We saw enough about Motherwell at Celtic Park in October to know how difficult an opponent they will be tomorrow night. The Lanarkshire side took a second half lead and were undone when their keeper passed to Benjamin Nygren, who levelled, before Daizen Maeda scored a 92nd minute winner.
The goal Newco scored against them at Ibrox on Saturday is their only concession in seven Premiership games. That defensive record is the bedrock for their climb up the league. They failed to score in four of those games, which would normally be a comfort before Celtic play an opponent. There is reason to believe tomorrow will be different to a normal Motherwell game.
In all of those seven most recent games Motherwell had the majority of possession, including 54% at Ibrox and 55% at home to Hearts. Motherwell’s attacking difficulty is because they face sides setup to give them the ball and defence. I expect Celtic will flip the possession stats, forcing Motherwell to play a counter-attacking game, presenting both opportunities and challenges.
Jens Berthel Askou is a stick-on for Manager of the Year. He has brought a brand of football to provincial Scotland which even the notoriously grumpy Motherwell fans can get onboard with. Whether his side can withstand Celtic’s uber high press will determine the outcome tomorrow.
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Jim Craig OBE
Bada Bing
What a load of bullshit
Who actually cares about that rubbish 😡
Fanadpatriot
You might not
I might not either.
I guess it is up to Jim. Plenty of folk do.
Fergus same really.
My bet would be that both will accept.
The offer is never publicised unless it is accepted.
I really doubt we would have done much better under MON. Much as I really loved what the guys did I think it was obvious we were riding our luck. We will never know.
Prior to 21st Dec weekend I felt that getting to the window with similar points gap v Hearts and Rangers and I would be happy given our injuries and deficiencies.
2 points from the next 2 games would give us better than that.
If we get 4 then for me that would be a great result. If we get 6 then frankly it would be really incredible given most of our support seeem to want the guy to gtf and of those who don’t then many think he is a clown and out his depth.
4 points from the next 2 would really be good.
Ideally a real hunskelping.
First of all thanks to all who welcomed me back and the compliments, Teuchter ár lá’ I laughed when I saw that, Canada is a very big country as you know, I have lived here twice, first time was in Toronto where I did visit the Toronto Celtic Club on occasion, my late brother played for them and Bobby Craig who started the club, he also played for the Irish tae, honestly without wee Bobby I doubt there would be the Clubs we know right now, I do know that the former Toronto West, Bramalea and Wexford Clubs were offshoots of the TCSC.
Due to family concerns we went back and never intended to return but did 6 years later and only to stay for a couple of years making enough money to buy a bigger house up at Balloch Park but the Lord does work in mysterious ways as 50+ years later we are still here, with 7 grandweans, it looks as if for life now but in saying that all those grandweans love Scotland and of course the Celtic.
I did return to one of the satellite cities here but eventually we moved up to small town Ontario around 33 miles northwest of TO, oh and I too was at the Hamilton Cup, 3 memories still come to mind, 1 Carl Muggleton’s 2 penalty saves against the calvinists, 2 on the Monday morning driving to work listening to the sheep chairman being interviewed on CHML saying it was nae big deal as it still didnae qualify us for Europe, bet that was never printed in the smsm, and 3 the wee trackie seller going for a walk when asked by some fans waiting outside the hotel did he fancy going for a drink replying “oh Celtic supporters, naw” then turning and going back inside, the wee bassa knew what he had done.
Anyway you may all have noticed that I never mentioned Wilfie in my last piece and that’s because I still don’t know, but it pains me when I read that he came from the “poor” MLS, it’s not that bad and is not the NASL, IMHO it’s a lot better than the agricultural SPL
MLS was founded in 1993 as part of the United States’ successful bid to host the 1994 WC, they had their teething problems but now they have the 3rd highest average attendance of major sports behind the NFL and MLB, instead of operating as an association of independently owned clubs, MLS is a single entity in which each team is owned by the league and individually operated by the league’s investors and also has a fixed membership, plus they also implemented the Designated Player Rule allowing teams to sign star players such as Beckham and Messi, and with national TV contracts have made MLS profitable, in fact IMHO Saudi Arabia is more of a retirement home than the MLS which is why I have more time for Lionel than CR7 now, and we also have AJ and AS playing for us both of whom came from the MLS.
It was when reading Stephenbhoyboy’s comments last night about Wilfie and I quote “The manager wants to play 3-4-3. He will need to add players to play the 3-4-3 but it is by playing the 3-4-3 he will get to know what is needed to get it working best. Who can and can’t do it. The manager would not have been my first pick, but he is here now so we need to get behind him and the team. Hopefully the board step up and back their man”.
That’s when I realised something I had posted before and some of us ould hauns, not huns lol, will recall this, the Big Mhan won only 3 of his first 9 League games after winning his first at Broomfield 6-0, losing 5, 3 at home tae, as well as losing 2-6 and 1-5 at Brockville and East End Park respectfully and drawing 1.
As I also said myself last night, ok he won the SC but actually fortuitously drew the semi 2-2 against Motherwell in a game in which joe mcgoals tore the eventual cup winner big Billy a new rear end, in fact the team that did win it was oul Jimmy’s.
As a young lad I wisnae that too concerned as we had the manager we had all craved for plus at last a trophy to our name, also 2 days after that 1-5 loss at East End Park we beat 1872 2-1 in a Friday night GC game, we absolutely pummelled them playing with our cup winning side of the previous Saturday, at one point they were down to 9 men through injury, no subs then, plus their goalie broke a couple of fingers saving a Yogi shot and had to play as an auxiliary winger, despite this they did take the lead but we hit back with a ten thirty equaliser and Stevie grabbing the winner after big Tam’s shot bounced back off the post.
Plus WGS’s first game we lost 0-5 in Bratislava and tied 4-4 at Fir park 3 days later, that finished David Marshall’s Celtic career, but we ended up Champions and LC winners that season and we all know how their Celtic managerial careers panned out
As for the runaway x 2, his first game with us on the 12th of July no less which ended up 0-1 in Gibraltar, oh he blamed it on the poor surface “got to blame it on something”
So let’s give Wilfie a chance to build like we did the other 3
Martin o’neil chance the style of play that rodgers used albeit he kept the same shape. The results were good but truth be told the preformances were not alway so good.
All managers have preferred shapes and styles of play. Nancy was appointed celtic manager and will do it his way. There is no right or wrong way/ time to change things up, time will however tell us if he made the right or wrong decision.
The board appointed him so need to back him asap.
HH
Good Morning Fholk – Grand Day To Be A Tim….
BSR @ 7:28 pm,
:THE BATTERED BUNNET on 29TH DECEMBER 2025 6:48 PM,
Hmmm… that’s bad, never seen a bookie on a bus.
Interesting points on this weeks games, as per…
Wilfried Nancy has been in charge for six games now.
Four losses followed by two wins – big question is, has a corner been turned?
31% Suggests we might still be going around the bend…
It was interesting catching up with the Livi game, delayed live, on Celtic TV.
Gerry McCulloch, going all WWE – at least half a dozen bizarre utterances from Mr McCulloch during the live coverage…
Like, at 3-2 we had apparently seen the best attacking display from Celtic in a year.
At halftime after the break that showed a “classic” Celtic game, we had the Almondvale game right up there…
GM: …hope you enjoyed the classic match from the archives… got a feeling as long as Celtic win, this one could be added to the classic match archive folder…
That suggests Celtic TV has been telt to go full WWE on Nancyball.
Our last six matches against Motherwell read Celtic – won five and drawn one.
Yet, this game looks anything like an easy three points, Motherwell are one of the SPL’s in-form sides and Celtic are settling in for the Board’s “new normal.”
There is no doubt, with the annual Glasgow hatefest around the corner, this evening’s contest is real and very important test for Nancyball.
When he arrived, the initial challenge for WN&Co was obviously the first three games, which were a spectacular failure, yet it was equally, a spectacularly unfair as a test.
We looked in free-fall…
Yet after the last two games, there is a feeling that Celtic’s race to the bottom has plateau’d out.
Howevah’ you also get a feeling that the start of the crucial uplift is not imminent, it needs to be ’cause, the next two games…
Six points and the pressure easies.
Four points and we have restbite
One or two points and the jury remains out?
Of course after this week, we then have three “easy” games in two competitions.
This is followed with three “difficult” games in two competitions.
So, what is required to make WN’s position secure!?
The Board will want to get to the end of the transfer window with Wilfried at the helm, new players in place – so my feeling is WN&Co have nine lives (can loss a total of nine matches before the window closes).
Having now got two wins from six games, that’s four lives down.
Tonight’s game followed by the seven games in January allows imo – for up to four more lives (defeats) as the maximum losses.
More than that and you feel the pressure really mounts.
Get through January though, the window closes, WM&Co will have put their stamp on the squad and we have the most exciting run in for many a long year as a real battle ensues for the League and the Cup.
Gerry’s Celtic TV jumping the shark tells us Wilfried is getting backed and Soccer WWE is alive and well and living in Scotland.
Hail Hail
MO’N the luckiest of lucky football men
Martin O’Neill is a celebrated Northern Irish footballer and manager known for his success at Nottingham Forest (winning the European Cup twice as a player) and his transformative managerial spells at Leicester City, Celtic (domestic treble, UEFA Cup final), Aston Villa (three straight 6th place finishes), and leading the Republic of Ireland to Euro 2016 qualification. His career spans playing for Northern Ireland (captaining at the 1982 World Cup) and managing various clubs including Sunderland and Nottingham Forest in later years, noted for his passion and leadership.
What’s that ole saying ? rather be a lucky player than a good player
Bon chance to the boys and Wilfreid tonight
CHAIRBHOY on 30TH DECEMBER 2025 5:36 AM
Match day Tuesday – I’m as wrestless as a willow in a windstorm.
Yes, conscious boardroom discussions prior to the Aberdeen game, good decision made. Wilfried’s ‘system’ withstands supporter scrutiny, two wins more importantly gets us to Motherwell and the opening of Dr Snoozeball’s next window. No petted lips from Wilfers he’ll swallow whatever the Dr orders, that’s why he’s here. Let’s hope he gets a talisman or two on Kyogo’s anniversary.
Motherwell are a formidable side, for sure playing a very different game than normal, but then so are we 😀
Win with Wilfried ✌️
Enjoy the match 🍀
New year honours list all over the media
For those like me who find this level of patronage from the Establishment stomach turning
A song
https://youtu.be/q0FHEEuMvuI?si=jyjm1zn6eXDJSDi2
If you listen carefully the sound of the attack dogs can be heard
Listening to what’s called ‘fan media’ and reading back on here and wider on tinternet what’s just struck me is a general but pervasive will by many to see the negative-to-absolute worst in anyone under discussion at any given time: Brendan; our CEO; Dermott, Gavin; Lawwell(s); Ralston; Scalesy; Tisdale; Yang; Kenny etc – is this always the way, as Babs Streisand crooned, we were ?
Or is it just the ole/noo antisocial media phenomenon ?
As for talk of bringing in Bowie as the key to playing the Wilfried Way, Iheanacho is twice the player Bowie or Kenny are/might be. This is not to condemn Kieron Bowie (23) or Johnny Kenny (22) – it’s just fact that a fit Kelechi (and we’ll get him back afore too long) is a real asset while the other two are closer to development punts.
Just heard the whisper that the Doctor was involved in a full and frank exchange with an irate fan; rather that that a shrinking violet IMO.
HH
A fit Kelechi Iheanacho would be a dream come true. If only.
“Honours [CBEs] for football executives who helped save Celtic and Hearts”.
Meanwhile the guy who killed R1angers and screwed the British taxpayer still remains a Knight of the Realm.
Sister turned down a gong a few years back. Still a point of family pride.
As for tonight, mixed feelings. Expecting an entertaining game but worried about our defending. Two wins from the next two and Wilf is motoring.
Good morning CQN
Beautiful morning if a mite chilly.
Looking forward to seeing our beloved Celtic team tonight
Suspect it’ll be … ahem … occasionally fraught
LR67 – largely with you on the baubles.
The establishment is highly skilled at sustaining itself … by tossing the occasional bone to outlier types as a piece of tokenism
… then celebrating how diverse and representative it is.
But it takes two to tango.
And many anti-establishment types dislike the establishment … until they become it.
To be fair, we don’t know how many, when asked if they’d be interested at the initial enquiry stage, turn round and say “bugger off”
If only we had something like FOI …
… and if only this stuff wasn’t deliberately excluded from it
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
https://youtu.be/8QklVsSakhA?si=lmL3TNc2KmGgkf0Z
Quad: “…is this always the way, as Babs Streisand crooned, we were ?”
My mind casts back to the old Not The View and the regular column: “They Embarrassed The Hoops”, the writer never short of the required word count.
I would say though that these days social media amplifies opinion like nothing we knew back then. It’s all so visible now. What might once have been a throwaway comment down the pub is now seen and shared by 10s of thousands. Assorted clickbait blogs catch eyeballs with screaming outrage at the loss of a coin toss or the colour of the manager’s trainers this week.
Ask any kid whose ever built a sandcastle; It is very much easier to be destructive than constructive, and often more gratifying.
Human nature.
I can put up with the bleating, the moaning and the criticism. It’s the absence of humour that does my nut in. If there’s anything worse than aggressive criticism, it’s sanctimonious, self-serving guff. Somewhere between Boavista and Big Tony Mowbray we seem to have lost our sense of humour. We don’t laugh at ourselves any more
Whatever happened to the bright side of life?
Anyway, we’ve another episode of WTAF to look forward to tonight; Fir Park, midweek, 8pm kick off in the dead of winter. Bonkersball, The Dark Night Rise.
A fair few on here would bend the knee for a bauble.
WTAF = What Tactics, Attack Forever??
What’s The Actual Formation?
Where’s The Appointed Fullback
A good news story at last!
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/anti-immigration-group-members-car-36469474
chairboy
One or two points and the jury remains out?
——
The race to the bottom in expectation setting evident among those supporting our board is Orwellian in scale. P67 bigging Motherwell and Livi recently has been a sight to behold.
If Nancy follows up a defeat at home to Hearts, a cup final loss to St Mirren, a loss to Dundee Utd with a loss and a draw in his next two then he should be out the door. It would be the worst run of results in decades.
TBB – aye; it’s possible our inner natures haven’t changed that but the manifestations of those personal biases get a public betrayal/outing via socmed.
Agree on the importance of humour tho as a wise rodent wanst said: “To laugh at yourself is to love yourself”
After all, it’s only football as a vehicle for mass entertainment and corporate profiteering.
MickeyMouse CSC
Double Niner, early with the virtue signal.
Wilfried Takes All Flak
Quad and TBB – agree on the humour bit.
All very “serious” .. and self important
The old …
“a lie can be half way round the world before the truth gets out if bed”
… also springs to mind.
Although “no basis in fact” probably more appropriate than outright lie?
Burnley78 and others are surely right – we need to get behind WN and the Bhoys tonight and especially against the scum on Saturday.
But to make clear where the opposition is coming from, the reaction of many to WN is not about results. I was as aggrieved after Livvy as the three he lost on the bounce. Losing games is fine, but playing with no defence is not.
If he corrects that in the next two games and gives us some kind of defensive structure then he deserves a chance – a narrow win tonight and a hun skelping would be great. In fact, a draw tonight and a hun skelping would do!
So, for now it’s nothing but support from the stands from, I hope, all of us.
Win through attacking football…
BSR @ 6:39 am,
Yes, it should be an interesting match as two new outside coaches bring innovative tactical football to Scotland.
Transfers: It’s really going to be a biggy for Dr Tisdale, who has shown he has the nouce for the corporate greasy pole, a bear nessesity in the Celtic jungle these days.
Summers are notoriously tricky windows at Celtic Park and Wilfried will be a team player and haud his wheesht as the moneyball signings hit Lennoxtown.
Yet if we could have a player with the finishing and gallusness of a Nygren, with the pace and physicality of a Shin and the passing ability of an Inamura – that would be great.
Hail Hail
Wilfried’s Tactics Alarm Fans
An Dún @ 10:07 am,
Yes, well the expectation result management has gone from – no excuses to where we are now – beyond winning…
Anyone think we won’t be facing “the worst Rangers team in history” on Saturday…
Hail Hail
I thought Tidsdale was “Brendan’s man”, right up until he wasn’t?
If you want a lie to take hold, tell it loud and tell it long.
I don’t think it’s a stretch at all to note that our top performers lately have included Auston Trusty and Keiran Tierney. Trusty seems to do the work of two centre backs at once, while KT is the guy that turns defensive possession into attacking possession.
Keeping them fit is rather important, I think.
Purely on that basis, I’d be inclined to recall Stephen Welsh. Depending on the prognosis for Saracchi, we might want to call Jeffrey Schlupp. What’s he up to lately?
Clearly there’s a problem to solve on the right hand side of the team, with Ralston, Engels and Yang failing to reflect the impact being made by Tierney, McCowan and Maeda on the opposite side. Whether that means two new signings or three is open to question, but we neither use the ball well nor defend effectively on that side – Livi’s left back scored twice on Saturday FFS.
Add in the consensus regarding strikers, and we’re maybe looking at half the team needing signed in the next 5 weeks in order for the team to play the way Bro Wilf wants.
That’s a bit unsettling.
TBB
I think we can get away with maybe 3 or 4 signings
We need a centre half, striker, winger and defensive midfielder
However if we sell yang, maeda even calmac then there is no chance of bringing in enough players in january
I hope we retain everyone and concentrate on the above 4 positions