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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Why wouldn’t Scales plays? If anything, I think Trusty might not as he’s had a heavy workload recently especially being our loan defender under Nancy. Martin will not be risking any chance of being eliminated so expect a relatively full strength team. Beggars belief that we are scurrying around trying to cram a seek and sign recruitment campaign in such a short timeframe. Wasn’t there any kind of ongoing reviews of what Dr Tisdale was putting together. No way Nicholson et al can survive into next season. I can’t see us winning the league this year, even with Martin and Shaun working minor miracles.
Fear not, we have Michael Nicholson.
We have naught. Fear Michael nicholson
Guehi to City for 20m
“Liverpool fans” raging at the owners that they missed out on him in the Summer (despite spending €500m in transfers who have largely disappointed)
Glasner announces he isn’t renewing his daa w and is leaving in the Summer at the same time as he confirms the Guehi deal. Says it isnt because of Guehi
Also says Mateta is for sale if the right offer comes in.
Glasner doesnt say he isn’t leaving because of that.
They will have sold key players like Eze, Olise, Anderson, Guehi and now Mateta in the last 3 windows.
They won their first trophy ever last season and are favourites to win the conference league
All part of life in the football food chain
Glasner is most likely going to be the manager of Man United in the Summer, if not one of thr big jobs in Europe
Why are the people in charge of this Club, trying to run it in to the ground?
Glasner would be an abosulte mug if he goes to Old Trafford. It is where you go to destroy your reputation, not to build it higher.
Bada
A powerful person with control wants to teach the dissenters a lesson, and will tell us we’re entitled spoiled etc etc
Building from a position of strength would be detrimental to http://www.OldFirm.com
Maybe, but there is a perception in zen gland that it’s such a difficult job that nobody’s career suffers from failing there.
Amorim is already being linked with Benfica, the biggest job in Portugal, Ten Haag is a poor manager but still managed to go from United then onto Leverkusen, which was an upwards move from Ajax where he was before.
Some very good managers have “failed” there.
BADA
So far I’ve scoffed at the idea of this being some kind of planned or deliberate sabotage but the worse things get , the more I’m beginning to wonder . It’s inexplicable .
There’s more to it than DD’s narcissism and spite . And it goes much further than simple incompetence .
It’s not as if the people in charge are not aware of the situation .
Zen gland = England
AN TEARMANN on 16TH JANUARY 2026 2:31 PM
Section111 on 16th January 2026 12:29 pm
More word salad waffle from Comical Ali.
Celtic Quick Propanganda
Logs Out:
Ah pity that you are logging out
Last time you appeared you were attempting to hint at share instability to St.Stivs,
you were asked at the time but you bolted,I interpreted your post as more in hope the shares would wobble and a wee attempt at your own disinformation. I will try track back
You be good now
HH
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Jesus you need to interpret a bit better lad. It’s really not that deep 😂.
You be good now 😘
Tontine Tim
Prayers said for yourself and especially your good lady.
Good memories of playing on that Park back in the day btw.
Burnley78 on 16th January 2026 5:22 pm
Tontine Tim
Prayers said for yourself and especially your good lady.
*thanks and to others that have offered the same support, the power of prayer is a wonder to behold
Good memories of playing on that Park back in the day btw.
*several well known Celtic players started out there including the oldest living Celt Peter Goldie, the President Jim Kennedy and my 2nd ever hero Pat Crerand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxZFcODmYkc
Steph Strings, totally in love with her!
Barry Bannon linked with 2 SPFL teams according to the rags……
S111
Nae worries,as you say it wisnae that deep,
from what I recall it was something needing evidenced…
Anyways victory on Sunday
HH
AN TEARMANN on 16TH JANUARY 2026 5:58 PM
S111
Nae worries,as you say it wisnae that deep,
from what I recall it was something needing evidenced…
Anyways victory on Sunday
HH
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Absolutely mate and hopefully a couple of first team starters signed before Swinecastle next Sunday.
HH
we seem to be doing the scouting and validating for other clubs – we identify a player , media publishes the links , we start negotiating , other teams alerted , we faff around on wages , other teams swoop and seal the deals .
Whoever is negotiating contracts needs to get policy from the board to extend wages for the right targets . In Scotland , this is what differentiates is – Finances! We are just not muscling the other teams down.
I’m astonished we haven’t closed deals – its seems we are tentative and almost this almost that!
Nicholson – you’ve screwed up and now you will need to stretch the budget to fight back – if you dont , your career at Celtic along with any remnants of a reputation you have, is finished!
Consistent with the scathing comment from in the know folks about our scum Board.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rCgLtC0J5w
Desmonds GTF. You’re not wanted and it’s not your club. Individuals don’t own Celtic but you megalomaniac mugs don’t understand that.
Stebhoy
Nicholson’s ready finished and he knows it. He’ll be despised in Glasgow until the day he dies.
If you haven’t yet figured out that Desmond is just an unaccountable, spiteful old coffin dodger who DGAF any more you haven’t been attention.
As for the meritless nepo baby, maybe Logan Roy will put him charge of Celtic-themed nappies. There might still be some mugs out there still daft enough to buy club merch.
stebhoy on 16th January 2026 6:20 pm
“we seem to be doing the scouting and validating for other clubs – we identify a player , media publishes the links”
———-
Fair enough to a point Stebhoy
But where do the media get the information?
Hint in the form of a word game?
Agent Player’s The
On the last game of the 1978/79 season before the winter set in we lost 0-1 tae morton, effin morton, on the resumption we would lose again to Hibs, Arabs and 1872, tying with the sheep, all away, we would then go on a 4 game run, 2 home and 2 away before completing the programme that magical night when 10 men won the league, in fact we actually lost another 5 games and tied 5 that season
On the equivalent December 23 game in 1985 we lost up at tannadice, we would lose to them again at the same venue 12 days later, we never lost another game but tied 6 until another magical day at love street commonly known now as Albert Kidd Day where we destroyed the buddies, we actually contrived to lose 4 and draw 4 prior to the trip to tannadice.
On both occasions Celtic legends were in charge, and we now have the only man who has managed the club 3 times in its history, so what does this tell us, well as Yogi Berra once said “it ain’t over ’til it’s over”
I do wish people would stop sitting on the fence and tell us want they really think.
Tontime Tim
I’m not a prayer but you’re wife is in my thoughts.
🎶 There were men from Dublin and from Cork, From Annan and Tyrone 🎶
Get a load of this:
https://youtu.be/o1kn6UhLOeA?si=3AkGVpbKrgdhGi8d
What’s Willie talking about “cameras from other outlets show there’s contact”?
Unless it’s someone’s i-phone in the stand, surely VAR should have access to all cameras??
Tontime Tim
All the best to you and especially your wife.
Thanks a lot lhads it feels really good that you care
Tontine, Thoughts and a wee prayer for your good lady.💚🙏🏻
“I think that shows the class of Celtic and the class of the people there that made the decision. I know that goes right up to the top level, up to Chief Executive level. ….
I think that shows there is a lot of class in Celtic Football Club, a lot of class”
David Martindale
New West Brom manager does a Nancy and 5 days into the job changes their usual formation to a 3 4 3…Mikey Johnston playing a wing back role…should be interesting….West Brom DO have a striker though…
Just noticed he came from Minnesota FC….hmmmm….
He also has 3 proper centre backs….
TEUCHTER ÁR LÁ on 16TH JANUARY 2026 7:54 PM
🎶 There were men from Dublin and from Cork, From Annan and Tyrone 🎶
———-
👏👏👏👏👏
but the leader was a Leprechaun
Sean South of Garryowen 🍀👍
Is that Kev 67