My friends in Celtic, we are the laughing stock of the football world. This status has been achieved by becoming the soft touches of Scottish football. Dundee United can only win one game in 11? Not to worry, we’ve Celtic next. St Mirren only won two games in 10? Chill, it’s Celtic at Hampden. United are so poor, that win of theirs came against an even-poorer St Mirren.
Three weeks ago we were hot favourites for the league, with a nine-point advantage over Newco. We still have an advantage, but a third place finish is now as likely as any other outcome. Maybe you always fancied a crack at the Conference League?
Last night’s game at Tannadice encapsulated so much of the story. Celtic were scintillating for much of the first half and could have had the game won. It is not Wilfried Nancy’s fault that the squad is short of an experienced striker who would have made that a reality.
However, Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin, figured out what Celtic were doing at halftime and turned the tables. Celtic were completely nullified from the start of second period. The equaliser on 58 minutes was more than merited, as Celtic were unable to clear their lines until then. Both United goals came from pressure after a corner kick. That’s five goals in four games from corners Celtic have conceded. Maybe playing with only one central defender for the first time this century is a bit too radical?
Goodwin in not alone. Derek McInnes figured out the same thing for Hearts earlier this month. His side were battered for the opening 30 minutes, changed to suit the Celtic formation and had their easiest game at Celtic Park for a long time. St Mirren’s Stephen Robinson had seen enough to know what to do before he arrived at Hampden on Sunday. Celtic’s formation made it easy for all three.
This period has encouraged our opponents. Newco and Hearts were broken at the beginning of this month. Today they are invigorated and they will approach each game, as well as the January transfer window, with renewed appetite. Celtic are there for the taking and everyone knows it. I am getting “What is going on?” messages from across the world; we are world news. This scale of capitulation is that exceptional.
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Just saw the Bat Signal over London.
Could be an SOS call for “Vintage Tracksuit Man” – Save Our Season.
By your standards, that is an emotional article Paul.
Good for you.
😉
BTW – how are you responding to those messages from across the world?
vale bhoy on 18th December 2025 11:06 am
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full
I’m not disputing anything you say but, I think we might need that waiting list.
———
From previous thread ….
Cheers VB.
FWIW ?
I’ve long suspected (without any evidence) that the waiting list is largely an urban myth.
I’ve no doubt there are some people who have registered an interest in having a season ticket where currently none is available.
I don’t believe it runs to e.g. 10,000
How did you go bankrupt?
Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.”
― Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises
————
Applies to our footballing decline and the complacency of our board in recruitment / scouting.
If Nancy is out of his depth then , by extension , so are the guys that appointed him.
Bernardo on player press conference duties, assume manager would be up next. That will tell us true position. If talks are taking place then he’ll be nowhere near the press today. If he is there, he’s in charge until Sunday, at least.
Hope he hasn’t re-gifted that tracksuit.
Why today the game is Sunday?
Peter I don’t use my father’s surname Tweet
How it works
“I am led to believe” ….
…. [ GO AHEAD AND INSERT ANYTHING YOU WANT BECAUSE THE USE OF “LED TO BELIEVE” IS A SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE “TWICE REMOVED FROM BEING A FACT” TACTIC WHICH RESULTS IN NO LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS P1SH AND NO REQUIREMENT TO RETRACT SAID P1SH BECAUSE NO ASSUMED FACTS WERE STATED … WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY INFERRING TO THE EASILY LED OR HARD OF THINKING THAT YOU ARE IN THE KNOW WHEN, CLEARLY, YOU ARE NOT ]
What a world.
Everyone has to eat, I suppose
Bring on the Talbot.
I thought we were the laughing stock of the football world on the night of September 1st
Amateur, shambolic, embarrassing, grovelling around paying way over the odds for bang average players.
I said on September 2nd I had never been so sickened as a celtic supporter than after that transfer window….my oh my have the chickens come home to roost !!!
If WN had been on 3 million at columbus crew rather than 300k ….would the board have been so taken with him 🤔……
I’ve repeated this often ….board bonuses should be dependent on CL qualification and trophy’s won as well as financial results
If it is to be MON till the end of the season, he won’t be doing it for a handshake, he knows his worth to Celtic right now,he’s in a very good bargaining position, he might ask for what Rodgers was on plus bonuses.
That would be poetic if O’Neill dug his heels in. I hope he does.
I am in the camp with those who does have sympathy for Wilf, but, and always the but, surely he could see that what he was trying to implement wasn’t going to work with the players at his disposal, the first 30 mins last night were superb, a decent striker and we would have been out of sight, Goodwin sussed out our system and acted accordingly, we fell apart, this is the problem I have with Wilf, I recall at one point seeing Scales on the right touchline near the corner flag FFS, they were all over the shop with no clue what the eff they were doing, this is down to Wilf, not even a semblance of a plan B, so as others have said second class players, second class manager sad to say.
He is not the one who should carry all the blame, that comes from the top, but we know they won’t, I will repeat again and again and again and again till it sinks in, it’s all about the OF and the income stream.
Good to hear you got the all clear Pat.
Significant ShareholdersAs of 5 December 2025, the Company was aware or had been notified that the following individuals or organisations held 3% or more of the classes of shares comprised in the Company’s listed issued capital:
ORDINARY SHARES OF 1P EACH
Dermot Desmond Line Nominees Limited 32,772,073 | 34.47%
Lindsell Train Bank of New York Nominees Limited 15,342,650 | 16.14%
Christopher D Trainer 10,442,454 | 10.98%
James Mark Keane 5,909,847 | 6.22%
Tom Allison 3,357,505 | 3.53%
71.34% controlled by 5 individuals. (67m shares).
Noting all voting shares with these guys and other investors that vote for the board are 82 million
Everyone is to blame.
I was really looking forward to this season as well , it’s been a slow motion car crash which has recently picked up speed.
Needs a steady hand both on and off the pitch now
HH
I have no sympathy for Nancy, none.
He accepted the post only to treat MON with contempt. A ten minute conversation with the guy that saved out season ? No analysis of the current players capabilities ?
He then inflicted a stupid system on a team that has won the more trophies in the last three years than he has in a lifetime, using the internationally accepted logic of four defenders.
The team is short of top class players, not systems.
Three leftfooters as the defence against Hearts ?
Same failed system in the next three games. Drops Scales, the best header of a ball at Celtic ? Defenders constantly left one one in dangerous positions?
He is a fool, a dangerously arrogant fool.
Not in his postmatch bleatings, they make you want to buy him pity pint, but in his sacrificing of our club on the altar of his ego tripping refusal to accepting his failed system.
We are Celtic FC not a pub team used as an experiment in failed systems.
Jesus, as soon as I saw that stupid abacus or connect 4 in his hand I knew he was a bluffer.
Unlike most of my fellow Celts, I reckon Lawwell did a top job putting and keeping our finances in order. His weak spot has been his refusal to accept that most of the employees he is responsible for are sub standard. How they go about transfers, analysis, and indeed training are amatuerish at best.
We need a solid manager to regain lost ground. We need to spend EARLY in the upcoming window.
Two centre forwards, over 6′. Two midfielders over 6′, a winger that can beat a man and cross the ball and a hard nut centre half.
Act now or suffer a trophyless season.
Totally pissed off CSC.
Two centre forwards, over 6′. Two midfielders over 6′, a winger that can beat a man and cross the ball and a hard nut centre half.
————
but who are they , who do we need to buy ?
I want experience, but hungry, mature players who want to win something, a Barry Robson or Aaron Moy.
As to striker , get two auldheids,
now is not the time for development players.
DR now saying club denying behind the scenes that any talks with WN
St Mirren’s Alex Gogic is a MoN type CH. big, strong and No messing around.
Tin hat on.
Fearing the worst and he’s still here…
Gogic would do at CH or def midfield
Bada
I thought he would be away first thing when the Stock Market opened, oh well more crap to come.
I’ll put my tin hat on and tighten the strap.
I see something almost perversely admirable about the way Wilfried Nancy is going about his work.
He was brought in to be Head Coach or Manager
(I can’t recall)
Presumably, he was given some assurances about having control to do it his way.
And, gosh almighty, he is doing it his way.
By now he knows his current squad, in their current state of fitness and availability, cannot do many of the things he wants.
No great surprise there. Our host, for example, has been harping on for almost a year, about our team’s inability to play through a high press.
I assume he knew it might be bumpy at the start (a standard necessary evil in any new footballing regime) before corners were turned.
Clearly bumpy has transpired as disastrous, the results corners to be turned are still in the future, and the faith (not much to begin with) of many is already lost never to return.
As for his approach?
Given time and much lower scrutiny?
As an approach …
– assess in real time due to heavy schedule
– get them playing the new way ASAP
– warts and all
– see the square pegs
– turn some square pegs into octagonal pegs
– chase other square pegs in January
– get some round pegs in January
– integrate round pegs and octagonal pegs
– and go from there ….
– delivering continuous improvement
– atrocious to crap
– crap to bad
– bad to poor
– poor to average
– average to quite good
Could work AND has worked elsewhere.
But not working here after a whole 2 weeks in the job.
The players can’t yet trust the model for a whole game.
(The muscle memory wrestling they are going through must be absolutely hellish. Really tough to work through)
The model currently cannot withstand stress from opponents.
Why we start well then fade.
The trick is to fade later and later each game, then not at all.
Comments about pragmatism I totally get.
I’m not a card carrying member of the Wilfried Nancy fan club.
He’s sent my team out four times … and they’ve come back in four times with an ‘L’ to add to our record.
However, I am prepared to cut the guy some slack for a number of reasons
1. He’s been in 2 weeks
2. The squad is in bad shape. (I expect other injuries to follow in the next 2 weeks)
3. I can see what he is trying to do (we’ve done well in bits but it’s a curate’s egg for sure)
4. The atmosphere is toxic
5. He has “won stuff” in 2 other jurisdictions
6. He’s had horrendous luck
We’ve been bad for a long time.
Brendan used his street smarts and Martin used his charisma to drag results over the line regularly. Impressive work by both.
Wilfried shows few signs of possessing either.
I’m guessing he relies on other tools (yet to show their worth)
As a result we’ve dropped that few but vital percentage points of efficiency almost across the board.
51% is a pass.
49% is a fail.
Wilfred is currently failing.
IMHO though? He deserves more time.
He certainly deserves some empathy.
How to fix this?
Dreadfully difficult. There’s only one guy i can see who could possibly improve things.
Martin O’Neill.
No one else the board bring in would be accepted.
Bring Martin in as Interim DoF
There to support, not replace Wilfried.
Let him talk to the media, sooth things a bit, take care of some of the strategic prep for January, be an ear for Wilfried, and allow him to focus on coaching.
Roll on Sunday.
Graham Spiers made a point worth repeating:
In the hullabaloo surrounding the club in the past 24 hours, what hasn’t been acknowledged is Peter Lawwell’s role in transforming the reach, work and impact of the Celtic Foundation.
More has been done by the Celtic Foundation since it was established 12 years ago than had ever been done in the many years before by the then Celtic FC Charity Fund.
Tony Hamilton and his team have done and continue to do a remarkable job.
Just a footnote, perhaps, but worthwhile bearing it in mind.
Can someone please tell me WHY we need to change the system ???
I wouldn’t exactly agree that our first half performance last night was ‘scintillating’. We were playing against a very poor side. That puts our second half performance into perspective. It was abject.
I think WN will go sooner or later but, much as I love him, I don’t think Martin should return as things have declined so much with the players’ confidence, injuries and the questionable board.
To my simple way of thinking, the blame is 10% Wilf, 80% Tisdale and why oh why did DD appoint that jumped up loser as Director of Football Operation. look at his record in the english lower leagues, diafuckingbolical.
Until Tisdale goes I cannot see how we will improve one jot frankly.
But I want Nicholson out as well and MON appointed to the board.
Definition of insanity and all that, why can’t Wilf see our defence is so bad. Feel so sorry for Liam Scales, he’s been shit, but why, simple. He’s been told to play outside left ffs
kingLUBO
Many years ago I was at a meet and greet Q/A thing with Johnny Giles.
At the time the RTE punditry panel were acknowledged as the best in the business.
I asked him if any managers approached him, or any of the other pundits for advice.
His answer was along the lines of:
No, they have their own ideas and plans on how to manage and will not take or seek advice,
nor will they appreciate any interference.
Sound familiar?
Hail, Hail.
Burnley78 and others – I get moving a manager on after 2 weeks is not a good look, to say the least.
But this is not panic. It is not the defeats but the manner of them. His tactics are so simplistic, every team can overcome us by counter-attacking, using space down the wings and bombarding us with high balls. He is more out of his depth than any manager of a top club I can think of.
Nightmare scenario is he scrapes a draw with Aberdeen and is allowed to spend money in January.
Anyway, a sacking is unlikely to happen – https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/25709140.celtic-board-stance-wilfried-nancy-despite-bad-start/
DD needs to use this crisis to good effect. I’d suggest there are a set of actions to staunch the short term bleeding , and a “company doctor” to drill down from a football operations perspective and define and resource what is needed medium to longer term.
This will result in an organisation model (TOM) fit for purpose , new responsibilities and a reshaped Board.
Whether the Big Dog is prepared to rip up the pieces , who knows , but it would provide a coherent way forward and provide a solid base to recruit managers and players , rather than DD phone book to turn up a god like manager every so on.
Seems to me a better way forward to improve things across the business. Feel like we behave like a family business with a big Boss but we’re disguised as a plc so we can throw about big salaries eg NEDs get £40K per annum as this equates to good governance ( which is used as cover when it suits).
New signings in order
– likely New Manager
– new CEO big bloke who can handle himself
– company Doctor
– new centre forward
Don’tletsgoodcrisisgotowastecfc
MON,Maloney and Fotheringham found a way for our limited team to get results, I’ve no doubt that if we had left them in place then we would be top of the League, and the League Cup would still be in the trophy room at Celtic Park.
Anybody who thought bringing in a guy who’s team finished 7th in the calm waters of the MLS, could be a success in the rough house of the SPFL is living in cloud cuckoo land.
Nancy is out of his depths, the players at his disposal could never play the system he’s trying to impose, and he seems to be two pig headed to accept that in the short term
Add to that a dysfunctional board who just want to be at constant war with the fans, and we’ve got the perfect storm.
Drain the swamp.
We’ve gone from serial winner straight to jail – do not pass go, do not collect £200.
What a pickle 🥒
Can’t bring myself to listen to the glee in voices of the SMSM hacks, but Paulo Bernardo’s presser for anyone interested:
https://youtu.be/P9nipUGyy4Y?si=9rn_W1d7ouIU2ses
DeniaBhoy
100 % agree re Gogic
kingLUBO
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on
…..
Lots of good points about the thinking behind Wilfs tactics. I can’t see having Wilf and MON in the same building working , one or the other.
In the short term ie Sundays game Wilf needs to have some defensive reinforcements to counter a heavy press from the opposition. We are just so short handed at the back and our wide centre halves are not good enough on the ball to step up and play a straight ball through the middle of the pitch. We tried chipping the ball to the centre forward against Roma but that didn’t work due to a poor ball control ( other teams would give Roma a very different game however).
I’d play Arne and Kieran as wing backs with instructions if we are pressed to fall back , also when pressed we get 2 forwards up the middle and ping the ball up the pitch , at the moment we’re inviting trouble onto a back 3 with limited support from midfield.
Jeeso this is hard work
HH
Back To Basics
Unfortunately I widna give Wn the pegs to hang the washin out
theanswerisblowininthewindcfc