Martin O’Neill’s first time in charge of Celtic got off to a flyer, but we hit a bumpy patch in November 2000. Rangers extracted significant revenge for their 6-2 defeat at Celtic Park earlier in the season, beating O’Neill’s team 5-1 at Ibrox. What made it worse, was that David Murray had splashed £12m on Tore Andre Flo three days earlier, with the Norwegian scoring on his debut. 26 years later, Flo is still the most expensive signing in Scottish football history (we could talk all night about that one).
‘The past is a foreign country’ and for anyone below the age of 40 it will be difficult to understand just how overwhelming Rangers ability to spend their way to success was for Celtic fans. It was reckless, sure, but Celtic were also overspending during this period, just so dangerously and not enough to follow the lemming over the cliff. Rangers were still 12 years from liquidation, with no guarantee that some structural change to income would not come to their rescue.
In that context, our next game was away to Hibernian, which ended in a 0-0 draw. 5 points dropped in two games, our early season hopes were significantly dented. Post-match at Easter Road, Martin O’Neill was pragmatic, “It was important not to lose the game”. That comment stuck with me, as it felt to me that it was important to win the game, dropping another two points just piled on the misery.
Martin knew that defeats compound. One loss makes the next game more likely to result in the same outcome. Even a hard fought draw allows a manager to look his players in the eye after the game and contain the damage.
That sentiment came back to me twice in recent weeks. When Dundee levelled Benjamin Nygren’s opener at Dens in April, the pressure felt overwhelming. We had suffered defeat to Dundee United on the same street one week earlier and title credentials were hanging by a thread.
Martin O’Neill contains the squad’s anxiety, “It’s important take something from the game”, helps players a whole lot more than that unhelpful idea football people often pretend is true, “Winning is a must”. We could have done with some of this thinking in season 2020-21.
The other time I thought back to Martin’s comments that day at Easter Road was when watching Hearts play Newco earlier this month. Danny Rohl’s side had lost the previous week to Motherwell and were full of “five cup finals” chat. Winning at Hearts felt like an absolute, whereas a draw would have left them with a sporting chance of the title. Instead, defeats compounded. Celtic remained calm at Dens in April, with Kelechi Iheanacho scoring the winner 8 minutes from time. Martin’s psychological containment played its part.
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well done girls.
Brilliant from the Celtic girls guts in abundance 10 for lots of the game won the Cup.
Laxalt on 31st May 2026 3:55 pm
Well done 10 man Celtic.
The goalkeeper Gay was excellent as were the CHs.
Was surprised the Sevco manager took their midfielder Cruft off…I thought she was putting on a show.
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🤣She looks a very good player
Well done the ghirls
If our board won’t invest in the men’s team then there’s little chance of the women getting much.
BRRB
beat me ti it. 🤣
BBC bias extends to the women’s game. Terrible one sided commentary.
Well done the hoops.
See one of the hun players was called Crufts…….mmmmmm
An Tearmann
I am in complete agreement with you.
I heard Tony Benn speaking in the Denny Civic (not Honda, you’ll note)Theatre in Dumbarton (in the 1980s). and he was superb..
Not a note in sight and no spin like these useless feckers today…regardless of Party.
All chancers.
The co commentator sounds very pro hun. Btw she got the ball, no penalty, BBC will be greeting for a week 😂🤣😅
Well done the ghirls.
That’s them getting no new players.
😉
Of course, if you really wanted fairness, they must refuse to accept the cup and give it to hertz.
Another ‘penalty’ that wasn’t.Jeezo how these sdratsab are hurting.Enjoy CELTIC GHIRLS YOU DESERVED IT.
Congratulations to the women’s team. I don’t watch them but it is always good to win trophies, especially against the deid team.
MON announced tomorrow, from a guy inside CP
What time is the pitch invasion?
There ain’t no cure for the summertime blues…..hun everywhere. 🤣
Now Bada Bing that’s exactly the announcement I want to hear. You’ve cheered me up no end! Hail! Hail!
The great Eddie Cochran. Summertime blues.
https://youtu.be/zdIqME_JLaU?si=-7dR0JePl3onBbCe
I’ve just read that our Celtic Ghirls won the Cup. Congratulations Ladies especially as you were reduced to 9 players! They won’t be bleating any longer about how long it’s been since you got a victory over Rangers. 💚💚💚👏👏👏🍀🍀🍀
BBC News devoting hours to Arsenal’s tour of North London. One wonders why or maybe not…Can you imagine them doing that for us? Can you imagine Glasgow Council even letting us do it? Even if they did, the Polis would probably put a stop to it.
TOSB
Ditto.
the Bada Bing on 31st May 2026 4:14 pm
MON announced tomorrow, from a guy inside CP
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Is that enough for us to wrestle the Pre-season Cup back from Sevco after their signing of the greatest forward since time began
Well done to the 10 women Celtic Ghirls team in winning the Scottish Cup, a fine end to a difficult season.
Not least despite late attempts by their opponents to get a late penalty which would have shamed the Hearts mens team. And lets not forget that after the oppositions 6-0 thrashing last week Leanne Crighton’s team was left trophyless with only the consolation that if she gets sacked there will still be her old job waiting for her at BBC Sports Scotland alongside other former Ibrox employees. Nice work if you McCann get it…..
scotland wummin v the zionist entity
you probably wont hear too much about it…
SFA, you can’t hide… The SFA will hold the Scottish Women’s World Cup “home” match against Israel behind closed doors in Budapest!!!! Join “Show Israel the Red Card group” as they hold a vigil to highlight this cowardly support for genocide. 1700 Fri 5 June. Main concourse, Hampden Stadium, to remember those killed in genocide and call out the complicity of football federations, who would have the game go ahead out of sight, rather than answer the call to ban Israel. Funeral colours or Palestine football tops encouraged. Please bring flowers to lay. More insta, FB “X”
Gene on 31st May 2026 3:26 pm
AT
Paul67 took all of 3 days after our double win to have another dig at Brendan – looks like the blog has moved on from our double
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I read that Gene.
But I ask why is the kudos given to any of P67s leaders? Its no more imo than yours or mine.
I am not asking that nastily Gene,I would thank him for the forum to discuss Celtic and for all the good Celts I have met and talked Celtic.But my days of leader reading kinda stopped on the morn of LNS result,the ball never made it across the line as the moment generations of fans waited for did not happen.i read that and thought error
Think back to every blog being anti-snp lol he goes thro phases and seems to pick a target..its…yawn….yawn Brendan.
My view- i think Brendans contribution is there in the increase in professionalism right across all aspects of Celtic,from the length of grass to players improvement(say Broony for example as 1
His trophy haul is proven and on the record.
His contribution to Celtic is there to see.
He is gone and his part of Celtic history is there.
The shite written over the year running up to his departure bout projects,development,youth set ups all been ripped out was a nonsense.
The same apparatus is still in place today
We as a club have no audit path now for a youngster to do a CalumMcGregor,maybe its easy to pick on BR and not get our club involved in a total reset of all our leagues,youth,u18,Bteam,reintro reserves to top leagues,we dont talk about structure now,
Our standard will continue to drop,we will continue to buy with an increasing miss rate.
Our reserves leave go to england and can 5× wages in the 6th richest league in the world.
We will continue to make cream artificially by buying in,there is no real structure to provide a pool of youth(milk).
Hope all well down your way Gene
HH
I’m going to celebrate.
Bada – if your source is correct, what do you think of the appointment?
If MoN has got it then clearly it is because he wants it and believes he can do the job but he did say several times we would be looking for a younger manager. I can only assume Shaun, Fozzy and the rest of the coaching team will do the heavy lifting and this time next year Shaun will take over.
Parkheadcumsalford on 31st May 2026 4:26 pm
BBC News devoting hours to Arsenal’s tour of North London. One wonders why or maybe not…Can you imagine them doing that for us? Can you imagine Glasgow Council even letting us do it? Even if they did, the Polis would probably put a stop to it.
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So, despite the Assistant Chief Constable slamming Celtic for not
From the Sunday Times:
Marine Le Pen, president of the far right National Rally group, wrote on X late on Saturday: “Only in France does the victory of a football club spark riots. Only in France does everyone feel compelled to lock themselves in their homes on a night of victory to avoid being confronted with violence.”
Has nobody told her?
I’ll start again…..
So, despite the Assistant Chief Constable slamming Celtic for not “organising a title party”, Glasgow City Council have said they could not agree to any so called title party as they don’t have funds to allow it to take place. I am waiting on a FOI response on what discussions took place and what proposals were looked at
Maybe Police Scotland can take some training lessons from their French equivalents. They don’t just stand looking at ‘fans’ firing rockets into a crowd!
DeniaBhoy- I think MON earned the right to be asked the question, the Board know he’s a buffer for them,if as reported Maloney going to a DOF type role,we will need a No2,and if it’s him ,he will have negotiated a good budget for players, he wouldn’t be a patsy with 15 million to piss about with
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full on 31st May 2026 1:00 pm
Interesting to see one poster who was notably quiet when the league and cup double was being heroically won .. now posting with much greater frequency. Tea break is over lads. Start up the rebellion again. 🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱 Change is required. Online snarling and name calling Public laments for dear departed manager Faux intellectualism while gathering clicks Lobbing tennis balls and tangerines none of the above will get it done.
*they stick out a mile, nothing about the team and how well they came back but all about the board, especially DD, I scroll by their meagre offerings, as well as kev j flynn, sadly my dna takes me back to the miners rows in Blantyre, and don’t debate with them anymore no sense in sinning my soul by getting upset and silently uttering swearies, but it just indicates how sad a life that they do have when they have to come onto Celtic sites for any sense of fun, they are also on Kerrydale Street where I lurk but are instantly outed.
Bada
They’ve gone for the safe option- I suppose after Nancy it’s understandable but lacks ambition – unless they hope Shaun can step up for next season. Let’s see how the recruitment goes.
AT
All good down here – just celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary on cup final day
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c0r2y85wjekt
Well that’s Sportscene’s opening title sequences gubbed for next season.
TBB – Will be interesting to see how it plays out. Iwould have thought Martin would want Shaun to stay his no.2. Familiarity and all that.
So, despite the Assistant Chief Constable slamming Celtic for not “organising a title party”, Glasgow City Council have said they could not agree to any so called title party as they don’t have funds to allow it to take place
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i said after the police made that comment, that they were just grandstanding.
why would celtic organising a title party have made any difference?
would anyone who goes to the impromptu trongate carry on decide instead to go to some utterly santised pish organised by celtic?
i wouldnt.
i would rather stand on the streets with a box of cans than do that, as i have done the last few years, though just went to the boozer this time because it has really ran its course, and it was going to pish doon!
and im an old(er) citizen 😄
the whole celtic title party narrative is just a squirrel 🐿
imagine asking a few thousand young team, who are coked out their nut, necking cheap booze on the streets of the trongate, singing and letting of smoke bombs, if they would rather go to glasgow green for example, to an event organised by celtic, and pay 7 quid for a drink 🙄
just a total nonsense comment by the cops.
i dont know what the answer is, apart from us not winning the league!
but i did read a comment from the council saying something along the lines of most people had heeded the message and not went to the trongate this time.
so thats possibly the way it gets sorted, it just dies a natural death, as it looks like it was a much smaller gathering than recent years, and will eventually end.
wait to see what happens in the huns (glasgow) win the league.
all of a sudden fan street gatherings will just be exuberance.
I think Martin will be the manager. Tough gig for someone that age (I’m a few years younger but couldn’t dream of doing a high pressure job now). If it is Martin, you have to hope we will have far better recruitment. I understand and partially agree, with those wanting a younger manager, perhaps with a fresh approach. However, Martin is probably the best manager we’ve ever had, after big Jock. We haven’t played great football under him recently but had some amazing big performances, from a squad lacking quality. Get him some good players and we’ll see far better performances. If it’s him, that is.