James Forrest
The Emperor of Ice Cream
Yesterday was the day, fellow Celtic fans, when we experienced the first glimpse of football under Wilfried Nancy. It was his first game as The Hoops gaffer and, as I said in my last articles, he acts immediately.
He doesn’t stand still or wait for permission from anyone; he gets to work. He is known for a proactive, possession-based and tactically intelligent coaching style, blended with a leadership philosophy built around human connection, empathy, and player development.
We had also just said goodbye to Martin O’Neill after the Dundee match. Celtic fans and the club gave farewell to a brilliant legend — a manager who will be remembered for generations. His words to the supporters touched my heart: “Don’t you ever forget that you’re the best in the world.”
The O’Neill era has passed, but his place in our hearts remains secure.
Martin also offered Wilfried Nancy some advice — to ignore the toxic off-pitch noise and certain elements around the boardroom. Watching the match, it felt as though Nancy followed that advice. He seemed focused only on doing everything he could to help Celtic win — blocking out the distractions and simply getting on with the job.
Wilfried Nancy describes himself as a leader rather than a boss, and I already see that in him. He creates an environment where players feel free to express themselves. More importantly, he has a proven ability to improve players — raising their understanding of the game and helping them perform above expectations.
When I put all of that together, I still believe we have appointed a brilliant manager. So, the obvious question after yesterday is: what went wrong?
The defeat at Paradise was a bitter disappointment. What went wrong with the Lions in green and white? Why could we not overpower Hearts as we did last season?
My summary is simple: the football we played wasn’t bad, and we dominated possession across both halves, but we didn’t show enough quality at the crucial moments. We created chances — but didn’t finish them with the ruthless edge required. It was a good effort, but football only rewards goals. Where were the finishes, boys? Where was the killer instinct to press harder and win the match?
I understand that the squad needs time to adjust to Nancy’s tactics and style of play. A coach cannot simply walk into the club and see instant perfection — the players must learn the system, understand their roles, and grow into it together. That takes time and repetition.
However, I worry about something else. The critics.
Imagine arriving as the new Celtic manager and losing your very first game. That’s not a pleasant situation in any environment, although he is by no means the first person to do it. But there is real pressure already surrounding the club. My fear is that people will start criticising him early rather than backing him properly. And the board might feel the same. I still don’t fully trust that their support will be genuine.
The team played reasonably well yesterday, yet failed to take chances.
Why didn’t we finish Hearts off early? How come we sometimes looked out of ideas?
Why wasn’t our overall performance sharper? I wish I knew the clear answers.
This result shouldn’t have happened. We looked like champions during O’Neill’s short return — so why, under a new manager attempting to build something long-term, do we suddenly resemble a side struggling? Why is this contrast so stark? Did he change too much too early? Or are the weaknesses in the squad more visible after a defeat than they are after a win?
For me, the answers lie in the squad itself. We remain short in key positions — defence, midfield, and attack. Callum McGregor desperately needs a dependable backup. We still lack a consistent goal scorer like Kyogo. Injuries continue to pile up, leaving many of our best players unavailable.
How many times do we have to repeat the same warnings? When will the Celtic board finally understand that this team needs real change, genuine improvement, and fresh blood — immediately? We should have signings done and players ready to register the very minute the transfer window opens … why do I suspect we’ll wait weeks?
Another concern is the managerial transition itself. Rodgers left suddenly, O’Neill returned temporarily and lifted performances, and now Nancy has arrived with both new ideas and big responsibility. Everything has happened very quickly. Is that instability helping the team? Maybe not — but I still believe patience is the only sensible route.
I truly think Wilfried Nancy is a brilliant manager. The team needs time to adapt to his philosophy — but it also needs urgent reinforcement if we’re to avoid slipping into real danger. Tactical ideas alone cannot compensate for squad weaknesses.
I remain worried about the upcoming matches.
If we perform against Roma the way we did at times yesterday, we risk a heavy defeat — and that could damage confidence ahead of the cup final. However, I believe the Celtic Lions will respond. I believe Nancy will demonstrate his qualities as a coach. And I believe Celtic will rise, play like champions once more, and do the jobs that matter; first the cup and then focus with all our concentration on accumulating as many points as we can before the window opens. Then it’s in the hands of the board.
The post Yesterday was a bad day for Celtic. But the new boss needs time … and support. appeared first on The Celtic Blog.
Continue reading...
He doesn’t stand still or wait for permission from anyone; he gets to work. He is known for a proactive, possession-based and tactically intelligent coaching style, blended with a leadership philosophy built around human connection, empathy, and player development.
We had also just said goodbye to Martin O’Neill after the Dundee match. Celtic fans and the club gave farewell to a brilliant legend — a manager who will be remembered for generations. His words to the supporters touched my heart: “Don’t you ever forget that you’re the best in the world.”
The O’Neill era has passed, but his place in our hearts remains secure.
Martin also offered Wilfried Nancy some advice — to ignore the toxic off-pitch noise and certain elements around the boardroom. Watching the match, it felt as though Nancy followed that advice. He seemed focused only on doing everything he could to help Celtic win — blocking out the distractions and simply getting on with the job.
Wilfried Nancy describes himself as a leader rather than a boss, and I already see that in him. He creates an environment where players feel free to express themselves. More importantly, he has a proven ability to improve players — raising their understanding of the game and helping them perform above expectations.
When I put all of that together, I still believe we have appointed a brilliant manager. So, the obvious question after yesterday is: what went wrong?
The defeat at Paradise was a bitter disappointment. What went wrong with the Lions in green and white? Why could we not overpower Hearts as we did last season?
My summary is simple: the football we played wasn’t bad, and we dominated possession across both halves, but we didn’t show enough quality at the crucial moments. We created chances — but didn’t finish them with the ruthless edge required. It was a good effort, but football only rewards goals. Where were the finishes, boys? Where was the killer instinct to press harder and win the match?
I understand that the squad needs time to adjust to Nancy’s tactics and style of play. A coach cannot simply walk into the club and see instant perfection — the players must learn the system, understand their roles, and grow into it together. That takes time and repetition.
However, I worry about something else. The critics.
Imagine arriving as the new Celtic manager and losing your very first game. That’s not a pleasant situation in any environment, although he is by no means the first person to do it. But there is real pressure already surrounding the club. My fear is that people will start criticising him early rather than backing him properly. And the board might feel the same. I still don’t fully trust that their support will be genuine.
The team played reasonably well yesterday, yet failed to take chances.
Why didn’t we finish Hearts off early? How come we sometimes looked out of ideas?
Why wasn’t our overall performance sharper? I wish I knew the clear answers.
This result shouldn’t have happened. We looked like champions during O’Neill’s short return — so why, under a new manager attempting to build something long-term, do we suddenly resemble a side struggling? Why is this contrast so stark? Did he change too much too early? Or are the weaknesses in the squad more visible after a defeat than they are after a win?
For me, the answers lie in the squad itself. We remain short in key positions — defence, midfield, and attack. Callum McGregor desperately needs a dependable backup. We still lack a consistent goal scorer like Kyogo. Injuries continue to pile up, leaving many of our best players unavailable.
How many times do we have to repeat the same warnings? When will the Celtic board finally understand that this team needs real change, genuine improvement, and fresh blood — immediately? We should have signings done and players ready to register the very minute the transfer window opens … why do I suspect we’ll wait weeks?
Another concern is the managerial transition itself. Rodgers left suddenly, O’Neill returned temporarily and lifted performances, and now Nancy has arrived with both new ideas and big responsibility. Everything has happened very quickly. Is that instability helping the team? Maybe not — but I still believe patience is the only sensible route.
I truly think Wilfried Nancy is a brilliant manager. The team needs time to adapt to his philosophy — but it also needs urgent reinforcement if we’re to avoid slipping into real danger. Tactical ideas alone cannot compensate for squad weaknesses.
I remain worried about the upcoming matches.
If we perform against Roma the way we did at times yesterday, we risk a heavy defeat — and that could damage confidence ahead of the cup final. However, I believe the Celtic Lions will respond. I believe Nancy will demonstrate his qualities as a coach. And I believe Celtic will rise, play like champions once more, and do the jobs that matter; first the cup and then focus with all our concentration on accumulating as many points as we can before the window opens. Then it’s in the hands of the board.
The post Yesterday was a bad day for Celtic. But the new boss needs time … and support. appeared first on The Celtic Blog.
Continue reading...
