Finally, 16 days after he was announced as the permanent manager of the club Martin O’Neill has been interviewed by Celtic TV.
Not many fans would say that it was worth the wait.
Over 14 minutes Gerry McCulloch asked 11 of the most pointless questions imaginable. All that was missing was to ask O’Neill’s his favourite colour and if he had tried drinking Irn-Bru.
Nothing was learned from the interview.
If that is Michael Nicholson’s idea of fan engagement the season ahead is going to be a similar vacuum to the shambles just finished.
The entire focus of the interview was to bask in the success of last season.
You wouldn’t know that McCulloch and O’Neill were discussing a club with an interim Chairman, no Head of Football Operations, no Professional Pathway Manager and a variety of unfilled scouting roles. After six seasons at Celtic Gavin Strachan has left the coaching team. Only Stevie Woods remains from the coaching staff of a year ago. With a strike force of Osmand, Yamada and Kenny.
Just past the minute mark O’Neill admitted that a couple of signings were needed to augment the players already at the club.
Celtic are just over five weeks away from their opening SPFL match. Seven away from a Champions League Play Off.
Players currently at the World Cup are entitled to four weeks off. They will start pre-season training around the time that Celtic play AC Milan in their final friendly match.
TIME IS ALREADY RUNNING AGAINST CELTIC
Three of the eight involved in the World Cup are probably high up in Nicholson’s FOR SALE list. Arne Engels will be on there as well.
Celtic need four first team starters signed today and in training on Monday. They need another four fit and ready for the SPFL opener on August 3.
No one at the club seems aware of that.
Five weeks have been wasted since the Scottish Cup Final.
In season 24/25 Brendan Rodgers laid the benchmark with 12 Champions League points and a Last 16 Play Off against Bayern Munich.
Kasper Schmeichel, Greg Taylor/Jeffrey Shlupp, Adam Idah, Nicolas Kuhn and Kyogo Furuhashi have been sold from that squad. Only Kieran Tierney is an upgrade on the players sold.
O’Neill pulled off a miracle last season to win the domestic double.
Miracles are much rarer in the Champions League.
Right now the Celtic squad would be eaten alive by the well prepared sides in the Champions League.
O’Neill’s interview will tick a box for Fan Engagement. Expecting a repeat of last season’s heroics from a squad weakened by Nicholson over the coming weeks will test O’Neill’s magic to the max.
https://youtu.be/lmKnOFdlMbU
MCCULLOCH’S MAGNIFICENT 11 TO O’NEILL
How does it feel to be here for at least another year?
How motivated are you to go again?
It sounds like you have a plan?
Did it all sink in (the end of season dramas), did you get a chance for it all to sink in. How did it feel when it all sunk in?
History will show that Celtic won the double last season. How important is it that history remembers that campaign for the success that it ultimately was?
I’m sure that if you had the choice for the season ahead you’d prefer a bit more casual end to the season, where it is wrapped up a lot quicker?
How pleased are you to have the same group of guys (coaches) behind you again?
With a massive Champions League qualifier in the early part of the season (August 19/19 & 25/26), how crucial is pre-season and in particular the four pre-season games that you have to gradually build the team up to that match level?
How firmly do you believe that Celtic belong at that (Champions League) top level of European football?
Do the same things motivate you now that motivated you at the start of your managerial career?
Can you give us a schedule for the players coming back for pre-season training?
That really was an utterly appalling interview. No questions about delay in appointment, delay in appointing backroom team, replacement for Strachan, replacements for 5 players who have left, other imminent departures, plans for scouting and recruitment. Nothing.
— themadmonk (@themadmonk14) June 27, 2026
Another choreographed puff piece from oor Gerry at North Korea TV
— The Hogganfield Goat (@goatcrimes) June 27, 2026
Completely pointless interview that exists to claim communication.
Nothing of substance answered…
Disappointed in O’Neil allowing this tbh.
— JinkyCostanza (@JinkyCostanza) June 27, 2026
Not a single question about signings ??????? joke of a club
— M (@mpf992) June 27, 2026
Absolute joke of an interview. Them type of interviews should be done in front of fans so they can ask real questions not pre planned questions. World class.
— larry hagman (@larryhagman12) June 27, 2026
Where are the Kyogo, Kühn, …. replacements?
— 2 Celts and a Pint (@gerrelarry) June 27, 2026
What’s the point in Gerry mculloch doing his interviews written by the Celtic board ? Fans gain nothing.
— Moray Skinner (@skinner_moray) June 27, 2026
If MON thinks we only need a couple of players then he is as deluded as the useless clowns on the board.
Didn’t get to Question 12.
How come you are so good?
[ © Jim White ]