Trending
Celtic News Now
Celtic Quick News on News Now
Celtic Quick News
You are at:»»Bloodthirst to sack a scapegoat

Bloodthirst to sack a scapegoat

253
By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

253 Comments
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7

  1. celtic40me on

    Celtic with Greg Taylor and Matt O’Riley in top 20 for distance covered.

     

     

    Highest hun is Lundstram in 76th, although he only played 5 games, which says something about the rest of them

     

     

    5 Celtic players ran further than him

  4. Hot Smoked on

    CELTIC40ME on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 4:55 PM

     

     

    Matt 0`Riley? That will surprise a few, I reckon.

  7. celtic40me on

    HOT SMOKED on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 4:57 PM

     

     

    What a bargain he was. Only 21 and he’s stepped up so well we’ve hardly missed Calmac at all.

  9. Big Jimmy on

    HOT SMOKED on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 4:49 PM

     

    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.

     

    ……………..

     

     

    Okay mate, Cheers.

     

    HH

  10. Hot Smoked on

    CELTIC40ME on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 5:08 PM

     

     

    Agreed. After Broonie left, I saw Calmac as our most influential player. It says something about Matt that we don`t seem to be missing Calmac at all.

  11. Hot Smoked on

    BigJimmy

     

    Just thought of a plan if there is any hold up from Paul`s end ( he`s a busier man than either of us !).

     

    We`ll wait until tomorrow for a reply then, if one hasn`t arrived, we can use the Shipbank number as our go-between. OK ?

     

    We`ll just leave it for the moment, though and hope Paul makes contact.

  12. An Tearmann on

    POR CIERTO on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 2:12 PM

     

     

    Their board has seen the consequences of DK’s previous encounters with courts and is, rightly so, hesitant to put themselves and the club in that position again.

     

     

    Haw you,dae yi hink daktari div dun it aw fir nuhhin? :-)

     

     

    Hi there PC,I was checking out something on coefficient and came across this kieran Macguire interview explaining at approx 22.34-38 how much he is taking out.

     

    Quite interesting as it explains 10yr coefficient too .

     

     

    HH

  14. An Dún on

    The comparison between us in 20/21 and the huns today is just plain wrong.

     

     

    I don’t think it makes a difference this season whether the huns sack or back GVB. We’re clearly the best side in the country and there’s no way they stop us winning this league.

     

     

    At this stage in the 20/21 season we were 9 points behind with two games in hand (thanks Nichola). Had we made the change, we could have turned it around.

     

     

    In Nov 20/21 we were within distance of a side that had won nothing. A side that had bottled two league campaigns the previous two years.

     

    The huns this season are up against the defending double champions and lie 7 points behind having played the same number of games.

     

     

    Apples and oranges comparison, P67..

  16. lambert14 on

    Paul 67

     

    ‘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.’

     

     

    How did you know the recruitment would be harder in looking for Brendan’s replacement?

     

    A stupid nonsensical statement, remember, Lawwell told everyone that he never even looked at the CVs received to replace Lennon.

     

    Nonsense Paul.

     

    ‘We ended up with Lennon rather than appoint him’.. i’m being genuine when I say don’t say this in public if you want to avoid people laughing at you.

     

     

    ‘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.’

     

     

    None of the above would have been necessary if Lawwell had recruited a proper manager rather than Lennon to replace Rodgers.

     

     

     

    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.

     

     

    ‘Lennon got on with the job to the best of his ability’

     

    Do you mean like going abroad during peak covid and having a swally in the afternoon in the hotel?

     

     

    ‘Many worse options were available in November 2020.’

     

    Unbelievable.

     

    What a statement to try to justify appointing Lennon as manager of a huge football club.

  18. lambert14 on

    SAINT STIVS on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 5:08 PM

     

    Neil Lennon was so shite in Cyprus he only won one cup final.

     

    ——————————————————-

     

    Hiyya Neil

     

    Hiyya pal.

  19. Big Jimmy on

    HOT SMOKED on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 5:14 PM

     

    BigJimmy

     

     

     

     

    Just thought of a plan if there is any hold up from Paul`s end ( he`s a busier man than either of us !).

     

     

     

     

    We`ll wait until tomorrow for a reply then, if one hasn`t arrived, we can use the Shipbank number as our go-between. OK ?

     

    …………………

     

    I dont think the Shipbank has a LAND KINE Number any more. there is one listed on the Website, But I do NOT think it applies now ?

     

    If We I dont get a Text/Email or phone call from you by Midnight Tomorrow, I will POST My Phone Number on here EARLY on Thursday morning ?

     

    IF any Nutters from here, or any Huns wish to Text or Phone me, I will soon BLOCK their number after speaking to you, and then ask the MOD to DELETE my Post with my number ASAP ?

     

    Failing all that, YOU can Post on here WHEN you will be in Glasgow etc, and we can arrange to MEET etc ?

     

     

    HH.

     

    HH

  20. celtic40me on

    AN DÚN on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 5:25 PM

     

     

    Lenny had turned around a 15 point deficit in the past. We already had a manger who was capable of doing it.

  22. Gene on

    In the style of BRRB

     

    In the Knypersley club having a Guinness before the bus arrives to take us to the Bet365 stadium. My son in law’s drink of choice is Poreti – some Italian lager.

     

    Will probably have another before we leave and have another in the ground 🍻

     

     

    Is there no end to this folly

  23. An Tearmann on

    CELTIC40ME on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 4:45 PM

     

    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

     

     

    ==================

     

     

    Celtic40me

     

     

    Any chance of a link mate as me synesthesia is playing up today? 😊

     

     

    HH

  25. An Dún on

    We already had a manger who was capable of doing it.

     

     

    —

     

     

    We also had a manager who was given his jotters by Hibs and Bolton, one who clearly had no idea how to arrest the alarming deterioration in his squad. We know he had no idea because he literally told us that, several times.

  27. ernie lynch on

    CELTIC40ME on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 4:55 PM

     

    Celtic with Greg Taylor and Matt O’Riley in top 20 for distance covered.

     

     

     

     

    ####

     

     

    Reckon we should sign Forest Gump.

  31. Gene on

    Just boarded the coach to Stoke – there’s a sign stating

     

    “Any season tickets found on the bus will be returned to the owner whether they want it or not” 🤭

  33. bigrailroadblues on

    Too much levity and not enough gravitas on this blog. I demand a serious discussion on …..erm, um, feck all. I’m still laughing at the huns. 🤣

  34. celtic40me on

    ERNIE LYNCH on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 6:18 PM

     

     

    Wasn’t that how those lovely guys in the Scottish rags. described Harrald Brattbakk?

  35. Tom McLaughlin on

    BADA BING

     

     

    It was a definite red card. Hearts had an absolute cheek protesting that.

  42. celtic40me on

    AN DÚN on 8TH NOVEMBER 2022 6:10 PM

     

     

    “We also had a manager who was given his jotters by Hibs and Bolton, one who clearly had no idea how to arrest the alarming deterioration in his squad. We know he had no idea because he literally told us that, several times.”

     

     

    But not at the time we’re talking about, after 13 games. We were further behind them than you think btw

     

     

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54941166

  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7