Sheridan questions Martin O’Neill’s team selection | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill will naturally face criticism after the teams disappointing defeat at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon, indeed he’s already in the firing line, and rightly so due to him being the man that picks the team and sets up the tactical plan…

13th September 2026; Ibrox, Scottish League Cup, Rangers versus Celtic; Celtic manager Martin O’Neill. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Several former Celtic players have come out and questioned the veteran Irishman’s team selection, with the latest being former Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan.

The former Republic of Ireland international also reckons a sweep of the decks will be required for Thursday’s Europa league opener against Ferencvaros at Celtic Park, due to a huge percentage of Hoops players not turning up at Ibrox on Sunday.

Speaking on the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast Sheridan said: “I can imagine personnel changing [on Thursday] because I think there were too many players that didn’t show up against Rangers.”

13th September 2026; Ibrox; Scottish League Cup Football, Rangers versus Celtic; Haissem Hassan of Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Like most other observers, Sheridan was taken aback by the decision to start with Sebastian Tounekti at the expense of Haissem Hassan.

“I was surprised that Tounekti started,” Sheridan admitted. “I thought the game was built for Hassan and to see the front three of Hassan, Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran.

“If there were worries over Hassan’s fitness, you start him and give him 60 minutes. I just knew as soon as the team was announced that that half-time change was coming.”

13th September 2026; Ibrox, Scottish League Cup Football, Rangers versus Celtic; Benjamin Nygren of Celtic and Sebastian Tounekti of Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

The pundit also said that Martin O’Neill will take some criticism over his selections, and the changes he made during the game.

Sheridan explained his reasoning: “O’Neill will maybe take a little bit of criticism, probably for his selections and one or two subs he made, but said that should be expected at a club as big as Celtic, where one defeat and poor display is treated like a crisis.

“At clubs like Celtic and Rangers, as soon as one bad result comes, it’s magnified and the season’s in crisis.”

Arne Engels is unveiled as a West Ham player. Photo West Ham United

There’s obviously some truth in that but it was more than just losing at Ibrox on Sunday that has annoyed so many Celtic supporters. The formation has been a problem particularly since Arne Engels left the club to join West Ham in a £22m deal. He has NOT been replaced and the midfield is now vulnerable, as we all saw in Linz and then at Ibrox.

The Celtic captain said that the players were all playing as individuals and NOT as a team and that is unacceptable and is never going to work. That too lies at the door of the manager. It’s where the buck stops.

13th September 2026; Ibrox, Scottish League Cup Football, Rangers versus Celtic; Cameron Carter Vickers of Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Yes the players must look at themselves individually and collectively and that will be happening at Lennoxtown today.  There are plenty of experienced players in the squad aside from Callum McGregor. James Forrest, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Cameron Carter-Vickers and others. They must speak up.

The idea that players were thrown into that hostile Glasgow Derby environment because the manager wanted to give them a game is amateur hour stuff. Play your best, most reliable and most experienced players, the ones who have handled that kind of atmosphere before.

13th September 2026; Ibrox, Scottish League Cup, Rangers versus Celtic; Sam Johnstone of Celtic checks his gloves after Dan Neil of Rangers shoots and scores in the 75th minute to make it 3-0 to Rangers. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

So there are plenty of valid criticism of the players and the coaching staff before we even consider the role played by the Celtic Board who essentially made a profit in the summer transfer window so added to their huge cash reserves – money mostly coming from the support – rather than dipping into to it to bring in for instance a quality six and a top goalkeeper rather than rely on the fourth choice keeper at Wolves on a cheap loan option.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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