Martin O’Neill says ‘the shackles are off’ after Sunday’s obliteration of St. Mirren. Its up to his Celtic players to prove they are…

For 6 blistering minutes last Sunday, we saw what Martin O’Neill has termed as almost like ‘vintage Celtic’.

I’m guessing his idea of vintage Celtic is a side that plays like his sides used to play in the early part of this century.

Back in the day, his teams did their fair share of demolition jobs on some hapless victims.

The numbers last Sunday fittingly matched those of O’Neill’s most famous win, the 6-2 demolition derby win over Rangers 1872.

That game marked the beginning of the change that was going to hit Scottish football back in August 2000.

It was the beginning of the end of Rangers 1872’s domination.

Fast forward to today, and things are much, much different.

Martin is trying desperately to bring back the glory days, but he’s having to do it with one hand tied behind his back.

Its a far cry from the free spending days of his first tenure.

Where we spent £6 million on Chris Sutton, Neil Lennon and John Hartson.

In today’s money, that equates to about £11.5 million per player.

Imagine us spending £34.5 million on three players today?

We can only dream about spending £6 million on a player, not to mind £11.5 million.

In fact, actually spending money on players has become a luxury these days.

When we did push the boat out and spent £11 million on Arne Engels, the board did nothing but piss and moan about it thereafter.

As if Engels was never going to recoup what we spent on him?

We’ve already had a bid of £25 million on the table, and now with Lazio sniffing around, he’s likely to go for another Scottish transfer record.

That’s all well and good, but he needs to put in 6 performances of a lifetime for Celtic between now and the end of the season.

Doing that will work in his favour as well as ours.

In fact, if Martin O’Neill believes the shackles are off, then its up to each and every one of the players to prove that they are.

O’Neill is bullish about our chances in the last six games.

Here’s some of what he had to say on Celtic TV recently:

How confident am I?

Well, confidence should be high with the team, particularly after the four goal salvo against St Mirren just last week.

That should give any team a major boost of confidence, to know that .. well, it was like a throwback, almost like vintage Celtic.

Like throwing away the shackles, just playing with confidence and going for it.

In terms of preparation, we’re ready for it.

That should give any team a major boost of confidence, to know that .. well, it was like a throwback, almost like vintage Celtic.

Like throwing away the shackles, just playing with confidence and going for it.

In terms of preparation, we’re ready for it.

That should give any team a major boost of confidence, to know that .. well, it was like a throwback, almost like vintage Celtic.

Like throwing away the shackles, just playing with confidence and going for it.

In terms of preparation, we’re ready for it.

This is the kind of talk we’ve wanted to hear from O’Neill all season, who – to all intents and purposes – has been very cagey in most interview situations.

Last week, before the St. Mirren game, he stated that Celtic weren’t in a position to dream about the Scottish Cup Final.

He said that we weren’t that good enough to think that far ahead.

As we know, Hugh Keevins jumped on his comments, and decided to produce a garbage article stating that our chances of winning anything were zero per cent.

After O’Neill’s recent comments, its clear he’s pretty bullish about our chances now.

Its also clear that Keevins fell into his trap last weekend, just like I said he did.

One thing is sure now though, after both of their performances last weekend, James Forrest and Kelechi Iheanacho have to be very much in O’Neill’s thoughts going into Saturday’s evening kick off against Falkirk.

Here are some of his comments on both players:

James is 34 years of age now. He’s made a big, big impact with coming on in games. And that is difficult.

He has made  big in-roads in matches.

He makes a goal from a one v one situation which I absolutely love. I played with wingers…Didier Agathe, Alan Thompson, Steve Guppy…essentially these boys can deliver.

James Forrest has been a very good player and one v ones, even at 34, he retains that little bit of zip.

James, I suppose, is been crying out to start matches.

But naturally, I’d be concerned…he’s had a bit of hamstring problems in the past and you don’t want to do that.

But of course it’s in my mind lots of times about starting him in games.

There’s been a new surge here for with Kelechi. Almost challenging him to be be the player you know he  has been. He has fantastic ability.

He has also had a few problems. When I arrived he was on the treatment table. I leave, then I think Wilfried played him in the League Cup final, injures himself and he’s out for a period of time.

So you do get concerned.

Good headaches to have, wouldn’t you think?

Over at Ibrox, James Tavernier, at 34, announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the season.

His legacy will be determined by whether or not they win the title.

James Forrest’s legacy, on the other hand, is fully intact regardless of what happens this season.

At 34, he will remain at the club he has been at all his life, and there’s no doubting he will still have plenty more to contribute next season.

Its great to hear Martin O’Neill talking more bullishly about our chances now.

If he believes the shackles are off, then the chances are he’s going to ask his players to play like they are.

Its up to them to respond to that kind of encouragement.

With the crowd fully behind them on Saturday evening, they have the opportunity to make a serious statement and lay down a marker for Hearts and the Ibrox side ahead of Sunday’s games.

Lets hope that Sunday’s demolition of St. Mirren wasn’t just a flash in the pan.

And maybe, just maybe, that it was the start of something really special?

Choose Read Celtic as a “Preferred Source” on Google News for quick access to the news you value.