Martin O’Neill is royalty. In his company, everyone is on form. They listen to whatever he says, no one interrupts him, no one contradicts. If you tell Martin a joke, you make sure it’s funny. Even the A-graders watch their words around him.
This kind of respect is hard won. He delivered as a player, possessing two European Cup winner’s medals. As manager of Leicester City, he reached three League Cup finals in four season, winning two.
His arrival in Glasgow in 2000 changed football here forever. Despite winning the league in 1998 Celtic were perennial underdogs for 12 years, forever trying to catch up with their neighbours. We have lost five leagues in the subsequence 18 years, but even during the darkest of those days, we remained a formidable opponent to all in Scotland.
Martin’s formula was straightforward. He liked defenders who would win and clear the ball. He liked wide players who were good at crossing the ball and he liked strikers who scored goals. The recent sequence of hundreds of corner kicks Celtic failed to converted over nine months was unthinkable in Martin’s time. Back then the panic was over how few goals we scored from open play. Send the ball forward, get it into the box, everyone attack the ball.
It worked. Then the (rightly) maligned Alex McLeish arrived at Ibrox, played three up front against Celtic’s three central defenders and won the first five trophies available to him. Alex. McLeish. Celtic responded by winning 25 consecutive league games in season 2003-04, the most dominating champions up until that point, but Larsson left and the stars of Thompson, Sutton and Hartson faded. There was no sustainable strategy.
If Martin O’Neill was sitting beside me right now I would be in awe, but the writing has been on the wall for well over a decade regarding his football management prowess. Martin had the magic potion in the late 90s and early 2000s. He went toe-to-toe with Mourinho – the latter only edged their epic encounter with far better players, but his systems were ineffective against modern players and on modern pitches.
He reached the Euros with Ireland, despite the remarkable (cough) choice of Roy Keane as his assistant, and only a pummelling by Denmark stopped Ireland reaching this year’s World Cup, but the style of football was little changed from his days in Glasgow.
The people of Leicester adored him, then some other guy came along and won the league. He is adored in Glasgow too, but some other guy followed him and took us into the once fabled ‘next stage’ in the Champions League, others beat Barcelona and won double trebles. He was a titan when he left town in 2005, eclipsed only by Jock Stein, but revisionism has not been kind.
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The board talk about us but they don’t talk TO us…
PS how Bankier is allowed near a football club is beyond me. A man(?) who despises the supporters and would know anything about the club
The fans give….the board takes…
From ETims
CELTIC DIARY THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22: RES 12: COMPLICITY OR INCOMPETENCE ?
November 22, 2018 · by Ralph Malph · in Diary, Latest
Yesterdays AGM at Celtic proved what we’d all suspected for a long time.
The board, enshrined in their own minds as great Celtic men, claimed that the Resolution 12 chaps were happy with the way things were progressing, which came as a surprise to at least one of them in the room, who made his feelings quite clear.
Effectively , the men who run Celtic are happy to let the SFA investigate the SFA, or at best hand it over to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Quite what they are going to hand over is unclear, but suspicions are that it will be similar to the Lord Nimmo Smith inquiry, with the evidence neatly arranged to elicit the desired outcome.
And thats kind of the point.
What is the desired outcome.
For the shareholder and supporter, not just at Celtic, but at other clubs-and even companies – that outcome is the removal of those who have tainted the game to such an extent that sponsors and tv companies want little to do with it.
What we want is an honest game ran by honest people for the benefit of all clubs.
Curiously, the Celtic board, who represent Celtic shareholders, and are legally obliged to act purely in their best interests, have had several years to convince us of this.
Yesterday, after the meeting, Peter Lawwell told them that “the door was always open “…the same Peter Lawwell who wanted a smoking gun. A silver bullet, even, with which to attack those who corrupted our game back when Rangers, part of the Old Firm brand to which Celtic subscribe, went into liquidation.
Yesterday, I got the feeling that perhaps Lawwell wanted that so that he could hide it somewhere, in case the rabble decided to use it and perhaps upset the status quo, the one which more or less guarantees significant income stream into Celtic, and therefore significant bonuses to all at the table…
Yesterday, I began to think that perhaps the club were complicit in all of those dealings back then, because frankly, I can see no other reason, given the evidence presented to them, and the money they were cheated out of by the decision to grant Rangers a licence that they did not qualify for under Tax Payable rules.
Even if they argue that they did not, or could not have known about it back then, they do now.
And to ask the SFA to investigate the SFA is little more than negligence on behalf of shareholders.
Or will we see that the five Way agreement was actually a six way agreement ?
Do Celtic not wish to dig too deep lest they find a few uncomfortable bones of their own ?
There seems to be no other reason for the lack of action.
Therefore, the whole file must be handed over to the City of London police.
The SFA cannot be trusted to deal with it, UEFA and CAS would simply be handed a remit to clear the name of the SFA, lest they, too, become tainted by association.
That leaves the boys at the fraud squad.
But not those in Scotland, they can’t be trusted either.
You know, trust is the issue here.
Celtic fans don’t trust Lawwell, they don’t trust the board and they certainly don’t trust the SFA.
So how can they expect us to fork out year after year on season books, on merchandise and on television subscriptions ?
How can we expect them to provide an honest sport, played on a level playing field ?
We can’t, and with a compliant media backing them up, its little wonder that fans turn to sites such as this for the truth.
Yesterday showed not only that the game in Scotland is fucked, it kind of hinted at who is doing the fucking.
Perhaps we just didn’t want to accept that our club is just as bad as the one over the river when it comes to fleecing fans…and lining their own pockets.
Someone suggested a new name for Lawwell yesterday…Duplicitus Maximus.
It kind of fits.
On the one hand he proclaims to be one of us, whilst with the other he’s covering up anything he doesn’t want us to see.
Or, as we know him to be a bit of a control freak, perhaps certain things are kept from him. Maybe one or two within his own organisation haven;t told him just how serious the Resolution 12 guys are…his “door is always open ” comment suggests there may be something in that.
However, Celtic have had years to investigate .or at least support an independent investigation.
They have failed to do so, and failed to do so in a way that treats supporters and shareholders alike as an inconvenience, an irritant to be brushed away until it pops up again, in the hope that it will go away of its own accord.
Well, as they must no doubt be aware, its not going away.
But it will be going somewhere….
But Keane is probably Irelands greatest ever player . Cant really blame him or MON for the lack of quality players they currently have to choose from.
BAWSMAN on 22ND NOVEMBER 2018 10:26 AM
Spot on Sir.
Is our board to blame or do they take their directions from DD?
In Bankier’s first press conference he couldn’t say he was a life-long Celtic fan (cause he wasn’t), so, he just mentioned that he went to St Aloysius…rat!
“Let`s be hearing from members of the CQN fraternity who have run multi million pound organisations.
Your starter for …………………………………..
And forsooth , the punters waited in awe. With bated breath . For the challenge had been laid down.For surely there would be a rush to admit membership of said club”
————-
There is a remarkable depth and breadth of experience, knowledge and expertise amongst the “CQN fraternity”. From clinical researchers to teachers to space engineers and virtually everything in between. Among us also a considerable number of folk who “have run multi-million pound organisations”, both public and private sector. It’s really rather common, actually. Much like the rest of us, they don’t feel the need to attach their CV to their blog posts.
All CQN’ers are equal, but some are more equal than others.
PhD in Mathematical Physics and @ 25 years of working in The City . I’ve never cared for Celtic Boards . Am I qualified to think and express that ?
18 and sunny -way down south . Mid afternoon espresso break .
Today’s choons – Keith Hudson style –
https://youtu.be/dIhPKUgVM0g
https://youtu.be/kSr1bjF2db8
https://youtu.be/n2Vhh80G8Xs
Ian Bankier? This guy has loads of previous regarding the Celtic support. Put simply—he doesn’t like them. I really doubt he is a Celtic man, or indeed, an Irishman.
His God is money and power. Lawwell is nearly at the same level.
They can’t be trusted.
If people like the Requisitioners and their support don’t trust them–why should I ?
Any fundraising or other support, you can count me in.
The Battered Bunnet—I too look askance at people who add their qualifications after their name. To me is is smacks of Hubris, that wonderful thing which shall be visited on the Celtic board.
Firstly, let me see I am in awe of the RES 12 guys, they are 100% correct and they have the backing of the fans…to a point.
That point being that fans generally just want to see Celtic do well on and off the park and generally, would only boycott Celtic if this was not happening ( as they did in the 90’s).
However, and here’s were the PLC are caught beyween a rock and a hard place, is that since Ranger gained promotion into the top league, Celtics on field and off field fortunes have rocketed. This is as a result of hiring a great Manager and also of investing in the squad- especially in salries.
There is no getting away from the fact that the turnover of £100m would not be seen in the years under Ronnie D. ( i think it was nearer 50M)
So, the only option to change the PLC direction is to stay away from Celtic Park in many thousands and to have big banners covering the top tiers. However, that is not going to happen whilst we have the current Manager and a team going for 10 in a row.
A I said Catch 22 all round.
Ha! I might have a wee blog for you to chew over, SoT. Bit of a special problem, Lorentz-wise (non-rap).
Every time I hear one of McLeish’s bumbling , mumbling , uncertain post match interviews I must confess to feeling a tad sorry for him.
I also wonder just how much McFadden and Grant are running the show for him.
Regarding Martin O’Neill , I find it difficult to compare his time at Celtic with his time as Ireland boss. He doesn’t have the (financial) scope to improve the Irish squad the way he did with us. To a certain extent he is tactically limited by the squad at his disposal as much as by his own footballing philosophy.
TBB –
Hendrik ? .
A serious chap — a heavy duty Dutch Protestant who regularly attended Catholic services -stated purpose of that attendance — improving his Latin .
SoT
Nope, more Transformation than Reformation
Jist,…….jist empty the park.
The rebellious Celtic of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s, died, when the club fell into the hands of a Canadian tory, who then put the club into the hands of a shady Irish tory, after the Canadian tory had made a promise to the ordinary supporter’s who had subscribed to yet another share issue, that the club would be left in the hands of those supporters. This deceit is very rarely recounted by the various, rewriters of history, when they reference, Fergus McCann.
Ye see, until that deceit by Fergus McCann, is rectified, then, neither Celtic FC, or its support, will ever be free from, Old Firm-itis.
To set Celtic free, would not cost supporters money to by out Desmond.
What it would take, would be for the supporters to call Desmond’s bluff.
That would entail, a collective will, to withhold season ticket money, and making it clear that, the season ticket money, wouldn’t go into the club, until, Desmond et al, were gone.
To be clear, how much would Desmond’s shares be worth, if the park was empty ?
And, that is the point.
“Ireland unfree, will never be at peace.”
Celtic unfree, will never be at peace.
Only you, can change that.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
RAYMAC on 22ND NOVEMBER 2018 2:19 PM
Ian Bankier? This guy has loads of previous regarding the Celtic support. Put simply—he doesn’t like them. I really doubt he is a Celtic man, or indeed, an Irishman.
—————–
Why does the Celtic Chairman have to be an Irishman?
Indeed, Why does he even have to be a fan of the club ?
He has a typical background for a chairperson. University educated and a Law degree.
As elected by the board of directors he has his own remit to fulfil, which he seems to oversee perfectly well.
We have unprecedented sucess both on and off the park with the best manager in Scotland by a country mile.
Yes Res 12 is a disappointment, but we really need to promote our many achievements.
HH.
PS : Incidentally for what its worth and seeing you mention nationality. His daughter represented Scotland at Badminton.
The piece from erims
No sure about this bit
…who have tainted the game to such an extent that sponsors and tv companies want little to do with it.
If that was the case Sky et al would have come out & exposed it….but the have money to make.
And thsts why we are landed wi all the dross under the sun..
HH
TBB
The loss of simultaneity is a natural consequence of relativity .
Back to the gardening -way down south .
Bankier is to Lawwell, that Joke Brown was to Fergus,a Human Shield that nobody likes,and soaks up a lot of the flack.
I ha a reply from John-Paul Taylor to my email criticising the Board for their approach to Resolution 12. He has passed it on to those concerned.
I would encourage all those who feel strongly enough to contact John-Paul. We cannot leave EVERYTHING up to Auldheid et al.
jptaylor@celticfc.co.uk
JJ
Looks like Big Mick for ROI job.
ADI_DASSLER on 22ND NOVEMBER 2018 2:49 PM
Sky expose corruption in the game…? The same Sky who fawn over the most corrupt club in the history of our game? Money is certainly their God but there’s obviously a little more to it than that.
Don’t understand why McLeish should worry too much about his tax demand . As long as he hung on to the letter Rainjurz gave him saying they would pay, everything will be fine.
A sunken ship called dignity CSC
Paul 67 “He went toe-to-toe with Mourinho – the latter only edged their epic encounter with far better players, but his systems were ineffective against modern players and on modern pitches.”
I think we can now say the same about Mourinho. Has ever a manager spent so much money with so little effect? The self-annointed “Special One” got jobs that MoN would never have been considered for but I rckon Martin would have done just as good a job with the budgest JM has had to spend.
Paul 67
Very disappointed that you haven’t led with the res12 fiasco ,- for me this could be an end to my 60+ years supporting Celtic. – for me integrity comes above all else including treble trebles.
Glendaly
Agree.
Thsts why I disagree with that bit on etims.
HH
GlenDalysTonsils 2:32
Maybe if you had heard him on 5Live last night you might have a bit less sympathy.
The smugness and self-praise was almost puke-inducing.
The MSM are more than happy to berate players who pull out through injury, questioning their “lack of commitment” but don’t say a word about him jumping ship after ten months in the job. And don’t even think about mentioning the “t” word!
I don’t see any great achievement in finishing ahead of two teams with a combined world ranking of over 150 with a team full of Champions League and English Premier League players, but he gets such an easy ride for whatever reason.
How long till EBT McCann shows up on SKY as an expert as if nothing happened?
I loved MON for all he brought to us with his attacking style football. But his weakness was that he failed to evolve. Take Pep Guardiola at Citeh. When he was at Barca he employed Tic a Tac football which was a massive success and loads of managers tried to copy. some successfully, some not. The big but here is, he no longer plays Tic a Tac with Citeh. Why, because he has evolved and still very successful. All other managers should follow his example and thing a bit more laterally.
Back to the decorating for me, yucky poo
KINGLuBO
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 22ND NOVEMBER 2018 3:36 PM
Don’t understand why McLeish should worry too much about his tax demand . As long as he hung on to the letter Rainjurz gave him saying they would pay, everything will be fine.
A sunken ship called dignity CSC
————————————————————————————————————-
Exactly. That’s the point everyone is avoiding,same Club,pay up,new Club Alec et Al on their own.
PS. Young James now doing all the things that previously he did not,which attracted criticism from me and others,long may it continue.
Another great article Paul. Martin transformed the team, the club, the city and maybe even the country. Celtic as an institution became positive again in mainstream media. Success on the park lifted the momentum. Like Fergus it needed someone outwith the west of scotland or maybe Scotland to do it. O’Neill was so articulate that the Chics and Hughs of the scottish media had to start reading again. Or did they? However as far as honours go, I see him more of a bishop than a royal.
Excath
The James Forrest ‘experiment’ is finally paying off.
He’s even mentioned for the EPL again, but it took a while for McLeish to wade through his preferences and call offs to get to James.
He’s actually 1.75 Metres but he gets smaller because he runs so fast, and is then wee Jamesie.
HH
Glass23rds
Good point
Who got Martin in ?