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

Agreed. With the euphoria of the first week and the pure adrenaline you maybe don't consider the toll it'll take on your body. The Europa trip will have confirmed that for him.

 

Martin O'Neill at the St Mirren vs Hibs game tonight, so looking likely he'll be here after the international break.

 

He’s also got another Question and Answer thing coming up in Dublin next week

 

Don't think the auld guy needs this tbh he's being used to deflect from the criticism Desmond and his fukwits deserve to get, so he's actually protecting them, whilst I know he's doing it for the club and fans.
I'm sure that's why he keeps saying in interviews he'll be offsky sooner than later.

 

He’s not afraid to drop folk and bring in others that were frozen out

 

Two 4-0's and a hunskelping in his first 4 games.

 

Unless we can get Knutsen, nobody else should even come close to the managerial spot that MON has earned. Within the realm of what was possible, he's rejuvenated the team. His legacy looks to be reinforced, not ruined, if he sticks around.

 

Not long before he has more goals than Brendan in the league

 

For the second consecutive game at Celtic Park, Martin O’Neill’s side enjoyed a 4-0 victory. Last time it was Falkirk who were the victims, this time it was Kilmarnock who suffered the defeat.

It was a dominant performance from the Hoops, with the goals coming from Johnny Kenny, Kieran Tierney, Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels from the penalty spot.

Speaking after the game, Martin O’Neill said: “Obviously the most important thing is to try and get the first goal and build on that, so it was a great effort by the players, considering the disappointment of the other evening, and we had to get some energy into the side.

“I’m delighted we’ve won the game and it gives us a bit of respite now with the international break for a fortnight, and it give me a chance just to settle down.

“I genuinely don’t know what’s going to happen. A fortnight in my life seems like a very long time, and I’m going to take a couple of days myself and reflect on the fortnight I’ve just had in the sense of a whirlwind time.

“If the board make a decision in the next two weeks for a new manager, well, I’ve had the time of my life.

 

Absolute hero.

 

Did you enjoy that one?

Yes, the last five minutes, when we scored the third goal, and there were about four minutes left. That's the only enjoyment I get out of it. We did fine, we did fine in certain areas, in certain spells of the game, but yeah, just lovely to win.




Are we any further forward in knowing if you might be here a bit longer?

No I don't, genuinely don't know, but if they make an announcement in the, let's say in the next week or something, it's about a new manager, yeah, I'll take this fortnight and, I was going to say rather morbidly, to my grave, but you never know. It's been fantastic.




I noticed after the game you didn't go out on the pitch, you didn't wave goodbye, you didn't do anything like that, you pretty much went straight up the tunnel?

Well, no, that would have nothing to do with anything.

I think, on reflection, I think my years here, I think, the game has changed a lot and now the players spend about an hour after the match is over going round the ground regardless. I don't remember doing that at home, I'd always applaud the away fans when we've travelled away, but at home I always used to think I was in the dressing room before the players came in.



But you weren't tempted to go out and maybe wave to the crowd?

No I didn't really think about that at all, genuinely didn't think about it. Well, we won the game, I would dread to think what going round and waving to the crowd we'd been beaten in the game, so I don't think I would have done that.




You were spotted at St Mirren yesterday? Was that just a case of covering bases?

It's my job. I wanted to go to the game because I think, the one thing I think I've always done here, I've had complete respect for opponents all the time and you never know.

And so, I was off with Fozzy, the two of us went off, Fozzy being Mark Fotheringham, and he talked the whole way through it. He knows the football, he knows the stuff, I can't believe how well he's done in Germany and places like this here at Huddersfield.

But no, that was all, I just wanted to see the game, and that is my job.






Would you expect clarity for the next day or so?

So you're pinning me down now, aren't you? So, I've just said to Rob in the BBC interview, I am going to, I have to go back down to London again, I'm going to go into a darkened room and come out on Thursday and see has this really happened.

So, I should imagine at some stage or another during the course of the next week, whether it be tomorrow, whether it be Saturday or Sunday of next week, that somebody will let me know what's happening.





You must take great satisfaction, Martin, for the way the players have responded to you. I mean, that's a couple of 4-0 wins, a big semi-final win. I know Denmark…

I knew that that was, you know, I think we all realise ourselves, which is unfortunate that, just at this minute, the European scene is really difficult for us.

It takes time to build a side again and to be able to compete there, which is what you should be doing anyway.

I just mean in general the way the boys have responded to you?

Oh, sure, absolutely. No, they have. They've done great.

I know for the penalty kick there, that was, his [Yang's] ability to go past the players was terrific.

So, I'm genuinely learning all the time, you know. So, it was great. He comes on for a few minutes and he has definitely got ability.






Luke McCowan you know, started the game today. He got very tired.

I took a bit of a risk, really, on the Manchester City lad [Jahmai Simpson-Pusey]. I thought, well, if he can play centre half, maybe he can play out there. Got off to, hmm, not a brilliant start to begin with, you know. I thought about taking him off after four minutes! Don't tell him that! But, no, he did fine. He actually did fine. I think he got applauded off the pitch, which was nice. Not necessarily by me, but there. But, no, I was delighted. Honestly, really pleased.




How's Marcelo Saracchi?

He's done his hamstring. I don't know what this game's about, really. Honestly. You know, yeah, he's going to be out again.

And the other two lads, Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand, are getting surgery on Tuesday. So, they're going to be out for a long time.

If this is your last game as manager, what squad is the next manager inheriting in terms of their mentality and their talent?

Well, if I'm leaving now, I'm going to tell the next manager he has got the greatest squad that's ever lived. And then, if I'm staying on, I'm saying we've got a lot of work to do. So, there we are.

I've seen loads of managers doing this, you know, and then finding out that they've actually had to stay on. And then, once they've said they've left a big squad, and then, oh, gosh, he's actually stayed on. I think, oh, loads of work to do. I think, I genuinely don't even have to tell you this. You can see outside what we have and what we don't.

If the club say to you in the middle of the week, can you stay on for another two weeks until Christmas, into the new year, at the end of the season, would you have the conversation, would you stay on for a period?

Do you know, that is a genuinely good point, so I'm going to be serious here. I really don't know.

It's a young man's game, and I'm almost talking myself out of this here, but it's been tough, you know. All the things that I kind of thought I knew about it have come to sort of fruition, you know, about the strength of the side or what I thought I saw from a distance.

The European football, that type of stuff, where you want to be, and what has happened to the football club, I suppose, since Bayern Munich, you know. It's all of those things.

But if you're asking me, well, how do I look? Not great, you know, not great.

You have the tracksuit.

The old retro thing, is that right? Okay, yeah. I last saw Jimmy Greaves wearing this in 1966.

Martin, can I just clarify, you said Alistair Johnston is going for surgery on Tuesday?

Absolutely. They found out that they had to wait a little while for his hamstring, just to get a clear picture of the x-rays or the scans, and that's shown a tear as well, too. So, that's really sad, because, I mean, everybody says he's a really, really good player.

Callum Osmand too?

Osmand is surgery as well.

 

Absolutely love him legend is a phrase banded about a lot nowadays but this guy is a Celtic legend and an absolute gentleman!!!

 

I voted no initially but I don't want this to end. I love Martin, him and Henrik were my first heroes as a Celtic fan.

Heart ruling my head!

 

I would appoint MON tbh. The only way i would think different is if Knutsen want the job. I would not let MON go to bring the likes of Keane or Bellamy in.

 

I would be happy for Mon and his staff to be given the reins to the end of the season.They have got the present squad playing at a faster tempo and creatingmore chances in each game.

 

I dont think a permanent gig is the answer but if it takes to January to get the right guy I have no concerns at all.

He has been brought in to deflect from the board no doubt, but also to deflect some of the pressure off the players and bring a bit of feel good back to the place. And he has done exactly that.

 

Or * forbid, Nancy. Sick of unyielding possession football adherents.