Bray Wanderers · UEFA U17 Championship - Qualification · Attacker · #19 · Republic of Ireland · 17 yrs
A major rebuild beckons at double winners Celtic this summer. The Scottish Cup victory over Dunfermline last weekend completed a remarkable recovery under Martin O'Neill in a chaotic campaign. For starters, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel's Celtic days - and possibly his professional career - are over because of a serious shoulder injury.
Centre-half Liam Scales believes Celtic's late run to a league and cup double means they can go into the next season "on a positive note" while also realising they cannot rest on their laurels. Celtic improved in Martin O'Neill's two spells as interim manager and ended the season beating second-tier Dunfermline Athletic 3-1 in Saturday's Scottish Cup final - a week after retaining the Premiership title by beating long-time leaders Hearts by the same scoreline. "It gives us that chance to go into next season on a positive note," 27-year-old Republic of Ireland international Scales said.
Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho has confirmed that he wants to stay with Celtic, who have the option to extend the 29-year-old's deal by a further 12 months if they wish. Marcelo Saracchi will return to Boca Juniors for the second half of their season after talks with Celtic about turning the 28-year-old left-back's loan into a permanent transfer ground to a halt. Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie claims Reo Hatate's absence from the team is because the 28-year-old Japan midfielder has fallen out with interim manager Martin O'Neill.
James Forrest lauded Martin O'Neill after Celtic's interim boss guided the club to a historic double in a rollercoaster season, and says whatever the manager decides next will be met with widespread approval. An impressive nine-game winning run as the season drew to a close saw Celtic win the Premiership title last week with a thrilling 3-1 home win over Hearts. Forrest, 34, who won his 28th medal for Celtic on Saturday, a club record, singled out O'Neill's ability to win over all members of the squad quickly.
Everyone at Celtic is reluctant to compare any mere mortal to Henrik Larsson, a saintly figure of the club's past. Martin O'Neill fits the bill on both counts. When he said the other day that Daizen Maeda's contribution in the final, nerve-jangling, weeks of the league season was "absolutely Larssonesque" it was a mighty claim, but could any Celtic fan argue the point?
Now for the really interesting part. Celtic’s completion of a domestic double was every bit as straightforward as Dunfermline feared it could be. Whether that achievement is sufficient for Martin O’Neill to be handed an extended stay as the Celtic manager should soon become clear. O’Neill has support, internally and externally, for his cause. Even at 74, he clearly fancies the job.Dragging Celtic towards trophy success on back-to-back weekends shows he retains capability. The key, unknown and unanswered question is whether O’Neill’s recent body of work will prove sufficient for the Celtic hierarchy to back him in the longer term, as opposed to a younger coach such as Robbie Keane. O’Neill will hold talks with Dermot Desmond, Celtic’s main shareholder, in the coming days. Continue reading...
Celtic fans, we asked for your views as to whether Martin O'Neill should remain as manager for next season. Kenny: Martin should at least be offered the job before anyone else after what he has achieved in the short time he's been there. Celtic need a rebuild and it would be silly throwing money at someone else and ending up where we were at the start of the season.
Viljami Sinisalo has revelled in being Celtic number one and won't give up the gloves without a fight as a summer of change looms at Parkhead. The Finland international replaced the injured Kasper Schmeichel as first-choice goalkeeper in February and helped Martin O'Neill's side secure the Premiership title to leave long-time leaders Hearts crestfallen. As he looks to end the campaign with another trophy in Saturday's Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline, 24-year-old Sinisalo reflected his personal progress.
