scored twice in that game I think. 🤔
Nicholson blaming the media……all nonsense yet again, and I am no fan of the SMSM
Lionroars67 @ 5:41pm
Nice one.
Thank you.
I hope (now rather than expect) Celtic are playing it quiet and cute re: BBC and Pat Nevin.
Simple summary view of what happened
Pat Nevin was allowed into our home
This allowance coming years after he very publicly criticised the Celtic fans at a parliamentary committee.
While in our home, he excitedly told a blatant, slanderous lie about the Celtic supporters thus
“Two or three Celtic fans have just punched Lawrence Shankland”
(Direct quote)
He spouted his lie on UK national radio
To date, neither he, nor his employers have publicly apologised to Celtic for spouting this lie about Celtic supporters on national radio.
I applaud the club’s general stance in not getting involved in a milk souring circus.
This one though is as clear a red line as one can imagine.
I pause before using this hypothetical
… as (unlike some) I have no desire to use baseless hypotheticals to further drive the wedge between fans and board …
BUT
If Nevin had said “Two or three Celtic directors have just punched a Hearts director”
… I suspect the club’s response would be different.
In terms of winning brownie points with a constituency you are struggling with?
This is a gift wrapped slam dunk.
The minutes from the meeting with the Irish supporters clubs makes horrifying reading . If we can’t or won’t strengthen sufficiently to get past the CL qualifier and jeopardise the league , the discontent will make last season’s protests look mild .
The board are completely at odds with the fanbase …… what a state of affairs .
Who would win in a fight between a Celtic Director and a Hertz Director?
BORGO67 on 16TH JULY 2026 12:14 PM
BBC radio all morning running with the Malvinas flag story as their headline .
Hilarious and sad at the same time, anything to avoid the reality of a familiar defeat.
I just new before a ball was kicked that this was to be a grudge match of all grudge matches with all its underlying political undercurrent. It started with the cacophony of booing of national anthems, no surprise here with English supporters. The Malvinas and the Belgrano massacre still not forgotten.
Boots, elbows diving, crunching tackles with an ever lenient ref the football scrap began no quarters asked or given. This was one match Argentina were never going to lose. They were victorious playing some great football and that man Messi who looks like a little messenger boy who has parked his cycle outside the stadium, MAGIC.
This IS a managed decline. All involved are culpable.
GLENDALYS
How do the Celtic supporters know what is an intentional silence and what is our ordinary silence?
Only time i have shouted out loud during this world cup is when argie scored their second having had the pleasure of listening to presenters who forgot england were actually playing another team. I take pleasure in watching england get best again.
Rich for anyone to bring argentina’s middle east politics and views about race and sexuality into the discussion. We live in a country full of racist scumbags and homophobs. Our government support the state of isreal in voice, finance and weapon supply despite knowing how that is being used to kill innocent people.
Britian is knee deep in the west asia/ middle east issue past and present so looking to make the argies the boggyman is truely stupid.
Ps the celtic board are a joke of the highest order, may as well shutdown the football operations and open a clothing brand seems thatbis all they are interested in these days
HH
Gedint
In respect of Celtic’s response on Strategy.
See this Strategy?
How exactly do they intend to pursue it?
Without a plan and capacity to execute it and indicators of success its empty words.
There is a process for moving Purpose To Vision (of what a fit for purpose Celtic would look like) a Strategy to take us there, a Plan to execute the former (that requires the capacity and skills to develop and manage it and Monitor the plan to check if its going to plan.
I introduced Celtic to the process over 5 years ago,then called Logframe, but a family bereavement in the experts family stopped further progress.
My point I suppose is that the follow up question of Strategy implementation should be asked and I did in a question for Board to answer at last AGM but it never reached that stage at the AGM.
I have been assured that what was presented as a Purpose Statement in AGM papers will be revisited prior to next AGM but we”ll see.
My over all conclusion about why Celtic are in a mess is lack of capacity to do any job and expertise to execute the plan.
The formulation of the whole Vision to execution has to involve stakeholders which includes supporters.
However as long as DDs thinking is guided by the hostile approach the Collective took there is no chance of that happening.
The responses on X only reinforce Celtic’s view that communicating is a waste of time.
So round and round the same blame roundabout we go on the road to nowhere.
How can so many smart people amongst the Celtic family inc the Board not see we are all the cause of the current mess and someone take responsibility for fixing it?
I despair at times but hope for hope.
https://x.com/Gam35G0n3/status/2077722940238422471?s=20
Hilarious racist drunk England fan interrupts live broadcast
Looks like more chance of Greg Taylor on loan than getting Saracchi
https://x.com/nytimes/status/2077827615616843982?s=46&t=sv-Pdy_Omy4gHWjIzzeiwA