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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Devlin out for 8 weeks, I see.
That will be a big loss for them.
Hi.
jackiemac on 16th January 2026 5:36 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxZFcODmYkc
Steph Strings, totally in love with her!
=====================================
Brilliant.
I love this.
GWENIFER RAYMOND – Jack Parsons Blues, live at The Ivy House, London mov
https://youtu.be/vbZb01Kuj0w?si=uSaD-l_nKbGIPeqC.
Bye y’all
Tontine
Thinking about you and yours.
stebhoy
Nicholson doesn’t have any reputation left to save…no matter what happens.
West Brom with echoes of Nancys Celtic….
Even by normal recent standards there is some really vile bitter stuff on here about other human beings.
Of course it is anonymous and cowardly. Perhaps some people should have a wee look at themselves.
I am not naive enough to think all Celtic suppprters are decent human beings but the constant vitriol on here from a few folks (many have been at it for nearly 20 years) is really quite disturbing.
I genuinely think professional help might be good for some who seem so bitter.
Like posters Glenowen, Bada and Glendalys, I’m having trouble witnessing and processing what looks like the organised chaos of our football operations.
For years, Paul67 told us there was informed analytics and scouting going on along with a firm model guiding how we identify and secure talent (often at the last min of every window) without paying over the odds.
Current talk of ageing and overpaid EPL stars takes me back to the Ian Wright and Dion Dublin days; signings that simply follow the theatre of transfer windows as in; ‘Look, we’re a big club in discussions with big name charlies’. There’s nothing future proofed about this kind of effort. There are guys in the A-League ffs who would be at the level to improve our forward line!!
Honestly, if this is the sophistication of our recruitment dept some arses need to be felt and cracks booted because – as some have already pointed out – the decline looks deliberate. Who made it so ffs?
WindowDressing CSC
To suggest our CEO should not show his face in Glasgow again is a worry. Just a bad thing to say.
Blogger GM
It is good news re Devlin as they have us and Hibs to play in that period.
Are you going to the rugby final at Murrayfield tomorrow night ?
BURNLEY78 on 16TH JANUARY 2026 9:17 PM
‘‘Twas always thus
Including your opinion of Brendan
Scroll past is the only option
67ECW
Quadrophenian
Apologies for not getting in touch this past few days. Will reach out over the weekend re the World Cup.
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 16TH JANUARY 2026 6:25 PM
Stebhoy
Nicholson’s ready finished and he knows it. He’ll be despised in Glasgow until the day he dies.
————-
Thats poor form PLB,
Anyone that despises, until the day of their death, a chairman of our club – or anyone involved with our club- for not meeting their expectation, isn’t borne off the ethos of this club.
Peace x
If it’s true that Nicholson went to Lennoxtown to speak to martin about transfers….why has it taken him 2 weeks since the window opened to get his arse in gear?…,
B78 – all good !
Historically in the middle of a Window I have always assumed our Board knew what they were going and incoming talent would be confirmed shortly
Today I comfort myself with the “”no pressure” at the moment as we have enough to see off Talbot. I’m not bothered about Bologna meaning we have 9 days before Hearts
But I have been here before and those that I had faith in have recently let me (us) down – big style
So even with over a week to go until we really need a couple of really good footballers. I am a nervous wreck
67ECW
THE BADA BING on 16TH JANUARY 2026 4:58 PM
Why are the people in charge of this Club, trying to run it in to the ground?
—-
Incompetence. Internal promotion and appointments on the basis of fit rather than talent.
A week out from Tynecastle, we held a transfer meeting today…
Anything to be said for getting a Mass done, Michael ?
West Brom making a game of it now…
God help us…….. hope they don’t show up in their sunbeams on Sunday…or even a Talbot Lotus Sunbeam ….. we’re doomed a tell ye !!
Where’s Brendan when ye need um ?
The crayon salesman appears, his finger wagging in familiar disapproval. The old grudge lives on, he has never recovered from watching the supporters defenestrate El Pistolero with tremendous prejudice.
Twenty years of ring-kissing, gone in a hail of glass and splintering timber.
Gotta hurt.
Nicholson has ensured Sevco will win the league. His incompetence as CEO was no surprise as he was a useful puppet for Lawwell.
He has failed in every aspect of his role and he is now an irrelevance at the club that nobody listens too. MON is dealing directly with Desmond due to the criticality of the situation. However Nicholson is incapable of functioning at the moment and he needs to close deals in a legal manner.
This involves speaking to the CEO or DOF of other clubs and he avoid this at all costs ; so not even one tentative bid has been submitted to test the water. He is actually afraid of spending money in case it goes wrong. Yellow streak up his back.
He actually doesn’t care if we sign anyone or win the league; his ambition stretches to keeping his job for another week. Rumours he tendered his resignation are wishful thinking — he is a taker and a coward. This is the parasite we have as CEO at Celtic. The mute is in 24/7 hiding and leaving MON to cover for his gross incompetence.
McKay has also went to ground; am not very impressed with him after the last Foundation event in London. He needs removed pronto as he is a one dimensional beancounter.
These guys were Lawwell’s puppets and totally out of their depth.
Desmond is really now absent and MON , Shaun, Callum trying to save the season.
It wouldn’t surprise me if there are no deals and we may need to go with what we have.
Of course the fans will back the team if it comes to that; but Nicholson as someone who has delivered zilch in his life has decided our most vociferous fans will not be able to motivate the team in crucial games. That is a disgrace for someone who is not really a Celtic fan.
Nicholson should apologise to everyone for completely failing to do his job. He has failed everyone at the club especially the young supporters who may end up with criminal records impacting job opportunities. No St Aloysius background for those with their doors knocked in at 6AM with Nicholsons collusion. Nicholson has no affinity with 99% of Celtic supporters. Of course he doesn’t want all Celtic supporters in jail as he needs 60k to buy season season tickets and maybe come to the game.
Nicholsons only achievement has been to drive a wedge between the club and the supporters and refuses to reply to common sense overtures to resolve the situation. The mute doesn’t care as it doesn’t impact him financially and they can’t sing about him.
Why is this coward still at our club.
He is easily the most hated person in Celtics history including Judas.
PLB@625…..shocking stuff ma mhan
The envy of his salary is ripping out of you.
Don’t beat yourself up mate.
And there’s The Fun Boy 3…..join the dots, all for financial gain….sounds like…..?
Laxalt LOL I earn more than him!
LAXALT on 16TH JANUARY 2026 10:10 PM
PLB@625…..shocking stuff ma mhan
The envy of his salary is ripping out of you.
Don’t beat yourself up mate.
………;;
EH??
He boasted a few months ago that he and his wife were both “pulling in six figures”.
Granted it’s less than MN’s salary, but when’s enough is enough?
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-ey’d monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss,
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But O, what damnèd minutes tells he o’er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!”
Haters gonna hate….
Cannot see how you can reconcile that with supporting the Celtic though…
Time for a song😀
https://youtu.be/nfWlot6h_JM?si=qmLpha6HsK_awEfv
Laxalt & GM why are you ganging up on PLB on him and his wife’s salary cf to Nicholson.
It is bang out of order and says more about both of you that you use this to attack PLB.
There are people on this portal who earn more than Nicholson and some by an order of magnitude. They are experts in their field or business and operate in most cases globally based out of one of the world major city’s.
Most of them are humble and do not use their wealth as ammunition on a blog. Only narrow minded snidey people do that — you own it.
The other interesting thing is that they usually contribute to Celtic in some way more than a season ticket. They care more about Celtic than parasites like Nicholson and Lawwell who have never put a cent into Celtic.
Nicholson like Lawwell sees Celtic as an ATM.
I don’t know how Nicholson could remember a PIN.
Did MON not say on Thursday , that the board have been very helpful and that it was him who was rejecting players and that he had to still identify players that he wanted to pursue?
TT
Have we signed a much needed striker yet?
It’s amazing how easy it is for our board to sell players as opposed to how difficult it is to sign them….no matter the window
THELURKINTIM on 16TH JANUARY 2026 10:35 PM
Have we signed a much needed striker yet?
YES……I mean no…..
The Office CSC…..
For a fraction of a second I was happy…fu*k you 31003
THELURKINTIM on 16TH JANUARY 2026 10:46 PM
For a fraction of a second I was happy…fu*k you 31003
At least I made you happy for a wee while…
“Its just another day,for you and me,in Paradise”
“Haters gonna hate”,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Lickers gonna lick.
I see the easily offended mob on worrying themselves sick,if its safe for Nicholson to now go into Glasgow.
The answer is Yes.If he stays beside his Mummy,and takes her hand crossing roads.
Tune in Tomorrow for” Another day for you and me in Paradise”,where Burnley 78 joins Reform.
Big Scalesy’s likeable presser…
“As a defender if you defend first before anything else…” (talking about our defensive tightness under MON)
If only his striker pals would similarly do their basics before anything else !
If you want to give up on the league title already, with Celtic sitting second, that is your choice.
Free country.
I don’t bet …
… but a quick search of “SPFL title odds” returned summaries from 3 bookmakers I’ve heard of (power of advertising unfortunately)
Each has Celtic at shorter odds than Hearts who in turn are shorter odds than the truly magnificent outfit.
If the three teams roughly match each others results against the remaining 9 teams?
… it will all come down to the matches against each other.
Makes for an exciting finish.
Personally, I’d give Hearts a 50% chance of winning the league with us at 40% and the simply majestic unit somewhere in between.
The unceasingly impressive institution have shown their hand with their signings and want you to be scared.
(Some poor souls are as obliging as always)
Hearts’ 6-point lead has been achieved in part by unprecedented home and away victories against each of the other two across four league games so far.
I’d be surprised if they repeat that feat across the four remaining match ups.
Over to Celtic.
If we get some decent players in, Martin does his leadership thing, and the incumbent squad lift themselves for one last push ….
… they’ll improve their form, their confidence and our confidence.
Enough to be champions?
Time will tell.
I think it’ll be fun.
Strap yourselves in.
Goodnight CQN
stebhoy on 16th January 2026 6:20 pm
SB-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 .
AT – we also seem to be gullible to every player mentioned by yon media who really do no know more than you or I
You are forgetting Bosmam
The choice is the players
SB-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.
AT That other business may operate differently.
I’m astonished we haven’t closed deals – its seems we are tentative and almost this almost that!
AT-We could do better but I have no examples of closing a football deal,the ‘asset’ is a human with free choice
SB-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!
AT-I feel MN will go soon SB, caught in mid of a board v 34%,(manager v (proxy)owner battle ) as the rights/wrongs of BR re-appointment exploded within our club.
Us down here wondering why are we in chaos?
An example of mistakes at the top,DD reapp of BR was our depthcharge!hence tfer inaction as our money grew in the bank.No future planning
Its not an easy job being a CEO(ex Bobo Balde)
Celtics must be unimaginable.
I mean carrying and satisfying every tic bams hopes,just read here of trying to fuse that and moved forward.
HH
HH
lucky cody on 16th January 2026 10:33 pm
Laxalt & GM why are you ganging up on PLB on him and his wife’s salary cf to Nicholson.
You’re seeing the light HH
Nicholson & McKay at Lennoxtown today for a transfer summit with MO’N. Well I know I’m excited.