By this time next week, Martin O’Neill’s Celtic could be fighting a three front war like Leonidas and the Spartans
Eric Knott 
(Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
The story of Leonidas and the Spartans is legendary because it tells the tale of how he led a small army of about 7,000 men – including 300 Spartans – against the might of the Persian army.
Historians estimate that the Persian army numbered somewhere between 120,000 and 300,000 men.
By any metric, Leonidas and his men were grossly outnumbered.
Even at low water, by 17 to 1.
After Martin O’Neill’s and his Celtic player’s heroics last night against Bologna, Leonidas and the Spartans came to mind.
Because if we win against Utrecht next week, it is almost certain our campaign will become a three front campaign.
Unlike our closest rivals who face one front, and two front campaigns.
In this transfer window thus far, Martin O’Neill has been supplied with just two new recruits, as we know.
Tomáš Čvančara and Julian Araujo are both decent signings.
Araujo has already shown that he fits in seamlessly with O’Neill’s style of play.
If Čvančara is his man, then we are about to see how he fits in as well.
However, if the recruitment ends with just those two players recruited, then we are going to be woefully -no chronically – under-resourced to contest a three front campaign for the remainder of this season.
Which is why I thought of Leonidas and the Spartans.
There is now precious little time remaing in the January transfer window.
On Monday the 2nd of February, at 7pm, Martin O’Neill will know exactly what he is left with to contest the remainder of this campaign.
After this coming Sunday’s trip to Tynecastle, we will know if Celtic’s title aspirations are still alive and kicking.
When you consider how we performed in Bologna last night, who would bet against us getting a result on Sunday?
Martin O’Neill just does something to Celtic.
Its an almost spiritual connection.
He did it back at the turn of the century and he’s doing it again right now.
Players believe in this man.
They listen to him, and they trust him.
Even under Brendan Rodgers, I would not have given us a hope in hell against Bologna.
Had we retained eleven men on the field, then who knows?
Don’t let Martin O’Neill’s age fool you.
This man is as sharp witted as he ever was in 2000.
Apparently, he is the oldest individual to be yellow carded in European competition after the card he received last night when protesting Reo Hatate’s sending off.
It appears he hasn’t lost any of the fight he had in him back at the turn of the century either.
The cogs inside Martin O’Neill’s mind will be working quietly away at the moment.
They will be thinking that he has unfinished business in Europe.
Do I think we could win the Europa League?
I wouldn’t stretch that far.
But I do believe that O’Neill could take us further in Europe than we have gone since Villareal 2004.
If he is properly resourced for the fight.
I have no doubt that Martin O’Neill knows what he needs for this battle.
I just don’t trust that Michael Nicholson does.
To under-resource him for the battle ahead would be nothing short of criminal.
It is also worth noting that with £77 million supposedly sitting in the bank, Celtic have still yet to spend a penny in this transfer window.
Not one single penny spent.
If we close out this transfer window not having spent a single penny, then serious questions have to be asked.
What is the aversion to spending money, when we have copius amounts of it?
Why are we happier to pay HM Customs and revenue millions, yet we will not put any of it into our squad?
It makes no sense whatsoever.
And to expect Martin O’Neill to fight a three front war while totally under-resourced once again proves that Michael Nicholson is not fit for purpose.
Even if he does get the recruits required for Celtic to maintain this challenge, he is still not fit for purpose.
The entirety of 2025 is testament to that.
Nothing he does now can give him a reprieve.
And if Martin O’Neill does somehow manage to miraculously deliver trophies under these conditions, it would be grossly unpalatable for Nicholson to attempt to claim any of the credit for that.
Like Leonidas and the Spartans, Martin O’Neill is being expected to fight a three front battle against all odds, as well as our rivals holding countless advantages over us.
Such as boards that are willing to spend money they supposedly do not have.
Or like being able to focus fully on the the title fight ahead, while we are now in a very good position to advance in Europe.
And finally, there’s nothing like having a refereeing fraternity that will go all out in the run in to ensure their favourite team comes out on top.
Leonidas and the Spartans fought hard in the Battle of Thermopylae, but in the end they were totally outnumbered.
The Celtic board can equip Martin O’Neill for the battle ahead, or they can leave him with the bare bones of a squad.
The reality is that the end result could be that he and Celtic fought gamely, but limited numbers were their downfall in the end.
Last night though, Martin O’Neill proved that he can compete against the odds.
That gives me a lot of optimism for the remainder of this campaign.
If O’Neill succeeds and delivers the title, maybe even the cup, and progress deep into Europe, then he will have achieved far more than he ever did at the turn of the century.
Because he would have achieved it with resources far less formidable than those he had back then.
That in itself will further elevate his already legendary status at the club.
If that were even possible.
And he would have achieved it at pensionable age.
I’ll just leave you with that thought.
An pensioner would have achieved miracles at Celtic….
I’ll decide what that could even be labelled if and when it happens.
Until then, I’m strapping in for the ride of a lifetime.
Number of days Michael Nicholson remains Celtic CEO since Wilfried Nancy’s sacking – 18
Key Takeaways
- Leonidas led 7,000 men, including 300 Spartans, against a vastly larger Persian army, symbolising the struggle against overwhelming odds.
- Martin O’Neill’s Celtic faces a potential three-front campaign, needing more resources to compete effectively.
- Despite a substantial transfer budget, Celtic has yet to spend, raising concerns about their commitment to supporting O’Neill.
- O’Neill’s ability to inspire belief in players is reminiscent of his past successes, yet there are doubts about the board’s trust in him.
- If O’Neill achieves success with limited resources, it will enhance his legendary status at Celtic even further.
It was 11 v 10 and we could still have won the match if Kenny was a proper striker and we hadn’t invited them onto us.
In fact, Kenny & Ralston should have come on sooner as Kenny at least gave them something to think about up front and Tony made sure they weren’t breeching us at the back again either.
A quality European performance worked by the magic of Martin O’Neill once again but to compare it to some mythic Greek battle is stretching it to the realms of the ridiculous.
Bologna proved they’re not a great side despite having some fine skills across the group but overall Celtic made them look a bit ragged and incoherent and, again, could well have beaten them with a centre forward who actually knows how to hit the net up front.
MOTM – Trusty & Martin O’Neill.
Fighting a 3 front war next week you say ? It’s every week …..it’s the adverse attitudes and reporting from The tabloids … BBC Scottish version..and Sky Sports – the SS ! Not just those 3 in Scotland mind you , it’s the entire SMSM waging war on a daily and weekly basis hoping that Celtic FC fail miserably domestically and in Europe with their affections for another clumpany apparent and blindingly obvious ?
Are you and JF one and the same person or just have the same script writer?
I`d rather have to read about Romeo and Juliet than Leonidas and Whatshisname or, dare I say it, David and Whatshername.
Given that the UEFA regulations allow for a maximum of 3 alterations to the player roster, which 2 do you think will be sacrificed for the addition of Araujo and Čvančara ? Plus if we were to bring another 2 in which of those would likely to be registered (for arguments sake say a CB or RW/FW)