Chris Sutton believes Martin O’Neill is fully aware of how poor Celtic can be at times and insists his old gaffer remains unconvinced by the club’s attacking additions made during the January window…
In a scathing verdict, the former Hoops striker also questioned Kelechi Iheanacho’s work rate, branding his performances as lacking intensity, while claiming Celtic’s title hopes are effectively over.
Sutton admitted he is perplexed by the current state of the squad under O’Neill, suggesting the manager has been overly cautious in his approach in an effort to keep stability within the dressing room.
Following the disappointing 2-0 defeat to Dundee United at the weekend, Sutton told Record Sport Celtic podcast: “He [O’Neill] is doing his best to get by, but he realised it was coming. I heard him talk before the game and, because of the recent performances, he was never getting carried away about we’ve got momentum now and this real belief.”
“It’s the complete opposite of that and why is it like that? Because he knows the team is (poor) at times and that’s the problem. I just look at the way that Martin has handled things. I think he’s certainly different from his spell when I was there. The Schmeichel thing, he was quite softly, softly with that. I can’t imagine him being softly, softly with that 25 years ago.”
“Even with the players coming in in January because I think he realises how delicate the situation is at the club. I think he realises that he has a fragile dressing room, so his game is trying to keep everybody on side, trying to keep that harmony, trying to talk the signings up in January when, I’m telling you, he’s not having those signings. I’m telling you.”
Sutton added: “But that’s the path he’s gone down and I do understand that because, really, when you look at things, what’s his alternative?”
“The centre forward situation is an absolute shambles. How can the club be in a position where they are, this is part-time stuff. It really is. It’s absolutely amateur hour and I think you can see the frustration in Martin’s face. I saw online he was getting criticism about the starting line-up at the weekend. I would love these people who are criticising to try and pick a Celtic team at this moment in time.
“Celtic are desperate, they’re playing like a desperate team and with every selection, every weekend, I bet Martin is just scratching his head, like we all would be. Do I think Celtic will win the league? No. Absolutely not.”
Sutton singled out Celtic’s attacking department as a major red flag, highlighting the minimal influence of recent signings like Junior Adamu and Joel Mvuka since their arrivals.
Sutton continued: “That position has been a problem area all season. This is where I do feel for Martin in the fact that he’s watching these players train every day and it’s literally like a lucky dip who is going to play centre-forward week in and week out.
“The fact he has made changes in recent times after 45 minutes just shows you what a mess, what a muddle Celtic are in and that’s not ideal. It was a shock to me Iheanacho starting. I’ve seen a lot of stuff online, people saying, well, he’s our best striker, but I still think he’s miles off it.
“He does some good things in terms of his link-up is okay, but I think there were times in the first half where he was just downright lazy and didn’t work hard enough when balls were being played forward to actually get in a position where he could even be challenging for a ball and a knockdown.
“Maybe fatigue had something to do with that, but it’s been the story of Celtic season in the final third. Iheanacho’s game, and he’s good at it, holding the ball, but then you still need players who are going to run in behind, get up in touch.”
“Cvancara, I don’t quite know what he is yet. He seems to be a little bit of everything. Adamu, I watched his finishing before the game and you’re thinking, really? Do you want a big chance to fall to him? Johnny Kenny this season hasn’t worked out.”
“We all know what it all goes back to. And, as I said, it’s a guessing game for Martin. He must be tearing his hair out at the fact that he has to work with what he has to work with,” Chris Sutton said.
“Celtic have to win seven games. That’s what we probably all think, maybe six and a draw, but are Celtic really capable of doing that? And we all know the answer.
“I never quite knew what to make of the split, but this season, I do think it’s going to be epic. Everybody’s capable of beating each other and that’s what Celtic can cling to, really.”
Last seasons:
Kyogo 12G/4A
Kuhn 21G/15A
O’Riley 19G/18A
Idah 20G/1AThis season:
Tounekti 5G/1A
Balikwisha 1G/2A
Yamada 0G/0A
Nygren 19G/7A (only bright spot)
Adamu 2G/1A
Iheanacho 3G/1A
Cvancara 4G/3A
Mvuka 0G/0ASold the goals, didn’t replace them — the table reflects it. pic.twitter.com/4frAenFh3D
— MaedaOnZidane’sFloor (@BhoyCeltic88) March 24, 2026
Conor Spence
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ANYONE who goes to watch us play regularly can see just how bad MOST of our squad is .
The state we have been allowed to get into could take 4/5 years to get out of .
Can you imagine what Bayern Munich/ Barcelona would do to us IF WE ACTUALLY GET INTO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE?
I said at the start of the season that if someone invested 50 million into either Edinburgh side the GLASGOW CLUBS WOULD BEVIN TROUBLE