A waiting game for Celtic on a number of fronts

THE final blow in the Brendan Rodgers saga came as a shock to the Celtic supporters, but what followed was an even bigger surprise.

To even the most casual observers, Celtic under Rodgers were going nowhere this season. Things had disintegrated beyond repair. So, while it might not have been a shock that his resignation was tendered, the very public attack on him by the man who controls Celtic—in fact if not in his shareholding—left many speechless.

Dermot Desmond issued his statement exactly as the news broke, and while it naturally generated a huge amount of interest amongst supporters of the club, it is testament to the wow-factor Martin O’Neill brings that the news of his return blew even that stunning excoriation of the outgoing manager out the water.

O’Neill to the rescue

With Shaun Maloney at his side, O'Neill rode back into town to take control of things, and had an instant impact. Threadbare and out of form as it was, he nevertheless fashioned a functioning side out the same squad Rodgers had at his disposal. Wins against Falkirk, Rangers and Kilmarnock—with 11 goals scored in the process—underscored the degree to which Rodgers was failing this term.

Though he declared at the outset he has no interest in the job long-term, there is little doubt that he still has enough of the O’Neill magic have Celtic in better shape on his watch than they were otherwise.

In the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup at Hampden—in a Glasgow Derby—very few Celtic fans would have expected his charges to dominate Rangers so thoroughly in the first half, but Celtic were confident and aggressive in a way they haven’t been for months. Though they struggled in the second period—eventually needing extra time to finally put their rivals to bed—they were clearly the better side (above). It was nostalgic and liberating for the Celtic support to see him patrolling the technical area while his players dispatched Rangers —a familiar sight, but one nobody expected to have seen again.

“I’m delighted, relieved and extremely happy to win the game,” he said after that victory. “To win against Rangers as well, I genuinely couldn’t be more pleased with the team.

“I could sense the players’ intensity before the game and true to their word they really went at it. I thought we were really splendid for long periods, dominating proceedings.’

“We have some fine players in the football club, Callum McGregor being one of them, and in extra-time it was a glorious strike—brilliant from a really great player. Callum Osmand is coming up through the ranks, and he certainly doesn’t lack confidence. He wants to get at people and all of us will be encouraging that.”

“I’m really grateful. I’ve always said that it’s a privilege to manage Celtic. If you had asked me last Sunday, I’d have told you I’d be watching this game on television, so from that viewpoint it’s enormous.

“To be back down in amongst it again, it definitely did bring me back. For us to win against Rangers was terrific and now we’re in a final. I genuinely didn’t know the final was in December time! It was great, the crowd were fantastic and I appreciate it and have genuine warmth for it all.”

Problems persist

As the international break rolled around, however, some of the lustre was fading slightly as the more deep-rooted problems at Celtic continue to lead to fan unrest and the desperate need for more bodies and better quality was underlined with a 3-1 Europa League defeat against Midjtylland—during which Celtic looked several levels below their hosts—and yet more injuries being suffered.

The injury to young Osmand, in particular, was cruel. Frozen out completely by Rodgers, O’Neill made use of him to good effect and the excitement his goal against Rangers brought had quite clearly signalled that this was his chance. Johnny Kenny has more than staked his claim to the starting spot, with the Irishman’s goals being the most crucial addition to a misfiring Celtic team, but there wasn’t much doubt about the fact that Osmand would now be featuring too. Alas, he will have to work his way pack to fitness before he can build another opportunity for himself.

Manager search

That break in proceedings also led to more intensive scrutiny on who the next manager will be, with Wilfred Nancy leading the pack at the moment. It is an appointment Celtic have to get right. Though O’Neill has taken a chunk out of Hearts’ lead at the top of the table, in addition to guiding the club to a final, it will be another man who lifts any trophies should Celtic get their act together enough to add silverware this season.

Whoever comes in will come in with better opportunities than if they had taken over directly from Rodgers, but they will meet significant challenge too.

To make a success of the next manager, the club will have to back him financially and be serious about making deals happen. Those are two areas where, for all the criticism which can be leveled at Rodgers, the hierarchy at the club left him twisting in the wind.

For now, Celtic fans can enjoy the last few days of a bonus O’Neill tenure we never thought we would have, and the Blessed Martin—as he was christened all those years ago, when he turned Scottish football on its head and set Celtic up for the success the club still enjoy to this day—can enjoy the satisfaction that must come from still being able to make things better for Celtic at the ripe old age of 73.