GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Celtic Manager Martin O'Neill (L) and Coach Shaun Maloney (R) during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park, on September 20, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Chris Sutton has delivered a scathing attack on Cameron Carter-Vickers.
The Celtic defender strayed into unusual waters following Sunday’s defeat in the Glasgow Derby.
Rather than trot out the predictable cliches Carter-Vickers touched on tactics and a lack of script.
That was delivered during a post-match interview with Sky Sports.
Celtic are obliged to provide players for interviews, it wasn’t a case of Carter-Vickers turning to social media to deflect.
Even though it was only 20 years ago Sutton played in a very different football era.
The Academy system was about to kick in with young players drilled on tactics and formations from an early age.
Bawling players out of the hairdryer treatment are no longer active in the game.
CHRIS SUTTON- FROM A DIFFERENT FOOTBALL ERA
O’Neill’s famous side in Seville was rammed with leaders, the armband didn’t matter so much when Bobo Balde, Neil Lennon, Alan Thompson and Sutton were throwing around opinions.
Carter-Vickers spoke in a very factual manner, that is his style but it seemed to jar a bone with Sutton.
Taking aim at the defender in the Daily Record Sutton hit out with:
I’ve been a huge admirer of his over the years and I’ve constantly sung his praises.
But his comments after the Rangers defeat were disgraceful.
Carter-Vickers spoke about the random way of playing, the messaging and stuff about freezing on the pitch because players being unsure of where they were meant to run.
It was a cop-out. Whether he meant it or not, he was passing the buck back to the manager and the coaches – and it’s not on. It was pathetic.
You might feel that way in private but the place to air those thoughts is in-house rather than in public.
It was a tough enough situation but Carter-Vickers just chucked petrol on the flames.
The Martin O’Neill of 25 years ago wouldn’t have stood for it, that’s for sure. Carter-Vickers’ feet wouldn’t have hit the floor.
Mind you, I’m not sure the Martin O’Neill of 20-odd years ago would have voiced his own doubts so publicly either, but it’s been something that has crept in during his time back at Celtic.
O’Neill was never one for showing weakness but he was the one who created this narrative that he was thinking about walking away.
Even those away on international duty have steered clear of any media comment.
The comments from Carter-Vickers are similar to those of Liam Scales and Callum McGregor over the last week.
There are other recent instances of Celtic losing successive matches but not followed by O’Neill’s comments.
Discussing self reflection while referencing his age isn’t the normal actions of a manager on the back of a big defeat.
O’Neill knows all about battening down the hatches. He has known every scenario in over 1,000 games in management.
His next moves are telling.
Should he continue as manager he will be expected to reveal the answers from his self reflection at his next media conference.
Celtic are back in action away to Motherwell on October 11 followed quickly by matches against Benfica and Hearts.
Before the November international break they host Celta Vigo and Besiktas in the Europa League.
We played better when CCV was out injured.
He’s part of the problem, not the solution.
Brass neck to be commenting IMHO.
Yes, thats a week now: enough time for MON to decide if he’s leaving.
So, the assumption is he’s hanging in there, for his own reasons?
If we thought the standard of football was poor between January and May,
then we’re in for a tough watch for the rest of this season.
And MON has used up a heck of a lot of fans’ goodwill already… ? 🙁