Martin O’Neill To Consider Celtic Future After Poor Run Of Form
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
And so to
finish off the programme, let's turn to football. We're into the three-week international break. And if we have time, we will get to that. We have Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer at the Independent, and Willard Callaghan from Off the Ball with us. Actually, Will, I'm going to start with you.
How bad is Celtic’s current form under Martin O’Neill?
How much trouble is Martin O'Neill in Celtic? Let's not start in the English Premier League, but three defeats in a row for Celtic on the back of a humiliating exit from the Champions League a few weeks ago. Two of those defeats to Rangers, the one yesterday at home in the league. They're still top. They're two points clear of Rangers. But how much trouble are Celtic
in? Yeah, well, here's the thing. So when it comes to O'Neill himself, he said it was a tough week after that 1-0 defeat yesterday in the Premiership. But he then, I was reading his quotes in the press conference, which we'll embargo it on until later in the day, and he said he's going to sit down with the board at Celtic and talk about his own future. Initially, he'd been reasonably bullish where he said that they'll bounce back after the week that it's been. And then he said, maybe I need to go and be self-reflective and have a look about my own position. I think... You have to track this all the way back to the summer when it comes to Martin O'Neill himself. He wasn't happy with the delay in getting his assistant coaches who were so crucial to last season signed up to new contracts.
That happened reasonably close to the season itself. Celtic did dip into the market but very close to European football yet again which meant that they weren't really able to settle the squad. And I'm sure the way that they develop things, where they end up with Duran and Hu, who are now both strikers, but one is having to play wide to accommodate the other. I'm not sure if it was Martin O'Neill who was necessarily purchasing the players to fit into positions for this season. And they've been left with a pretty imbalanced squad with a lack of midfield. I would say there's a certain amount of Martin O'Neill now going, look, I came in last season, I got you over the line in that title race, and I wouldn't be totally surprised if this three-week break ends up in another change of management early in the season for Celtic.
OK, he's 74, but who could replace him? And suddenly one name comes to mind, Miguel, given particularly if Ferencváros, who he used to manage, took care of Celtic very comfortably at Parkhead the other night. I mean, is it beyond the bounds of possibilities that Robbie Keane, who's not in a job at present, could be approached and given the job? Or is that going to be impossible with the Celtic fans because of the time that he spent managing in Israel?
Well, that's exactly what I was going to say. And obviously that has, I suppose, a greater edge to it this week, given all the discussion about Ireland's doubleheader games against Israel. And, I mean, look, given at core the Celtic fans have had so many issues about kind of flying Palestine flags at the stadium, it's... It does feel that would be, given where the club are right now, given what came up a lot last season was the fans' relationship with the club, it would feel like that would, despite Robbie Keane's reputation as a previous Celtic player, albeit briefly, and his status with the Irish national team, it would feel like that could just be a needlessly difficult appointment at this moment.
But there
aren't that many managers available to choose from, are there? Who'd want to go to Celtic? Who'd want to go in a position where they can't go into the transfer market until January and even then might find themselves restricted in who they can get?
It's still an attractive job, though, to be fair, despite whatever perceptions about Scottish football are on it. Ultimately, Celtic are one of the big European names. You're guaranteed some level of European football every season. They can pay to quite a high level, given their size, again, relative to most of European football, if obviously not the Premier League.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:25
2
How bad is Celtic’s current form under Martin O’Neill?
0:25–4:25
3
What did Martin O’Neill say about reflecting on his future with Celtic?
4:25–7:57
4
Why is Celtic’s squad considered imbalanced and lacking midfield depth?
7:57–9:39
5
Who could realistically replace O’Neill at Celtic and why are options limited?
9:39–14:47
6
How do fan politics and past controversies affect potential new managers like Robbie Keane?
14:47–15:29
Speakers
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