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

Post edited for being pointless

 

If he is kept on beyond the end of the year I will be absolutely fuming tbh. I must caveat this with how much i respect the man and thank him for what he did a quarter of a century ago but.. it's understated how little he has had to do with that specific win on with Sunday at least. The whole set up is his backroom team, he might say a few words beforehand but he's genuinely an old man.

The worry for me has been him doing so well results wise tyhat DD gives him the job and it's a case of well you can'y NOT give him it.

 

Regards the poll. It's too early to say. We've had that new manager bounce, will the feel good factor continue. I'd be taking this on a game by game basis into December and if we are still doing well then make the call for them getting to the end of the season. My issue with that is, if this set-up has no chance of going beyond that then why pass up on potential managers or slow our search to a snails pace bcos it's cool O'Neill is back. Celtic shouldn't need 7 months to find a permanent manager.

If they did get to seasons end & we win the league and say a cup then there's a fair chance Maloney gets the gig in some capacity, so be careful what you wish for. Not that I'm totally against Maloney, especially if he is delivering trophies but that's a real possibility in those circumstances.

 

im at a loss to understand why some of you guys are reluctant to have him here in on a long term capacity .the way we have played the past couple of games isnt some kind of new manager bounce its how oneill had us playing all thoes years ago ,the same group of players who have been brutal all this season .with a few of his own players i think we could be exceeding expectations in europe again

 

I can't see O'Neill wanting to go beyond the end of the season at a push. Just be aware that a longer term successful O'Neill probably leads to Maloney. Celtic aren't going to 'take their time' as If there is some great strategic plan, they'll just shelve our search and pick it back up in April/May. If Maloney has trophies in his hip, then they will be inclined to take the easy option right in front of them. So, if people are aware of that then by all means let him take us to May.

 

They make this claim but nothing in the rest of that post to back it up. Clickbaiting fellow Celtic fans, classy.

 

Like all media do

 

Yeah, not sure why you feel the need to share it either btw?

 

It’s Celtic related news that’s been reported this morning



No sure what the issue is thought

 

Tells us nothing new, wouldn't class that as "news" tbh - no problem, just pointless

 

I’ve delated the post since it was pointless

 

easily offended CSC

 

100% agree there is no strategic plan , there seems to be an assumption we will be targeting a top manager though ,how realistic is that

 

No that was you


Mind that post from you in the BR thread about his contract and what that Alex Crook said


Pointless

 

Jesus christ man digging up weeks old posts about something that's completely irrelevant considering Rodgers * off anyway not long after.

Carry on copying and pasting clickbait as you're embarrassing yourself.

 

The post from 67 hail hail isn’t any different to the one you shared about Brendan



So you’ve went and made a * of yourself

 

I don't think we should look too far ahead yet.

I do think the best chance we have of getting the right man in the job is at the end of the season, you could potentially have Bellamy and McKenna available then and they seem two of the fancied options now. At this point I'd be giving O'Neill until the Cup final and probably until January 3rd derby and then review it from there, if the ship has steadied then it might be right to give him until the end of the season.

I love MON, he's the best Celtic manager I've seen in my lifetime and I love his energy, passion and wit but he's 73 now and I think the job is far too demanding for a man of that age and I think Martin knows that in the long term too.

 

I wrote that post myself, as I heard it on radio. You copy and pasted a clickbait article with no new information in it. If you can't see the difference then there's no point discussing, as you're clutching majorly.

I wasn't even having a dig at you in the first instance so dunno why you're getting your knickers in a twist about it. Did you write the article personally?

 

67HailHail might actually be correct here


But cool you enjoy your day I’ve got 2 dogs that need walking

 

Quotes from the press conference from the Celtic way




Martin, your last European Celtic match was in 2004, how are you relishing a return this week?

Yeah, I'm obviously looking forward to the game. I didn't realise that, well, I didn't really look at the fixture list at all, but I hadn't realised that there was a European game so quickly. And yeah, I am just looking forward to it.

This young man [Kasper Schmeichel] has been telling me the correct pronunciations here and things like this here, so yeah, genuinely looking forward to it.

The results have gone for you, but the performances have come up as well, a bit more intensity. How much confidence do you feel coming into this tie?

Well, I think obviously you'll get confidence from beating big rivals, so that was great for us.

Ironically, I actually have seen Midtjylland play, because I was covering their game for TV a few weeks ago now, and they're very strong, so I wouldn't think you'd start to get carried away with things. I'm just pleased to be here, I must admit, and we'll take it on from there. So yeah, I suppose that is just a really, really crap way of delivering it.

You mentioned the form that they're in, what are you expecting from them? How big of a challenge are they going to be?

Well, I thought they were great against Nottingham Forest, really great away from home, against a Forest side that are actually physically quite strong themselves. And not only are they very, very good in set pieces, but they're also a really good talented side. Really, really, very, very good.

They were excellent on the evening, and it's no surprise that they've got full points from their games.

We're speaking to the Midtjylland manager earlier, the difference he's noticed in Celtic teams since you've come in is energy and power. Do you feel that that's there? Have you noticed that as well?

That would be hard for me to make that comment, really, because I've been in for two games, and we've had really good moments, we've created some chances.

The man beside me [Kasper Schmeichel] has made two big, big saves in both games, at important stages of matches as well, too. I really don't know that. I think that the team has played well, they've played well in the games, we've got a few goals, so that helps.

But, yeah, tomorrow evening, totally different, totally different ball game again.

In terms of this competition, you're synonymous with this competition to so many Celtic fans. What does it actually mean to you personally?

Yes, I mean, we got beaten in the final, so that's not great news. That's a long time ago, 2003. And if you were asking me a week ago, would I ever actually be involved in another European game, I think you'd have a fair idea what the answer was. So, listen, it's pleasing.

If you talk about Celtic and European games, that's where Celtic should be aiming to be, to be playing in big, big games. And that was set aside way back, as far back as 1967, when Jock Stein and the best side and the best manager that Celtic have ever had, and the best team that they've ever had, set a standard that it's very, very difficult to reach. And the only way you do that is by eventually winning the European Cup.

Now, lots of things have changed since then. Big, big money in the game, and so there's not so much of a level playing field. But it's still, it's not just European football, it's what Celtic should be aspiring to.




Just going on those memories of the European games back in those days, the away matches in particular, some memorable ones, weren't there? Can you remember ones that stand out to yourself that you may lean on this week, even?

Oh, the games? Oh, the 2003 games, yeah. They are very, very vivid. Very vivid indeed.

You know, when I think about, well, naturally Blackburn Rovers, big, big game for us. They played very well at the Celtic Park, and then we go and defeat them. And that was important. I think it was important for Scottish football, because people were saying that Blackburn, although they were riding high at the time, they were fifth, sixth or seventh in the league, in the Premier League. And if we lost that there people would make disparaging comments then about Scottish football. So, I always felt that that was important for us.

Then we go and beat Liverpool in the quarter-final, which was fantastic. Then we scramble over the line in the semi-final when Henrik scores the goal. And then we lose to a very, very talented side in the final, who spent a lot of time on the ground, I must admit. A lot of time, you know.

I'm not even sure you were born at the time, but anyway. That keeps me awake at night. But they went on to win the Champions League the following year. So, a great team, and a brilliant, brilliant manager. One of the best managers that's been in the game. But they could have done a lot less play acting.

Another big performance is required against Midtjylland?

Massive, really. Very, very good side. Seriously, really good team.

And they deserve to be where they are. So, we've got nine points. It's no surprise to me.

I didn't realise how good they were until I saw them against Forest.

Martin, your last European tie as Celtic manager was a 0-0 against Milan. I think that season you also got a 1-1 draw in the Nou Camp. As a Celtic manager, does it give you an extra thrill taking the team into Europe?

Yes. I mean, they've already played three games. So, yes, I am genuinely excited by them playing again. It's nice. It's great. And following on from Sunday, as I mentioned, the confidence booster. But, yes, it's just a game.

I think that if I was looking at the table, I think that, I mean, I suppose most teams or teams of our ilk would be looking at maybe trying to get 10 points on the board. And maybe that might be enough to get through. And we've only got two home games left, three away.

So it's not going to be easy. But, yes, getting back to it, really excited by it.

Martin, just a quick one on the fitness of everyone. Has everyone survived the weekend? And players that have been out, are they any closer to returning?

Yeah, I think that we've come out of it reasonably okay. A few knocks and a few bruises. A few people who haven't played a great deal, obviously, went down with cramp and things like that, which is not really surprising given the pace of the game.

So, yeah, we're not too bad. We'll maybe think about making a couple of changes to the side, but we'll see how it goes. We genuinely have not made our minds up yet.

You've added young Callum Osmand, obviously, to the squad. Was that a no-brainer, really, given the injuries and stuff like that?

That's true, yeah. So, we've got two centre-backs, and the big lad as well, who played at Hearts, so we've got that. But you're right, it was just an automatic thing for him to come in.

How's he been? It's been a big few days for him?

It's been amazing, really, for him. He's a really nice lad, and he's sharp, and he's good.

And, yeah, so... Yeah, I like him. I like him a great deal. It's early, yeah.

Martin, can you recall any previous player who has just suddenly made such an incredible impact, I mean, truly, in the professional game?

Well, I think the impact is because he scores against Rangers now, and that's very big in itself. And the fact that he slid in like a proper centre-forward, and put the ball in the net.

I mean, it's great for him. I think that he's got a really good attitude. You think that he's got this potential, that you feel as if you could work with him, and it might be a joy. But it might not be, and it might not be for the next manager coming up.

So I don't know. But he is not lacking in confidence, but he's not cocky or anything like that.

He knows what he wants to do, which is really pleasing. Now, would he be... Is he the short-term answer? Who knows? Who knows at this minute? But it's a great start for him, and he's delighted with it, and I'm delighted with him.

The European stage obviously is another level, but looking at him in training and his confidence, could you see him just making that leap again, no problem?

Well, you would have to hope to, or he would have to. Yeah, listen, I like him. This is my ninth day or something, I guess, here at the minute. I think I was introduced to him twice on the first day. So I kind of missed him first of all, and then I saw him after that.

But he's great. I'm really pleased with him, honestly, and he's delighted with the goal and, again, such illustrious opposition.

You're like an instant father figure for him?

I doubt that. I doubt that. Father figure. I've got two daughters who are lovely girls and are much older than him. So, yeah.

What do you think of Kasper, since you've come in, and the influence you think he's had, not just on the pitch, but off the pitch?

Well, he has been speaking in Danish tonight, if he has been disparaging about me, and I don't know about it, then I can be equally disparaging of him! And will he ever live up to his father's reputation?! I think he's got ten caps to beat his dad!

Is he one of the players you've got to lean on?

Absolutely. Yeah, of course, really, really important. Big player, big player, won the Premier League with Leicester, fantastic achievement, absolutely terrific. So yeah, and he's made, more importantly, he's made big saves.

Against Falkirk, I think we were 1-0 up at the time, he made a really good save, a really good save that. Again, Rangers could have equalised in save, blocked it. So yeah, of course, leaning him, absolutely, leaning on Callum McGregor and James Forrest, I think it's done great for us. So, yeah, I genuinely couldn't be more pleased and pleased he's here.

Are Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho available?

No, they're not fit.