Martin O’Neill remains chilled and relaxed about Michael Nicholson’s failure to do his job.
With each passing transfer window the decision to leave a ‘leading sports lawyer’ in charge of recruitment becomes more and more ridiculous.
Whether it is the identification of future players or conclusion of negotiations Nicholson is clearly miles out of his comfort zone.
Since the start of February the Celtic CEO has been hiding from reality behind his desk as £17,000 a week finds its way into his bank account.
Once a month Brian Wilson has been sent out to tell Gerry McCulloch that everything is ticking along wonderfully with all of the sincerity that you’d expect from a lifelong Labour politician.
NICHOLSON- INSTIGATING AND MANAGING THE CELTIC DECLINE
Since the decision to sell Kyogo Furuhashi in January 2025 Nicholson has been weakening the Celtic squad.
O’Neill was aware of all that when he discussed taking on the manager’s job on a permanent basis.
A look at the Celtic bench against Sporting Lisbon told a depressing story. Other than Arne Engels and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain it consisted of cast offs and players from the10th best side in the Lowland League.
In contrast Sporting had two XI’s of fit, well coached, capable players. With their second XI scoring three times within eight minutes after the second water break.
Despite the bleak picture O’Neill seems comfortable with the failings of Celtic recruitment.
Speaking to The Herald the Celtic boss reports:
We’re trying to come to some sort of agreement with Iheanacho but we are definitely making moves.
I am in constant touch with Michael [Nicholson]. Shin Yamada has gone on loan and Michael is in the background working away.
I don’t know about numbers but I am definitely optimistic we will get players in.
I think to balance things up we’d have to let a few players go but I’m hoping to be in a position to do that with others coming in. I’m very hopeful [about Iheanacho].
Normally a 4-1 defeat can be brushed aside with the claim that it was a good exercise. All about minutes in the legs. All the usual stuff.
The defeat from Sporting exposed how thin the Celtic squad is. The result of Nicholson’s downsizing.
GENUINE REASONS FOR CONCERN
Beyond the Starting XI last night there is virtually nothing at the club. No depth, no quality.
The players returning from the World Cup will be offset by those getting sold by the CEO.
In five weeks time Celtic face a Champions League Play Off. Defeat at that stage casts a massive shadow over the club, last season Celtic barely recovered from being knocked out by Kairat Almaty.
A year ago Brendan Rodgers was voicing his concerns about Nicholson’s failure to do his job.
O’Neill seems much more comfortable with the situation he is in.
Perhaps seeing less than 10,000 Celtic fans at the home match against Middlesbrough on Saturday will alert him to the danger that he is walking into.
My concern when Brendan Rodgers left was that the board would appoint a Yes Man. That a Lennon or Maloney or Keane or whoever they came up with from their limited Irish Players or Old Bhoys network, excruciating conditions and requirements and working environment and dysfunctional management would simply be a “He’ll take what he’s given. He’ll never criticise the Major Shareholder who acts like the owner or the incompetent CEO and Board”
I was ecstatic when the legend that is MON delivered the Double. I expected MON to be tough with the Dictator in Chief and his wetter than a haddock’s bathing costume CEO.
Delivering his demands and agreeing his budget, buying excellent players and cranking up and bettering the progress and trophy haul of Rodgers……
And here we are, the dreaded “A lot of work going on behind the scenes” I look forward to the closing of the transfer window and the catastrophic last minute transfers of journeymen, free transfers and unwanted players who will be 4th of 5th choice as the average players who were 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice have already moved on.
Nothing ever changes….Celtic is Grace Brothers. I despair….
Martin must be the only person on the planet that is confident that the CEO will deliver the goods. Brendan was promised the same what happened to him. I can see Martin walking away and who would blame him the way the club is run. DD made Martin a promise when he agreed to take over, it’s now time he delivered,
It’s time to step up not another penny if Martin doesn’t get what he was promised and not from the sale of players before the board start spending, the board have not spent a penny yet so why should we
Nailed it there Joe about Sporting being a club with around 22 fit and capable footballers.A big club with a big fan base playing in a smaller league,but still capable of punching in the champions league,and taking the scalps of bigger teams,especially at home in Lisbon.All we need is the ghost of Jim Bowen saying “here’s what you could have won”.
Last night
‘ Optimistic we’ll get players in ‘
This time next week
‘ Optimistic we’ll get players in ‘
Joe, he actually said that?, ach am sure your at the leg pulling there lad, balancing things up like, a leg pull right?
I mean has to be coz there is fuck all to balance!! Am losing the will to live here joe ,i swear.
I watched that Sporting game and the 4-1 defeat flattered us. That squad, even though it’s the second game in pre season, are among the worst I’ve seen at Celtic and I’m a pensioner. O’Neill pulled it out the fire last season but if he doesn’t stand up to the money men then he’s only stoking the fire and we will have to get a lot tougher this season if we want to save our club from the board.
O’Neill’s proving to be a YES man after all ,getting really fed up up of his bumbling answers about players , ffs martin have some balls and speak up as your looking more the patsy every day that goes bye
Wouldn’t hold your breath Joe waiting for new quality signings…it’ll be same old story a few loan signings and probably 2 permanent
Editor: I’ve been around long enough not to believe a word from anyone inside football/Celtic.