It was unarguably the worst performance of the season. Celtic limped out of Tannadice having lost their second league game there this term and third in Dundee in total. Dundee United sailed through the match almost untroubled. A goalkeeper fumble from a Reo Hatate shot only reminded us that United are a fragile outfit, but on this occasion, no questions were asked of them.
It is pointless to blame any one player, all who played outfield were equally ineffective. Selection too was questionable. Sebastian Tounekti was dropped after a poor performance a week earlier against Motherwell. That left space for Kelechi Iheanacho to make his first start in three months. The striker is well short of match fitness and was unable to make an impression. When Colby Donovan retired injured, Reo was moved to right back. His unfamiliarity with the position was evidenced by United’s second goal. Anthony Ralston was left on the bench.
Those of us who complain about artificial pitches were reminded of why they came into existence in the first place. Large areas of Tannadice had no grass. The entire pitch was marked by scarifying tracks, created recently by a tractor dragging a trailer. Recent dry conditions left the surface wildly unpredictable.
Dundee United have been ‘preparing’ their pitch like this for the visit of Celtic for years. I was once told by a former United player that the team trained on the pitch all week before a Celtic game.
I’m not sure Martin O’Neill had a different hand to play which would have resulted in a better outcome. He will surely be glad of the two week break.
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Yesterday’s result was as much a boost to the challengers as it was a dull yin for the champions, but I’m not inclined to dig out a towel to throw into the ring just yet.
We’re a brittle team, each match lately a fraught affair, and it was always likely that we’d drop points before the season ends.
Equally, the two challengers will drop points, both to each other and in their other fixtures. That we’ve weakened our position relative to them is undeniable, but there will be better days for us when momentum will swing back our way and the optimism will return.
It’s a pity we didn’t manage to see out the recent heavy run of matches with a last win before the squad gets a break and a chance to recharge.
But let’s try to keep an even keel on the emotions while MON navigates some troubled waters.
I’m not sure Martin O’Neill had a different hand to play which would have resulted in a better outcome.
Who deals the hands Paul?
Maybe an idea to examine why we are so poor in every area on the park…..
I didn’t think our season was going to survive that run of away games at Ibrox and Pittodrie so yesterday felt like a late delivery of something that I knew was in the post.
The league is done. We’ve won 3 games from 12 against Hearts, the Huns, Motherwell and Hibs so the run in will be painful.
This Scottish Cup is not to be taken lightly, we could definitely lose another match at Hampden.
Hopefully we can send MoN off with a trophy at least and we put this utterly appalling season behind us.
But what awaits ?
After losing the ten we had Dom McKay and Ange and we quickly rebuilt. I just don’t see that happening this summer.
A delayed, underwhelming managerial appointment, coupled with another Nicholson special of a transfer window, will likely see us playing Europa conference football next season. On the bright side, we may actually win a knock out tie in Europe, maybe.
If only Brendan Rodgers hadn’t let Kwon go…Him and Oh are now joint favourites for player of the year with Real Madrid.
An absolute dereliction of duty by Rodgers…He should be sacked immediately
Putting reo to RB was up ther with Covid season selections. A more unsuited RB is hard to imagine.
If Ralston was not the like for like MON wanted,then Put Sarrachi on, shuffle everyone along .
That being said, Reo and Luke at the second goal should be ashamed of themselves
100% agree with the Hatate move. Unbelievable that Martin & Sean would deem him suitable for such a role on that surface.
Our management team are great with the banter but that’s not enough…
WHAT IS THE STARZ on 23RD MARCH 2026 12:07 PM
If only Brendan Rodgers hadn’t let Kwon go…Him and Oh are now joint favourites for player of the year with Real Madrid.
An absolute dereliction of duty by Rodgers…He should be sacked immediately
….
So funny it hurts
We can still win it. Or at least stop the huns from winning it.
Whatever happens, Nicholson out. Despot Desmond out. For all the pish about this being Rodgers and the fans’ fault, no-one is fooled. Especially those doing the Board’s gaslighting.
Unfortunately it may take a season ticket boycott to drive the scum out, that’s unlikely….
When your FIFA 22nd-ranked superstar is getting outplayed by an uncapped player from the 59th ranked nation you know you are in trouble, and in the end our Ferraris were unable to produce the goods on a pitch that was so unplayable that Goodwin’s Golfs only managed to muster 19 shots (with 8 on target).
Most likely Brendan Rodgers’ fault. As per.
Fairly confident that the 82 points we could still get would be enough to win the league (could even sneak it with 80). Far less confident that we are likely to hit those numbers.
WHAT IS THE STARZ on 23RD MARCH 2026 12:07 PM
If only Brendan Rodgers hadn’t let Kwon go…Him and Oh are now joint favourites for player of the year with Real Madrid.
Brendan sold Iwata, Oh, Lagerbielke, Idah and Nawrocki, and replaced them with worse players. He made the squad worse.
Oh scored again at the weekend to make it 4 in 7 in the Turkish league after a 10m move. He couldn’t have done worse than Ihaenacho yesterday, who Brendan chased a year ago and who hasnt been match fit in a year.
On the other Honda,
Daizen Maeda developed by Celtic and peaking wide left for BR side as top goal scorer retained no replacement available
Reo Hatate developed by Celtic to peak time under BR retained no replacement available
Calum McGregor “ I can’t thank BR enough for what he has done here “
Liam Scales recalled and developed via Aberdeen by BR no replacements.
Arne Engels developed by BR with £25M January bid rejected – no replacement available
Adam Idah developed by BR 20 goals in first season no replacement.
Colby Donovan developed by Celtic introduced in pre season by BR ahead of Tony Ralston.
Auston Trusty developed by BR and established as one our better CB’s.
Yang developed by BR now over 100 appearances retained no replacement available .
Kieran Tierney ‘BR was a major factor in returning to Celtic’
Nicolas Kuhn developed by BR and sold to Serie A for £18M after – 18 months no replacement.
Kyogo no replacement after 18 months
Squad Vandalism CSC
I appreciate we have a lot of players away on international duty, but there are quite a few who are not, so lets use the downtime productively.
Instead of guest pundit work, playing golf, or attending coach development sessions lets use the time for coaching the players we have.
I would start with shape, set pieces, and defensive positioning for the midfield.
THE BATTERED BUNNET on 23RD MARCH 2026 12:02 PM
WGS’s third season lives long in the memory and nobody wants to be on the wrong side of it again but that was a tough team who had qualified out of the cl groups and had Naka and Mcgeady on the wings. A wiser person than me thought we’d win it back then, I darent ask him now what he thinks
We beat a good Rangers team twice to win the league after the Strachan gtf Mothewell game. Right now I don’t see that team beating Hearts and the Huns which is what we’ll need to do, we don’t have the heart or character in the team.
Reaping what DD, Nicholson and the other charlatans sowed.
Oh, btw, welcome to the new member (I choose my word carefully) of that ‘club’.
Don’t bother with scouting, recruitment, development or even a manager and coaches Just make sure another freeloader is on board.
Sick of how our club has been wrecked by complacency & incompetence.
I’ve said it before, ‘Does DD suffer such failure in all his businesses?
Does he feck! So why is it OK with Celtic?
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 23RD MARCH 2026 12:29 PM
He’s left us with the squad some of us said he would.
The great deadwood clear out we were promised somehow made us worse
CQN like Celtic FC needs a complete overhaul. Both of them forgetting how to make the end product enjoyable.
The blog that once set the pace for fan zones now looks like something from the land that time forgot, just like our team on the park.
Taking a step back from the misery of yesterday against a really poor United.
Seems to me we are victims of a number of horrendous events , which have come to a head this season:
– Complacency at director level that we’ll just crack on as normal , as the competition in the league doesn’t exist. Bonus payouts are guaranteed.
– Complacency at football manager level where our possession based horseshoe of death will continue to prevail and over the season we will be fine. Let’s just crack on with the same style of play as well , no one will do anything to get near us.
– Executive warfare between the Manager and Director of Football operations net result a total screwup on the transfer front and no one else at Exec level with the baws to knock heads together.
– Elite manager sacked because he’s behaving like a fanny with all sorts of rumours about inappropriate activities
– Replaced by a manager who was managing under 14s into his mid30s , from a league which comes across a series of friendlies , with a football philosophy that self combusted when stress tested.
– underpinned by a horrendous injury list to our better players , even yesterday 2 of our better players from Jan intake out injured.
– our exceptional goalkeeper gets injured and his form falls off a cliff and surprisingly his shoulder is completely gubbed.
There maybe others.
Mathematically we are still on for a double but yesterday dented my confidence big time and let’s be honest there is a big fat question mark over the Scottish Cup as well.
It’s pretty clear that we need a bigger more robust side now that most teams in the league are pushing up more and making life difficult for us playing the ball out from the back , we have absolutely no legs in midfield whatsoever, it’s now officially scary. Our elite manager could see this but decided to feek off rather than do something about it.
I’m expecting the older board members to clear out after the last game of the season , after the final whistle in the final game Michael Nicholson will resign ( it’s in the post) for an inability to manage Exec conflicts and the hiring of Nancy.
I’m assuming that Dermot will have some sort of report on restructuring the football operations which he’ll let the new manager (Robbie Kean) have a look at before it’s set on fire and the circus will move on.
Although football can change quickly , got the feeling we’re caught behind the curve our whole squad is based in tippy tappy and essentially needs to be replaced, major surgery required.
Have we the knowledge in the building to undertake this , answer is no , does Robbie Kean answer is no , does Ange , yes.
Bitterlydisappointingseadoncfc
Everything went wrong for us this weekend, results, performance you name it you got it.
Pity though after a run of five hard earned good results. Our rivals have twelve points out of their last eighteen, we have ten, which is why we are back down in third position. Not out of the SPL by any means, if we come back and win our next game up in Dundee. A couple of weeks away.
Martin has his work cut out, but not half as much as Paul67….
BSR
Don’t forget Matt O’Riley.
I had a manager that really believed in me – and he made me aware of that….
I learned so much off Brendan….
Brendan was great for me.
The manager who “doesn’t develop players”, cough cough…..
CELTIC40ME on 23RD MARCH 2026 12:42 PM
Ah yes, the experts who told us.
He left us with two doubles, and Paul Tisdale’s daisy chain of ‘good value’ tack. Minus Shin Ianmura Simpson Pusey and a second cry in a second stint pleading for quality and recruitment modernisation.
Ironically, it’s just around the corner sadly after the sacking of Paul Tisdale and Wilfried Nancy another boardroom brain fart.
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 23RD MARCH 2026 12:54 PM
BSR
Don’t forget Matt O’Riley.
I had a manager that really believed in me – and he made me aware of that….
I learned so much off Brendan….
Brendan was great for me.
—————————-
Shout 👍
Big boy done it and ran away theory 🤣
As we went down without so much as a whimper yesterday, I actually felt a sense of relief knowing it was over. A bit like watching someone with a terminal illness finally slip away and you know their suffering is over. No more clinging on, hoping somehow there will be a miracle cure.
I know some of you believe the title can still be won and I wish I could share your optimism.
If, as is likely, we have presented a 30-40 million bonus to the Ibrox coffers then this may just be the start of our suffering. They will not hesitate to spend it. To put the boot on our throat and keep it there.
Welcome (back) to the slow lane.
AIPPLE
My son took Big Jimmy to Tesco this morning to upgrade his mobile phone.
I spoke to them both when they were in the car, Jimmy said he’s a bit tired but hopes to get to the Ship Bank on Friday🤞
He told me that he recently lost an old friend but didn’t to say goodbye, he said it was ironic’ as his friend drowned in a bowl of ‘Cheerio’s’.🤪
Sorry, don’t blame me😉
Dundee United should be made to play away from home,until that pitch is fit for purpose, lost revenue and rebates for ST holders, would make them get their finger out
Dundee Utd 0 Celtic 9
Kyogo CSC
“It was unarguably the worst performance of the season”
Maybe but not unarguably.
Kairat x 2 were poor as was 2-0 loss at Fir Park
I’ve seen some historical stats about maximum defeats by a title winning team.
I’ve not seen similar for a maximum number of truly honking performances per season.
Subjective measure I suppose.
In my head … it’s four
Daft to argue BR is not an exceptional coach.
He is also a Class A scopath that has been to his determent at every place he has been .
Sociopath is a bit strong. Strong willed, self confident and driven maybe a bit closer to the truth.
Glass two thirds / BSR
IMHO Matt O’Riley is a perfectly reasonable example of Brendan’s ability to develop a player.
Here comes the but.
Ange sanctioned the purchase of a player from the English 3rd tier for a modest £1.5m
Ange developed him from a £1.5m player to a (say) £12m to £15m valued player.
That successful journey did have bumps along the way which, among other, saw Aaron Mooy sometimes selected ahead of Matt.
Brendan absolutely developed Matt even further – and not marginally either – into a complete midfielder commanding a £25m fee.
My point though?
Would Brendan have sanctioned that original purchase of potential at low cost or would he have expected the more oven ready type?
FWIW and absolutely IMHO …
The biggest issue with the player recruitment and development strategy (the “what”?) at Celtic has not been where the minimum entry bar has been positioned …
… but rather that multiple stakeholders
… who lived some part of player recruitment
… simultaneously believed it to be in different positions.
Ultimately a leadership and management failing
I like to go with the maxim if you’re going to panic, panic early.
There are 6 games left to play and we have no form.
We have no form because we are inconsistent.
We are inconsistent because we have players whose performance can vacillate between good and dreadful on a weekly basis.
Deploy a formation/system that allows you to get your best 11 on the pitch from the start and leave Arthur, Yang, Hatate, McCowan and Tounekti on the bench until the game is won.
Hopefully AJ and Engels are back after the break, get AOC playing beside McGregor, get Maeda playing beside
the Czech guy upfront.
Something needs to change.
We’ll likely not live long enough to see Celtic attract a better coach than BR again.
The attempts to lay this at his door after he spent the entire summer pleading for us to buy proven goal scorers to replace the goals we sold is beyond belief.
MoN spoke about two wingers coming in the door on the Thursday night prior to the January deadline. 3 days later neither winger arrived and we were scrambling to get Mvuka over the line.
That was probably BR’s fault too…
The season before Brendan arrived for the second time ,MoR missed god knows how many changes from close range in the box , must have been 5 or 6 months without a goal.
Seemed obvious that he needed to time his runs better into the box ( don’t get ahead of the ball) , so one elite coaching lesson later.
Still the same elite coach that had Kyogo playing on the right wing withdrawn away to Dundee , in some sort of elite experiment that didn’t pan out , or just pissing Kyogo off because he asked for a transfer.
Brendan in that short 2 year window when he’s fresh in the door is a good coach but suffers from the Jose ego / god complex , picks fights with other execs , plays favourites with players , so he drives who works with him round the bend and has to leave.
If Brendan had stayed this year we would be no better off , probably lost fewer games but plenty of low scoring draws , although the internal conflict had reached a level that was not an option.
bbc –
They are 17 points worse off than this point last season, with a goal difference of 22 as compared to 72.
0000000000000
the horseshoe of death ?
as opposed to now, the non scoring , not exciting, impotent, blunt, strikerless, defenceless losing foootball.
well done those who chased a winning manager.
DeniaBhoy on 23rd March 2026 1:12 pm
Pretty much felt the same.
The pitch was a disgrace but we were never at the races. Poor team selection, poor substitutions/formation changes and a real lack of fight/effort.
March 22 2026, Angelus prayer, Pope Leo XIV
https://youtu.be/ngiQ6iImccA?si=Oe84Y4BcFSmspl1M
If 60,000 season ticket holders blindly finance the PLC gravy train then its not the PLC gravy trains fault is it?
If 60,000 season ticket holders blindly refuse to see that Rodgers was a lying grifter then its not the PLC gravy trains fault is it?
If 60,000 season ticket holders blindly go along with the PLC ‘s 49, 52, 56 quid old firm ticket deception to pass Sevco off as Rangers then its not the PLC gravy trains fault is it?
Sussed out wingers and one lonely sussed out striker played by sussed out managers then its not the PLC gravy trains fault is it?
If 60,000 season ticket holders blindly refuse to see that CalMac is a planted Rodgers agent who deliberately slows everything down then its not the PLC gravy trains fault is it?
Sad are the homes….