Paul Lambert has warned that Martin O'Neill will not tolerate a repeat of last season's transfer window mistakes at Celtic, as the club's hierarchy faces mounting pressure to strengthen the squad. The Hoops have yet to make a single signing this summer, despite principal shareholder Dermot Desmond pledging a hefty transfer kitty after O'Neill signed on for another year.
Last season's chaotic recruitment culminated in a calamitous Champions League exit to Kairat Almaty, a failure the club vowed to learn from. However, with Rangers adding five new faces and Hearts bringing in eight, Celtic's only movement has been 12 departures, leaving fans fearing another disastrous window.
Lambert Backs O'Neill to Speak Up
Former Celtic captain Paul Lambert, who played under O'Neill during his iconic first spell 25 years ago, believes his old boss will not be afraid to demand the quality needed to retain the title and make an impact in Europe. Speaking to Record Sport, Lambert said: "I don't think Celtic as a club stands still at any point. I'm pretty sure the people in the hierarchy like Michael Nicholson and Dermot won't stand still, especially when the manager's there. The manager won't like that to happen again, that last season syndrome. I don't think anybody at Celtic wants that."
Lambert added: "I'm pretty sure everybody's learned their lesson that you can never take your eye off the ball, you can never take your foot off the gas, you have to go and win it again. And that's the beauty about Celtic, you have to keep winning it, it doesn't matter. That title's gone now, that's in the history books, you have to go and do it again."
Dialogue Key to Avoiding Mistakes
Lambert, who managed for 20 years, stressed the importance of communication between O'Neill, chief executive Michael Nicholson, and Desmond. "They'll talk and have dialogue between Martin, Michael and Dermot, I'm pretty sure. I don't know what parameters they'll go with but to make a mark in Europe, then they're going to have to go a good bit anyway, that's for sure."
He added: "Domestically is so important for them but if you can get into the Champions League, you don't want to be getting into that with one arm tied behind your back. If there's any manager that will get his way, it'll be him. That's the beauty of him, because he'll not take it easy if he's not going to get it. So I think you'll have good dialogue and that's why I think Celtic won't make the same mistake again."
O'Neill's Drive Unchanged
Lambert highlighted that O'Neill's desire for success remains undimmed. "I worked under him for five years and we had him in his pomp. We would run through walls for him at that time. He inherited some brilliant footballers and he brought in lads to help. He knew exactly what he wanted and who he wanted. I don't think that will change. I think that will be in him that he wants to be successful, he wants to make a mark in Europe, and all those sorts of things. He won't have changed. The only thing he's changed is his age, but he won't have changed the way he is as a person, and his drive to win games."
With the World Cup potentially affecting the timing of transfers, Lambert suggested Celtic may be waiting for the right opportunities. "I think due to the World Cup as well, and I know it's an easy answer. I don't know who Rangers and Hearts have brought in, but it depends on the type of player that Celtic are going for. Are they established World Cup players? Or are they playing for countries or are they Scottish guys? I'm not so sure, but maybe they're waiting for that time. But I'm pretty sure after what happened last season, I don't think they'll be sitting on their hands here, that's for sure."
