That’s plenty.
Motherwell 2 v Celtic 0 - 30/12/2025.
2025 was bookended by two defeats. The first one was a lot easier to make peace with.
We’re now at a point that if asked “Could you do any better?” I’d take a shot at saying yes. Or maybe I couldn’t do much worse.
It’s not good is it. That’s the long and the short of it.
Jonny Cochrane would struggle to make a case for this performance, or for Wilfried Nancy’s redemption in general.
The Frenchman’s football was billed as exciting, mainly because it was different. Some things are different, or lesser spotted for a reason though. This is not a shape and system implemented to the point of being mainstream. We now know why.
Two consecutive wins were another false dawn in a season of them. This one was maybe the darkest.
Results v 10 man Aberdeen and bottom of the table Livingston seem a bit like when a bad keeper makes a save. It’s good but in a broken clock kinda way.
Credit to Motherwell. They looked comprehensively drilled and skillful. Tidy in the complimentary, non patronising sense.
Celtic looked 2nd best throughout. Elliott Watt gave a Xavi like(stylistically) masterclass, as Motherwell Tika Tina’d through our passive press.
Celtic chased shadows.
Elijah Just and Watt were aided by Paul McGinnis and Stephen O’Donnell; both impressive as individuals, also, as a collusive pair. On the ball they provided a wall, on which the Steelman built out. Constantly accurate in bouncing the ball, around and inside of Celtic’s lethargic shape.
Collectively cohesive, Motherwell are as well coached a side, as we’ve seen in Scotland for a long time.
Reductive and probably a bit reactionary but if to swap for Jens Berthel Askou, I’d bite your hand off.
It doesn’t sound that scandalous but our whole back line being booked, in the space of 10 minutes, tells its own story.
Ungainly and desperate, in attempts to halt the verve and opportunistic football employed by our opponents.
It was simple, short and sharp passing. The basics; rehearsed well and executed confidently.
It could have easily been a trip to any random European city, not the 11 mile trip to Fir Park. Motherwell/Midtjylland.
This was a team that’s hasn’t beat us at home in 12 years.
The nature of the goals being conceded are tragic. An almost vaudeville act, adjacent to comical but ultimately depressing.
Formations - off the ball anyway - should have a built in safety net. Ours is a tightrope.
Austin Trusty should be getting paid overtime. He’s being asked to operate alone, putting out fires left and right.
There is always the fact that it just isn’t working. A kind of reality based clause that well, we tried but let’s just be friends. A forced, fact based conclusion, evident outside of tangibles such as formations, personnel.
A doomed relationship. See Ten Haag at Leverkusen. De Boer at Palace, Ange at Forest and countless others.
It would be best to turn Celtic off and on again.
The New Year comes with an early challenge. Rangers are not resurgent but they are approaching competent consistency, that we could only dream of.
The possibility of defeat on Saturday is very real, and with that would surely come, the expedition of Nancy’s departure.
This is now, a when and not an if issue.
All the best for the bells.
Writing/blogging/substacking about Celtic was my big resolution for 2025.
It’s been such a brilliant journey so far and one I’ll be doubling down on in 2026.
The state of the club has left me feeling more like a war correspondent as opposed to a football writer. It been fun nonetheless.
Many thanks to anyone reading. The page is free to subscribe to and your attention is much appreciated.
All the best when it comes.
Mark