My friends in Celtic, you and I have discussed this subject for over two decades, seldom in that time has the club been in such disarray. No one football game determines the health of a club, but yesterday’s 2-0 defeat at Fir Park perfectly illustrates what a soft touch Celtic are.
Credit to Motherwell, this is as good a side as I have seen from them, but they are not a Champions League-level team. However, they out-thought Celtic and controlled the game throughout. The list of Scottish clubs who have already done this, this season, is significant: St Mirren, Hearts, Dundee and Dundee United have all beaten Celtic and bossed them, at least once each. Kilmarnock were denied a point by an added-time penalty, 10-man Aberdeen by two goals after the 87th minute, while a truly awful Livingston twice took the lead against us.
Wilfried Nancy inherited much of this mess. Three misfiring transfer windows proceeded Brendan Rodgers departure and Wilfried’s arrival. Despite significant spending the squad was left imbalanced, the new manager had to cope with that, but he is far from blameless.
When plans meet grass
Few of us looked forward to last night’s game expecting yet another new formation. I am sure this made sense on a flipchart at Lennoxtown on Monday but it was destroyed from the start by a Motherwell squad which benefited from a total spent this summer of £250k.
The lack of structure which caused the alarm in the first half was not due to a lack of a decent striker, it was a consequence of what was written on that flipchart. The second half saw a return to the formation which won the previous two games, and allowed Celtic a degree of control of the ball, but roles were changed. McCowan came on at wingback, not the inside role he has been enjoying so much success in. Maeda, whose crossing was a real asset in recent weeks, was hooked, while Shin Yamada was given the lost striker role. Better than expecting Reo Hatate to plug the gap, I suppose.
We are at the cusp of the ‘favourites for the league title’ shifting from Celtic to God knows who. Either one of two poor-to-average teams who because of Celtic’s inept performances are likely to win the league.
Football fans love a scapegoat; take your pick. None of the players involved last night were to blame, nor was the referee. The result was a failure of team planning and the team planning failure was a consequence of the second successive poor managerial appointment by the board.
When appointing a manager, I support Celtic looking outside the box. We will not out-perform unless we follow different leads to our wealthier competitors. On paper (or a flipchart, if you prefer), finding someone with a bit of form in the MLS ticks this box, so I was happy with the appointment. The diligence and transition planning, however, was woefully short.
20 years ago, Gordon Strachan started his Celtic managerial career with a terrible defeat and an alarming draw (at Motherwell). Despite winning three successive league titles and taking Celtic into the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first and second times, he never quite recovered in the eyes of some supporters. 20 years on, the world has not become more tolerant. Wilfried could recover and win the league, but it will not be enough for some.
Layered on top of this is transfer planning. The head of recruitment brought the manager in and the manager has plans to spend many millions in January. This is what the club hopes will deliver salvation from what ails us. Players suited to the formation in three or four positions might work. The return of Jota and Kelechi Iheanacho, then Callum Osmand and Alistair Johnston, will help. Our prospects of a league title this season are circling the drain, but they have not yet flushed.
The other side of the equation is equally important. It is easy to destroy but difficult to build ‘What next?’ Sack the manager is easy, subsequently recruiting someone who can deliver the kind of success Celtic has come to expect not so much. Sack the board, that’s easy done too. Replaced by what? I’ll save you a lesson in corporate governance structures, but if you think any fool can run a successful Celtic, you are the fool.
My expectation is that Celtic will not win the league this season, despite that being entirely possible right now. Head of Football Operations Paul Tisdale has been thrown in at the deep end in at a level he had little experience of. We are not Exeter City. Nor are we Columbus Crew. Our football structure is simply not operating at the level we were even two years ago.
To our board, I suggest they reflect on how we got here. Why was Brendan brought back, who was inevitably going to play the same games he did during his first spell and resulted in the summer debacle? Why did we move from importing Manchester City’s recruitment imprint to that of Exeter City? Celtic is a big ticket job, recruitment analysts across Europe would jump at the chance to work here.
I expect the club will throw the dice in the January transfer window in the hope of landing some sixes. The fallacy of sunk costs is powerful. You and I do not have all the information, so we should also consider where we are on the Dunning-Krugger chart. People on the outside who believe obviously clear decisions are not being made are usually at the first peak.
Personally, I would have a chat with Shaun Maloney this afternoon. I might be one of the fools, but he is not. We have talent at the club. There is a squad with potential to achieve more than they currently are. There is enough money in the bank to fix whatever is wrong – all a consequence of years of good work.
It has been a real honour sharing 2025 with you. The blog can sail through the good times with little of substance to contribute. It is needed most when clouds gather and perspective is low. Some may regard today’s as being light on perspective, but there is no point having a blog if we do not step forward and say when we believe things are going wrong.
Very best wishes for the new year. I hope you have a healthy and happy one, and I hope we see Celtic back bossing the land once more. Take care, all.
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the Bada Bing on 1st January 2026 5:47 pm
MON has cancelled his ASCOM gig tomorrow and as a pundit on Saturday
_____
2 + 2 = 4 or 5?
Sean Maloney is the last throw of the dice here for the board. Contingency plan? Or plan ? I don’t see MON taking the reigns as manager. Is he better than what we have? Yes. However, Martin is in his 70s and I actually think asking him to pick this mess up is unfair.
I stick by what I said a few days ago. Everyone below DD needs to go including WN. Its then up to DD if he has the focus to take the club in a new direction. If he cant or won’t then he should make a decision to move aside.
Happy New Year to all on CQN across the world.
Please God, get MoN in for training tomorrow and beat this lot on Saturday.
THE BADA BING on 1ST JANUARY 2026 6:11 PM
MON also not doing Sky on Saturday as a pundit, who knows, it could be the flu, or doesn’t want to be a Beale like vulture
——————
I think that’s spot on , he’ll have read the room and withdrawn diplomatically.
This guy is only 26 months younger than MON
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gian_Piero_Gasperini
67 European Cup Winners on 1st January 2026 6:17 pm
lionroars67 on 1st January 2026 5:03 pm
Thanks for the info I’m not sure PL was in ‘the back benches” he is more of a Cabinet personality
I’m self confessed BR fan – however he is not blameless
*so was I until I saw his big cheesy grin on the Monday night at the King Power Stadium only 24 hours after he had lambasted the officials at the Motherwell game for allowing the visitors to steal a goal in a 4-1 win for us, that was the first goal we had lost since 1872 had beat us in what he thought was his last game for us on December 29, we seriously all thought that he was here for the 10, not so as he did a midnight the following day taking most of his staff with him as well as leaving us in the lurch with visits to swinecastle and leith, where he had a poor record, within the next 5 days.
Seemingly there were celebrations like NEVER seen before in the Boardroom when he left and personally I didnae welcome him back and I gather neither did some of the board who had other candidates on his return, but like every manager and player we have unveiled I backed him as he was now on a 3 year contract, which like every one he has ever signed he failed to complete, it will be the same when he tires of the Bedouin
spikeysauldman on 1st January 2026 6:34 pm
This guy is only 26 months younger than MON
_____
6 years actually, though I get your point 👍
Ziggydoc1
I didnt check the ages – Mon mentioned it on radio recently – maybe he was lying for a reason !!!
Spikey- who knows but guys I was with an hour ago hoping the same as me,this Board actually must know they are under so much pressure, and rightly so,the common sense move is,chase this guy ,and get the guy in who took the heat off us for a few weeks
tbb
if they do, they will not be doing this for celtics sake – they know if they get pumped on saturday with WN in charge, the car park will be full after the game
they would be hoping that mon would be their human shield
Spikey
I get your point, I do think he is better than what we have. And short term yes, he can steady the ship. But, we are all different, it is a big ask for him. I am having nightmares thinking how WN will spend and try to make this better. I don’t think I have ever seen a manager so out of depth. Body language, interviews, tactics, systems.
I would take anything right now other than WN in the dugout all I can see is disaster unfolding.
Spikey- who knows but guys I was with an hour ago hoping the same as me, this Board actually must know they are under so much pressure, and rightly so, the common sense move is, chase this guy, and get the guy in who took the heat off us for a few weeks
*hmmm since we cannae tell the stock market or have it registered with the scottish freemason association until Monday at the least then put WN on garden leave and keep MON in place with his team from a couple of weeks back until the wee Portugal coach is available after the WC
My bhoy heard they wanted MON till end of the season, he wants next season as well……who knows…
TT- Can still take a guy out without permission from the Stock Exchange
TBB
no need to shoot him !!
MON is at age age where some men have taken on the presidency of the USA.
His age and experience are positives for me .
He never took training when he was younger .
But his cancelled Gig may be as much to do with John Robertson’s death as for any other reason .
TT
The London Stock Exchange is open tomorrow. It’s not a Public Holiday in England
TT- I considered that as well
Is it possible that Celtic will have a probationary period within Nancy’s contract ?
TT
TONTINE TIM on 1ST JANUARY 2026 6:37 PM
l
Ange Postecoglou won the Europa league, got sacked
Maresca won FIFA World Club cup, now departed 18 months in job
Most managers view 2 years as success at a club, for me I’m not hung up on players or managers short terms, loyalty is in short supply in top class football, im sure his spell in the desert will be doomed as all managers know a few defeats and dismissal is a reality
TT> Seemingly there were celebrations like NEVER seen before in the Boardroom when he left and personally I didnae welcome him back and I gather neither did some of the board who had other candidates on his return,
I have no regard for the “Celtic boardroom as a group, Roger Mitchells take depicting them as sucking on the teat of Dermot Desmond is scathing and accurate
I see no evidence of the “board” making any decision of consequence on Celtic FC, Dermot gives the final ok, as in O’Neil x2, Strachan, Rodgers x2 he made all these deals without the boards involvement
Slaughtering Rodgers doesn’t make Wilfreid Nancy a manager, nor exclaiming the “Board” whooping it up at Rodgers departure indicate the “Board a competent professional PLC unit
11 trophies won by Rodgers across two spells, will we see the likes of that again ?
In his first spell early on in his managerial reign, Lawwell was waxing lyrical about how in every area of the Football division at Celtic Rodgers was driving up standards to elite level, that’s verbatim
Each to their own
TONTINE TIM on 1ST JANUARY 2026 6:37 PM
l
Ange Postecoglou won the Europa league, got sacked
Maresca won FIFA World Club cup, now departed 18 months in job
Most managers view 2 years as success at a club, for me I’m not hung up on players or managers short terms, loyalty is in short supply in top class football, im sure his spell in the desert will be doomed as all managers know a few defeats and dismissal is a reality
TT> Seemingly there were celebrations like NEVER seen before in the Boardroom when he left and personally I didnae welcome him back and I gather neither did some of the board who had other candidates on his return,
I have no regard for the “Celtic boardroom as a group, Roger Mitchells take depicting them as sucking on the teat of Dermot Desmond is scathing and accurate
I see no evidence of the “board” making any decision of consequence on Celtic FC, Dermot gives the final ok, as in O’Neil x2, Strachan, Rodgers x2 he made all these deals without the boards involvement
Slaughtering Rodgers doesn’t make Wilfreid Nancy a manager, nor exclaiming the “Board” whooping it up at Rodgers departure indicate the “Board a competent professional PLC unit
11 trophies won by Rodgers across two spells, will we see the likes of that again ?
In his first spell early on in his managerial reign, Lawwell was waxing lyrical about how in every area of the Football division at Celtic Rodgers was driving up standards to elite level, that’s verbatim
Each to their own
Greenockbornhundredaire on 1st January 2026 7:05 pm
The London Stock Exchange is open tomorrow. It’s not a Public Holiday in England
*interesting but what about our national association, Jorge Cadette coms tae mind
If your gonna take him out , take him to a few Celtic pubs , the punters will give him pelters , he can say , so the song that goes we don’t care if we win loose or draw is bolloxs then , they can answer naw , not as long as the team out on a show ,not a showing up …🙄
apologies double post
Celtic are reportedly set to complete the loan signing of Bournemouth right-back Julian Araujo.
According to The Scottish Sun, Araujo is in Glasgow and could make his debut in Saturday’s derby clash against Rangers.
MON might be back on The Kings Road .
TT
5ft 8 so wont be a right sided centre back.
Tontine Tim on 1st January 2026 7:09 pm
Greenockbornhundredaire on 1st January 2026 7:05 pm
The London Stock Exchange is open tomorrow. It’s not a Public Holiday in England
*interesting but what about our national association, Jorge Cadette coms tae mind.
I am sure I read somewhere, that effectively the National association is open for registration purposes during the public holidays in the transfer window. I might be as simple as an email time stamp when a document is sent.
MM- an injury prone RB….
A tough gig for St Martin to kick off episode 3
if true…
But if anyone can??
Evening all.
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Gene on 1st January 2026 5:50 pm
Bada
Maybe he doesn’t want to get involved with the current debacle
——————————————————————————————–
Your spot on, I have been friends with the owner of the BAaD venue from school, ‘show has been compromised’.
Saint Stivs on 1st January 2026 7:21 pm
Tontine Tim on 1st January 2026 7:09 pm
Greenockbornhundredaire on 1st January 2026 7:05 pm
The London Stock Exchange is open tomorrow. It’s not a Public Holiday in England
*interesting but what about our national association, Jorge Cadette coms tae mind.
I am sure I read somewhere, that effectively the National association is open for registration purposes during the public holidays in the transfer window. I might be as simple as an email time stamp when a document is sent.
*still widnae stop them misplacing it though
It is an online process – Player Registrations.
In a modern digital environment, the secretary could simply accept it on a phone app.
—————————
18 REGISTRATION FORM
18.1 General
18.1.1 A Player shall be deemed to be registered at the date and time upon which his Registration Form
and any Agreement if applicable has been received by the Scottish FA via the Online Registration
Procedures, by post, email or fax and is fully compliant with the Registration Procedures, and as
confirmed by the Transaction Audit Trail except in a case when a FIFA International Transfer
Certificate is required in which case the date of registration will be as the date of receipt of the
Certificate. Acknowledgement of the registration will be via the Club Extranet when the Player’s
name appears on the Club’s list of registered Players. The Club will have access to the Player
Passport history in accordance with the FIFA Regulations via the Club Extranet;
have any of these ‘stock exchange open/closed’ comments that have been on here for years in posts about getting rid of managers, or signing new managers etc ever been relevant to the timing of when these things actually happening?
i dont think so.
can anyone name me times that we havent announced anything because the stock exchange is shut?
jeez, we announce stuff on friday, saturday and sunday night hoping no-one is listening.
TBB
Played once all season in the league cup and was sent off.
The Brickie on steroids.
LETS ALL DO THE HUDDLE on 1ST JANUARY 2026 7:37 PM
Only interested when Celtic FC officially announce any player/management appointment
Speculation can be of benefit to clubs, agents, players, press, who can know the truth ? deals can collapse last minute or suddenly get finalised last minute, im happy to wait till official announcement
New series of The night manager on I player, off to catch first two episodes
aff oot
Some cartoon capers for new year’s day.
https://youtu.be/L_Ey9DfX-Dg?si=e5no_lym1rpv52Wo
I find the term “The Brickie” for AR as quite disrespectful.
The bhoy will be going to the world cup with Scotland, he doesnt pick himslelf.