Tim Williamson is Celtic’s Head of Physiotherapy and Medical Services, but in football he is more famous for an incident in the 1990s, when he was Partick Thistle’s physio. Thistle player Colin McGlashan took a head knock, Tim treated McGlashan and told manager, John Lambie, that the player didn’t know who he was. Lambie shouted back, “Tell him he’s Maradona and get him back on”. [Commonly misquoted as “Tell him he’s Pele”].
The joke works because everyone knows that if an individual is full of confidence, they will do better. The opposite is also true. Tell them they are a Honda Civic and are competing against Ferraris and they’ll win nothing. John Lambie knew this, good school teachers know this and good parents know this. Leadership is hard, but telling people you have faith in them is the easy part.
Dundee, Hibernian, Kairat, Braga and Newco are not Ferraris. We outspend, out-pay and out-sport-science all of them. Dundee were 11th before yesterday. Braga are 8th in Portugal – and have not won a league game since 17 August. By any measure, these clubs are minnows.
Dundee deserved their win and could have scored more. They knew their tasks, fought for their manager and wiped the floor with a team who looked like they had been told they were nothing more than Honda Civics.
It is impossible to win the league with that narrative and crucially, not everyone realises this. We are in a perilous situation and as long as the Campaign of Deflection is waged, it will get worse.
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Happy Mondays
Deflection shields at full force all round.
Wonder if any hun fans with Honda Civics are now refusing to drive their cars?
After the most recent window I wrote this EL campaign off and said as much in here. I felt that our squad and quality was depleted to a level that I couldn’t see us completing strongly in EL and winning SPL. Nothing seen so far changes that view in fact it gets worse because regardless if we win the SPL or not BR will be gone and whilst that will please some, what is to follow?
Mentioned this morning that this whole shambles was avoidable with a reasonably resourced but ambitious plan for CL participation every season. If we do not commit to that with deeds rather than words then we are in the long term slow lane. The calibre of player, coach, manager, recruitment specialists whatever are not going to roll up if we are just playing at it – which we have been doing for years. Even if we were able to convince the right people they would be off in heartbeat when the inevitable handbrake gets put on. The sticking plaster stuff needs to stop, the just getting by needs to stop and the £ driving the ⚽️ needs to be reversed.
As many have said previously we need to be football club first and a business second – end of. Currently we concentrate on money in the bank at the expense of product and investment in football – well that is fraught with danger as we have found out the numerous times we have been pumped out of the qualifying stage. So let’s try it the other way – let’s invest (not recklessly of course in case someone faints) to achieve CL in good coaches, scouting, youth development and the correct mix of first team players and strong well scouted prospects and let’s do it in a timely and professional manner and get a reputation for doing so. We have NEVER done this – sure sometimes we spend but it is never a long term concerted policy with joined up thinking and we always fanny around the edges looking for crumbs and our excuse bingo is most certainly “world class” if nothing else is.
Grow up Celtic and start trying to be a serious football club by stretching a little, by being a little ambitious and by doing not just saying.
We’ve many problems but I don’t put much of them down to confidence.
We could maybe hypnotise Yang into believing he can beat his man occasionally but I wouldn’t hold out hope.
I agree with P67 that this will get worse. Unlike P67, I want to hold the root causes accountable.
The Goal Difference column is normally an accurate indicator of who deserves to be top of the league. Hearts are at +13, we are at +6.
Bet it’s been a while since we had that low a difference after 8 games.
SACK THE BORED
Whether carefully thought through or recklessly spurted out, the outcome is inevitable.
I’ve been silent on BR’s return to Celtic until now but I can tell from my feelings today that I won’t mind when he leaves.
‘ The holes in the Jungle Roof ‘
The old wedge, was re-driven straight through the rank and file of the Celtic support in 2025 , it’s been coming, now there’s a giant beanbag of countless millions to stay asleep on. New ways of self preservation whilst the supporters have to pay above inflation just to keep the place dripping over, or the next tent inflated. Celtic operating with staff on a minimum wage already threatened by dropping merchandise sales, to the highest paid employees in the land, – 20K a week is world class money for a shrug of your shoulders.
The responses to the initial meetings of a Celtic Collective, were that they ‘didn’t accept the premise’ of some of the specific questions, never mind answer precisely, where the club are. The statement given, couldn’t reflect the tone mood or attitude of what took place at the meeting, at least it contained the first written down semblance of contrition.
What became clearer as suspected in the majority of the Celtic support, that the NED’s are effectively making the big calls in transfer dealings as shown when the problematic recruitment policy, surfaces every time we’ve a manager that comes and goes, in Brendan Rodger’s case it’ll be twice, it’s complex for every Celtic manager not just him, even the vanquished Neil Lennon, chimes in.
The ‘good value ‘ obsessive budget set so low, it prices Celtic out of the modern market, except when selling, they’ve virtually admitted it, and use new European tax Laws’ new ‘FSR rules’ any reason, that covers ‘ good value, forget investment ‘ Celtic. These new rules apply to every other club as well, and certainly none of whom have an astonishingly high cash reserve, or no in time signed basic squad requirements. It’s not just the transfer market where we flop, and you wonder who covers the budget for Fergus McCann’s House of Steel, can’t be that much to ask for a jet wash, and spruce up?
A disillusioned fractured fan base considering what next from the minutes of epic failure, and how to react to the prospect of contributing to merchandise drops, HCTS drops, EL Package drops. Depending on the reactions and what to do next? groups including ultras are more organised and won’t be slow, but the board have presented the dilemma to Celtic supporters that aren’t in any group, but know that a lack of investment , planning, ambition when they see it.
It’s over for this era of Celtic, the board didn’t have the acumen, instead they wanted to stay inside their comfort spreadsheet and boast of ‘amazing totals’ The Celtic support have already started voting with their feet, amid threats of ‘we won’t profit as much next season’
Contrition then forgiveness? NED experience is invaluable, but is overtaken by time ( the stadium?) lack of ambition and a potential unknown Armageddon considering ‘we are a standalone’ business, – aren’t we?
If Celtic want to be a development club the academy and development players need restructuring in more ways than one, they still need to spend some profit on the supporters sometime soon. The stadium is a effectively proof of neglect and unchanged since built we’ll likely have a development manager next year which is code, for a manager that accepts whatever players ‘the club sign’ At many clubs, several coaches have authorisation to make contract offers to players. As well as those who recruit for the first team ©️Paul67 Who signed Yamada and Inamura Simpson Pusey, Osmand for example? This downsizing is a continuation of the war against Rainjurz, we should be light years ahead by now, not just 13.
Mik Invisibilus
That awkward moment……………………………….
when you say there is ‘no divide’ between the board and the manager
That awkward moment when you hear about ‘ group stage football ’ instead of CL.
when you want to be world class ‘ at everything you do ‘
when you say the Celtic club strategy ‘ is clear ‘
when it seems you need to ‘ask a NED permission’ to bid up
when you say the fan survey results will be produced ‘ soon ‘
when you answer random questions with ‘ we could do better ‘
when you say ‘ we will look at this, and get back to you ‘
when you say alleged misconduct is ‘ tabloid speculation ’ so the matter is closed
when Dr. Football ( Exeter, MK Dons ) is cited as an example of modernisation
when the absence of first team ready player transfers is dismissed with can’t be ‘specifically’ discussed.
when a ‘ shrug of the shoulders ’ is best
As ever CSC
I bet you couldn’t wait to put that up Paul 67.
What about your cheap car dealer not wanting to buy Ferraris.
A flat ,empty feeling surrounding the Club right now,seems like we’re at a crossroads, something has to change quickly to get us back on track IMO
Did Brendan get what he wanted, P67 ?
Seen a mad stat there,Ange has won the Europa League, and been sacked twice since the huns won a league game at Poundland
Moisey17 on 20th October 2025 12:08 pm….
Well said. This is the kind of post that our host used to deliver.
Weeron
Completely agree that the car analogy could be demotivating.
Much like the cowardly briefing against the manager in the red tops.
Many will deny any in house liability there, though I think differently.
A house divided and all that
Who will we be blaming next season? The, by then, previous manager i presume
It was always inevitable as we reaped the harvest of the summer window that BR would come under more scrutiny.
That’s football. The guy on the touchline will always draw more fire than the guy in the padded seats glued to his mobile phone.
Most of us realise how we got here. We were complacent to the point of recklessness in the summer and just believed BR would do his thing.
If it falls apart. It will come quick. Let the heavens fall if needs be. Accountability all around.
just saying.
An Dún on 20th October 2025 12:08 pm
We’ve many problems but I don’t put much of them down to confidence.
——————
If not confidence, then why can’t we compete with Dundee and many other less talented squads?
Our midfield is optimised for fast transition, quick inter-passing and balls into runners wide. None are physical and rarely ever tackle.
Having our pivot sitting 15 yards further back than last season and the 2 8s passing sideways or back has stopped us in our tracks.
get the midfield higher, practice one touch control ( averaging 3 currently) and play some passes forwards.
The slow play highlights our limited defenders (Scales and ralston yesterday).
Nygren and McCowan are luxury players for home games or subs. Engels should be in there away to help control the midfield and make some runs.
E.G. second goal, Yang makes a poor attempt at tracking the scorer but look how far back Nygren was (Ralston covering centre). McGregor just in picture and Hatate off screen.
Tactics all wrong. Sort it Rodgers!!!!
So, take goals out of the team and you, errr, take goals out of the team. Who’d have thought!
I posted this the day before the start of the season:
Can’t help but wonder if the upcoming season might just be the one where this operating at 60% of our potential nonsense finally catches up with us.
Will be fine if we can hit the 100 point mark – or even high-90s – which we should be able to do. Another season in the low-90s and we could be opening the door for others.
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/state-of-the-club-report-summer-2025/#comment-4006585
Not sure I’d be even confident of 90 now. So easily avoidable.
AN DÚN on 20TH OCTOBER 2025 12:08 PM
We’ve many problems but I don’t put much of them down to confidence.
“I think it’s confidence as well. I think when you’re a team that’s flowing and scoring goals then, of course, the confidence is there. We haven’t really had that throughout the season, so then you can be a little bit tentative on the ball and overthink it so much. We’ve got a great bunch of boys at the club, good guys that work hard every day. It’s all self-motivating as well. It’s that drive and desire.”
Just so that you don’t misquote or mis-infer what BR said Paul67, what Brendan’s actual quip was:
“We lost a lot of firepower, a lot of goals out the team and there’s no way you’ll go into a race and we’re given the keys to a Honda Civic and as you take off, say, I want you to drive it like a Ferrari – it’s no’ going to happen. So until something changes I have to find the solutions becos like I said, goals, speed, everything has come out of the team and we need tae find a way to be better…”
IMO, he wasn’t saying he had a team of Civics. Was more like we lost the explosive pace of Kyogo and Kuhn and failed to replace like for like.
I think the old saying “Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity” – coaches, manager, players and suits aren’t trying to eff this whole shebang up – but they so all need to be a bit more attentive and clever to overcome the cumulative threats we’re facing this season.
I strongly disagree with BR comments but equally the poor performances have been there all season so it’s disingenuous to say that comment has caused it.
Maybe some players are such pansies these days that the thought of your club wanting to improve puts you in a huff so I’m not sure that holds up either. These professional footballers have spent their entire youth and career and a competitive environment where someone else is always after your spot, where your constantly on trial to get kept on, to get signed, to get a renewed deal ever year or two as a youth and at every junction the club are looking for more and better players and if they find them in your position you are gone and you know it.To get to the stage where you are a professional footballer with club like ours you have been under the microscope for what 10-15 years as a kid, a youth and an adult professional – are we to believe that a little criticism or a tough time from a coach or manager and they melt….?? Not convinced sorry – and if they do they are hardly the type you want in the trenches are they.
Now the other side of that is that you’ve come along and moved your family halfway round the world, committed and contributed strongly for 3/4 yrs and due to the clubs ineffective squad management you don’t get the move promised – now would that demotivate you? Or you signed up and the promises made about ambition and investment aren’t kept – would that piss you off.
My view is all of the above could have a negative effect and to point to one as the overriding reason is BS but that’s the only one that can be hung on BR so that will have to do???
Is it not remarkable and a sad sign of our ineptitude that we can manage all three of the above?? FFS what a self inflicted wound.
If most can now see it’s only going to get worse then it’s incumbent on those in charge to rectify their mistake asap.
Can’t remember the last time I’ve felt so pessimistic about the team’s performance; our next games Strum Graz, Hearts , Falkirk, Huns , and Midgieland , not feeling confident about any of these games.
My preference would be for Brendan to get sacked now for consistently pissing inside the tent , realistically he’ll get the next run of fixtures but the danger is he just constantly demotivates the team with his post match smartarse comments, I suspect he’ll take it too far , as he really not that bright, and be removed by Dermot.
Thingsmustgetbettercfc
We literally appointed a manager who weeks beforehand, offered a square go to one of his players. The same guy that told an injured player to Eff off as he went off injured.
But a Honda Civic quip ?! Hang em high !!
The anger or frustration should be aimed at both the sheysters on the board and the imposter in the dug out.
The disgraceful Honda comment by the manager was made to protect team Brendan and no one else.
It would hold up if were were playing against Barca or PSG but not Dundee.
Both the board and the manager are holding us back. Wholesale changes needed and soon.
From previous Thread…
Weebobbycollins on 20th October 2025 9:55 am
B78…why don’t you go support Brugge?
……………………
I do NOT remember BURNLEY78 or anyone else shouting on here that Celtic SHOULD have Signed ANY of the players that Hearts or Brugge have signed BEFORE those players signed for those Clubs ?
Im pretty sure that Celtic had NO KNOWLEDGE of who Brugges and Hearts were trying to sign ?
IF only Celtic had signed MESSI BEFORE Barcelona got him ?
HH.
Why even bother with a manager? Just get the physio to tell all the players they are Messi. Apparently it’s as easy as that!
GlassTwoThirdsFull – it only works if you say Maradona.
We haven’t won a game against decent opposition in a year
We were drawing against poor opposition, now we’re losing against really poor opposition
We haven’t beaten the Huns for a year
We’re a football club thats more concerned with drama than winning games.
Bold action needed, hopefully from our manager
careful what you wish for.
The left Honda doesn’t know what the right Honda is doing
same old Celtic CSC
BSR. 12.12.
Absolutely spot on . You’ve described the train crash that is Celtic PLC perfectly.
It’s an internal battle of 2 stubborn egos .
One is the Irish Raj ,who loves the glorious balance sheet, the other is the elite manager who doesn’t seem to know any other tactic than possession for possessions sake.
Here’s a great idea to encourage the team, why don’t we chuck oranges , bouncey balls and other everyday objects onto the pitch at the start of every away game, probably ruins the team’s concentration and reminds them that we don’t really think they’re good enough. oh and why don’t we at every home game get the green brigade’s loud hailer guy to exhort the team with his chants in support of Irish political groups , really cheers me up at any rate improve the old feel good atmosphere around the stadium
AFTERMATH
Saw some pelters being directed to Hatate. Anyone tell me if any other player tried to be creative please. He does try to play a forward pass ( remember them !!! ) . OK , doesnot always come off but he does try.
Scales too getting stick. How many times was he left exposed because KT was AWOl and seen jogging back to help.
My radical, yes radical team against Hearts is
Sinisalo, Donovan Simpson Pusey, Scales and Saracci
bernardo, Nygren and Hatati
Tounekti Shin and Bally
Too many of our established players in the comfort zone
Regards Tounekti, most of the time he jinks to the left then takes off to the right, is that not a chance for him on the right wing where he can get to the bye line and cross.
Tin hat on
Thursday, we drop our pants and get a spanking
kinhLUBO
Big Jimmy
100% re the 2 normal deals Brugge made. The guy from eye Bundesliga 2 and the guy from Ajax. I had no idea who they were.
I absolutely knew about the lad from Inter and that it would likely be tough to work a deal there but I certainly don’t think any of these 3 were on the radar of Brendan and his recruitment guy.
They absolutely should have been. As should many of the developable players who may come to lower leagues.
If we are not looking there then we are missing out big time.
Clearly we are not. Although I have no evidence for that and hence my challenge that the board identify who the manager asked for.
My personal view based on the players he has signed is his preferred option is agents and old contacts with proven players rather than a more modern and appropriate approach of identifying and developing players.
AN DÚN on 20TH OCTOBER 2025 12:37 PM
….
Neil was the wrong appointment just as Brendan’s smartarse comments are indefensible.
Club needs a reset , manager is the immediate problem, our bigger problem is Dermot and the tone he sets in running the club.
Next5gamesfrombehindthesofacfc
At the risk of stating the obvious…..I think that McInnes and his Hertz mob will be ” Right Up” for playing Celtic this Sunday.
The Hertz players will be all over us like a cheap suit from the outset.
I have serious doubts about some Celtic players being ” Up for the Fight” at Swinecastle this week.
I hope that Celtic can prove me wrong ?
Most likely, the Huns will be the same against us at Hampden UNLESS Celtic can get their act together before Hampden ?
IF we play as badly against Strum Graz as we did yesterday, we could struggle also ? Its difficult to see where Celtic will score GOALS right now ?