Early in Martin O’Neill’s first tenure as Celtic manager he had a few cherished phrases. “Rangers are the benchmark”, was his go-to in his first season, as Celtic transformed from perennial underdogs to permanent favourites. Another was, “I’m only here because the previous manager lost to Inverness”.
That reference to John Barnes’ side’s Scottish Cup defeat lasted until early 2003, when Martin rested several first team players for the trip to Inverness in the same competition. A win at Anfield a few days earlier was followed by an exit from the national cup.
Sunday’s Scottish Cup opponents, Auchinleck Talbot, play in the sixth tier of Scottish football. That’s the same division Darvel were in three years ago, when they not only defeated, but outplayed Aberdeen in the same coemption. Arrive with the wrong attitude and anything can happen.
The Scottish Cup ghost of that defeat in Inverness will haunt Martin, and Shaun Maloney, who played that night. Liam Scales is unlikely to play on Sunday, but will doubtlessly tell the squad about his experience in the Aberdeen side who lost at Darvel. If the focus is not right, anything can happen on a football field.
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Happy Friday!
Forget the Honda Civic, mon the Talbot on the Horizon.
HH!
HH
Anything from Jimmy?
eltic appointed former Chelsea Senior International Scout James Bell-Walker in early January 2026 to bolster their recruitment team, with Bell-Walker bringing nine years of experience scouting talent, particularly defenders and strikers, and connections from his time in South America. His arrival follows the departure of Head of Scouting Jay Lefevre and comes as Celtic strengthens its scouting efforts for young talent, with Bell-Walker specializing in emerging players
the evening times’ main story online is that an old boy says that there’s a lack of trolleys in Lidl in Jamaica Street.
I know it’s an important issue for that guy, but i can’t help think there must be more important stories in the west of Scotland for them to have at the top of their news!
Another day another blanking of the elephant in the room…..
It was that story or “there is a lack of signings at Celtic Park”.
Maybe Lidl are more likely to take action.
Priority No 1
Get St Martin on an eighteen month contract now.
Got a buzz about the 25 goals in 28 games guy, good price as well. Get both done Celtic, you know it makes sense
KINGLUBO
Boss Martin O’Neill has distanced Celtic from a move for Callum Wilson because he heard the West Ham striker is he “going elsewhere.”
The 33-year-old is one of names who has been heavily linked with a switch to Glasgow’s East End as the Hoops eye a new frontman. Celtic reportedly made contact with 33-year-old’s representatives in order to evaluate his interest in a move the Premiership nd the timeline of his Hammers’ exit.
The Telegraph report that Wilson is set to get out to Saudi Arabia for talks over a move to the Pro League next week as he prepares for his deal in London to be terminated. Asked about interest in Wilson ahead of the Scottish Cup clash with Auchinleck Talbot, the Irishman said: “I can’t tell you anything.
“It was news to me. We are in search of those elusive goalscorers. On a serious note, I can’t tell you anything about it, but we are making progress. I hadn’t thought about that (signing Wilson) – not that he is not a very fine player – but I thought that he was going elsewhere.”
Despite swerving talk of the nine-time England cap, O’Neill insisted the club are closing in on the first signing since his return. Asked if Celtic are “closer” to their next transfer, he said: “Remarkably, I think we are, yeah.
“We are definitely a bit closer. I dread these interviews, I really do, because I just like the natter – but I dread the questions coming up. I can’t wait for the 2nd (deadline day) or 3rd of February”
Pressed on if any recruits would be in the door before the clash with Talbot, he added: “I can’t think there would be, but I would think at some stage next week there will be.”
Two days out from a Celtic game and you are talking about that Celtic game, Paul?
PS – Why no Liam on Sunday?
Managed decline to the extent we are now reading concerned articles about Auchinleck Talbot.
This mob’s only concern is if we stop putting money into their facade. That’s already happening doughballs. Say tattie bye to your massive salaries numbnuts.
“A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it is written on” (Samuel Goldwyn)
The standard trajectory of a missed signing target
1. Who is he?
2. He is not the answer
3. We needed him. Damn
4. Who is he?
Liam Scales out with injury, or is he banned from this round for some reason?
PeterLatchfordsBelly on 16th January 2026 12:17 pm
Managed decline to the extent we are now reading concerned articles about Auchinleck Talbot.
Will be a laugh eh….
Liam Scales: Maybe a bit of squad rotation with Welsh or Murray coming in, por cierto
Logs in:
More word salad waffle from Comical Ali.
Celtic Quick Propanganda
Logs Out:
“We need help, we need players, we need a stronger squad if we want to compete.”
– Callum McGregor, 143 days ago, in the last transfer window, after crashing out the UCL
What’s your thoughts on this Paul?
AIPPLE on 16TH JANUARY 2026 12:03 PM
I was stuck behind a Talbot Samba in traffic earlier this week. It took me back to my Mum and Dads burnt Orange Talbot Horizon. Needless to say my Mum chose the colour
Talbot are a good team and we should respect them. They are used to winning in their own tier. It may be 6th tier but Talbot squad have many ex seniors. They tend to have had other reasons than ability for having failed in the Seniors. Look at Celtic B lack of progress in Lowland league.
We should not weaken the team too much
Chaps door
Runs away
Zzzzzz
onenightinlisbon on 16th January 2026 12:32 pm
“We need help, we need players, we need a stronger squad if we want to compete.”
– Callum McGregor, 143 days ago, in the last transfer window, after crashing out the UCL
—–
Cheers, ONIL.
Did Callum really say this the day after we lost to Kairat?
I don’t doubt it … but I’m surprised.
FWIW – we subsequently signed Balikwisha, Tounekti, and Iheanacho
Roolz are roolz, but I’m still miffed that the home side can unilaterally change the venue – if you can’t play at your home stadium an alternative venue should be decided by mutual consent. Although the rugby Park pitch can introduce some randomness in to proceedings, I would expect almost any Celtic team with the right attitude to get the job done.
Hopefully we see a few changes to give others some rest and recovery ahead of a very big week.
Funny how defeats like that one to Caley stick in the mind. Martin took full responsibility but I remember thinking David Fernandez had own his chance of making it at Celtic
Looking it up now it wasnt a poor Celtic team, Henrik played the full 90 minutes and Varga, Valgaeren, Laursen, Jackie Macnamara and Lenny all started and BBJ played for half an hour.
Hopefully yhe weekend will be an opportunity to give some of the fringe players a bit of confidence, and the whole group get back to playing sensible football ahead of the challenges of next week
You don’t have to log in to read an article 👍
You do however require to log in to post…..Dermot 😘
Just over two weeks to go in the window but more importantly just over a week till Tynecastle.
Cue Michael Nicholson riding to the rescue on his My Little Pony.
Worth every penny.
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 16TH JANUARY 2026 12:53 PM
Just over two weeks to go in the window but more importantly just over a week till Tynecastle.
Cue Michael Nicholson riding to the rescue on his My Little Pony.
Worth every penny.
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World class in everything we do!
The realities of the transfer market:
https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/2012118860464525655?s=46
🚨🔴⚪️ EXCLUSIVE: Sunderland agree deal to sign Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi, here we go!
Deal done for £3.5m fee, five year contract to the player as it’s all agreed.
Celtic had verbal agreement in place but #SAFC hijack the move.
DeniaBhoy on 16th January 2026 12:08 pm
It was that story or “there is a lack of signings at Celtic Park”.
Maybe Lidl are more likely to take action.
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Lidl statement- It’s very difficult to get trolleys in during January. Other supermarkets are reluctant to sell their best trolleys and we are also competing against English supermarkets who have a massive financial advantage. We would like to assure our customers that we are working hard to get some trolleys through the door.
Supporters acknowledged these various factors but highlighted their opinion that the Club does not complete its business ‘early’ in the transfer window and is therefore not ready for UEFA qualifying matches and sought a response from the Club as to why transfers are not conducted sooner. MN sought to reassure attendees that the Club’s objective is to complete its transfer business as soon as possible in the transfer window (with the examples of Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren highlighted), and to attract the best players available to the Club within that window – and that the Club’s model allows for investment to be made when needed. The Club did not accept that there is a disconnect between the board and the manager or that its transfer policy needs a fundamental overhaul.
Autumn 2025
Desmond is off his trolley……and not just for lent.
Given P67’s angst about facing Auchinleck I checked out their form. In their last match they lost 5-3 to Drumchapel Utd…
Now I actually played against Drum Utd a few times in my amateur days, up at the old Donald Dewar Centre. They were an excellent amateur team, competing well for the Scottish and West cups. But come on…
Drum Utd being the successor club to Cardross Rock for those familiar with amateur teams of the 80s and 90s. This being a serious test for us these days apparently.
I think SAFC have done Celtic PLC a favour, and they won’t be too unhappy about missing out on Ta B, por cierto
The support are being toyed with regarding signing players, get ready for the last day stramash to pick up some sale items from the no interest rack, shambolic Football Club, does anyone actually do any work to sign players in there?
celtic40me on 16th January 2026 12:57 pm
The realities of the transfer market:
🚨🔴⚪️ EXCLUSIVE: Sunderland agree deal to sign Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi, here we go! Deal done for £3.5m fee, five year contract to the player as it’s all agreed. Celtic had verbal agreement in place but #SAFC hijack the move.
*wasn’t it the Green Brigade that were greeting about us doing business with a zionist club that scuppered the deal with the ruse he failed the medical
Peterlachfordsbelly
Given P67’s angst about facing Auchinleck I checked out their form. In their last match they lost 5-3 to Drumchapel Utd…
________________________________________________________________________________________
Maybe Auchinleck rested a few players in anticipation of playing Celtic in the cup? Or maybe they have found their level and while we should respect them they do play in the 6th tier, playing on that excuse of a surface of Rugby Park shoud not mean that we the tie is on a knife edge. Regardless of which Celtic team plays them.
“I dread these interviews, I really do, because I just like the natter – but I dread the questions coming up. I can’t wait for the 2nd (deadline day) or 3rd of February”
——-
MoN beginning to feel more empathy for Brendan, I suspect.
At this point, with Italy on the horizon, any new signing will have minimal opportunity to integrate prior to Tynecastle.
MoN will likely go with what he has imo. I think Hearts will be aiming to knock us out of the race next weekend and they’ve a fair chance of doing it. In which case we’ll likely see some sales and be told there’s no point spending, best keep it for the summer rebuild and they’ve new manager.
PeterLatchfordsBelly on 16th January 2026 1:17 pm
Drum Utd being the successor club to Cardross Rock for those familiar with amateur teams of the 80s and 90s. This being a serious test for us these days apparently.
*When they were originally formed they played in the hoops as we were the only club who would help them out, I believe that they now play up in Glenhead Park now the old home of the legendary Duntocher Hibs