Two years ago, it was Neil Lennon under pressure. Celtic were on a course to lose their first league title in a decade. Fans were unable to attend but a few turned up anyway to boo and harass. Confidence was low and the siege that soon surrounded the club didn’t help.
I spoke to ‘sources close to the club’ after the 2-2 draw at Easter Road in November 2020 and suggested, ‘You’re probably going to lose the league, but if you change manager, it might not be too late’. Changing manager sounds easier than it ever is, but once you make that decision, more difficult questions arise.
When Neil eventually left in February, we promoted John Kennedy as caretaker. John could have taken control earlier and generated something of a dead cat bounce, but that change was not going to transform Celtic from losers to winners.
If we sacked Neil after that draw with Hibs, we could have gone to market trying to recruit a replacement for a manager, who at that stage, had won 100% of the domestic competitions the club competed in during his tenure. It is one thing to sack a failed manager, but sack a manager who had never failed because some fans demanded it? Proportionality of response is required if you are to be taken seriously by serious candidates.
Managers all know the script when it comes to the pressure clubs are under to sack someone when results go south, and they always go south at some point. Celtic didn’t sack Neil that autumn, he left by his own hand with the season’s business overwhelmingly settled.
The problems we had that season were far from limited to the manager. The goalkeeping situation was a disaster zone, as was central defence. We had a defender, midfielder and striker all in the final period of their contracts and wanting away. Jock Stein himself would not have been able to parachute into that mess and turn things around.
After a very lengthy and circuitous process, Celtic eventually recruited an outstanding talent who has transformed every aspect of the football operation. The recovery worked out better than any of us could have hoped. Still, we lost THAT league title.
There were a few reasons why Celtic didn’t sack Neil Lennon early that season, when the writing was on the wall. The man responsible knew he had to subsequently attract a replacement who was able to work the kind of magic Ange Postecoglou delivered. That is not easy. We did so with Brendan Rodgers, but when Brendan left, the recruitment job was much harder. We ended up with Neil, more than appointed him.
I think if a Brendan Rodgers-type candidate was there and prepared to come, Celtic would have made the move earlier that season. This was not the case. None of the options convinced anyone at Celtic that they were going to rescue a season that was so badly out of kilter.
Instead, the club looked to the horizon and planned how to put Celtic back on top as quickly as possible. Changing the manager in haste was not material to this, so Neil did the hard work and got on with the job to the best of his ability. For the record, those of you who spent time yesterday reminiscing, 10 years after beating Barcelona in the Champions League, might consider he was a talented manager. Many worse options were available in November 2020.
Looking back on a successful recovery, this makes sense. At the time, most people just wanted a clearly failing manager sacked. When things are going wrong, we want action, often without considering if the most likely actions will only make things worse.
I cannot believe the bloodthirst for Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Less than six months ago he took a team of journeymen to a European final, one they would have won bar a remarkable save two minutes from the end of extra time. He then beat PSV Eindhoven to qualify for the Champions League group stage, again, a remarkable performance.
The problems at Newco are not all his doing. He lost his best players in the summer and was given little of the proceeds to replace them. His team are aging and, like some in the Celtic squad of season 2019-20, have an eye on the door. He is also up against a formidable Celtic. Sacking the manager will not fix any of this. But still, the demands for action could scarcely be stronger.
Having watched how Celtic kept their eye firmly on recovery in November 2020, it is easy to look around at the mistakes of others.
Newco are surrounded by many worse options that sticking with van Bronckhorst, and I doubt they have genuine faith in a way forward that they believe will knock Celtic off the podium. They can sack a manager who achieved spectacularly for them, or face down some entitled fans. It will be a measure of their board if they are prepared to take abusive flack personally when a scapegoat is available.
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Crltic40me
At the old Victoria ground the Stoke fans occupied the Boothen end, the other end was mainly away fans but no segregation.
Typically near the end of the game the Stoke fans would wait outside for the away fans – carnage ensued – running battles all the way to the station. Worse than anything I saw at Parkhead.
Big Jimmy
I’m always ahead of the game – it’s because I’m going to the footie tonight.
School boy error.
Bye for now fellow travellers – off to pick up the grandson
TONIGHT on ITV4 ( Channel 26 Freeview) its
OSASUNA v BARCELONA.
Prog starts at 8pm.
The Kick Off is 8.30pm.
ive got a wee Correct Score on with my Bookie…Just for added fun.
HH
To REPOST…Just in case…
BIG JIMMY on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 1:37 PM
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 11:27 AM
Reading about the possibility of a ticket exchange scheme.
I would be delighted with that development as I would be able to get rid of my season ticket seat for games against sevco.
I did ask about the possibility of having these removed from my season ticket when sevco got promoted but was told that the only way was to give up my own seats and buy seats in an area of the ground that didn’t include thst fixture.
…………………………
Can I offer up a POSSIBLE Solution to benefit us BOTH ?
Depending on ” WHERE” your Seat is in Celtic Park ( I cant climb too many stairs), I would like to suggest that IF youa re happy to ” SELL” your seat for games against Sevco. I could buy the Seat from you prior to these Two Games….and possibly any Cup Tie against them ?
If we agreed, I could meet you in Glasgow a Day or two BEFORE the game and we would swap the Seat for Cash ? I wouldnt wish to leave such an arrangement until the Day of the game IF possible ?
if agreed, I would get myself to Celtic Park as early as possible by taxi, and gain entry to The Sports Bar. after the game, I would again try and enter the Sports Bar for at least a couple of Hours, and then Phone a Taxi to take me to another pub or Home , once the main volume of the crowd has long departed ?
IF you are interested, then please let me know on here ASAP, and thereafter you could get my Email Address/Phone Number from The MOD/PAUL67 ?
HH Mate.
I havent heard or read one single Pundit or Hun fan suggesting THAT Fitba Manager GENIUS….Wee Barry Ferguson as a possible replacement for GVB ?
Funny that, cos every week Wee Barry shares all his Fitba knowledge to the readers of the Daily Ranger.
LOL
HH.
Big Jimmy
That idiot couldn’t manage his own sock drawer.
Big Jimmy, both Morecombe and Wise were working class Conservatives. The fact that they worked all their lives and they made millions of working class people laugh is all that matters.
I found Eric Morecambe false, predictable and decidedly unfunny.
Hot Smoked , that is the bottom line, you either laugh or you don’t.
Gio van Bronckhorst promises Rangers doubters ‘I can turn it around’ amid latest injury hammer blow
The 47-year-old retains the support of the Ibrox board despite fed-up punters letting rip amid a seven-point deficit.
Apparently SAKALA is also injured and will miss the enxt Two games.
Hot Smoked 3.21
Quite a few women have used that description regarding ole BRRB. Usually accompanied by sweary words and a battering with a blunt weapon.
HOT SMOKED on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 3:21 PM
I found Eric Morecambe false, predictable and decidedly unfunny.
………….
Fair enough mate, each to their own.
HH
BIGRAILROADBLUES on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 3:17 PM
Big Jimmy
That idiot couldn’t manage his own sock drawer.
……………………
But…But….what about his managerial record and ALL his Fitba knowledge ?
LOL
HH
RIMTIMTIM on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 3:19 PM
Big Jimmy, both Morecombe and Wise were working class Conservatives. The fact that they worked all their lives and they made millions of working class people laugh is all that matters.
……………
I agree Mate.
Frank Carson was the Funniest Guy Ive ever seen on stage…..
I also loved Norman Wisdom from when I was a young Bhoy and watch all his Films in the Cinema…he STILL makes me laugh Today.
” MR GRIMSDALE”.
What a life wee Norman had…a VERY tough upbringing and he joined the Army and taught himself to play plenty of instruments, and he was NO MUG when he took to Boxing in the Army>
HH mate.
BIGRAILROADBLUES on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 3:32 PM
That made me laugh more the Morecambe & Wise ever did !
🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Oops
Tomorrow`s game is a big one for me. I am fairly confident of a good result against Ross County on the Saturday ( When I`ll be at the Whisky Festival at Hampden park !!) so three points tomorrow and our seven point lead could be even greater before we break for the No interest on My Part World Cup.
Having mentioned that Festival just reminded me that my ticket is going spare for Saturday. Big Jimmy? BRRB?
Anyone?
Hot Smoked
A full report on the Whisky festival please J. I should be at Paradise on Saturday thanks to the great guy that is Coneybhoy.
P.S. Why was I not invited and don’t forget the free samples of Speyside malts for me. Thanks in advance.
Hot Smoked
Coneybhoy is posting his season book to me again. Hopefully royal mail won’t eff that up. Where is your seat J?
Where to start with this absolute garbage ?!
“Sack a manager that had never failed”…aye, except for of course the £60 million left on the table because said manager couldn’t get past Cluj and Ferencvaros !
Most of us know a good manager when we see it. Brendan Rodgers and Ange fall into this category. Neil Lennon doesn’t. Which is why he got sacked from his job in Cyprus and is currently out of work.
The amount of delusional revisionist nonsense today as regards Neil Lennon’s final year in charge makes the rest of the piece redundant.
P67……..You say “His team are aging”.
Is that the same as “His team are AGEING”?
Either way, his team are definitely getting a bit long in the tooth.
It’s a finite life.
GENE on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 2:45 PM
The plastic pitches at Luton and QPR were a prequel to 1G pitches. Ball bounced higher than a house
I recall that qpr pitch,1G = 1 layer of green cement,happened to walk across it,terrible surface imo.
HH
HOT SMOKED on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 3:49 PM
Having mentioned that Festival just reminded me that my ticket is going spare for Saturday. Big Jimmy? BRRB?
Anyone?
……………..
I would be interested HOT SMOKED, if BRRB is fixed up okay with a Ticket/Book ?
HH Mate.
BRRB…
Do YOU have HOT SMOKED’S Number…If so can YOU Text it to me….IF HOT SMOKED is happy to give his seat to a Eric Morecambe fan ?
LOL.
HH
Big Jimmy
I don’t have Hot Smoked number. Maybe An Tearmann has if he’s lurking aboot.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou says the bulk of his transfer work ahead of the January window has been done – as he demanded a “strong finish” before the World Cup break.
Postecoglou’s team face Motherwell on Wednesday night hoping to extend, or at least maintain their seven point lead over Rangers at the top of the Premiership. They edged out Dundee United in a 4-2 thriller last time out and go in high on confidence having thumped Stevie Hammell’s team 4-0 in the Premier Sports Cup less than a month ago. After that, they face Ross County at home to sign off for the break and Postecoglou has demanded they keep their winning run going.
He said: “We need to get through the next two games nice and strong. We’ve had a really solid block of games. Champions League results aside our performances have been really strong through that and our league form’s been excellent.
BIGRAILROADBLUES on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 4:23 PM
Big Jimmy
I don’t have Hot Smoked number. Maybe An Tearmann has if he’s lurking aboot.
…………….
Cheers mate.
My MAIN Horse bet Today was a ” LUCKY 15″.
THREE Winners outta Four Horses.
The EARLY ODDs on the Three winners were 4/1, 7/2 and 0/30…SO I showed a good Profit.
HH Mate.
AN TEARMANN…
Do you have HOT SMOKEDS Number, IF you do can you text it to me ?
Cheers mate.
HOT SMOKED…
You can ask The MOD for my Phone Number and/or my Email Address, if you wish ?
Cheers Mate.
HH.
Big Jimmy
Ffs if you fell in the Clyde you would come oot riding Shergar with Lord Lucan hung on yer saddle and a salmon in yer mooth. 🤣
They can sack a manager who achieved spectacularly for them, or face down some entitled fans.
—-
Entitled ? Entitled to what ? An opinion? Give us your cash but shut up ? Is that it ?
How dare any of us question Desmond or Lawwell !
I’m very sorry, here take my cash.
I hope the huns keep GVB. Evidently so does P67.
The fact Celtic fans want GVB to stay sort of indicates something, doesn’t it ?
If P67 genuinely believed keeping GVB in place was to the benefit of the huns, then he wouldn’t have posted this article today.
Fastest Players in the Champions League this season
Mykhailo Mudryk – 36.6 km/h
Ousmane Dembele – 36.6
Rafael Leao – 36.5
Fede Valverde – 36.3
Nuno Tavares 36.2
Big Jimmy
i`ve been out. I`ll email Paul now and either get your number from him or get him to pass mine on to you.