Martin O’Neill, his players and Celtic Board all deserving of intense criticism | OneFootball

Celtic’s absolute disaster in Linz. Who’s to blame? Martin O’Neill? The players? The board? All of them have to take responsibility for that calamity…

Camilo Duran of Celtic reacts after the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 Play off round second leg match between LASK and Celtic at on August 25, 2026 in Linz, Austria. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)

Last night we witnessed one of the biggest capitulations ever when we threw away a four goal aggregate lead in Linz. A result that ranks with the worst in the club’s history, and in doing so witnessed our dreams of reaching the Champions League group stages ripped into absolute shreds.

For the second year in a row we literally threw away a £40 million golden ticket, and we now need to ask serious questions of not just the players, and coaching staff, but yet again those who run our club from above.

Kasper Hogh of Celtic reacts after the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 Play off round second leg match between LASK and Celtic at on August 25, 2026 in Linz, Austria. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)

LASK were worthy winners of the tie, we have to give due credit to them and also wish them well for what will be their first ever Champions  League campaign. Even in the first leg they looked the more dangerous side, and were unlucky not to score on a few occasions. The 3-0 scoreline certainly flattered Celtic, unlike last night when LASK fully deserved their 5-1 victory.

Last night the Austrian Champions showed fantastic professionalism. They also proved that they possessed terrific ability, and leadership, whilst having full belief in themselves, everything our players did not, and we can only start a post mortem into why that was the case.

READ THIS…Capitulation in Linz as Celtic left humiliated yet again

The buck of course initially stops with the players, and the manager who afterwards accepted full responsibility.  Despite going into a one goal lead on the night, and a four goal lead on aggregate, the players somehow turned off, and allowed the home side back into the game.

Sebastian Tounekti of Celtic reacts after the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 Play off round second leg match between LASK and Celtic at on August 25, 2026 in Linz, Austria. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)

Even when we went into the interval at 1-1, we had 45 minutes to reshape and hold on to a three goal advantage. But somehow they collapsed in the second half offering the home side some encouragement as they sensed our vulnerabilities, and went for the jugular.

The second half substitutions were horrendous – Dane Murray at right back with his arm raised playing the LASK goalscorer onside, Luke McCowan’s just awful performance repeatedly losing the ball and eventually setting up the LASK winner.

That’s all down to a combination of the mindset of the players, and the manager whose job it is to motivate and shape his players.

Being able to run a bus through our midfield and defence didn’t help either, the gaping holes in the middle of the park, as well as the backline are a major concern going into the rest of the season, an area that is in desperate need of upgrading.

Anthony Ralston of Celtic reacts after the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 Play off round second leg match between LASK and Celtic at on August 25, 2026 in Linz, Austria. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)

Some of Martin O’Neill’s substitutions going into extra-time were quite baffling too. When we went into extra time, needing a goal, and he decides to throw Tony Ralston into proceedings when we had the attacking ability of the recently signed Haissem Hassan to call upon.

Callum Osmand, James Forrest, and Johnny Kenny were also available, but why the veteran Irishman decided to go with a player deemed third choice in his position is a complete mystery.

Even in the extra time period, we looked devoid of both spirit, and a cutting edge, we were an absolute disgrace and deserved all we got, that’s the honest truth.

Our incompetent board have also got to take their share of the responsibility, that’s a fact.

READ THIS…Total Abdication – No Hiding Places After Celtic’s Austrian Horror Show

They might have spent nigh on £30 million over the summer, largely funded by the sale of Arne Engels. But once again their incompetence on the recruitment front has seen them fail to strengthen an area of the squad that cost us big time last night.

Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic reacts after the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 Play off round second leg match between LASK and Celtic at on August 25, 2026 in Linz, Austria. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)

We finished the game with a back four of Anthony Ralston, Dane Murray, Auston Trusty, and Liam Scales, and that is quite ridiculous for a game of this magnitude.

We’ve asked questions of last night, and we can only ask what happens next.

Will we bring in new players to improve the areas of our squad that cost us so dear last night? Will we decide to cash in on yet another key player due to missing out on a big payday?

Martin O’Neill, Manager of Celtic looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 Play off round second leg match between LASK and Celtic at on August 25, 2026 in Linz, Austria. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)

The manager and players are quite rightly facing their share of criticism, but those upstairs have to take responsibility also. All eyes, and righty so, will be fully focused on the Celtic hierarchy in the weeks to come.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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