Over the course of one month Martin O’Neill has delivered everything that the Celtic board could have wished for.
He was even mildly critical of shareholders following the abbreviated AGM. Yesterday the interim manager went some way towards correcting that impression.
O’Neill wants the questions avoided at the AGM answered. He wants the club to be united.
NOT SO BENEVOLENT
Ouch, not quite the benevolent old Uncle that Michael Nicholson and Peter Lawwell had been expecting.
Perhaps demob happy O’Neill is in a very strong position. He knows how to leverage that. Perhaps he is uncomfortable about how he was put in the post-AGM spotlight. Pushed into a media conference for reaction, the public face of Celtic after Ross Desmond’s open attack on fans.
He watched Lawwell dodge his responsibilities to shareholders. He knows that Nicholson has the presence of a gold fish. A CEO Michael isn’t. A ‘leading sports lawyer?’ Maybe, although the evidence of that is thin on the ground.
In Rotterdam the O’Neill narrative changed course.
After an all-in media conference in front of the cameras he spoke to Scottish newspapers. They may be dying a death with 20% of the circulation that they had during O’Neill’s first stint at Celtic.
There was no need for O’Neill to discuss the January transfer window. He’ll almost certainly be spending Christmas with his family in the south of England.
JANUARY RECRUITMENT
But he still cares for Celtic. As a member of the League Managers Association he understands the circumstances Brendan Rodgers was backed into.
O’Neill handed newspapers a blockbuster!
If you have recruited a manager, that is fine but player recruitment is essential, it’s really important.
Last year in terms of Europe it was like a nice, shining light, as if you could push on. Then you step back again and it’s not so strong.
In the next couple of years, Celtic will come again in European football. They might just have to step back for a while at this minute, but recruitment is really important.
I know people always say about January being a difficult window, and it may well be but if you’re talking about rebuilding the club to try to compete in Europe, and to be able to not have a big intake of breath when someone expects you to go to Feyenoord and win, then that is the point.
BREAKFAST
That would have made uncomfortable reading for Nicholson and Chris McKay over breakfast in Rotterdam.
O’Neill does have history, he isn’t as compliant as Neil Lennon.
The legacy quote of his first spell managing Celtic was a warning about life in the slow lane.
Lawwell became CEO in October 2003. Celtic last one a UEFA knock-out tie in March 2004. O’Neill left Celtic in May 2005. Most fans can put those pieces together.
Casting his eye over the week at Celtic, Sutton told Daily Record readers:
But for all the optimism O’Neill has injected, there have been some words of caution though.
His pre-match interview with the daily newspapers was really interesting for me, when he said Celtic need to invest in signings in January.
The Parkhead board might not want to listen to supporters, journalists or pundits or whatever but they would be daft not to listen to one of the greatest managers in the club’s history.
HANDOVER
I’m sure that is what O’Neill will be telling Nancy as well. Yes, the side has got back on track in recent weeks but the same problems remain.
The squad is still lacking in key areas and reinforcements are a must. And that’s before you consider the possibility of players leaving as well.
The Maeda situation is still hanging over the club. We know he came close to leaving in the summer, so will he be looking for the first chance to go in January.
It would be a huge blow if he did as you could see his worth to the side the other night.
O’Neill playing him through the middle said it all and although Kelechi Iheanacho is back and Johnny Kenny has scored a few goals, you still have to say it’s Maeda who is the main threat in that role.
THREE PLAYERS IN ONE
The problem is there’s no one apart from James Forrest to play on the right, and Maeda has also been used out left.
If he goes it would be like losing three players.
The off-the-field issues are not going away either it seems. The bad blood from the AGM last week remains and it’s hard to see how peace can be achieved with both sides so entrenched.
Not Another Penny continues.
Lawwell’s handling of the AGM strengthened the Celtic Fans Collective. Ross Desmond’s speach confirmed what many suspected. Sneering contempt from the top table to the customers.
The fans that buy Season Tickets. That buy up European tickets that the executives repeatedly don’t prepare for.
That bought so much Adidas gear that a new 10 year contract was signed. It was presumed that the fans would continue to shell out. Whoever is the Celtic account manager at Adidas is bound to be getting nervy as the Christmas selling season gets under way.
All that is off the park.
DOCTOR FOOTBALL
On it attention is on Paul Tisdale. After getting into Celtic as a consultant he has been busy empire buildings.
Conditions became too toxic for Brendan Rodgers to continue. The former Exeter City boss, the self styled Football Doctor is calling the shots. In management as well as recruitment.
Fans know what is required in January. One at least, preferably two ready to score strikers. The same on the right wing. Positions neglected by Tisdale over the last two windows.
A central defender is also needed. Unfortunately Cameron Carter-Vickers can’t be called on to turn in 50 plus appearances a season.
There are other areas that need improved on.
Sutton knows it, O’Neill knows it and Rodgers resigned over it.
Soon we will find out if the suits understand. Ange Postecoglou helped by Frank Trimboli delivered in January 2022. Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi were Celtic players when the bells tolled.
No fans are going to put up again with hard luck stories about how notoriously difficult January is to do business. Celtic fans know otherwise.
