Martin O’Neill returns to Celtic as interim manager alongside Shaun Maloney

If he feels he can do it then it's a no brainer until the end of the season if the team continues to improve.

 

Aye spot on, especially his age part. Think as long as he wants it it should be there for him. If it ends up too much then he can go as the hero he is.

 

I voted until Jan bit if we can get the right manager l in now then I wouldn't be adverse to the end of the season

 

Article from Stephen McGowan






Between 2000 and 2005, Martin O’Neill racked up a formidable win rate in games against Rangers. The best, it transpires, of any manager in Celtic history.


His first spell in charge delivered a victory percentage of 75.53 per cent, marginally better than Ange Postecoglou, Jock Stein, Neil Lennon and Brendan Rodgers.

Stein, it should be said, faced significantly stronger Rangers teams than this one. Most of them did.

Despite a battling, gruelling second-half effort when the 10 men disrupted Celtic’s rhythm and dragged the game into another extra time, Rangers coach Danny Rohl has a * of a job on his hands. Thelo Aasgaard could have stayed on the pitch for 120 minutes and the defence would still have looked like a speeding train wreck.

O’Neill’s latest triumph propelled Scotland’s champions back to another Premier Sports Cup final. And made a compelling case for giving the veteran boss an opportunity to finish the job against St Mirren on December 14. Stepping into the breach at short notice, a chance is the least he deserves.

The influence of Shaun Maloney offered an interesting postscript to victory. As extra-time dawned, it was the younger coach who rallied, harried and cajoled the team as O’Neill stood back and left him to it. By the end of extra time the old boy still spoke, in self-deprecating terms, of feeling 73 going on 94. A reluctant conscript, he can’t bring himself to contemplate an extended stay.

One look at the Celtic who turned up yesterday, however, and directors – like fans – are bound to ask where they might find a candidate with a better grasp of the harsh realities of life in the east end of Glasgow than Martin O’Neill?

If he’s fit, if he’s able, if he’s willing, they can afford to take their time searching for a permanent Rodgers replacement. The search can – and might – extend into the festive period or as far as next summer, if need be. While the team is cupped in the safe hands of O’Neill, that’s okay.

When the final whistle rang out, the Pied Piper of Seville punched the air and it felt as if someone had fired up the DeLorean and zapped Celtic back two decades.

O’Neill on the Hampden touchline seeing Rangers off the premises again. Older, if not wiser, as he leapt up and down in angst when James Forrest was penalised for an innocuous challenge on Mikey Moore minutes earlier. The game, for the record, was already won. As Celtic drew level with their bitter rivals on 11 semi-final wins apiece, fans left Hampden asking the same question: Where was this intensity, this passion, this will to win in the final months of the Rodgers era?

Maybe there’s something to be said for the old ways. Against a young, progressive, modern coach in Rohl, O’Neill struck a blow for septuagenarians everywhere when he set his team up to snap into tackles, playing with fresh intensity. They get the ball forward quicker than they used to. With Larsson or a Sutton playing up front, they would have won it in 90 minutes.

In the absence of genuine quality in key positions, improbable heroes came from nowhere. Sidelined for much of the season, £11 million Arne Engelsgives Celtic a threat from set-pieces they lack when he’s not in the team, teeing up Johnny Kenny to bury his corner for the opening goal.



The notion that Kenny might offer an answer to Celtic’s problems at centre-forward should be shelved. Limping towards the January window, however, O’Neill and Maloney have found a way to get goals from the Irishman. Carry on getting a tune out of the lively, under-used Callum Osmand, they might reel Hearts in yet.

You’d have paid good money for the thoughts of Rodgers last night. Watching a Honda Civic revved up like a Ferrari, it must have made for uncomfortable viewing.

Kenny made it three goals in two games. Auston Trusty, the £6m man left out against Hearts, bossing the defence. Young Osmand coming in from the cold and finishing the decisive goal like Kyogo Furuhashi in his prime. Written off and consigned to B-team obscurity by the previous manager, it’s fair to ask: “Why?”

Rodgers was prone to holding court on the place power, pace and intensity has in the Celtic DNA. Come season three, installing those qualities in his team was the hard part. Watching Celtic for much of this season was like watching football players traipsing through quicksand. The team was laboured, pedestrian and dull to watch.

 

We’d be in the champions league right now if we had Ange instead of Rodgers


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I would take anyone that keeps winning games on a permanent deal.

 

That’s a guess.

 

Gone for the second one, but would still like to be proven wrong.

 

I'm a bit torn. Voted til Jan as that seems a good time to back a new manager and with the noise from Gordon Strachan that who we want isn't available til December it would tie into that, plus give Martin the chance to win the LC.

However, with the feel good factor and momentum building if Martin keeps us playing and winning well until then, should we upset the apple cart by bringing in another new voice with a different way of working?

It's a tough call, and ironically will be made harder by O'Neill and Maloney doing well.

 

I'm not casting a vote on purpose, as my position is more cautious towards the full-time position - I'd be happy leaving them as long as the summer if we're after a specific person, but not if the board are just being lazy and dossing around...

Right now, I think they can do as well as anyone with the squad they have, and especially if the morale continues to improve and the results go our way. Pop in a euro and cup final performance too and it's difficult to say we NEED to rush them out of the door. But that's the trap of all this... That's how we got Lenny for the 2nd term too, and the mess as it all came undone...

We need a proper long-term strategy, and to start a plan towards getting the management and coaching structures - all the way from youths to 1st team - aligned behind it. In my opinion that's a DOF and HC structure, so we can swap the positions seamlessly when they inevitably move on, rather than tearing everything up every 2-3years. Not sure if the lads fit into that plan. And, that's worth taking the time needed to set up and employ the right people for... If they're available now, great, go get them... If not, and the 2 lads are up for it, let it run...

I'm flexible on who, where and when, so long as it's for the better and it's planned...

Edit: changed my mind and said ask again after the international, because that's a nice hedge for time to see how the changes continue...

 

Much as I like him I don't want O'Neill here until the end of the season, we need a new manager in by December so they have time to assess the squad and get new players in that suit their style in January.

For one, O'Neill looks pretty good for his age but having to deal with that board until the end of the season would probably shorten his life expectancy by about 10 years.

For another I don't want a new manager coming in at the start of summer, having to do a full rebuild and his first games are pretty much the most important games of our entire season in the CL qualifiers. If that doesn't go well it immediately puts added pressure on them. It would be better to start the rebuild in January with those games in mind and give them the time to know who they can trust and who needs punted.

 

Good question and good options of answers for me to choose. Ask me after the break, needs more time to consider. I love MON though and I have every reason to trust in Sean if MON does. I just can't believe the luck and nostalgia here. Pulled a genie out and I want MONs legacy to hold its own weight. The mixture of coaching and management with the players attitude and commitment to it might just provide something special. Maybe we can grow from this foundation here with the board showing financial commitment also.

 

Not a feckin chance we can take MoN and Maloney - regardless of short term bounce results .
One rule we've surely learned in football management recruitment - NEVER hire the caretaker.
Theres an absolutely huge list of failed caretakers who crashed and burned after getting the permanent gig.
Neil Lennon's last term anyone?

There's a reason they weren't given the job to start with.
There's always a push from media, the fans as they see a bounce in results and performance - but this is a critical, long term appointment and not a short term emotional fix.

We should take the time and recruit well - hopefully the manager is not the only thing that changes in next few months.
Ambition is also key, next level potential only need apply.

Would I love to see MoN lift the the league cup, absolutely - what a fitting end for a true club legend.
I'd even let him lead the team out if new manager is in place.

 

Lennon last term? You mean finishing a treble then winning a treble? * covid, that season doesnt count without fans. World wide every single league had new random as * winners.

 

I think it’s too early to answer the poll yet. I can see arguments both ways, MON and Maloney have got the team up for games like we haven’t seen so far and turned around our fortunes in a very short space of time. Against its a short term bounce more from being rid of a gloomy Rodgers and giving some hungry guys a chance.

The transformation in the team has been stark though but I would like to reserve judgement to the end of this week, a positive result on Thursday and a win on Sunday and the argument for them will grow stronger.

However, there is also the very real thing about how long could MON do the job or want too, it’s all well and good that he would say I will take it whilst in this Euphoria of an opportunity being presented that seemed unlikely to come again but when that passes and reality sets in at an absolute maximum your probably talking MON involvement to the Summer?

It’s also far too early to say that can Maloney and the other coaches have a real impact that makes us better longer term. We have definitely improved our attacking play with this more direct style but we have been coughing up some big chances too, so over time I would be keen to see how we improve our performance.

All of the above is not meant to be skeptical, as I am loving having them involved and not enjoyed a game like the last two probably since Bayern away or Leipzig (1 year anniversary tomorrow of that game). Just the reality of it still being early days and wanting to see more.

I also acknowledge they have been dealt a squad low on quality players with some big players missing. Getting Maeda firing again and AJ back would be a big boost after the international break.

 

If they keep winning, it may be more risky to change in January with the way the League is, more upheaval for the players etc..

Its a real master stroke from DD, gives us time to decide and has immediately taken some of the heat off of the Board.

It shouldn't disguise what's required at the Club though, we need to modernise. Like I said before its a Catch 22, as the better they do the more validated DD and the Board will feel all is well in how we operate..

I'm a bit torn too.. I voted to the end of the Season but on reflection we may be best biting the bullet and get a modern thinking manager in, in December (if Strachan is correct).. even if it is more of a gamble in terms of the League this season.

 

I think if the club want to be taken seriously by the wider support and show change is possible, they need to steer clear of turning the current interim in to full time positions.

I've no doubt both, somewhere in their minds, would love the job full time. And I imagine the upturn these two games may continue.

But it'll do nothing for the club long term in my opinion.

The timeline and suggestions and hints is Knutsen.
If that's the case, we need to have the two guys in the hot seat, at least these two, fully in the know. No messing anyone around.

Ideally I want the club to tell the fans ASAP, but I imagine they'll have a few (legit) reasons to keep that quiet for the time being.

MON and Maloney getting the cup final and winning it would be a nice end to the interim period, should we know for sure that it's Knutsen and the December timeline.

It then gives Knutsen a couple weeks off from Bodø before joining us and then a couple more weeks to see through til January. All in that time assessing the squad, taking recommendations from MON and Shaun and even agreeing to one or both staying on in a capacity.

I'd be absolutely fine with that and think the league shouldn't be in jeopardy any more.
But the club can't just sit quiet from now til after the cup final before making any sort of announcement.

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Ok, I agree with you on the caution... But I disagree with you on the widely accepted position that our squad lacks quality... It's 100% a squad full of full international level players and future prospects...

My main take at the moment isn't that MON and SM have reinvented the wheel in the way that they train and set out the team, but rather that they've STOPPED doing it in the wrong way, and completely demotivating the players... If you feel you should knock it long, do so... If you think it's a good opportunity to pop off a shot, do so... Rodgers trained the natural football out of this crop, and it showed...

As for taking chances, I'm hopeful that as the attacking flair increases, the opportunities will too and with the practice will come sharpness... Laying out players to properly supply, support and follow up on chances will see massive gains, in my opinion. And with it, the fans frustrations will ease and the positivity will return for the team and the nerves for our opponents

Edit: although, when it comes to Celtic, I am 100% the Eternal Optimist!

 

It really all depends on which candidates are available.

 

This is the key part for me. The only other consideration should be how we are performing. If we keep on winning then to the end of the season isn't unreasonable if we are doing that to also get the best possible next appointment.