GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 02: The Celtic squad celebrate as Callum Osmand scores to make it 3-1 during a Premier Sports Cup Semi-Final match between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden Park, on November 02, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
It was an unusually happy edition of the Trinity Tims on Monday night as they reflected on the joys of Sunday at Hampden.
Under new management Celtic won 3-1. Earning a place in the final of the League Cup against St Mirren and bursting the bubble for Danny Rohl.
What’s not to like?
HARMONY RESTORED?
Well Peter Lawwell and Michael Nicholson are still in place, holding the club back.
And back came Martin O’Neill to a winning return and smiles on the faces of the Celtic support.
Those smiles will be noticed, if O’Neill and Shaun Maloney keep on winning another lazy appointment looks on the cards.
The prospect of a mid season revolution turning Celtic into a front foot, progressive clubs seems unlikely.
There isn’t much chance of an upcoming coach/manager leaving their transfer plans with Michael Nicholson to sort out after emailing Non Executive Directors for a vote of approval.
Board issues and the Celtic Fans Collective will take a back seat for now with attention on the manager.
Brendan Rodgers resigned, he outsmarted himself, his 200% promise to see out his contract became his downfall.
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT?
A new manager will be dealing with the same strategy. Selling players with the balance sheet as the priority, January looks like more of the same.
In 2000 O’Neill spent big to bring success. Over 14 months Chris Sutton, Joos Valgaeren, Alan Thompson, Neil Lennon and John Hartson were signed. Price tag £24m. Only Mark Viduka was sold, Celtic weren’t sitting with £77m in the bank
In football inflation terms £24m becomes around £50m in today’s terms. Celtic still consider £30,000 a week as a top salary, it was in 2000 to attract Sutton, Lennon and Hartson.
January is of course a notorious difficult transfer window. Hopefully St Mirren can be overcome before then in the League Cup with Hearts back into view in the SPFL Premiership.
The Trinity Tims will be back again on Monday at 6.30pm with their take on events at Celt
MON and Maloney are just temporary ‘sticking plasters’ for the short term,
and fair play, they are doing OK after 2 games.
But, to even re-consider them [or just Maloney] as anything other than that,
would be the lazy, convenient option for the Board.
The lack of ‘credible’ noise around potential candidates is not encouraging though?
The joys of Sunday have been dampened tonight for sure !