9th September 2026; McDiarmid Park, Perth, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, St Johnstone versus Celtic; Celtic manager Martin ONeill
Martin O’Neill has revealed that he cuts himself apart from the online criticism of himself and Celtic’s performances.
A year on from coming in as interim Celtic boss the Irishman has experienced every emotion possible through management.
There was of course a 33 day break when Wilfried Nancy was in charge but by and large O’Neill has had a full year in charge of Celtic.
Going into tonight’s match against Dundee United O’Neill can look back on a record of winning 16 of Celtic’s last 17 SPFL matches.
There is another side to this season’s Celtic story.
The hoops are second bottom of the Europa League after three demoralising defeats.
Celtic’s prospects of a treble ended with a 3-0 League Cup defeat at Ibrox, coming soon after their Champions League collapse away to LASK Linz.
All of that creates a mixed picture. Online, across social media it isn’t hard to find criticism of the veteran Celtic boss.
Celtic’s style of play, transfer activity and use of certain players are all fair game.
It is unlikely that O’Neill pours over X/Twitter, TikTok or message boards but he’s certainly aware that there is criticism from the wider Celtic support.
Covering Tuesday’s media conference The Celtic Way reports:
The volume of criticism has increased considerably since his first spell. Social media has created an almost continuous examination of managers and players, something O’Neill makes a deliberate effort to avoid.
“In terms of everything being over-examined and over-amplified? The noise is bigger? Of course. Absolutely. It is. But that’s everywhere. I honestly cut out the noise at the end of it because I know what would probably be happening there. If you went onto any of those particular things, you would never get up in the morning. So, it’s not a problem to me.
“Believe it or not, it’s the one thing that I feel, not through experience, but by being a bit older, I feel as if I would be able to cope with it. It doesn’t mean that I don’t get nervous before games or have the same feelings that I’ve always had as a manager and as a player. The game means the same to me.”
OLD SCHOOL O’NEILL FOCUSES ON RESULTS
First time around O’Neill would have laughed off the views of critics using a computer to comment on his results and the style of play.
Life in 2026 is very different with mainstream outlets reporting on social media as a significant factor. Influencers if you like.
Online is very much reality. Celtic use every social media platform to promote the club and sell merchandise, they know the value of being online.
Whatever is going on over transfers and in the background at the club O’Neill is delivering victories in the SPFL Premiership.
Three more wins, nine more points will put Celtic into a very strong position going into the international break.
And for O’Neill that is all that matters. The bigger picture, a strategy won’t be in his mind while Celtic face Dundee United tonight.
He’d be able to cope? Doubt it, he’d (and anyone else) would find it demoralising – bit like how I feel after MON’s pressers.