GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 10: Celtic Manager Martin O'Neill (R) and Celtic's Julian Araujo during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park, on January 10, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
The Dundee United boss is a little angry about the tackle Araújo made during the game yesterday and, at the ground, I thought it looked a bit rash myself. For once, though, I’m actually pleased there’s going to be a minor storm of controversy involving Celtic. It shows how rattled people are.
O’Neill’s return has upset the applecart, and that the selective fury will tell the tale.
On top of that, Jim Goodwin lamented the timing of the fixture, coming as it did just after Nancy was shown the door.
I understand that point, and I’m sure O’Neill allowed himself a wry smile when he heard it. Still, timing wouldn’t have mattered. Removing Nancy from the equation restores a lot of Celtic’s authority and brings back a degree of fear factor. It doesn’t return us to full strength, but it moves us much closer to it. If rival managers want to wail about decisions now, that only proves how unsettled they feel.
A credible figure sits in the dugout again, and Celtic may be back to winning matches with authority. That has people jumpy.
Araújo was a little foolish. He went in too hard and, in truth, he was lucky to escape with a yellow. If people want to write columns about it, build a song and dance around it, and ask whether it cost Dundee United a chance at points, let them.
They’ll only embarrass themselves.
There was no universe in which Celtic were not winning that game given how we played under a manager who knows how to organise a team.
The player isn’t match sharp. When you view the tackle through that lens, it looks rash rather than malicious.
Rust caused it, not intent.
He didn’t act with bad purpose. As he plays more games and adjusts to the demands of the league, he will prove a very solid signing. He has pedigree, and until AJ returns to full fitness, he remains the best right-back at the club.
I would wager that the loudest voices over this incident will come from people who have spent years defending far worse brutality from Ibrox players and others, especially when those challenges target Celtic footballers. We have seen shocking tackles on our players this season with barely a murmur in response.
You only need to look at the no-contact nonsense involving Austin Trusty and Jack Butland to understand the standard we face.
Did Trusty challenge the goalkeeper after he had the ball? Yes. Was there force or malice? No. Yet some framed it as thuggery.
If they want to frame yesterday’s tackle the same way, they’re welcome to try. Celtic always face a different standard. If it happens to our players, few complain. If one of ours does it, outrage follows. The double standard exposes exactly what motivates these people.
Give Goodwin his due. The man hasn’t used the incident as an excuse.
He acknowledged Celtic’s superiority and he accepted the bounce that came from replacing Nancy. He recognised O’Neill as a canny operator who has succeeded at the highest level. Goodwin admitted we were simply better on the day.
His comments won’t be the final word, though. The media will amplify the complaint.
Someone may even suggest retroactive punishment.
If that happens, it will only confirm what they already know.
Celtic are back in the race.
The boys are back in town again
COYBIG
James we need Martin to have a word with henrik get him on staff for 3months to coach forwards how to lead line play on lats man staying onside movement for space and most important of all standing still there is a player in kennywe can do this HAIL! HAIL!.
It COULD have been a red, but I don’t think it should have been. Clearly neither did VAR.
Intent irrelevant. Rustiness irrelevant.
We’ve seen worse tackles justified as yellows this season. I hope it was just clumsiness, as Araujo will not get the protection people like Diamonde do.
Agree with all of the above. I like the Henrik suggestion. We have goalkeeper coaches etc etc. The king showing strikers how to chip a keeper in a one to one situ would reap a ton of goals.
On the tackle he was very lucky as off the ground so for me was a red. Wouldnt have mattered yesterday we were just to good but on a tighter game could have had consequences. Hopefully Martin has a wee word in his ear that hes playing in Scotland now for Celtic and our player’s don’t get away with those tackles
Just like all great players, Eusebio, Maradonna, Cruyff, Zidane, Lubo etc…….Larrson was a gift from God and his natural talent and instincts cannot be imparted and coached into other mere mortals.
There are plenty of videos that can be watched over and over again for anyone who thinks that these football Gods can be emulated.
A more urgent appointment, frank, would be a set-piece coach. We are woeful at these, both in attack and in defence of them.
The easier striker option would be to buy a decent one and get rid of Kenny. We will also have Osmand back from injury at some point. He’s far better than Kenny.
Kenny is currently a passenger masquerading as a striker. Notice how Celtic failed to score after he was brought on? We can’t go on supporting his glaring misses.
James F — We need to remind them of the swinging elbow from last week.
Back to your opponent.
Sly wee look over your shoulder.
Swing out your elbow with intent.
Sutton was a disgrace with his comments about the incident.
Following the party line — play down any incident involving Govan FC.
It’s a bit concerning throwing a tackle like that after only a couple of games for us.Which makes me wonder if he has been informed that the rules in Scotland for Celtic are much more severe than for other teams, especially Sevco.
The last thing we need is a tight game against a Hearts or something and a hothead giving the MIB any excuse to make winning (on average )3 times less likely by sending him off.
Yes we know their pain by their whining but Araujo needs to ensure he tackles cleanly from now on as they are marking his card for special attention to the MIB.
He must give them no cause.
Yes, i agree, he needs to ensure he always gets the ball first. Aggression is a big part of his game, he told us all that in one of his interviews. So that makes it more imperative he gets the ball first. He’s a good signing but he needs to master that part of his game.
“Intent”?
I despair every time someone uses that word in football. Simply because nobody can read another persons thoughts. How do we know if someone meant to harm another player? Or if someone never meant to handle the ball in the penalty box? We don’t.
He probably didn’t mean to hurt anyone but that is something we will never know with 100% certainty. I don’t think he meant any harm isn’t the same as he didn’t mean any harm.
The fella, by his own admission, has an aggressive part to his game. He really needs to polish up that part of his game in Scotland or the officials will be out to nail him. Especially in games that benefit Therangers and Thediets.
Just what we need — more tree hugging / hand wringing benefit of the doubt nonsense.
The pace of the elbow increased as it neared Engels face.
It was meant and would have been seen as such if a Govan FC player had been on the receiving end.
Ludge MIB is in full “Get Govan FC back into the title race” mode.
Fouls against us yesterday was in the had to be seen to be believed.
Minutes added on were another element of “cheating” in plain sight.
Tough run in so just watch as Ludge MIB step up to the plate.
They will need little encouragement.
It is their DNA — we need to shout early and shout loud.
Excellent Analysis!
What’s all this crap about Araujo? Bad tackle, move on. You would think he’s the only player, Celtic included, to make one. “He needs to master that part of his game” – wtf you on?
Who the f@ck do you think you are? I’ll state my point and belief like anyone else. Can you read? Read my comment again you absolute clown. I support the fella and i stated very clearly why he needs to watch his back.
James brought the subject up for discussion so if you want to “move on” then take your own advice. Take it up with James then “move on”. I don’t answer to no c@nt on here but James. So, off you pop, there’s a good chap.
And btw, you had the option to ask me in a civilised manner what i was “on” but you chose to come at me like some hard-nosed keyboard warrior. Grow up!
Dickinson[referee] and Beaton[VAR] on duty at Pittodrie today, a goal of a start at least for the Ibrox mob.
Celtic players will all have to use the head when dealing with the MIB. The SOS for help from Ibrox will have been clearly heard and noted by their twelth men.
Yep Micmac – A penalty for Sevco that NEVER was and Penalty Tav scores it !
He could easily have been sent off but wasn’t, it was a judgement call. I cant get over excited about the officials to be honest, we are half way through the season and had zero players sent off. Also having a look at the stats only Motherwell have less yellows.
Our biggest concern is all internal but at least MoN seems to have everything back on track.
I’m concerned Mr Majorisin that Masonic cheats with whistles flags and monitors gave these Orange Bastards Sevco six points more than they should have had in the last eight weeks…
And they also cost that fuckin spastic Nancy two points as well…
That’s an 8 point swing and while I would not use the word excited about the cheats (officials) I from ma own point of view am very angry about this and it’s all happened since the then Sevco CEO created merry Hell with The Scummy SFA about Walsh’s performance in The League Cup semi final…
You will or you should be very angry when that open cheating costs Celtic the league and hands it to Sevco !
We are 3rd in a 1 horse race Clach. With all our superior resources, the most expensive players the biggest wage bills we should be miles ahead. Our biggest issues are internal. We have loads of empty seats. We have supporters banned. We have protests every game, fans emptying the stadium long before the final whistle. I cant think of a game we lost this season that we deserved to win.
I agree about all the issues that you highlight internally Mr Majorisin…
But I’m ABSOLUTELY sticking with ma opinion about The cheats with whistles flags and monitors…
We should be 8 more points ahead of Sevco instead of three behind and that’s down to The said Cheats with Whistles, Flags and Monitors !