Nancy’s new-look Celtic fell flat with his 3-4-3 causing confusion against Hearts
10:38, 08 Dec 2025Updated 11:02, 08 Dec 2025
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy, holding his tactics board, reacts during their Premier League defeat at home to Hearts(Image: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Concerned Jeff Stelling reckons Wilfried Nancy‘s tactics board “wasn’t a good look” as the new boss misfired on his Celtic debut in the 2-1 defeat to Hearts.
And Ally McCoist agreed with his colleague’s belief that the 48-year-old former Columbus Crew boss was an “almighty punt”. Nancy’s new-look Celtic fell flat with his 3-4-3 causing confusion and Derek McInnes’ league leaders gleefully punished the errors made.
The Frenchman was questioned over his use of a tactics board in the second half – with Rangers legend Kris Boyd mockingly claiming the Celtic boss was playing connect four. Jeff Stelling, speaking on talkSPORT, said: “To be brutally honest, bar the last five minutes, Celtic never looked like scoring.
“A lot is being made, we saw the shots of Wilfried Nancy with his tactics board out, it wasn’t a good look. He’s got a good track record in the MLS, he’s never even been to Scotland, I mean this is an almighty punt, isn’t it?”
McCoist was in agreement with his co-host, stating: “I think so, I really do. I am not saying it after the event, after yesterday. You can take that game as a one off. Hearts, as we’ve seen, have beaten Celtic twice in a row, they won at Rangers. The result isn’t a massive surprise, it’s not a massive shock, I don’t think.
“I think the appointment surprised me, and a lot of folk. I wouldn’t have seen any reason not to keep Martin in it until the end of the season, certainly post-Cup Final. The one thing with Martin is he, he is far better than a steady pair of hands, but steadied the ship. With his managerial experience he came in and was winning games of football.
(Image: SNS Group)
“I thought it was a little bit of a gamble that wasn’t really needed and it could have waited until the end of the season.”
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