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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Probably save to assume that we won’t be making any moves for Scottish based players this window – they’ll all be cup tied after this weekend.
As long as the NEDS need to approve individual transfers (rather than an aggregate spend and closing deals left to the experts) we are going to keep losing out to clubs who can quickly and decisively in the market. What are these non execs doing, they know nothing about football players.
And according to the online stats this new tall defender has never scored a goal at any level, domestically or internally?
Internationally
Skov Olsen joins them on loan with £8.6 million optiionn to buy.
Very good signing for them
😥😥😥
Don’t get too pessimistic. Sometimes we have a flood of signings on the last day.
Oh no, sorry, that was a Flood signing……
GlassTwoThirdsFull on 17th January 2026 11:39 am
Don’t get too pessimistic. Sometimes we have a flood of signings on the last day.
Oh no, sorry, that was a Flood signing……
Brill…………………………………
I wonder if we’ll wait til Martin leaves in the summer before looking at manager CVs or are we actively thinking ahead and doing that now…as in world class in everything we do?……I know what I think…
btw 17.30 (1830 here) on a Sunday is a stupid time for a football game.
Like everyone else I just don get it…. we are absolutely desperate for new players through the door but to date we have signed 1 loan player.
1. Is it because the powers that be were waiting for WN to identify players…. If so ..that was leaving it a bit late.
2. Did they have some names from WN and then thought…. naaa he never had a fekin clue.
3. Have they identified players but just don’t now have the personnel to get the deals done.
4. Has DD spat out the dummy and said fxxk them I’ll show them…
5. Or could it be we’re just doing what Celtic do….
6. Orrrrrr…”Maybe” there’s a plethora mega deals just waiting to sign on the dotted line on Monday morning …..ayeright !!…or maybes naw 😢😢😭
As Tom Mc Laughlin harumphs his way from the pages of CQN,tightly clutching at his Pearls,a plaintive cry could be heard from a voice crying out in the wilderness,
“Tomt,This is BTB.Please don’t leave,we are running short of Board supporting Eejits as it is,to lose the Celtic Park Hot Water Diviner,( courtesy of Greenpinta ),would be catastrophic.
It’s great that people come on to post to let others know that they won’t be posting for a while.
Much appreciated.
Any Board Supporter…Is an Eegit…
They are like MAGA Trump Supporters…
They don’t see what they don’t want to see…
Happy Clappers must be beginning to really wonder now.
Turkey, very funny 🤣👍
B78, any updates on the Hunterlopers search?
At this rate we’ll have signed a player before you identify any. Is Michael Nicholson one of the search team?
I asked yesterday about the role of Jimmy Bell who joined us from Chelsea. I would have hoped he had brought a bulging file full of promising players and know a few that would improve us, no? I mean isn’t that why we appointed him? He should have a lot more knowledge than Shaun or Martin on potential signings from down South.
“Senior International Scout at Stamford Bridge club for nine years, Bell-Walker has completed a move to Glasgow to join the Scottish champions.
A former Head of Recruitment at Bolton Wanderers and scouting co-ordinator at Everton, Bell-Walker confirmed the move on social media site Linked-In, where he wrote: “New adventure starts today. Delighted to be joining Celtic, a huge club with huge ambitions.”
Happy St Antony Day all! Ave Ave
One Celtic. Back our Board, our Players, and Martin O’Neill.
Petition
https://c.org/Z2h9XxwJyx
🍀 THIS IS ACSOM with DUNCAN SMILLIE.
🎙️ Duncan Smillie from Celtic Supporters Limited joins us on the show to discuss how Celtic fans can come together as shareholders to have a say in the future of our club.
📺 Watch the premiere at 12:30 here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu_rVg…
https://youtu.be/Cu_rVgxLHVI?si=Ge8ImjKFkMCsSwG9
“Delighted to be joining Celtic, a huge club with huge ambitions.”
Mind boggling.
Who wrote that for him, Michael?
NFL looking good and talking exceptionally well prior to his Scottish Cup game.
Always a celt.
Note : His evening on the 14th Feb in Grace’s is currently sold out with a waiting list.
I Hope those Celtic fans who abused him and chased his team bus will not be hypocritical.
HH.
Can’t remember the last time I felt proper joy and excitement following Celtic.It was probably under Ange in the January window,wondering who he was bringing in and how they would improve on an already strong exciting football team.
Even under BR2 I felt we were doing just enough to stay in front but board were working against his plans.
Now it feels horrible.I watch fellow fans shake their heads in disbelief at how wrong this is going whilst watching our rivals plan and strengthen their teams with solid additions already in place with more to come.
We have a shambles of a board who have utterly no idea what they are doing and need to be replaced immediately.
We now appear to be out of ideas and hoping for a miracle.
If feel sick to the pit of my stomach
Timmy7_Noted
Might be the ones that wanted Nancy kept on?
The club is in disarray and Michael Nicholsons only impactful (negative) contribution is to drive a wedge between the support and the club.
Even Martin O’Neills plea for a truce has been ignored by the mute. Overtures from go between’s to find a way that our most vociferous fans are allowed to support the team have failed. When change comes the grown ups will find a solution that is a win- win everyone. It’s very telling that there is zero interest in finding a solution from the club.
Look at Sevco they fixed their major problems. Terminated CEO, DOF and Manager and now investing handsomely as they see the league opportunity. The US guys done their homework before coming here. Also, they were aware of the critical failures of Celtic and did not expect them to strengthen sufficiently in January. Glasgow is a small world eg Bisgrove talking to Rodgers about Saudi was known to Desmond when he unleashed his Exocet. Who put Bisgrove up to it ….
Celtic were not exercising the advantage they had due to strategic failures especially relating to recruitment and structural failures. The US seen the potential of gold of £50M Cl participation plus commercial related outcomes. Of course they want a return but they will see dominance as they will spend and set themselves up for success. Desmond will check out but only when more serious damage has taken place…
It will be as bad as the old board except the gap will be almost unfathomable.
Three seasons of success will see Sevco take £150 M basic plus ticketing/commercials of circa of £100M. A £250m gap as we flop around in europa or conference.
US owners will target every deal including shirt sponsorship which is a multi year deal with Castore outsourced to Umbro. US guys have Adidas at Leeds and they will attempt a joint deal at a level Celtic will only be able to dream off now. The US guys are going for it and they will invest further. They will crawl out of the woodwork to create their establishment club in all its triumphant finery. Brought to you by 5WA agreement Lawwell and an aging Irish landlord.
Desmond is a smart guy and he knows this is coming. He knows the Board is incompetent and he doesn’t have the desire and motivation at this age for the fight —- alone (soz Ross). So will he run us into the ground or sell— some speculation ( was that some of the thinking when he agreed to the Nancy proposal from Nicholson and his Head of Football Operations Nancy).
I will finish with this my oldest son just came in and we had a chat about Celtic for 15 mins ; he knows the player market inside out — long story..etc Toward the end of the chat he said we won’t win the league , Rangers ( Secvco) will win it. Unfortunately he is usually right as he can be objective (even over penalty decisions). I didn’t agree or disagree with him as I know deep down he is right.
Will still give MON and Team 100% backing …will still hope we can have all our fans and pray for a miracle.
Re : Lucky Cody @ 10.10am.
Great post.
Woohoo the petition is back!
Thanks for the link to ACSOM interview with Duncan Smillie, don’t usually bother but very, interesting 👍
Dunfermline playing well, but my main focus is watching Kieron Bowie.
Lots of talk on here about him, perfect chance to evaluate.
HH.
So the truth is now classed as unbridled hatered, a bit like saying if you are anti-semitic you hate the jews, strange cos the jews are not semites, but I suppose, tell the lie often enough folks will believe it.
lucky cody on 17th January 2026 12:34 pm
You seem so excited at the thought of them winning the league and establishing their dominance.
I’m tempted to ask the question……..
Eratic
You are welcome always a good listen is Duncan Smillie.
👌🍀
Greenpinata on 17th January 2026 12:55 pm
Dunfermline playing well, but my main focus is watching Kieron Bowie.
Lots of talk on here about him, perfect chance to evaluate.
HH.
____
No-one standing out, from what I’ve saw. As I’m writing, Bowie misses a great one on one with keeper. Just about to switch to Higgins in the snooker
Should’ve lifted it over the keeper.
Based on this performance I’m not sure he’d improve us much. He does have physicality though.
Celtic is not a serious club, that is all
Hoople I remember the 90s only too well and my greatest fear is we end there again.
We face a challenge from Sevco that we have never had from the original club or the new club.
The Americans are serious especially as they see the CL pot of gold within reach on a multi seasonal basis.
The gap between their ambition and ours coupled with the capability gaps means there will only be one outcome.
A league loss this season will not see us make the necessary changes. It is either Desmond sells or the 90s.
Ps. The reaction of Celtic fans with an alternative reality is exactly the question you ask. I have the same reaction to the happy clappers who slavishly believed Lawwell and his online lieutenant here.
PPS I haven’t seen you post before , surely not a BOT to suppress facts/truth