DUNDEE, SCOTLAND - MARCH 22: Celtic Manager Martin O'Neill looks dejected at full time during a William Hill Premiership match between Dundee United and Celtic at the CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice, on March 22, 2026, in Dundee, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Yesterday, Martin O’Neill sat in front of the media and gave his pre-match press conference ahead of the weekend, and some of what he said was frankly unbelievable. It has deepened my gloom about Celtic’s final run of games because he spoke about not changing the system.
He spoke about not wanting to upset the balance too much.
He spoke about the Celtic team being settled in the current style. I find that unacceptable.
More than that, I find it remarkable that a Celtic manager seems willing to pander to his players and keep them in their comfort zone while this season disintegrates around us. He says the team will be better next season; well, to be frank, few of us give a shit about next season right now. We want to see a title win in this one.
He has already expressed concerns about the way Celtic are playing.
He has already raised doubts about whether or not we have enough in us to get over the line.
If we do not get over the line playing this system, then I will blame him in part for the failure, because it is his responsibility to lead, not to follow the mood in the dressing room.
Our performances are terrible. This style of play is not getting the best out of the players. He can say he doesn’t care what’s in the papers; I don’t either. But if he’s saying he doesn’t care what fans think, that’s ridiculous.
How much more of this does he have to watch before he accepts that he is now playing his own role in this ongoing sabotage? If he is not willing to change it, if he is not willing to grab this moment by the throat, then he is, himself, condemning us to failure and to a summer of chaos.
He says it is too late in the season to change things.
Absolute rubbish.
There are six games to go including this weekend and seven if we go through.
Additionally, he’s been in the job for months and he ought to have changed it already. He is completely wrong to say that there is nothing he can do now and that it will upset things.
He says that if you look around the league you will see other managers sticking to their guns. I am sorry, but that is rubbish as well.
As I said the other day, the Ibrox club changes shape and tweaks its system all the time. The problem here is caution. The problem here is that O’Neill has settled into his own comfort zone, and that is not going to get this done.
Anyone can see that this laborious football is not going to deliver a title. Anyone can see that we are not good enough to win five league games out of five playing like this. It just is not going to happen. If he doesn’t change we won’t win this, it’s just as simple as that.
He points out that Celtic have been playing this way for years now. This sounds so dreadfully like the line offered up by the board when they defend the so-called strategy that it makes me want to scream. Yes, we have. That’s the problem.
We have been using this same system for years.
That means it became predictable a long time ago. It became easy to counter a long time ago. Other clubs rub their hands together when they see us approach games in this fashion because they know how to contain it and shut it down. Their players have boasted about it. Their managers have talked to the press about it.
And still, we’re persisting with it? What lunacy is this?
Celtic has been reduced to hoping for moments of magic to drag it through games. I have zero confidence in our ability to get through what’s left of this campaign and emerge as champions, and the consequences of that could last for years depending on which other club takes the title. That is why this is such an unacceptable risk.
Martin O’Neill is in a comfort zone, and the players are in one too.
Many fans have long suspected that some of these players have grown used to playing it safe.
Many suspect they do not want to learn new things or do new things at this stage, and you know what? I have a certain sympathy with some of them. They know they are at a shambolic, amateurish club. They know there is no accountability to be had here.
But that is exactly why the coaching staff exists.
It is up to the coaching staff to knock them out of that attitude. It is up to the coaching staff to drag them, if necessary, into better habits and better ways of thinking. If the coaching staff does not want to do that, then what exactly is its purpose?
This is not about an inability to change, which would be bad enough. This is about an unwillingness to change. That is worse. It means people are choosing the familiar over the necessary. It means people are choosing what it easy over the difficult task of setting and enforcing a minimum standard.
A manager’s job is not to preserve the mood in the dressing room. A manager’s job is to get the best out of the team, to challenge players, push them and, when required, make them uncomfortable. That is leadership.
What we are hearing instead sounds too much like accommodation. The players are settled. The players are comfortable. The system is familiar. All well and good except that none of that matters if it is not working.
This is Celtic. The priority is not that the players feel at ease. The priority is winning.
I am deeply concerned now about where we are and where we are going. A month ago, most people would have said that whatever happened from here, Martin O’Neill’s legacy was safe. I am no longer sure that is true.
Because if he goes down refusing to change a failing system, refusing to disturb a dressing room that clearly needs reminding of their responsibilities, then this will be part of what he is remembered for.
At this point, if we win, it will owe more to the weakness of our opponents than to anything persuasive or decisive that we have built ourselves. That is the truth of it. Celtic do not look like a side responding to the challenge in front of them. Celtic look like a side hoping to drift over the line by chance. Hope is not a strategy. Comfort is not a virtue.
If Martin O’Neill really believes that preserving the players’ comfort matters more than changing a system that is visibly failing, then he is making a choice. He is choosing safety over ambition and caution over risk taking, and this needs risk taking.
He knows what that means.
If that choice costs us the season, then, sad as it is to say, he will have earned his share of the blame.
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This must be music to the ears Celtic’s title rivals. Both of those teams’ managers change their tactics and formations regularly to suit their opponents, the conditions or even during a match if they need to change the pattern of the game.
They will come to Celtic Park with a game plan, but also an ability to change that plan at any time if the pattern of play demands it. Celtic can only be a at a disadvantage here if they are the only club of the three who can only play one way.
“He can say he doesn’t care what’s in the papers; I don’t either.”
Are you sure about that James?
I think he’s too old to see out a lengthy campaign especially in this utterly utterly anti Celtic hateful environment…
But there was no one else and I’m fuckin grateful that he took it on…
But aye – He’s just like the rest (especially Brendan) in being very pig headed…
But Brendan cleaned everyone’s coupon for them that’s the difference so he gets a free pass…
Imagine gonna be schooled by a 36 year old German rookie – That’s fuckin EMBARRASSING though the board are 90% responsible for that scenario as well !
Face it we are winning no league and might – just might scrape The Scottish Cup if we get very lucky and even that might not fuckin happen !
What on earth do you expect him to change? Have you heard the phrase you can only push wie the cock you have? This isnt a Martin O’Neill team. Its a part Rodgers, Part Nancy, mostly Board team. He has worked a miracle to get us where we are. The football is shite. It has been all season. The only person who comes out with any credit is O’Neill. Answered the call when Rodgers left and after he wasnt even allowed a send off by the fans due to the board announcing the french farce was still bug enough t9 come back and steer us. If you are so fickle to join the entitlement crowd and think you know better then maybe give your head a wobble. This squad is not suddenly going to start playing like Barca 2012. I recall h0w excited you were when Nancy was.appointed and got sold on all his bluff despite anyone with a footballing brain realising he was a disaster midway through his first game. Tactics are not your thing. I dont think we are good enough to win the league. That is not down to the manager. If we do win it, if we even make 2nd place, it will be a minor miracle.
how is it part Nancy? He literally didn’t sign a single player? MON signed off on the absolute muck that came in in January and they’re a huge part of why it would be ‘a miracle’ cos they are absolutely shite.
Fair comment PatC!
I am a bit surprised though that MON hasn’t tried two up front with Nygren in the No. 10 role behind the likes of Maeda, and still keeping 3 in midfield. It makes me wonder if this is SM’s choice as he does the coaching and could be set to take over from MON, so it makes sense to keep the tactics and formation he’s used in his previous management roles. Possession based, building from the back etc.
Even if they need to stick to the rigid 4-3-3, who’s stopping them from playing the ball forward a bit quicker?
I think you are the best and most independent blogger out there who offers great insight and debate. This is way off. Martin’s win record, which may win us the double, is by far and away the best of any manager this season. If he plans any tactical changes, I hope he won’t advertise them to the media. We had a shambolic start to the season, which was a product of both the board and Rodgers, whose rigid style would never have won us anything. The point about the players who have gone on to do well, such as Oh, not fitting the BR system, seems contradictory. Of course, Oh could have been developed. Why did BR not adapt to fit some of the strengths in the squad? Given that Balakisha was scouted and signed by BR, he would not fit any system, as he can’t play football. There is a blind spot re rodgers role in where we are just now, as if holding that view, means you are seen as a ‘board apologist’. Board massive issues and rodgers a massive issue. MON win record suggests we have a great chance of winning the double, with the mess left BR and the mess in the board room.
Balikwisha was scouted by Rodgers and signed by him ?
Evidence please.
As Anthony Joseph said ‘The money for Oh was too good to turn down for a player that was third choice.’
Not BRs fault.
BR massive problem?
Yeah because the toxic board wanted him left with no strikers this season.
I am allowed my opinion. I hold the view that Rodgers was an issue and the board is an issue. It is the case that Rodgers dismissed many players, was quite clearly saying that the squad lacked quality in the summer in his first interviews in a manner suggesting he was going to leave, and yes he did pursue Balakisha. Our performances prior to him leaving were abysmal, and the team was demoralised. But, none of this means I do not think the baord are not a massive problem. Its been a collision which had expoed many failings this year. Take a look at what Rodgers spent in his two terms as celtic manager and look at what he left. Just my view mate Hail Hail
Back in the 70’s I was Manager of a very good Amateur side…I was invited to a Sports Dinner…and found myself seated next to Mr. Jock Stein…Amongst other things, I asked him for any advice he could give me…He told me that he never asked players to do something they couldn’t do…and also to utilise any specials skills they might have…Over to you MO’N.
He’s chucked it .
It would look to me that with the players he’s got, MON thinks it’s a bigger risk changing the system than not. I think that just highlights the shambles this season has been. Those responsible at the club should hold their heads in shame, and there should be resignations.
We need a miracle to win the Title, both the other two teams have far more physicality than us in the M/F, and that is a major help in the helter skelter of the SPL.
I keep hearing this ….that we need a miracle.
We are 3 points off the top, we have the better players and the biggest wage bill. 2 games at Ibrox and one at Hearts recently and we have lost none of them and you think it will take a miracle to beat these 2 teams at home with a full stadium in full voice???
Martin is not going to tell the media his plans, he is maybe passed managing at the top level but he can surely get a bit of tune out of our players against dire opposition.
A miracle will be if Hearts win the league!!!
I just wonder though, based on Murphy’s comment about MON not showing his hand, if he has something up his sleeve for the double header at Celtic Park against their title rivals?!
I hope he is playing mind games but I doubt it. All he has to do is to stop the incessant passing and start to have the team run at the opposition. I think the fans can help here and boo when any player chooses to pass back when he had a more positive choice. They did it with Schmeichel when they had enough of his mistakes.
Over to the fans to target the chancers.
Just realised when I mentioned the double header, there’s a game in between, but how big those occasions will be! A chance for the Celtic Fans to create a CL like atmosphere, inspired by the Green Brigade!
If Celtic can win the two games before those then it would be a great opportunity for The Champions to stand up!
I believe Martin may think the scare tissue from the Nacy reign put any talk of tactical changes off the table for the rest of the season.