Martin O’Neill
Morning, all.
The big breaking news story for every Celtic minded person yesterday was that our legendary manager, Martin O’Neill, was admitted to hospital to undergo what has been termed a “small procedure.” No further details are available, and I think it would be intrusive and wrong for any of us to speculate further.
Martin is recovering in hospital, where he is likely to remain for a few days. We wish him and his family well for the future.
Haste ye back, Martin.
So glad you’re showing a level of respect we’d ALL appreciate put in MON’s place.
Morning all,
Get well soon Martin.
Your health and family come first 💚
HH 🍀🍀🍀
Get well soon Martin. Hopefully, you recover completely. God Bless.
On the club statement only folks, it said “in response to speculation (on the Managers health)”.
I don’t know about you, but I saw or heard of nothing about anything on MON until they mentioned it. That’s when all the speculation started.
Something doesn’t add up.
Good morning, friends.
Martin’s health issues must come first and if it turns out to be something that won’t be helped by managing a huge football club then we move on.
But I hope the next ‘official’ news we hear is good for Martin.
God bless Martin
San Luis
August 6, 2026 7:52 am
Well I suppose they could hardly say ‘In anticipation of speculation when the news inevitably leaks out’, so I wouldn’t read too much into how they framed the message.
They got ahead of the story, thereby controlling the narrative as much as possible, which is what they should have done.
Wishing Martin a speedy recovery
Hopefully he’s sitting up in bed joking with the nurses by now.
I think Ernie has got this spot on.
There is no shortage of media to report any news about acetic that is not positive. Celtic trumped it with an early strike.
HH to MON
Nobody thinking that the heart attack was brought on with the news that another signing was going elsewhere?
Fingers crossed for a famous victory for Max Bialystok this evening!
Bobby,
No truth in the rumour Celts looking at
Max Bialystok.
Get well soon Martin.
Put your own health and recovery first.
Remember your employers put money first above everything else.
Exactly the right type of article. Respect the wishes of Martin and his family.
It breaks my heart that so many of our bloggers refuse to do the same.
GBMON
The huns live in another world , looks Morelos stuff….
“Turkish agent and consultant Osman Altunterim has now lifted the lid on his intel about a move, claiming that the Glasgow giants won’t accept any less than €30million (£25.7million) for the frontman. It’s understood Rangers are keen to keep Chermiti at the club.”
Seems Everton looking elsewhere for a RB,as we can’t agree a fee
So AJ pops his hamstring against Kairat Almaty last season. He then aggravates that injury while doing rehabilitation work on international duty with Canada. Note FIFA only provide insurance for injuries occured in games. We pay his wages for an entire season where he played an equivalent of 7 full games in the entire season.
Unlike Mika Baur AJ informs his parent club that he wants a transfer. Thereby favouring the buying club and giving them the leverage to state to the selling club they have an unhappy player on their hands and should reduce the price.
So much for loyalty eh ? And many on here wanted the three remaining years of his contract improved and to give him the captaincy.
Meanwhile our current captain who averages 50 games a season these last ten years gets slaughtered.
It’s a blessing that the club ignores the blogosphere
AJ like Maeda only turned up at the tail end of last season not to jeopardize their WC place.
Saint Stivs on 6th August 2026 1:42 pm
so,
tell you what I am bored with already.
A shared narrative across all platforms and podcasts – playing Camilo Duran as a wide right attacker somehow was a wrong thing to do and made him ineffective.
Quick scan of his goals on youtube, and a wee AI response says this –
Cutting Inside from the Right: Because he is left-footed but frequently operates as a right-sided hybrid striker or right winger, he likes to drive at defenders from the flank, push them deep, and cut inside to unleash a shot.
Everton fan blog 2 days ago. I think he is going, or we have unhappy camper.
If there’s a way to royally screw up something, Celtic will inevitably find it.
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/english-premier-league-transfers-news-rumors/81709/scouting-report-on-everton-fullback-target-alistair-johnston-celtic
Saint Stivs on 6th August 2026 1:50 pm
camilo at qurabag heat map –
strongest coming in from the right, a creator not just a finisher.
more kuhn like than a kyogo. imho
https://thecelticunderground.substack.com/p/camilo-duran-the-creator-disguised
Awe Naw
Problem in itself is not AJ But the fact we are continually unprepared in transfers.
There is no sign of forward planning on squad which for a club in our position should be a priority.
I don’t like McGregor in this position he plays in our team but do not see myself slaughtering him.
The other day I posted he had received a great square pass in central area about 23 yds out and played ball out wide to a non scoring position when he could have shot and as move continued he eventually passed back to half way line stalling momentum.I feel his cautious approach is a major reason our team lacks forward movement and potency.
SAINT STIVS
“more kuhn like than a kyogo. imho”
————————————
Hi Saint:
Respectfully disagree, mate. Kuhn didn’t spend over 80% of his time operating through the middle.
“At Qarabag he has operated almost exclusively as a central striker, although around 19% of his minutes have also come from the right-hand side of the attack.” ( Substack )
He’s a really good player. It’s baffling why we don’t want to sign a few more for the gaping voids we have in other positions.
HH
INIQUITOUS IV😊
St Stivs
All well and good but he did none of that v Dundee apart from one great take and turn.
In fact he often stopped the momentum by going from a standing start and was ineffective in this.
Not supported by AJ first half he was on it more in the second when AJ pushed forward.
Never took his man on and defenders will show him inside all day long.
If they do he needs to hit it, that’ll teach them.
Fan,
Yep. Lots of that I agree with the major contention being that the club is such a basket case. Who can blame anyone. I’m not blaming anyone for their lack of loyalty just highlighting it. We also encourage players to put in transfer requests.
McGregor, Maeda, Scales,Trusty more often than not playing out of position last season. Maybe if we had a proper well balanced squad these players would not receive so much criticism.
Maeda and Johnston prioritizing their international careers where McGregor has sacrificed his. Also a factor in his regular appearances. More rest less travel etc.
I stand by my assertion about the blogosphere. Don’t take it personally. My post wasn’t intended to be a pop at you. Your absolutely entitled to your opinion.
It’s a shame the club is such a basket case. That’s the root of most of the “issues”
Awe Naw
“We pay his wages for an entire season where he played an equivalent of 7 full games in the entire season”
Very good point about loyalty and the above sentence!
If we don’t sell,nobody is coming in by the look of it,the money is staying in the bank ,to pay for no European football for next couple of seasons
Meanwhile an email telling me the new Adidas Celtic golf clothing is out today…
BADABING
Now that’s a must have, innit?
I know I shouldn’t be surprised but I can’t believe what I’m witnessing here.
Is that 16 gone now? And we’re making it known we’re happy to sell AJ, Arne and possibly Benji too?
And we’re to believe that this mob will build a championship winning squad in the time that’s left to do so??
This has got utter disaster written all over it!
BAD
Last season had the worst squad in thirty years. Their answer is to weaken it further. Makes no sense at all.
BAD
We have been an underperforming disaster since Despot and the Lackeys gained control.
Yes we have won leagues and trophies but a lot of that due to the paucity of opponents rather than our brilliance.
Almost every time we met comparable European teams we failed and sometimes to sides with a fraction of our income.
There is no area of running a football club they have succeeded at.
As a profitable business so far they have done well.
Their luck will eventually run out but I fear not before they have destroyed the football club.
We currently have a squad of 25 1st team players including
AJ
Engels
Hatate
Kenny
Jota
Nothing changes till everything changes.
Rip it up and start again.
Rumour Hassan deal is on
Captain Shankhill benched
Bada Bing
August 6, 2026 4:04 pm
Captain Shankhill benched
——————–
I watched the whole title winning game again this morning.
Taking the emotions out of it, just hard analysis of how we played, and the opposition weaknesses, and indeed the coaches behavoirs and responses.
It jumped off the screen for me, but the differences between Kelechi contributions, collecting long balls on the ground, controlling and swivel all in one movement, the set up of 3 great moves, hitting the post , and the defensive block and steal for the 3rd goal was EVERYTHING that Shankland did not do.
Maybe 5 times in the 2nd half he stopped chasing a Celtic player breaking forward from his area of the pitch, he chucked it after the guys accelerated from as little as 5 yards, he chucked it. He was a burst ballon for the last 20 minutes easily.
Why Badger kept him on is a mystery if they just wanted to defend the point.
Bigger puzzle still as to why he took him and Devlin to 2nd Rangers, they are not quality players, not at their peak, in fact, imho, they are on the decline.
Blue Tinted specs/
Come on the Polish.
——————–
Watch the extended highlights as Celtic power past Hearts 3-1 with another statement performance from the champions. Daizen Maeda brings relentless energy and goals, while Kelechi Iheanacho adds quality and composure in attack as Hearts are left with no answers.
https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/26bd.svg Goals
https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/1f525.svg Maeda masterclass
https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/1f4aa.svg Champions mentality
https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/1f3c6.svg 5 in a row celebrations
https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/1f49a.svg Paradise erupts again
Hearts crushed as Celtic continue their march at the top!
as an aside,
The Icons of Football with Craig Gordon, was a really interesting watch.
In his time for us he was a top goalkeeper, no doubts for me. I beleive we made an absolute mess of it letting him go.
Anyways, he was happy to talk about the invincible treble, he celbrated it well.
However, not winning last seasons title from the position he was in, it has left scars.
He is a Jambo, no denying that, but he himself has marron tinten glasses.
St S
i wasn’t 100% convinced about CG when he signed, (I was concerned about his past injuries). but I will say I was wrong about him as I thought he ended up being a terrific keeper for Celtic.
Awe naw,
Of the 25 who are left ..
How many are goalkeepers?
How many aren’t really in the manager’s plans?
How many are just back from serious injury?
How many are still to overcome serious injury?
And how many are we still actively looking to sell?
And when all the money grabbing has ended and there’s no one left to sell in this window, is Nicholson going to bring in the promised quality to compete across multiple competitions?
They aren’t just running us into the ground, they’ve went through the basement and are now on their way to the earth’s core!
Bada Bing
The Hassan deal is on rumour has been running for weeks now.
Can find no more reason to believe now than I did weeks ago.
Sales first and transfer profit is our business model.
Bada
i think the zombies will have two teams … Shankland based for SPL, and Chermiti up front for Europe (although they seem to be trying hard to sell him)
Fan- saying €11 million, 4 year deal
Huns toss in new signing Yakota immediately.
Can’t blame players like AJ and and Nygren for wanting away
im sure when they sign, they are told of legendary crowd, CL nights and stepping stone to EPL if you perform
Crowd appeal fades as reality of SPL drudgery takes over. Less and less chance of even making the CL, so less chance of the famous CL nights and crowds. And team isn’t playing decent football, which makes transfers out less likely
Celtic FC and most Celtic fans are happy to be an inch better than the zombies. Thats all most Celtic cares about. Professionals, whose livelihood depends on it, can’t afford to be so blinkered. .
Unless you have an emotional connection (a KT or Calmac), less and less players will want to go to Scotland. Or Celtic will have to overpay wages to get them to move. But even then the question is whether they will want to stay.
this is the new reality
Hassan …..6 weeks and still no white smoke. No holding breath…. MON asked club to sign Sarrachi but was let down as he has been with his request for a CM …all of these fellas could have been in weeks ago.
What a way to treat the best manager since Stein.
I think there is clearly a problem about who actually owns Sarrachi and who you have to deal with to sign him. He is not 100% owned by one person/ organisation or we would have bought him.
Huns 1-0. o.g.
Ffs, they get the luck of the devil. 1-0 huns, own goal.