4 April 2001, you would not believe the tension in the stadium when Dundee visited Celtic Park. Post-match, Martin O’Neill chastised us for being so edgy before a Johan Mjallby goal six minutes from time secured the points. Winning that game, meant Celtic could win the title at home to St Mirren a few days later, not with only a few thousand Celtic fans in attendance at the subsequent away game. What Martin didn’t appreciate, was that being there when the event happened was vital to the supporters. Winning leagues was something of a rarity for Celtic fans back then.
Tonight, many of us will feel that being there to see Martin O’Neill’s final game as Celtic manager is equally important. We will see the departure of not just a great manager, but one of a small band of people who are genuine Celtic royalty.
After Dundee’s deserved win over Celtic in October, they went on a four-game losing streak, scoring once and conceding nine goals to Falkirk, Hearts, Newco and Hibs. Whatever was wrong before Martin’s arrival, it had enormous consequences. Steven Pressley’s side arrested that decline by coming from behind to beat St Mirren 3-1 on Saturday. That elevated Dundee above the team from Paisley, who slipped into the relegation play-off spot.
The script is written for a statement Celtic win ahead of the visit of league leaders Hearts on Sunday. Martin, though, knows that scripts are not always followed. This is a game he will want to win as much as you and I wanted that result back in 2001.
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A fine day to set a few bears free
SFTBCSC
Well done TBB thumbs up :-))
HH
Well played TBB.
SFTB!!
When MON was reappointed some forgot the adage that form is temporary but class is permanent.
He was ridiculed and lampooned, but played them like a fiddle.
Here’s to MON and his coaching staff.
https://youtu.be/ytDMtn8pylI?si=8gX1oDsiaZxRVoso
Some of the Staunch Lawwell Loyal,hoping for a disturbance on Sunday,a peaceful protest march…….aaaaa but it’s against Desmond and The Board….
The bet’s on.
Celtic to win 3-0.
£10 @ 6/1.
🤞
Not too worried about Engles , think he is getting there ….
bit more worried about Bernardo…think there is a player in there …hope Nancy can get him going, just seems to go missing in games………..probably score a hat trick tonight now !🥴🤣👍
SFTB RIP Tony 🍀
In regards to out new managers name , just don’t feel comfortable calling him Nancy…….think we need to come up with a good name for him 🥴🥴🤔
Bada Bing 9.15
I think MON will pick both of these guys.
He seems to see them as good players he can trust to do a job.
This is more than many fans and indeed more than Rodgers did for most of this season prior to him leaving.
Eratic
Humphries? :)
TBB,
hear hear!
An Tearmann on 3rd December 2025 10:12 am
One year ago this blog lost a titan
Setting free the bears.
Still missed badly my friend.
Rip Tony 🙏
……………….
SFTB ( TONY GILLESPIE ) was one of the nicest Guys that I have ever met in my life. TONY was also one the smartest Guys that I have ever met in my life.
He was only to willing to give me his Celtic season Card whenever he couldnt make it to a game, especially if he was gonna be on holiday etc.
TONY was only One Month younger than me, he was taken far too soon.
My Heart goes out to his wife Shirley and all of the Gillespie family on this sad day.
TONY BHOY….R.I.P.
HH.
I don’t see that there would be any reason for the police to act against tonight’s protest march other than to look on from the sides like they did with marches from the city centre to Hampden Park prior to recent cup finals.
Foreign football supporters often march en masse to stadia throughout Britain and a police presence — or escort — is there to control traffic, especially at crossroads etc.
Tonight’s march is really no different.
“the Staunch Lawwell Loyal”
Mate, get a hold of yourself.
“These boot were made for walking” ….new Green brigade song !!!
Maybe naw 🫣🥴🤣
Looks like we are pretty much there now then.
A once coveted job now well off limits to the sort of prestigious candidates that would have been interested in the past became even less attractive after the parting shot lacerating the previous incumbent who had served the club with distinction while racking up trophy after trophy.
The idea that we could take our pick of the continent’s progressive managers from one of the ambitious and (actually) well-run clubs was for the birds. The idea that Ange, who had already been in the building and scraped his head against the ceiling, would return wasn’t even for the birds.
The only marquee name we were ever likely to get was Marky Wilson.
Hey Big Jimmy.
Hope you are feeling better, you getting out soon for a wee swally? Tis the season after all.
Tonight is a genuine ‘I was there’ match. A chance to say goodbye and thank you to a legend ( Celtic don’t do royalty imo).
It’s a shame that hundreds of fans that have paid for tickets are now unable to attend because of the alleged actions of two people at an AGM…
Heading into town for a beer. These pesky 3 o’clock kick offs.
BRRB
I was on an old colleagues night out last night. Think I might still be tipsy, Please have a wee hair of the dug for me.
AN DÚN re: I was there moment.
Wish we could post photos on here so I could post my farewell picture from Celtic Park 21 years ago, I was last to leave stadium and just didn’t want to leave.
I was so much older then, I am younger than that now.
I watched yesterday’s Arne Engels media conference. To my astonishment, one hack asked, “Did Martin O’Neill say his goodbyes to the players at training today?”
The day before his final game at home to Dundee. How do these idiots get jobs like this?
Paul67
Celtic royalty ?
OFFS CSC
Tim Malone Will Tell on 2nd December 2025 11:33 pm
Not defending the plc as an ownership model – but I am not sure what is being proposed as the alternative?
DD could buy out the whole shebang – that might be a more ‘honest’ way to exert his autocratic authority – but I am not sure that will change anything except things are likely to be even less transparent.
Someone else might buy us all out – who knows with what motivation?
Fan ownership – not going to happen unless we go bust.
In 2000 Celtic paid £500k in dividends off the back of a £30+ Million turnover.
In 2025 Celtic paid that same £500k in dividends off the back of a £130+ Million turnover.
For sure DD has seen the value of his ‘asset’ increase – but not sure where the cash cow argument is coming from?
====
I am with you on the last sentence as I have seen no evidence to fully support the narrative.
Celtic are a PLC with a Board who are governed by rules that require a payout to shareholders.
In reality the Board are governing a very large communoty which would call for a different approach.
The PLC model is an ill fit but it is what it is.
What I would like to see is a comparison between what a non football PLC payout to shareholders and what Celtic payout as dividends.
On an annual basis is what is paid out going to make much of a difference in raising the quality of the playing squad?
If it is then the denial of cash argument is going to stand up.
If it doesnt then it is a false narrative .
It is a narrative I would like to see addressed by Celtic so that the support at large have enough information on which to inform opinions.
That will not change the narrative that keeping the game competitive is a factor in Board thinking on spending.
It is Celtic’s bad fortune to find themselves in a league where a toxic club is our main competitor.
I mentioned last week that our family friend, Fr John Tata, was being held in Cameroon. We are being told today that he has been freed, not confirmed, but signs point to it being true.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for his safe release.
Aipple 1.13
You have no willpower and discipline like wot I has got. 🧐
Auldheid 1.22
It is Celtic’s bad fortune to find themselves in a league where a toxic club is our main competitor.
Aye indeed P.
Kelvin bhoy
Fr.John Tata here’s hoping for good news 🙏
HH
Auldheid 1:22 pm
One of the unfortunate results of Paul67’s relative disengagement from the blog over the years is that the financial aspect of discussion has been largely lost.
I can appreciate that he is a busy guy with better things to do with his time, but the sort of comparison you suggest wrt dividend payments and director renumeration across a few benchmark teams (not just Sevco) would be of interest to me.
Kelvinbhoy
As AT said.
From previous article.
the Bada Bing on 3rd December 2025 9:50 am
“I wonder of those 2 diddies BR signed,Trusty and Engels will play tonight?”
……..
They wurny the only 2 players that Rodgers made look like diddies.
HH
oot.
From previous article.
An Tearmann on 3rd December 2025 10:12 am
One year ago this blog lost a titan
Setting free the bears.
Still missed badly my friend.
Rip Tony🙏
……
Actually it was the morra 4th December.
How do I know?
Because his last CQN post was aimed at me.
HH
oot.
What a comment that is on the anniversary of the death of a fine man.
bigrailroadblues on 3rd December 2025 1:47 pm
What a comment that is on the anniversary of the death of a fine man.
…..
What comment?
KEVJ
Do one.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 3RD DECEMBER 2025 1:17 PM
“How do these idiots get jobs like this?”
You might have answered your own question there
Aipple on 3rd December 2025 1:00 pm
Hey Big Jimmy.
Hope you are feeling better, you getting out soon for a wee swally? Tis the season after all.
…………….
Thanks mate.
I hope to get out before Christmas.
Ive NOT left ma hoose since August, so I have NOT had any Alcohol since the CQN Booze up that month.
Ive forgotten what Beer tastes like?
LOL.
HH.