Motherwell, a team who have won plaudits for playing out from the back this season, based that strategy on Celtic loanee Stephen Welsh (25) in central defence. Who saw that coming? The player spent the second half of last season on loan at Mechelen, where he was a first-team regular. He also played more football in that 5 month period than during any season at Celtic.
This term, Brendan Rodgers preferred to develop Dane Murray (22) but Martin O’Neill has now recalled Stephen, to help compensate for the Cameron Carter-Vickers shaped hole in the squad. The move will shore up resources for the champions’ title push and be a loss to the Lanarkshire club.
Neither Rodgers, O’Neill nor Wilfried Nancy rated Manchester City loanee Jahmai Simpson-Pusey. Simpson-Pusey joined Koln last week and got his first 90 minutes in the Bundesliga on Saturday – that’s more time than he played for Celtic. It’s not often three managers decide against a player and get it wrong. Welsh is never going to reach Carter-Vickers-level performances, but he should return a better player than he left. This is the proper purpose of loaning players, not simply to get them out of the building.
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It isn’t Monday anymore.
It’s Wednesday eve and they are jetting in to iPox.
BRRB signs short term deal to run the wing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FAV UNCLE,80 TODAY.
😂
Favourite Uncle
Happy birthday ya auld Tim.
PB previously – cheers.
For absolutely clarity ..
Someone somewhere outside Celtic may have used those words to shape a narrative.
Martin O’Neill 100% did not utter that sentence
The world is full of people who pretend to say something without saying it or having to own it.
Without the following to fall back on …
“I understand …”
“it is my understanding …”
“I am lead to believe … ”
“I am hearing …”
“It has been suggested …”
“Sources close to [INSERT NAME] have suggested”
Or the latest one creeping in
“I’ll put opinions spouted by some nobody about a prominent somebody in quotes as a headline to make it seem more real” ?
… 99% of hacks, media old and new, social commentators would be out of work.
They have no FACTS to share.
They are unwilling to own their positions
So they revert to this seductive, effective con
Watching someone scrabbling around attempting to save face is always a delight to see.
Pay Attention.
I think you have lost the place, Paul. Truly.
You WILL NOT criticise those that run the club. You’re like a fan from the 50’s who just accepted Celtic being able to exist – and tbf had other bigger concerns in society than winning football matches. That should still be the case.
Welsh is an average player and never a Celtic level player. To talk him up is plain daft. Yes, the loan system should be used in a couple of ways but fgs if we go into big games with Welsh, Ralston or Murray in our back four we deserve all we get – which will be failure. The first two have had chances and plenty of them, and so need replaced. A well run club would do that.
Hmm.
Not sure i agree with this one Paul.
IMHO, Stephen was sent to Motherwell to showcase him for a high six or low seven figure sale to an English club …
… after the previous pathway …
… Stephen doing a sufficiently creditable turn Belgium and is bought by Mechelen or other
… fell through.
Brendan liked Stephen. He said so.
I think Martin (who has never coached him) might like him too.
FWIW (almost nothing) … I like Stephen and would happily see him as Centre Back 4 of 4 in our group
.. IF he could stay fit.
STAY ON YOUR FEET STEPHEN AND PROTECT THST SHOULDER !!!!!
Will Marin get what he wants ? Like Brendan did ?
Paul67
The Daily Brendan Rodgers fault ?
Well done Brendan, I’m glad you liked Stephen Welsh and got his contract extended to 2027 👍
I hope he can still make it at Celtic – he’s a massive Tim and from meeting him briefly seems like a really decent guy with time for the fans.
Hopefully as he get older injuries become less of a problem.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9vxg4dmpzwo
The perversity of what allegedly passes for “respect” in professional football.
In the unlikely event any stakeholders from other clubs are passing through CQN …
If you ever want to disrespect Celtic by fielding a “weakened” side
Or by having one of your players doing something frivolous on the pitch that leads to us scoring a goal?
… please go right ahead.
B2B @ 12.17
Let’s have a look at what CQN said, he said
Looking at the bigger picture, O’Neill, speaking to Celtic TV, said: “I am hopeful that we are going to get some people in. But just when you think that something might happen, things change around.
“Listen, it’s not me filibustering. It’s just me feeling that until they’re over the line, I can’t come up and say that it’s happened.
“We obviously need to do it, even just to give help to the boys present at the minute.
“Because this week, the week that’s just gone in, was the only week that we have had, since I’ve come to the football club, we have had a free week.
“And from hereon in, we go right through now to I don’t know how long, because we’re going midweek each time.
“So there’ll be no respite. If we pick up injuries to really key players, we could be inserious trouble.
“We need some people in. And, honestly, we are working on it.”
Reflecting on what he had just witnessed against Jim Goodwin’s side, O’Neill added: “It was nice to see players performing well, playing with confidence, and it was just nice to win.
“Don’t get carried away. But I thought we played really well. Somebody told me we had 32 passes in the build-up to the first goal. But we still have to score it, you know.
“And while we had things that were flying across the box and we had a bit of pressure, you still have to break them down.”
The presence of former prolific hitman Kyogo Furuhashi may have helped, but, of course, the one-time fans’ favourite knocked back the opportunity of returning to Parkhead during the week, as CQN reported.
Ironically, the Japanese frontman, who has yet to claim a league goal for Birmingham City, was on target during the Championship side’s 3-2 FA Cup win at Cambridge United yesterday.
The Hoops have until 7pm on Monday February 2 to get in new Bhoys with an attack-leader a must.
The clock is ticking.
Well,that’s me told.Some worthy on here asked for names of strikers we could buy.So a. Couple did,.I put the Motherwell boy forward,who is playing exceptionally well,in a very good team.15 goals this season.I have since been informed by EK Bhoy,that he is a winger,not a striker,as such,and is no better than what we have.What a fool I am.How could I have been so stupid.We should just play Kenny or Shin and save ourselves money.DOH !!!!!
Celtic board place harsh January transfer embargo on club.
Speaking exclusively to Celtic TV a board member who wishes to remain anonymous said:
“Winning the league every season would be bad for the Old Firm so we have to let this one slide, the fans won’t be happy but they have become entitled and need to be brought back down to earth, we run the club and not the fans, the sooner they come to this factual realisation the better it will be for everyone involved.
As an aside there are still some world class corporate tickets available for the next home match, so snap them up before they are gone ”
Thine gast is flabbered.
Kasper’s got a lot of experience, I think, a really, really terrific goalkeeper. Like everything else, you have to keep proving yourself.
If I can get Kasper back to what he did for me, and that’s very, very short term, that would be fine. He made some big saves for us.
He had a big save against Rangers in the semi-final, he made a big save at one each out in Feyenoord, big save when the boy’s through, makes the save again. Those are the things he’s good at.
Martin O’Neill
Favourite Uncle.
Happy Birthday to a good Celtic man
Have yourself a good one.💚
Hail Hail
AUCHINLECK TALBOT V CELTIC
SCOTTISH GAS SCOTTISH CUP | RUGBY PARK | SUN, JAN 18 | KO 5:30PM
Ticket Information
The club has received an allocation of 7,361 tickets for this match.
Tickets for this match are available to Season Ticket holders who have attended one or more domestic away fixture during the 2025/26 season or one or more domestic away fixture during the 2024/25 season.
Tickets are for the use of the Season Ticket holder only.
Prices
Tickets are priced:
Adult : £20
Concessions (O65s, Ambulant & Disabled): £15
Under 12: £10
Booking fees of £1.50 per ticket apply.
Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.
FALKIRK V CELTIC
WILLIAM HILL PREMIERSHIP | FALKIRK STADIUM | WED, JAN 14 | KO 7:45PM
Ticket Information
Tickets for this match were balloted among 2025/26 Season Ticket holders who attended 11 or more away games in Season 2024/25.
Tickets are for the use of the Season Ticket holder only
Merry easter Favourite Uncle.
May your eggs be choclaty.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvgrx8ml7m0o
Brilliant analysis.
Willie Collum doesn’t have the same scale of operation or budget … by a long way.
But it would be useful, in the future perhaps, to see a scaled back version for the SPFL.
Just one minor criticism of the EPL piece.
It summarises teams who suffer detriment, rather than those who benefit, from decisions.
Hmm
Yes,Martin is just starting to feeel the first faint squeaks from his nether regions,as he listens to today’s excuse from the Rev,I M Nicholson,about what he was just saying to Euphemia at breakfast,about the difficulties in getting players in.Sigh !!!
” Well Martin,you best be getting back to training,instead of listening to all my woes”
“” Eh,yes,”And walks off.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Squeak,squeak,squeak,squeak.
St Kentigerns Prayer
PRAYER:
O God, who through your bishop Saint Kentigern,
made the light of the true faith shine forth
in splendour:
grant, we pray, that by faithfully following
the teaching of him whose feast we now celebrate,
we may obtain the glory of eternal light.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity
of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Glasgow patron saint
HH
BSR earlier – cheers.
Martin is very smart.
A very impressive individual who “manages his assets superbly”
(That’s a direct quote from Brian Quinn, BTW)
Martin frames his messages intelligently.
No way he peddles an “I’ve been forced into retrograde action because of this board” line.
Not his style.
AUCHINLECK TALBOT V CELTIC
SCOTTISH GAS SCOTTISH CUP | RUGBY PARK | SUN, JAN 18 | KO 5:30PM
Ticket Information
—
where did you see this info? i havent seen anything on the website at all, even though i know the tickets were being dished out
Not sure I see the logic in arguing that Stephen Welsh is no better than what we have.
Fundamentally, he is one of Motherwell’s better players and we are short on numbers. Why wouldn’t we bring him back until summer?
SkySports Breaking News
Celtic FC have announced a FIVE YEAR deal to extend the contract of Hoopy the Huddle Hound.
An official club statement confirmed the deadline day busting deal;
“Celtic FC are delighted to confirm the contract extension of Hoopy the Huddle Hound. The Board have always made clear its commitment to attracting and securing the brightest and best talent to the football club.
Hoopy has been an integral part of the matchday experience at Paradise and is a fan’s favourite. We look forward to continued success before matches and at half-time.”
Is Paul trying to prepare us for more loans to come in, or even a return for Luis Palma??? I mean how much of a joke are we that we as fans have now learned that the only priority this board have is to continually fleece the fans for money, hoard it, and not spend it on anything. Meanwhile a few miles across the city, the Rangers are bringing in players that they had already targeted, with no fuss, no drama, just pay the price and bring them in. I don’t know if anyone of their incoming players are world beaters, but a broken watch is at least right twice a day. At least give us some hope that you are trying to improve the squad.
Sean
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 13TH JANUARY 2026 12:45 PM
An interesting piece, theres much more objective analysis on VAR in England for sure.
The lack of VAR in the FA cup makes it a much better spectacle IMO. I was at the Spurs game on Saturday and the game was much better for it, even the super angry Spurs fans seemed happy with the contentious decisions not going to VAR.
https://www.celticfc.com/tickets/
Can someone point me to the article that MON stated he didnt fancy JSP ?. Didnt think so.
TURKEYBHOY on 13TH JANUARY 2026 12:29 PM
…..
It’s a blog , folk have different opinions , looks like disagreeing with your good self results in sarcasm.
I’ll scroll by in future.
HH
The Red Flag? Jim Connell, 1889.
https://youtu.be/60C-RjGkuOo?si=IvByLaEOkBa-1h8d
Ave Ave
https://www.celticfc.com/tickets/
—
cheers,
so the ‘tickets’ option at the top of the home page takes you to a different place to the ‘tickets’ option from the 3 bar drop down at the top right of the home page.
honestly man! quality stuff from celtic again.
Adi – despite none saying so explicitly, I think that none of Rodgers, O’Neil and Nancy giving him game time can be taken as an example of ‘revealed preference’.
Just got an email from FIFA, copied to Homeland Security no doubt (but not to Peter Lawwell) informing me that the deadline for the World Cup ‘Random Selection Draw’ is 11am ET time today. I thought ET went home but there you go. Getting into the USA to watch any of the games will be more difficult that getting into the USSR back in the day. Cheapest tickets for the Scotland-Haiti game are $180 highest $500. Welsh & Irish supporters will be buying on spec. Not sure if the US Visa rules have been finalised for football supporters but it looks like they will be a lot tougher than for tourists generally. (ergo leave yer See You Jimmy bunnett in yer suitcase) And don’t plan on working while you are over there. Guessing there will be tickets for the Haiti game on sale outside the stadium…..
EKBhoy,
Don’t be such a big Dorothy.😘
Anyone got the board and WN survey results?
I need a laugh.