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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Having Laxalt and GM come after you is the equivalent of being savaged by dead sheep…
Baldy can earn as much as he likes as far as I’m concerned, IF HE’S WORTH IT.
Spoiler alert, any muppet could perform at his level. Even you two jokers.
As for Nicholson being despised, that’s just a matter of fact. Unless you have compelling evidence to the contrary.
Majestic Hartson
Totally with you. Just catching up on events in Minnesota. Scary times. Shows you what happens when old megalomaniacs achieve unaccountable power.
Now 85 year old Michael Kelly has been able to rehabilitate his reputation, so I definitely retract my unfounded speculations about Nicholson’s bright reputational future.
In fact, apparently Michael continues to work as a PR consultant. Based on recent events I’m wondering whether the current Michael has retained him?
Michael Kelly said on 4th March 1994, that maybe 10 or 20 years down the road, maybe even a little longer than that, and Celtic fans will “COLLECTIVELY” look at each other and say: “My God what have we done? What has happened to Celtic?”
Tory FC has taken Celtic’s soul and stupifyed its supporter base into becoming fat haggard cliques full of snitches grasses touts and degenerates.
Micheal I have only ONE question for you and any remaining members of the old board.
“WHY DID NOBODY CALL OUT | THE 1989 TAYLOR REPORT | AS IT WAS A PACK OF LIES?”
Was the Thatcherite “TAYLOR REPORT” the first example of the [mass psychosis event] that we saw years later in 2020 during the “COVID 19 SCAMDEMIC” and the Military grade psychological gaslighting to trick people into doing some damage to themselves?
KINGLUBO – AULDHEID stay strong guys.
HH
oot.
BREAKING 🇷🇺 NEWS:
Russian President Vladimir Putin;
“If Russia had committed even 10% of what Israel has done in Gaza, NATO would be right at Moscow’s doorstep now.
The West has taught us that Human Rights begin & end at the borders of Israel’s 🇮🇱 interests.”
https://x.com/citizentommy/status/2012271972265218247#m
PLB – Try dig below the media surface if you want to understand what is going on in Minnesota. I promise you that it’s not what you are being led to believe it is.
MNCelt
Presume you’re on the ground with that moniker. You’ve certainly got my attention.
Back on Celtic, I will say that Desmond has been a positive force on many occasions in the past. And God knows Nicholson might have been a stellar club solicitor. But both are now doing active harm and would be best removed from influence. We can but dream…
America has fallen to Project 2025….It’s gonna take generations to trust them as allies again….how do empires fall?
MNCelt….so ICE can assassinated anyone they consider wrong skinned….I must be watching the wrong news. Watch the Trumper cult institute calls for the insurrection act to justify their actions and defer any elections
MNCelt….I guess you must be happy that you can wear yer grandpas SS/KKK uniform in public…
MNCelt….Papers please…..as a white man in America this would never happen to me….tells me all I need to know
Good Morning Celts
Quadrophenian @ 9:17 pm,
Yes…
Like I’ve said many times, the “moneyball model” or derivatives there off is a myth.
It is a zero sum game, to get supporters money, maunly season book money, and turn it into PLC revenues, profits and cash deposits…
Peter Lawwell came “back” and remained exactly three years as Chairman.
We were diven the impression big Pedro was a figurehead, more involved with his UEFA and ECA positions.
During that tenure, Celtic FC sold circa
145,000,000.00 in player registrations.
With Frmpong cash etc…
Celtic brought in on average
50,000,000.00 per annum
Could anyone explain to me how Celtic could sell an average of 50 mn worth of players per annum and not destroy the squad!?
Especially as there wasn’t a real and fit for purpose football recruitment strategy.
Follow the money…
Don’t~believe~the~hype
Aff~Oot
Hail Hail
Based on Martin’s presser yesterday, Balikwisha, in his opinion is a no.10 and should get his chance to show it this weekend.
“”He’s a very, very nice footballer. A really nice player and trains well too. He’s never come in and moaned about not being on the side.
Well, my view would be that he would be more like a number 10. Absolutely. He wouldn’t be a full-blown striker and he’s definitely not a wide player.
“I think it’s just up to the players now. It’s really up to him. It must be difficult for him to come in at the time he has done and not be getting the starts. I thought that Wilfried might have played him, but that’s everyone to their own. But really, as you say, we spent some money on him and it’s up to him now to try and do it.
“But he’s not complained, he hasn’t done any of those particular things. Now here’s an opportunity, albeit on an artificial surface.””
Is MO’N putting a very nice Honda up for sale on Tomorrow evening
MN Celt
How to record ICE
L.A. TACO
How to record ICE: 1) Record from a safe distance. DO NOT INTERVENE. 2) Put the DATE, TIME, & LOCATION on the video. 3) Ask for NAMES & BIRTHDAYS 4) CONTEXT, how many people were taken? What…
https://youtube.com/shorts/bINxTVHfeK0?si=8qMewBwzV7MF9U_n
lionroars67 on 17th January 2026 6:59 am
Is MO’N putting a very nice Honda up for sale on Tomorrow evening
Immaculate.
Never been off the forecourt.
aff oot
History and politics scroll by if not your thing
Dictators, drugs, discord – Latin America and the USA (1/3) | DW Documentary
Almost all Latin American crises of the 1960s and 1970s were influenced by the USA. Whether it was Brazil’s dictatorship, the coup in Chile or the Cuban Missile Crisis – at some level, American politics were involved.
Brazil’s first “national security” dictatorship was established in 1964 with the support of the United States. Washington, fearing an expansion of a perceived communist threat following the Cuban Revolution, rallied behind the coup leaders – making Brazil the first “national security” dictatorship in the region. Many opponents of the regime fled to Chile, where Augusto Pinochet seized power in a coup – also with the support of the United States.
Almost simultaneously, the secret services of Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay joined forces under the code name “Operation Condor” to track down and eliminate their opponents.
But in Nicaragua, a bloody civil war broke out and brought the leftist Sandinistas to power. This gave rise to a period of hope across the continent for greater independence from the United States. But Ronald Reagan’s inauguration in 1981 marked a new era in relations with Latin America.
https://youtu.be/UkZASVWnHmU?si=WlF_VAER7iXyxLUu
Might not have been off the forecourt but the seller will want double the book value.
“Bookies have suspended in-play betting ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup clash in Kilmarnock.
Punters had previously been able to bet on players being booked or sent off before the shock allegations emerged.
A source said: “There was a lot of money being placed on players receiving bookings and the bets all came in over a short period.
“That obviously raises alarm bells.
“Existing bets were cancelled and no in-play bets were available from early Friday afternoon.”
Looks like some players will be out to leave their mark.
.
Been away from CQN for a few days and just had a read back.
Utterly depressing.
So much unbridled hatred.
Time for another break.
It makes Celtic look amateurish. Where is the future planning? Where is the structure that Desmond said was working just fine and the previous transfer issues were purely down to Brendan Rodgers? Because from the outside it doesn’t look like there’s ANY structure.
——
Chris Sutton still hitting the target.
I am struggling to understand what is going on at Celtic, league placing says we still have a chance if we can beat Hearts and Rangers in head to heads and do no worse than them in games against other teams in the league, however the spell given to Nancy was far too long, he was toast early doors but got 8 games, MON returns to find no work done on transfer possibilities as Maloney and himself now have to deal with this, have all employees been told to down tools? Have they been told they are finished? Has DD decided to sell up so empty the place for a new major shareholder? Is it spite of the same DD who cannot handle scrutiny dissent questioning of his ways and the direction of the club? Whatever it is it is absolutely disgraceful conduct for a supposed supporter to harm the Club and Team in these ways, it will never be forgotten or forgiven by many of that I am certain.
Forgot to add I have zero faith in any of the Execs or NEDs to stand up for the support or provide the players the first team needs. They are useless to a man and woman, if any had a career that had credibility this episode at Celtic plc should shame them and make them a professional laughing stock, they have remained in place while the club crashes, entirely self inflicted as the income streams provided by the support did not crash.
ye never know
https://x.com/ScottishFootyFC/status/2012334325803446479
We have known for many years they are incompetent and the Huns being in disarray gave us a free run domestically. We have done nothing in Europe as we never planned for it apart from last season under new format Rodgers did great.
This was the season to kick on but inexplicably we sold our strikers and Kuhn and never replaced despite the CL riches and £80M in bank. Board need to answer that one.
The incompetence and lack of structure meant the summer window was a shambles.
If you had asked any Celtic fan in December it was to get remove Nancy and have a striker in Jan 1 with a RW; with MON back we could still claw the gap back. Could we imagine back then we would have no striker , winger…. on 17th Jan?
The level of incompetence is staggering ; there is no serious attempt to recover the situation. I don’t believe Celtic are trying to throw league, club is in panic mode and caught in the headlights. Its behaviour in the transfer market years is coming back to bite it ; this with a failed Board and a useless Nicholson means we are in the dark ages.
We have watched Huns and Hearts strengthen teams with our biggest game of the season next weekend. If lose the game the league is gone and it will be the Huns who win it ; we will probably end up third as we probably self implode. The Board will need to turn Celtic Park into a military zone and install a bunker to keep the fans from holding them to account.
Lawwell got out he seen it coming (rumours at time he was asked to step down maybe not true as BW does a fine impersonation of MN and nobody to step in).
The is entirely of our own making and we have soon to be 73 year old MON trying to to save the day. No matter what we need to get behind him and the team on the park.
What comes next for the club can be discussed but change will come , the level of incompetence will be the catalyst for change.
It’s galling that the host (and the nodding duck with his multis) has been supporting the myth created by Lawwell that we have the best structures and everyone else were bedwetters. Sydneytim allegations over the festive break were interesting and makes you wonder.
Why has the host never really addressed the mess Celtic when it’s clear he would have a better view than most and access to its architect (Lawwell) even bringing in recruitment Guru Mark — I need a laugh too…
Even now there is no attempt to open the conversation. The culprit has always been Brendan Rodgers.
The host has deliberately misdirected and ran headers which helped shape the inputs into the thinking of a section of the Celtic support. We should never forget the role the host has played. Never a Celtic fan.
We just need to back MON and team to the hilt. Win or lose the league the turkeys need to go— even Desmond knows him time is up.
Tomorrow the perfect opportunity to blood new players oh wait ✋️ this is Celtic the gross neglect and incompetence is truly unforgivable and we have a rival who of they win the league go straight in the CL.
Tomorrow the perfect opportunity to blood new players oh wait ✋️ this is Celtic the gross neglect and incompetence is truly unforgivable and we have a rival who if they win the league go straight in the CL.
The compmay i work for have appointed recently a couple of non executive directors and already some great fresh ideas and changes and just spent 40 millions on a new National Distribution centre to help our depots and make is better.
What have our NEDS ever done launch 4 kits and novelty kits in March if the money was designed to go to charity supporters would think oh good idea. The stadium the museum the hotel tbe WiFi the hot water oh wait still waiting.
They take our money and do the absolute minimum.
No more.
If Martin O’Neil delivers this will be one of the best ever but good managerial appointments and the demise of our rival masked the ineptitude of their terrible mismanagement of our club Lawells legacy indeed.
LC
Picture this, we don’t sign anyone who can play at Tynecastle, we happen to lose the game but make lots of chances just no-one to stick it in the net, the league would be given up by the Board, do you think they would spend any money on the team?
Nygren is already being touted as a secret number 9
Tom McLaughlin on 17th January 2026 9:31 am
Wanted to ask you this question for some time. But there always seemed to be more important issues to discuss.
A while back you said Celtic had now installed hot water into their toilet facilities.
I have looked on numerous occasions since then and i cannet find any Gents hot water facilities in the Jock Stein concourse.
That is the toilets right beside the food outlets.
HH.
Dessy ,
We will bring in a few loans one right back alread just & halfway through January and our another issue is our coefficient if harmed more this month fellas that is something that’s not good for us and clearly being ignored and our domestic rival has bettered.
MAB now being mentioned as a#10 likely see him tomorrow on the plastic.
Football Smash David Low
https://youtu.be/kiArqxh-Y9A?si=Nt8UYyAhTTdU_lK4
Dessy ,
We will bring in a few loans one right back alread just & halfway through January and our another issue is our coefficient if harmed more this month fellas that is something that’s not good for us and clearly being ignored and our domestic rival has bettered.
MAB now being mentioned as a#10 likely see him tomorrow on the plastic.
Football Smash David Low
https://youtu.be/kiArqxh-Y9A?si=Nt8UYyAhTTdU_lK4
fourstonecoppi on 17th January 2026 10:10 am
ye never know
https://x.com/ScottishFootyFC/status/2012334325803446479
FOURSTONE, IF (big IF) that’s true, at 6′ 6” he would certainly be a MON centre back!!
Ave Ave
Lucky Cody- excellent post
Tom McLaughlin @ 9:31 am
Been away from CQN for a few days and just had a read back.
Utterly depressing.
So much unbridled hatred.
Time for another break.
———–
Polite suggestion, Tom.
Instead of taking a break, keep posting …
and dilute the ratio of unbridled hatred posts
As for Nicholson being despised, that’s just a matter of fact. Unless you have compelling evidence to the contrary.
Despised? Much deeper than that…