“I only have 13 practices with my team, usually we have four weeks of preseason.” That’s what Wilfried Nancy said on Friday, before the weekend’s capitulation at Celtic Park. He added, “It’s totally normal that my players need a bit of time, it’s totally normal that my players could be confused at certain moments.”
The Gods of XG back up Wilfried’s belief that Celtic have been unfortunate in not picking up more points than they did. The defeat to Hearts falls into that category, but the second half turnaround by Dundee United and Newco, and entirely inept performances against St Mirren and Motherwell, deserved nothing better.
“New players, a bit of time” – elements the manager suggests will help. True. Spending many millions on players to beat St Mirren and Motherwell will almost certainly work. This is Scottish football. Read the Uefa league tables, if you want to check the standard. Our player stock is already vastly superior to anything most of our opponents can acquire, adding even more £1m salaried pros will inevitably help.
We can agree that without a preseason to practice, it is normal that players look as confused as they appear to be. The concern many have expressed, is why, when the required practice time was not available, or the squad not suitable, did we cast off in this direction?
My suspicion is, Wilfried looked at our history of winning practically everything, and perhaps the Uefa tables, and thought, “We’ve got this”. He surely did not expect Motherwell’s new manager to win so comfortably at home to Celtic.
Five weeks into the job, it is too late for the manager to revert to the system Martin O’Neill used to get Celtic consistently over the line (and little more). Wilfried’s reputation has been staked on this being the correct path. He will continue until it works or he is relieved of his duties. To be fair to Wilfried, this is probably the only way he knows to win, so he has no choice.
You and I have no experience of defeats arriving at this rate, so the impact is bound to be profound. That we are here due to a tactical change which has not had the required practice, points to poor decision making.
At that presser on Friday, Wilfried said, “Do your job”. The lad is bold, if nothing else. Having the best plan in the world is worth nothing if you allow the foundations to burn around you. It is time to get the job done, Wilfried.
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Team for Saturday
Kasper
Tony. Auston Liam Kieran
Arne. Callum. Luke
Yang. Kyogo or Ferguson Daizen
Back along familiar lines Tony , Auston and Liam hypnotherapy to erase the events of the last 6 weeks.
Big Dog to pull a rabbit out the hat re a centre forward before the weekend.
HH
Phew! Au revoir Wilf.
Now.
Knutsen.
A great start to the new year, eventually :)
Some new signings and the return of the injured players and we’re good
And the cry was “some defenders”
here we go 1 in a row!
SWISS TONY on 5TH JANUARY 2026 8:07 PM
Phew! Au revoir Wilf.
Now.
Knutsen.
…..
A nope from me , works well in a specialised environment in the artic circle. big doubts whether his approach will travel, bit like himself
HH
https://www.youtube.com/live/_v9NeNgq4r4?si=vehC4T1DLM5R8Cei
To take the job until the end of a transition season and not stay for the good stuff in season 2 says a lot about Martin.
Did the last 33 days really happen?
Knutsen has agreed a deal until 2029
With Bodo that is :)
SonsOfErin on 5th January 2026 8:14 pm
Did the last 33 days really happen?
—————
They did. Their main function was to raise the hopes of the huns which we can now enjoy dashing yet again. Who says the Board doesn’t have a strategy?
The only realistic choice which hopefully will see us win the league.
Number one priority now – get a striker in to make his debut against Dundee Utd.
Looks like big ANGE knows just how creepy the creeps are that he would have been working with!
https://www.givemesport.com/ange-postecoglou-not-interested-in-celtic-return/
Oh well…..
MON I love you.
HH
oot.
Evening all.
Jota, Yang, Callum Osman and every other first team playing squad now have an opportunity to be influenced by Martin and his backroom team.
I hope they take their opportunity, IMHO, it will benefit us all.
THEBHOYFROMU.N.C.L.E on 5TH JANUARY 2026 7:47 PM
What’s french for deja vu ?
———————————————-
They don’t have one, the same goes for entrepreneur ©️ George W Bush
https://x.com/i/status/2008247766234107950
Look who is in the background
Martin O’Neill
Buzzing for Saturday now
Fair doos.
Good appointment and done swiftly. Please to see Fotheringham back in the building.
Now let’s back them with signings.
And dare I say it. Do we ride the momentum and let the GB back in.
Happy to have Oneil back until season end BUT! the board better not think he doesn’t need players because we won 7 matches. He did win but it wasn’t always pretty , it was at times fortunate and it was certainly not sustainable with this squad of players.
We need power (his words) , we need a goalscorer and a creative midfielder as minimum !
looking forward to Saturday with optimism and looking forward to the board rectifying mistakes they made last summer – they are not off the hook yet!!
Austen Trusty and Liam Scales aff oot for a pint.
Maestro on 5th January 2026 8:28 pm
Look who is in the background
WHO?????
EK Bhoy – bottoms up!
We will no doubt have a very interesting few days with a striker and a back up striker being added to the squad.
FAVOURITE UNCLE on 5th January 2026 8:47 pm
MARTIN O’NEIL & his agent
PLB
I am inclined to agree with you.
The huns are terrified by MON,they know he’s a winner
Although I do fear that we will need to significantly re enforce the squad as we were playing shite with Shaun Mark and Martin and carried a lot of luck.
The good news is we will have Jota Johnston Ianacho and Sarachi hopefully fit to play a part as well in the run in.
Massive week 25/1 to 1/2. Hearts a Utrecht h Falkirk h
Huns have Dundee h Porto a Hibs a
Hearts have us the Dundee U a
Hopefully we get our window moves sorted before then.
Not a good day for Celtic Football club
Sacking an individual who us as a club had recruited and now rejoicing in his sacking
Dermot Desmond has to leave Celtic to allow us to breath
St stivs i know when you say be carefull for what you want
but this is toxic
Bada Bing
Weirdly I agree with you . Even though we were shit v them in the semi when they had 10 men we did win.
History shows that the Huns actually did get his number and won nearly as many trophies v MON as he did v them. Sadly Fir Park May 2005 will haunt me forever.
Personally I am hoping it is wee Shaun and Fotheringham are doing the tactics and MON telling the players how great they are. That could just work.
SHAUNAMURA on 5TH JANUARY 2026 8:55 PM
Would it have been a better day if WN was still here?
I think almost all I have spoken to about WN feel the same as I do – ie glad to see him go at but at the same time recognising that there’s nothing personal against the man himself. He was just out of his depth in a job he should never have been offered.
Liz Truss was PM longer than Wilfried Nancy was Celtic manager – jury’s out on which appointment caused most damage 😀
Who would win a fight between :
Playing open attacking football but ultimately being humped v playing shite but winning lucky ?
The long wait
That is not what i am saying the problem remains in my humble opinion
and i think most reasonable supporters will recognise this
I don’t think MON would have came back to manage the same squad, he said when he left it needs major investment, here’s hoping
Kyogo’s a no for me – hasn’t scored a goal since he left us.