Martin O’Neill says he’s in no position to argue with the reasons Celtic have an 80% failure rate in Champions League qualifying

During yesterday’s media conference before the Falkirk game at Celtic Park today, Martin O’Neill cut a forlorn figure.

Many people have stated that he looked every one of his 74 years after Tuesday night’s game, and he himself admitted that he looked and felt it too.

First and foremost, I admire Martin O’Neill’s humility.

I have to respect it, and it’s a pity that there aren’t a few other figures around Celtic Park who would display a similar level of humility.

Instead, being the cowards they are, they’ll shield themselves behind a man who is clearly struggling to process what happened last Tuesday night.

If I’m being honest, he looked pretty shell shocked yesterday.

There was no joviality, no wise cracks, just humility and an acceptance of all criticisms aimed at him, and Celtic as a club.

Criticisms which we all know will never be addressed adequately, and it should never have to be his duty to shoulder all of them either.

Celtic are fours days away from the closure of this summer’s transfer window, and the most encouragement the manager could give was that we were ‘hopeful’ of getting people in

If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard the word ‘hopeful’ in conjunction with transfers at Celtic, I could treat myself to a very lavish night out.

Nobody wants to hear that word this late in the transfer window.

And while I know it’s not Martin’s fault, at this point in time, it just grates at everyone.

It pisses people off no end.

Instead we get to read rumours about a Dutch project called Joel van den Berg, who has played just 5 times for PSV Eindhoven.

When we need projects now like a f***ing hole in the head.

Our squad, at this moment in time, is one injury crisis away from complete decimation.

Another player was allowed to leave yesterday.

Michel Ange-Balikwisha departed the club yesterday, after contributing a sum total of 376 minutes of playing time at Celtic

In terms of the bill racked up for that failure?

For each minute Balikwisha was on the field of play, it cost us the princely sum of £13,333.

£13,333 per minute.

Until such time as Gent decide he’s worth the £3.5 million in his loan to buy option, he will go down as a monumental waste of money.

£5 million pissed against a wall.

And after Sebastian Tounekti’s performance on Tuesday night last, he’s rapidly starting to head down the urine and wall path as well.

Nobody is held accountable.

So, when Martin O’Neill says he’s hopeful of transfers incoming before the transfer deadline at 11.00 pm next Tuesday evening, there is a snapshot of the ‘quality’ we could get.

After all, Balikwisha and Tounekti were post Almaty purchases.

When Martin was questioned on our Champions League failures, most recently the last six, this was his response:

‘You know, whatever you point out to me, I’m not in any position to disagree. Was one of those the time at Basel?’

The journalist asking the question then repeated to him that it was the last six times.

‘Right, oh well, sorry, you did tell me that, but if I went back to the Basel game, you know, and I thought we wouldn’t get over that. We lost. We won 3-1 in the first one, and lost 2-0 and the away goals counted at that particular time.’

‘And I really thought, oh guys, this is the end of the world. Then the lads in the dressing room said, “Let’s go and give everything”, for which was called the UEFA Cup at the time. And we got to the final, which has turned out great.’

‘Am I saying that we’re going to go into the Europa League all guns blazing? No, I think that a different ballgame….but we have to pull around. Your point about the six, you would have to look at it, and really analyse and see if there is a common denominator in things like that there. I haven’t had the chance to do that. I’m part of the statistic now.’

The journalist questioning Martin goes on to say that, “The common denominator would be the likes of selling Arne Engels without a replacement, not having a left back in if Kieran Tierney were to go off. That level of recruitment not being to the standard. Would you understand that point of view?“

Martin’s answer here is very telling.

And if you think he’s not aware of the position he was put in last Tuesday, his response here confirms that he 100% is.

The board would do well to pay heed to this.

‘Yeah, you know what? I’m in no position to argue, you know, really, not today, you know? You’re getting, um, I’m really humble, but you know, so I’m not there. There’s no, is there such a word as joviality? I don’t know, yeah, if it does exist, it’s not there today.’

I’m in no position to argue…

In other words, you’re right, this whole Champions League situation has been a shit show

While O’Neill accepts full responsibility for the loss on Tuesday night, and has been extremely humble about it, he’s fully aware of where he was left down here.

If he was going to defend the board for selling Engels and not replacing him?

Then he would have spoken up for them, like he has done in the past when he’s toed the party line.

He was clearly in no humour to do that yesterday afternoon.

Martin knows where the problems lie at Celtic.

Yesterday, he did not paint any pretty pictures.

He was dejected, and demoralised, and the fact that he has been put in that position by this board is unforgiveable.

Shame on them.

Shame on them for hiding behind him and for not having the balls to front up and face this with him.

They are far more at fault than he is.

I hope the fans give them hell at Celtic Park this afternoon.

It’s the least they deserve for their part in this ever evolving shit show.

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