Chris Sutton has offered a rather interesting viewpoint on Martin O’Neill’s second and third stints in the Celtic Park dugout.
The former striker has claimed his one-time legendary boss has adopted a dramatically different, ‘softly, softly’ approach to handle all matters related to Celtic this season.
“I just look at the way Martin has handled things,” Sutton observed recently.
“He is certainly different from his spell when I was there. Even the (Kasper) Schmeichel thing. He was quite softly, softly with that. I can’t imagine him being softly, softly 25 years ago.”
Since O’Neill’s shock and much-welcomed return in October, over two periods, he has had to navigate a relentless storm that is still circling above Glasgow.
Given that the Irishman has never been shy to say what he thinks, Sutton is clearly seeing and hearing a different man who once ruled and dominated Scotland from his Celtic throne.
Has O’Neill been soft in his approach since returning to Celtic?
Chris Sutton thinks so!
Chris Sutton thinks Martin O’Neill has been soft in his approach since returning to Celtic
O’Neill was ringside for that deeply chaotic and abandoned Celtic AGM and has dealt with continuous off-field turbulence.
Although he did show a flash of his old self by calling out Celtic fans for throwing tennis balls onto the pitch against VfB Stuttgart in the Europa League, which was another visual protest against the board.
However, the Kasper Schmeichel injury saga perfectly highlights this newfound restraint, which Sutton is alluding to.
Celtic’s number one goalkeeper annoyed sections of the fanbase, including Sutton, who felt he was being selfish by putting himself first.
Yet, O’Neill wasn’t strong in his public condemnation, which is exactly where Sutton has a point.
The Treble-winning hitman will know better than anyone else. As a key part of that famous Celtic side, he saw O’Neill at his absolute peak – at his ruthless, no-nonsense best.
If Sutton says his former manager has mellowed, you can’t argue that there has to be some element of truth to it, as he told The Daily Record.
“I just look at the way Martin has handled things,” said Sutton. “He is certainly different from his spell when I was there. Even the Schmeichel thing.
“He was quite softly, softly with that. I can’t imagine him being softly, softly 25 years ago. I just can’t. Even with the players coming in January.
“I think he realises how delicate the situation is at the club. I think he realises that he has a fragile dressing room. His game is to try to keep everyone on side. Trying to keep that harmony. Trying to talk the signings up in January, when I am telling you, he’s not having those signings. I am telling you.
“That’s the path he has gone down. I do understand that. Really, when you look at things, what’s his alternative?
“I saw online he was getting criticism for the starting XI against Dundee United. I would love these people who are criticising the starting XI to try and pick a Celtic team, at this moment in time.
“Who is a nailed-on certainty, who you think, ‘Yeah, we have got him. He’s alright?'”
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