what now after the rovers return?

Celtic's crushing victory over their Premiership opponents has gone some way to anointing the open wound that was FC Basel with some soothing balm. All the more pleasing because the soothing balm came at the expense of a seething bam in the shape of Graeme Souness.

Regulation trouncings of Thistle, Aberdeen, Hearts and the rest will never compensate for a dearth of European football at Celtic Park. As it stands, Our Favourite Martin now stands poised like Hannibal facing the Alps, knee deep in elephant dung but undaunted at the prospect of leading his petulant pachyderms over the peaks and on to glory (What the hell are you on about Lurker? bewildered ed).

O'Neill's challenge is keeping the Hoops in Europe after the Christmas holidays for the first time since Billy McNeill's side took on Real Madrid in 1980. Twenty two years is indeed a long time in football.

Celta Vigo will be difficult opponents, but recent form suggests that the players - and O'Neill - have rediscovered the passion for the cause that seemed strangely lacking in the early months of the season. Perhaps we might yet have cause to thank Sadam. His churlish lack of respect for his opponents after the game at Celtic Park as relayed to the press through his players seems to have goaded the Hoops on to greater things.

The reaction of the Scottish media to such a hard fought - not to mention rare - win over the auld enemy also seems to have struck a raw nerve. While the English media's coverage of the tie was entirely predictable in its dismissal of Celtic's chances, it still flew in the face of logic. Did none of the hacks or the commentators stop to consider that it was more or less the same players who saw off Rosenborg, Porto, Juventus and Valencia at Celtic Park last season? Who would take Blackburn Rovers to beat any of the aforementioned? (Probably the same English media... but you get my point I hope).

In terms of a feelgood factor, the Blackburn result has been the highlight of the season so far. As a preview of how Celtic might get on if the club migrates south it was pretty meaningless. Enough hot air to float Richard Branson's wee balloon round the world was spouted about how this Celtic team would manage in the Premiership. Yet, if it ever did happen, presumably the idea would be to offload at least half of this current squad and replace them with better players?

Any English club chairman inviting a club with an average attendance second only to Manchester United and the potential to be just as big in a global context to join the league his team are desperate to stay in would surely only do it while dressed in a turkey costume and tearing pages from an advent calendar.

The Blackburn result suggests to me that the majority of the Premiership clubs - those depending on membership for survival - are more likely to form the wagons in a circle rather than lay out the welcome mat.

In some ways it's a pity. Although there are aspects of playing in an English League which are complete anathema, even the commentators and players down south couldn't fail to have been caught up in the atmosphere generated by the match. It's the kind of atmosphere that's non-existent at most Premiership stadia.

The other unfortunate knock-on effect of the UEFA Cup tie is the renewed speculation surrounding the future of OFM. We just can't win here can we? If Celtic hit a patch of sticky form he'll be off because we're not good enough to satisfy his ambition. If the team get a result like the Rovers game, he's off because the big clubs are after him again.

Neither can I be the only Celtic fan who is getting some amusement from the desperate antics of the press to try and discern MON's intentions. He is contracted till the end of the season and we have to assume that he will stay at least until then. Although it might pain the hacks to admit it, neither MON or the current board of directors are stupid. If O'Neill advises them that his intention is to leave we would like to think that they will take the necessary steps to acquire a new manager. If his inclination is to stay we have to believe that the board will do what it can to support his ambitions.

All the while the tabloids are acting like spoilt brats trying to find out in advance what Santa has brought them for Christmas. One week it's the grudged exclusive, 'MON to stay.' The next, the enthusiastic, 'MON is off.'

Oh well, at least that way they get to claim that they knew his intentions all along. One wonders if they will focus so much on McLeish when his contract is due for renewal?

As an ordinary supporter, while I would love Martin O'Neill to stay, I currently want him to focus his energies on keeping us top of the league and knocking Celta Vigo out of Europe. Whether he stays or goes is not our decision. Let the tabloids worry about that. The club will survive whatever MON decides.

MANFRED LURKER and a Gentleman

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