When appointed as interim manager in October, Martin O’Neill did not know how long he had in the role, so would be inclined to make few dramatic moves. This time he has a straight run until May. That gives him scope to make a sustained change.
As a manager, Martin has seen footballers decline with age, it was a feature of his last season in charge at Celtic. Much is said about the impact Henrik Larsson leaving in 2004 had on the subsequent season, but 2004-05 was also the time the years caught up with 35-year-old Paul Lambert. 33-year-old Chris Sutton also toiled, as Celtic’s engine stalled.
Goalkeepers always perform better behind a competent and settled defence. Kasper Schmeichel has not had that luxury this season, however, his decline from the excellent form he enjoyed last term is marked.
The first name on the team sheet on Saturday, will be the first big decision Martin makes in his stint as interim manager. Lessons from 2005 should inform his thinking.
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Given Tony Bloom (the owner of Brighton)…
—
yesterday brighton banned a season ticket holder for 5 years just for wearing a palestine football strip.
just think about that, 5 years, for that.
thats the type of prick Bloom is, and the type of country that we are now living in that this is just accepted without much of a fuss.
compare the faux outrage when a bunch of israeli football racist thugs were banned from villa park.
B2B et al
Ferguson has started scoring for Roma, it looks like Dr Celtic has nursed him back into health, so it looks like he’ll stay out for now. They wanted Zirkzee from United to replace him but that looks unlikely now Amorim has gone.
Wilson probably doesn’t fit with Nuno’s counter attacking style and you wouldnt write off any striker who fails at West Ham which is a graveyard for them. The Prem is so quick these days any drop off in pace means you really struggle as a forward so he might be exactly what we need against packed defences.
But a fit striker, out of contract in January will probably have plenty of options. Kele turned us down for Sevilla, you’d think there would be something similar out there for him
An interesting article on RTE re toxicity at Man Utd and other businesses-
https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2026/0108/1552040-manchester-united-toxic-workplace-research/
The following summary comment is perhaps something Celtic’s custodians need to consider-
“Organisations that rely on fear, insecurity and symbolic punishment rarely get the best out of their people, no matter how talented they are. The real challenge is not finding the next manager or leader; it is building an environment where the next one has a genuine chance to succeed”
Im not saying this will happen, far from it, but Celtic could pay the Ferguson early loan return penalty to Brighton instead of Roma, if they really wanted him, por cierto.
QUADROPHENIAN on 8TH JANUARY 2026 10:30 AM
TEX – we should be visiting Houston around25th. Be good to grab a brew! 👍
We are planning to be in Miami for Brazil game and fly back on 25th.
Could be challenging but let’s keep this open – I am connected with Aipple on WhatsApp and email. I think you shared contacts with him earlier this week.
Cheers Tex
67 European Cup Winners @ 9:46 am
Cheers.
Really good point about Tony Bloom … which I had overlooked completely.
Cheers Tex !
Unfortunately the chances of us signing a quality striker dont improve as our needs increase.
We’re not the only club desperate to sign one – Wilson is available because West Ham just spent €50m on two pretty average strikers. It’s a last roll of the dice to try and keep them up.
Lazio werent able to sign anyone in the last window so nice theyve sold their first choice striker they need another right away. They shop at a similar price to us – they’ve gone out and spent €13m on a 22 year old Serbian striker from Salzburg who perfectly fits our profile.
C40me @ 10:47 am – cheers.
My suggestion about Callum Wilson is just idle gossip.
I’ve always liked him as a player
He might be available
Martin likes a big, strong guy up front
Nada mas
Lazio sold Taty who wanted to go to West Ham even though they’re going down
Ratko would choose Lazio over Celtic in all probability.
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL
Sure, Chris Sutton suggested it as well, I’d have him as well
BelmontBrian
If everyone who said something stupid on this blog left because of it…..there’d be no one left to say something stupid to…..
BelmontBrian on 8th January 2026 10:46 am
Morning all
No way should you withdraw posting because of that eejit, there is a reason why he’s a ‘scroll by’ poster.
Just continue posting, I’m sure I’m not the only one who appreciates your posts 👍
BelmontBrian on 8th January 2026 10:46 am
Don’t be daft, por cierto.
BelmontBrian on 8th January 2026 10:46 am
Don’t be daft, absolutely no need to withdraw from the blog..
I have seen sooooooo much worse over the years. On a scale 1 to 10 your ” offensive ” posts don’t even register.
We have all made posts we would regret ar some point.
The blog would be poorer if you leave, so please reconsider.
I’m sure your big mate Jimmy would tell you similar. And of course BRRB’s.
Cheer and HH.
Wake me up before Kyogo
As someone said yesterday….what had Tisdale and our scouting staff been doing since the summer transfer window?
We should have full files of suitable and affordable players we could/should sign now….but we’re depending on what wee Sean can scrape up before the window closes….world class in …..you know the rest…
Kev Racist scum
I say black – you say white.
AT- No racist scum you dont like Brown and black people
I’m an adult – You are a child.
AT-You are racist scum
I see everything – not just what you permit me to see.
AT- like all racists,your view is shaped by immigrants
I stood with Corbyn before he sold out.
AT- You trashed corbyn for that phone-in grifter skank
I stand with Galloway who has the only balls to get REAL Scottish Indy NOT fake EU slaves trap.
AT- wee George always wants to be popular,the knee bending and throated unionist would love a title and will get one soon.
He also leads a fake wurkuz party full of vermin racists like you.but your tenners will be lost on deposit as you continue to fill George’s offshore bank accounts,you should really use your disability wisely instead of being a gullible sap
You voted Snp then didn’t have the courage to admit it for 17 years of being dumbed down to gutter levels.
AT-voted for independence partys and will continue to do so.
You can’t admit to voting deform
That’s the racist scum your shill shared a stage with,think George,yon original woke prick like mingling with that racist dcunm
I walked out of Parkhead in 2005 with MON after he warned about “THE SLOW LANE” PLC cheap pishy players trap.
AT- my arse,you,a racist skank pretending to be principally hahahaha you’d whore yir racist vote to whoever increases your disability- disability being your stupid stupid adherence to racism and your lavish love for Anas and Humza.
You joined in the smearing of MON as a “LONG BALL DINOSAUR” etc.
AT- a wee example of you talking shite above
We were a football club who became a business because we had been weakened with the death of, DESMOND WHITE RIP.
AT- know your history racist scum
We became a business in 1897
What-White of the Rapid Vienna acceptance?
White of Athletico 74 acceptance.
2 examples where principalled withdrawal was not considered,Desmond knew a buck was to be made.
That apart who draft you get lifted o’er
We said ZERO about the “TAYLOR REPORT” which was based on a pack of lies about, unsafe terraces.
AT we didnt need to we built a new stadium
Leaving your jungle for future geologists to study settled pish patterns.You excluded yourself,
Integrity ruled just like when you didnt back Corbyn
We just sucked up that lie and almost closed down, because we bowed to a pack of lies.
AT-no lies kevracist,we almost closed as the kelly/white(att:21000) ‘dipping’axis took us to 11 minutes of being the memory you wish it was,
That’s what the kelly/whites nearly did.End Celtic
Thirty years down the road and the Celtic name is used as a capitalist halfway house, were poor fathers have to pay for 2 season tickets if they have a child which is everything you need to know about how “Celticness” has totally been erased from Parkhead.
AT another CORRECTION kevracist,Celtic has been run by Capatilists since 1897.
Quotes of Celticness coming from Blant’R racist scum dont quite cut it
You have to explain your racist hatred to Brown folk,to black folk.
You are racist scum attempting to show empathy- fo scuttle away
I’ve got another 4,000 words to type…but what is the point when you won’t even read a single one?
AT you for not educate anyone on Vaccines
You only show confusion
Sure we read your 49p posts,we scroll faster
You dont like black people
You dont like brown people
You dont like woman and they i suspect think you a freak
You are not my hero anymore. So get it round you.
AT- Ah send George a £10 from yir burroo!!
It won’t stop you being a ruminating racist
Be careful out there all kidding aside….
AT- real world kevracist you should try participating instead of being a confused gullible sap to racism,
You never explain what these “invaders” are ?and exactly what are they taking of your pip benefits in blant’R?
If you were in Ireland you would be classed as a pishtriot/paytriot maybe change your name to touty Mc flegsooka.
Kyogo back home
new article posted.
Good morning all from The Garden of God
All is peaceful for a while.
We need to get rid of the rest of the board now.
The team and squad needs reinforced badly and urgently.
Credit where credit is due Scales played well yesterday.
The club should be showing an olive branch to the GB and be the bigger man, I won’t hold my breath though.
As they are collaborating with Police Scotland to intimidate and ruin those young people’s life’s. ALLEGEDLY and in my opinion.
We are now 11 days into January and still NO sign of a striker, is it a case of the board haggling over a few sheckles? Bar stewards that they are.
Now surely the sheep can have a good at these Ersholes the day.
Laters
D:)