St Mirren, who are ninth in the Premiership controlled yesterday’s Scottish League Cup Final and won the trophy with an historic and deserved 3-1 victory. Celtic had the bulk of possession but were unable to turn that into enough chances to deserve anything more from the game.
For the third game in succession Celtic went behind from the first corner they had to defend in the game. That weakness was a painful feature of the Covid season is back. Those who successfully campaigned for a return to four at the back will have to contemplate the fact that the defensive formation is well down the list of problems Celtic have. Celtic were exposed at the back throughout the game, St Mirren had more shots on target and more attempts from inside the box, measures of which team was always more likely to score.
For the 35 minutes he was on, Kelechi Iheanacho gave Celtic a taste of what an effective striker can bring to a team. The recurrence of the hamstring injury which has limited him to fewer than 90 minutes since October cast a long shadow over an already dark day.
The performance was consistent with so many this year. When pressed one-on-one, Celtic players get rid of the ball quickly – and often backwards. Reo Hatate was the only one who took the ball in and attempted to get past his man. Without taking any opponents out of the game, there are no options for a forward pass.
In the hierarchy of responsibility, Wilfried Nancy has to take his share, but he is not at the top. The squad is not up to the task and needs a radical overhaul. Such an overwhelming reluctance to take responsibility on the ball indicated they are playing without confidence. Who can blame them? Managers have come and gone, one having publicly undermined them, while the feedback loop when a ball is mis controlled or a pass goes astray would have the best of us hiding on the field.
The challenge facing the new manager is significant. He needs to restore confidence to a squad who look shattered, impose a tactical regime which creates chances and fortified the defence, while nurturing the most fragile collection of hamstring muscles in sport.
You and I laughed at Newco fans who were so unable to cope with defeats they hounded a succession of managers out Ibrox and made the job toxic. That’s not how we fix this problem. The man needs our support right now as do his players.
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Kev Racist.
The Celtic Football and Athletic Coy.
Came within 11 minutes of davemurraying and been shat out in 1994
Moisey17
top post
Auldheid
not any more :(
Taurangabhoy on 16th December 2025 5:21 am
Or Zack the uber staunchies who have contributed zilch to the $80 million in the bank..
Who or what did contribute then?
Please outline.
” TexasTim on 16th December 2025 4:29 am
Auldheid at 3:40am
The best prognosis I have read on here – I’m sold that that is pretty close to how events played out.”
I am in general agreement with that comment. Well done Auldheid.
The Forbes Article on WN
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ianquillen/2025/12/16/what-wilfried-nancys-celtic-fc-saga-really-says-about-mls-managers/
HH
AN TEARMANN
Thanks for posting it. Not good with links.
AULDHEID on 16TH DECEMBER 2025 3:40 AM
Yes, – whatever version it’s all about ‘the moneyball’ now look where it’s gotten us, toxicity off the radar. 👍
“Celtic deserve better than Dermot Desmond & Co…..”
I stopped reading at that point
AN TEARMANN on 16TH DECEMBER 2025 11:36 AM
Yes , but the Celtic board knew all that didn’t they?
new article posted.
spikeysauldman on 16th December 2025 10:20 am
A complete cluster feck from those in charge and calling for unity & blaming the bogey men wont hide that,
/===
Disunity has brought Celtic to this point and unity will not help the past or present but it could make a difference in the future and change a toxic relationship.
In any case it will not happen overnight and will not happen at all if the subject gets no mention.