Can spineless Nicholson finally stand up after Tynecastle taunts

After four and a half years of nothingness Michael Nicholson has been presented with a golden opportunity to show leadership at Celtic.

At Tynecastle the tag team of Steven McLean and John Beaton denied Celtic a win over league leaders Hearts.

Both men have plenty of previous. Both come from families that detest Celtic.

Following the Josh Meekings incident at the 2015 Scottish Cup semi-final Celtic published a statement asking for clarification on the handball and decision making.

MEET NICHOLSON- LAWWELL LITE IN EVERY WAY

Following that Peter Lawwell was reminded of the July 2012 paperwork and McLean’s decision making was never questioned again.

After facilitating Alfredo Morelos carrying out multiple assaults on Celtic players at Ibrox in December 2018 a similar request was made about John Beaton’s performance.

Lawwell was handed tea and biscuits from his mate Ian Maxwell at the SFA and dropped the matter stone dead.

A decade on McLean and Beaton have been joined by others such as Don Robertson and David Dickinson delivering very similar performances.

Can Nicholson step out of the shadow cast by big Peter. His mentor, the man that handed him the CEO job on a plate to protect the secrets.

After the 2-2 draw at Tynecastle on Sunday Derek McInnes provided Nicholson with another open goal.

I’ve not seen it again. My take on it is, and I think what the fourth official said to me, is that they needed to be sure that Kabore would get a shot away.

My thought was, ‘he’s definitely going to get a shot away’. He broke the line.

Celtic don’t get red cards domestically. It was a bit of a shock when VAR turned it and made it a red. But for me it looked like a red card offence.

Comments like that are unprecedented.

TAUNTED BY DEREK MCINNES

Managers don’t comment on discipline at rival clubs. McInnes is feeding off the paranoia from the darkest corners of the internet.

Where they publish tables of the amount of free kicks it takes to earn a yellow or red card.

Celtic happily sit back and allow their matches to be officiated to ridiculous standards.

Routinely Celtic have around 70% possession in matches where their opponents time waste from the first whistle to run the clock down. Generally Celtic will have twice as many free kicks awarded against them as for them.

Across European football clubs that dominate possession, that are on the ball are awarded most free kicks. It is entirely logical. Except in Celtic matches.

McInnes has taken things even further. Setting down a marker. Taking the paranoia of Ibrox message boards to the mainstream.

Martin O’Neill won’t be happy with that. He may be asked about it on Wednesday when he previews the match at home to Utrecht.

O’Neill should just be backing up the statement from Celtic after the SFA hit McInnes with a charge of disrepute. Sadly that won’t happen.

Nicholson will be lying even lower than usual this week following his boozy walkabout in Bologna.

NICHOLSON LEADS THE TRANSFER CHARGE…

Of course the Celtic CEO  also has a transfer window to deal with.

While fans look for Celtic to sign players Nicholson is trying his best to sell players off.

The value of the Celtic squad has dropped rapidly over the last 12 months. That happens when you sell of the best players and fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Saying that Kairat Almaty did Celtic a favour in knocking them out of the Champions League. The current Celtic squad would be absolutely battered in the Champions League.

In both of his Celtic TV interviews Nicholson promised to back Nancy in the January transfer window.

On January 2 Celtic signed Julian Araujo on loan from Bournemouth.

Three days later O’Neill was back in as interim manager. Surely he returned with promises to strengthen the first team. Not projected and punts. First team starters. Time served professionals.

So far Nicholson has delivered an on loan striker for his interim manager. Signed on January 22, making his debut two days later.

More and more Celtic fans are coming to the conclusion that this season is down to sabotage rather than anything else.

The evidence is becoming overwhelming. It is hard to muster a counter argument.

After his boozy exploits in Bologna Nicholson has brought the spotlight onto himself.

For the first time in his underwhelming career can he deliver a double whammy by taking McInnes to task while delivering three first team ready signings? Don’t hold your breath.