In a post-Scottish Cup Final BBC interview, Martin O’Neill made it clear that he needed a break before considering the challenge of next season, saying, “If the season started in three days, I would not be up for it”, but the season was not starting in three days. He was more than up for the challenge, but a holiday was needed more than a quick decision.
A few months after we went to Montreal for a manager, I was disappointed we didn’t go to Motherwell. Jens Berthel Askou lost three times to Celtic, but showed in each of his four games against us, that he is a genuine talent. The criticism (from some) that Martin’s appointment merely kicks the can down the road is just, but there are reasons you should be happy about it.
The panel who appointed Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy still have the responsibility to make the next appointment. Even our board consider both terrible decisions (Dermot Desmond eviscerated Rodgers on the latter’s departure, while Nancy was relieved of his duties in record time). We need additional voices in the room next time.
We have vacancies for a chairman and other non-executive directors. Strong appointments are required to provide checks on what happened before. The Head of Football position has been vacant since January. The scouting infrastructure is far from robust (allow me an understatement). After Brendan’s damage, January should worry you – and attribute no responsibility to Martin or Shaun for that.
Despite all the trophies, Celtic are in a position of flux. Retaining Martin to provide some continuity is very welcome. I believe that retaining Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham are almost as important. It will surely happen.
Over many years, you and I have discussed the unique and ridiculous position football managers hold. No other industry would allow a single member of staff to be responsible for just as much power as the football manager, never mind someone in a position who is often sacked or leaves within a couple of years.
Martin is different from most managers. He does not take training, and according to the aforementioned BBC interview, he is not entirely up on contemporary tactical nuances. Nor has he ever operated in the modern recruitment environment. Martin honed his managerial skills by signing players he had seen in person. That whole way of life has gone.
So if he is not the tactics guy, does not take training and is not on the phone to agents looking for players (not that this is the way either, Brendan), what is Martin’s role? He is the leader. Leaders are hugely important in every business, especially football. They provide vision and direction. This builds common-purpose where individualism can exist.
Martin is also not a manager with an unrestrained ego (cough). He does not need to be all over every decision. He delegates training, tactical research and innovation, and he will sit in a team who will decide on transfers. Celtic are in need of a significant rebuild of the squad. If this is to be done optimally, we will need Shaun and Mark at the transfer target meetings too.
If we are lucky, Martin will leave us in a year (or two) with a robust infrastructure for the next leader to slot into.
The opening day of the World Cup saw Oh Hyeon-gyu score the winning goal for South Korea against Czechia. Oh was one of our gilded Class of 2023 recruits who were subject to vandalism by an incompetent manager. We sold him for £2.5m in 2024, spending £9m on his replacement, Adam Idah. “Incompetent” is being generous, other explainations also work. We will talk more about this as the tournament goes on.
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Auldheid….I think it was because he (DD) thought Brendan would rally and would still want to win the league.
Despite Brendan selling Idah n Kyogo Celtic still wouldn’t sack him even after his selection and demeanour at Tynecastle and his press conferences they still thought/hoped he would get on with the job.
I reckon PL railed against his 2nd appointment and DD told him not to worry.
So, he made an arse of Desmond twice.
Cannot believe we are wearing the pink/orange purple combo…..
We look like a Junior team on bad day
Bsr ..the Swiss got a kick in the Toblerones …well if they have triangular balls then they deserve it…lol!
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POSSIBILTY OF LOW FLYING KITES
I really l8ke the groovy Scotland top.
Attempting to watch the Scotland match in central Asia and can only find a dodgy transmission from inside the Stadium…
My first reaction is WOW! WTF? There are far more empty seats than there are fans in the Stadium. What the hell have FIFA done to this once glorious competition? That vision of almost empty stands is truly disgusting!
Thank God for Celtic and CELTIC TV! 🍀
Yours in Celtic, 🍀
TB&F. 🍀
TBAF , log time since you’ve been on. Can you get iPlayer with an vpn ? Set it to UK UK and bobs your auntie.
Not being biased, but Shankland is woeful.
Beeb
Thanks NOTTACLUE1.
I tried that but I can’t get past the ‘Do you have a Licence?’ question. 🤨😂
I think that Stevie Clarke should change things…
Maybe take Shankland off and put a traffic cone on.
I take (some of it) back… I managed to watch the highlights of the goal and the Stadium is full, so no idea what I was watching… My first thought on seeing the Goal was John McGinn / Peter Lawell / Lost opportunity…
no midfield in that game
Defense was tremendous
Midfield and strikers never worked hard or coherent enough
Woohoo a Scotland win at the world cup. From my balcony in the Algarve get it right up the haters.
A win is a win.
Go Scotland
Well done Scotland
Hail Hail
Good morning all. A good start for Scotland. 👍
Good goal Australia, 2-0.
Just watched Scotland game ,well done lads..totally spoiled by that wee tosser Liam McLeod (plonker)
Two great results for Scotland & Aussies.
Watched both back to back in Vancouver fan zones; Turks were affable and friendly.
I told youz about young irankunda some years back and the Oz keeper had some great saves in a backs to wall performance.
Bring on the Septics !!
OiOiOi CSC
A lovely morning in Queens Park. Glad to see my estate managers keeping the poachers down. Smelly hun the lot of em.
Good morning CQN
Another splendid day to be a Celt.
Always worth it.
Woke up to the news Scotland won.
National team doesn’t float my boat much at all but a win is a win …
… so well done Steve Clarke and the lads.
Caught first half of Morocco – Brazil.
Morocco looked good.
Vini looked good in patches.
Agree with earlier poster. Kid in midfield for Morocco looked awesome.
Hot Smoked @ 11:09pm
Really good point made, in danger of being lost in all the noise.
Most Celtic fans I know just want to go support their team without any background noise.
They certainly do not support moronic tangerine and ball tossing tactics.
IMHO, those intent in driving real change proactively should pointedly distance themselves from these idiots.
No direct evidence of a silent majority (there rarely is) but I believe it is there.
Share scheme uptakes will be one indicator of how strong a desire there is for ownership change.
Time will tell.
Didn’t see the game but am led to believe that a penalty should have been awarded against the aptly named Grant Handley. (Glad it wasn’t btw.) However, I expect Shorty to spend the next two weeks railing against injustice and hint at a conspiracy against Haiti.
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full on 14th June 2026 9:17 am
Thanks for that positive comment.
Hail ! Hail !
I thought the football shirts of National teams reflected aspects of their nation. What does pink represent ?
Hot Smoked on 14th June 2026 10:55 am
The pink connection goes back many years. A sort of homage to the colours of Lord Roseberry, a patron of Scottish football.
celt55 on 14th June 2026 11:03 am
Thanks for that.
After reading your information, I spotted this:
” Perhaps the most noteable occasion the Rosebery colours were worn was in 1900. Scotland defeated England 4-1. Lord Rosebery told the Scotland captain Jacky Robertson, “I have never seen my colours so well sported since Ladas won the Derby.”
Cheerio for now.
Corinthian – Rosebery Colours – Andrew Watson
andrewwatsoncorinthian.co.uk
https://www.andrewwatsoncorinthian.co.uk › rosebery-c…
The Scotland team wore the primrose and pink racing colours of Lord Rosebery, the Hon President of the SFA. His horse Lada had won the Derby the previous year,
Lord Rosebery’s Colours – by Alistair Firth
Article first appeared in the Scotland Epistles Fanzine – August 2020
Andrew Watson wore the Rosebery colours in his first game for Scotland. He has been selected as captain and would lead the Scottish National team to a 6-1 humbling of the English at the Oval in London. This remains the worst defeat England has ever suffered on home soil.
Alistair Firth explores the history of the Rosebery colours in Scottish Football…
Click on link to read full article
Good win for Scotland, no easy matches.
I watched Morocco v Brazil and yes, the young Moroccan midfielder was excellent. Moves around midfield like Modric or Iniesta.
Football without fans is nothing.
Joy, excitement and participation is what makes Football.
I feel the designers have struck a chord with the ” Pink” Scotland away top embracing the above characteristics.
Our Yellow NTL away top struck the exact same spot.
Bring back the Yellow/ golden strip Celtic.
I’m also delighted to see sooooo many Celtic supporters onboard and embracing the Scotland World Cup journey.
HH.
Great result for Scotland to top the group. Backs against the wall stuff especially towards the latter part of the game. Not sure about that penalty shout against Hanley, broadcaster didn’t dwell on it too much, kind of a FIFA sponsored replay sort of thing. Haiti full of hustle and bustle, which more or less put our midfield out of business, though they did have some skill too, especially out wide left. Might be easier to play against Morocco with less stoppages, but not easier to get a result, they have more nous going towards the last third.
Hope we ditch the pink/orange/purple combo for the next game, might have to if Morocco wear red, so at least we should be more recognisable as a national team, as opposed to a club from the Scottish Junior leagues.
Laxalt.
It may be something simpler.
DD could not got rid of BR until he had a replacement in place and it took 5 weeks to get MoN to fill the gap whilst the process that produced WN in November had run its course.
What happened at Tynecastle might just have been coincidental or the last straw leading to DD expressing his anger – not conducive to unity.
I can leave this matter now, it was just something that puzzled me.
Played a couple of Schools quarter and semi finals,Glasgow and Scottish schools ties
At the beautifully cared for Roseberry Park,I guess the new motorway and routes to mean its done away with round bout the Oatlands
HH
Haiti Highlights
https://youtu.be/vUwkLY_uNiw?si=O8eOn38za8AKqVCf
HH
Hot Smoked on 14th June 2026 11:12 am
celt55 on 14th June 2026 11:03 am
Thanks for that.
After reading your information, I spotted this:
” Perhaps the most noteable occasion the Rosebery colours were worn was in 1900. Scotland defeated England 4-1. Lord Rosebery told the Scotland captain Jacky Robertson, “I have never seen my colours so well sported since Ladas won the Derby.”
……………………………..
I recall playing in a cup final at a Roseber(r)y Park in Glasgow, for my primary school, St Thenog’s, in the early 1960’s. Don’t know if there is any connection.
I’m fairly sure that when Scotland beat Italy 1-0 at Hampden in 1965/66 in a World Cup qualifier they wore the Rosebery colours. Johnny Greigy, Greigy scored Scotland’s goal. Scotland lost the return fixture 3-0 in Naples. Big Jock was the stand in Scotland manager for the return fixture.