Lee Congerton, who left his post as Celtic chief scout, to re-join Brendan Rodgers at Leicester, will not be remembered fondly by Celtic supporters. We can look to Olivier Ntcham, a £4.5m acquisition from Manchester City, whom Celtic had a pre-existing relationship with, and to Odsonne Edouard, a 2018 £9m acquisition from PSG, whom Congerton identified as a loan signing during his first transfer window at the club in 2017, as success, but they were few and far between.
The debit column has Marvin Compper and Jack Hendry, two central defenders who Lee should have discovered were not what Celtic required before putting his name to the players, but the most alarming signing was Charly Musonda.
Charly was one fo the slightest players I have seen in a Celtic jersey. He had something about him, but so do lots of players. What Charly did not possess was the detrmination to success at Celtic, or the physical attributes necessary to work in the professional game. He was an extravagant signing, at the time the best-paid player in the Scottish game, and a complete misfit at Celtic.
Five transfer windows did not produce as many players able to command a regular starting place.
Football loves a scapegoat at Lee is a perfect fit. I have little sympathy for him, but scouting is as nuanced as any other aspect of life. Scouts are repeatedly employed by managers because they do not wipe their bums without the boss telling them to do so.
The fact that Lee left Celtic surprised no one, but the real question is, why did Brendan employ a scout who was so ineffective for him at Celtic? It seems an incredulous appointment, but Lee got the Leicester gig because he did what he was told at Celtic to the satisfaction of Brendan.
Chief scouts who keep their jobs and are repeatedly re-employed by the same manager observe one rule: Let the boss control everything. I have heard this straight from one well-known chief scout, who suffered the odd period of negative publicity, while only privately despairing at his manager’s signing choices.
A chief scout acts as gatekeeper to the countless agents promoting undiscovered never-will-bes, while trying to convince an agent with a talent in demand that his club is the perfect platform for the next stage in the player’s development. It is a job of phone calls, video feeds and airports – so that the manager doesn’t have to. The manager, often inspired by his confident ability to produce Lazarus-type recoveries, will then allow everyone to marvel at his wisdom.
I have no idea if Lee Congerton is a good scout or not. I can tell you his knowledge of obscure European players was impressive and his analysis was consistent with other good analysis I checked, but the data is not complete. Judging him is a big like judging a striker on his goals tally without known his Expected Goals stat.
All we know for sure is that the outcome was not good enough for Celtic, but was good enough for Brendan to give him another job.
Auction ends tomorrow (Wednesday): Directors’ Box Champaign Reception for 4 v Hearts, 19 May
Celtic sponsor, Intelligent Car Leasing, have offered four tickets to the Directors’ Box on trophy presentation day at Celtic Park against Hearts on 19 May 2019.
Package includes champagne reception on arrival, four-course meal, seats in the Directors’ Box over the halfway line and complimentary bar both pre and post-match.
This is an opportunity for four people to experience a special day in Celtic’s history from the Directors’ Box. Tickets can be collected from Glasgow on Thursday 16th or Friday 17th.
All proceeds from this auction will go to Celtic FC Foundation. The Foundation support people living in poverty in Scotland, England, Ireland and in many of the world’s most impoverished countries. The provide support to people with Downs Syndrome, Autism and Dementia. They reach out to those excluded from many aspects of normal living with educational and social projects, often providing life-changing opportunities.
You can bid for the prize here on eBay.
Thanks for the fantastic help of Intelligent Car Leasing – again!
234 Comments- Pages:
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Danny Drinkwater banned for drink driving
Not a believer then in nominative determinism
CELTIC MAC on 14TH MAY 2019 8:10 PM
As soon as I saw that this afternoon I knew there must be a bit of wit to be had.
Thank you for providing it!
Paul67
If you don’t mind answering
Are you an employee of Celtic ?
How come you have seen and assessed player assessment or analysis ? That you can class it as consistent???
How are you so aware of Lee Congerton work on Obscure European players ?
I a man now really confused on who does what on scouting at Celtic
And those who work for Peter Lawyell
SFTB, from your earlier post on Celtic scouting under John Park
You do know, Neil McGuiness was Not employed as a Scout when he identified VVD – positive he was in IT dept.( TET, posted on this at the time)
greeninbingleyinoslo
As Danny would say. Cheers! Drinks all round!
CELTIC MAC on 14TH MAY 2019 8:48 PM
I’ll bet the Sun tomorrow will go with Danny Drunkwater, but that’s not wit.
Reading back – always concerned to read one of our posters is struggling in their personal life – thoughts and prayers TLT
A penalty can only be awarded when the ball is in play, I.e. once the corner has been taken, which is deemed as serious foul play. If out of play, I.e. before the corner is taken, it is deemed as violent conduct.
TLT
Thinking of you pal. Be strong and positive.
YNWA HH
GENE, how are you, noticed you have not been on for a while, hope you are ok.hh.
BP1
I’m good thanks – took a break from the blog – mostly lurk
Hope you, the wife and dogs are good
Hoping for a better season for Vale next term
Dignified statement and FFin’ response:
‘Once again, there seems intent to change the decision of a Referee in a match involving Rangers. There seems to be a steady erosion of respect for Scotland’s Referees and the authority they are meant to enjoy under Rule 5 of the Laws of the Game. The decisions of Referees regarding facts connected with play are meant to be final but Referees are now routinely invited to change their decisions after a game has finished.
It is particularly shocking that another Rangers’ player has been singled out for retrospective action and issued with a notice of complaint while Jozo Simunovic, the Celtic player who used an elbow to fell Jermain Defoe, has escaped any kind of censure. Why did one incident escape punishment while the other is now deemed worthy of a red card? We cannot understand how these two incidents could be studied yet only one be considered worthy of punishment. It seems as if Rangers’ players are being held to a different code of conduct from players at other clubs. We shall vigorously defend Mr Flanagan and have also asked for full transparency on what matters are brought forward for retrospective action. Are those decisions being made even-handedly?’
——
‘Compliance officers always RC yet only 20% of Scotland is is there a bias?’
——
‘The club must not allow itself any longer to be treated in this hideous manner. Absolutely despicable behaviour.’
——
‘Decent but we should’ve asked for clarification on how all compliance officers to date have been appointed and what was the recruitment process.’
——
‘There are bear friendly journos out there who can keep this going.’
——
‘Call her out for not fit for purpose. Call her out for her bigoted upbringing which affects her decision making. Call her out so much you scunnerving her into leaving her job.
She’s a bead rattling bitch.’
——
‘We have to reject any ban they issue’
——
‘Club should refuse ban’
——
‘We should seek legal action for discrimination’
——
‘I think they must now demand the the CO role be eradicated.’
——
‘Well done [Sevco].
This isn’t the end of this matter, it isn’t even the end of the beginning it is merely the beginning, let us get stuck into everyone connected to this corrupt scandal from the biased bigoted sectarian [Sevco] hating press, to the cowed, psychologically scarred frightened referees, to the Filth overloaded venally dishonest SFA/SPFL which are both no longer fit for purpose to the poisoned cherry on top of the rotten stinking cake the clearly strategically placed Roman Catholic Celtic supporting Compliance Officer.
Take them on [Sevco] and do so with a fury of purpose, do so with justice on your side and go for their throats and don’t blink if there is rhetorical blood spilled because this is a moral swamp that has to be drained if we are to have any future in this toxic sh**hole.’
TLT- You issued a cry for help earlier. Is there any practical way we can help. Please let us know. Take care.
It is now Tuesday, & most Celtic fans will have woken up this morning to the realisation that their nightmare journey has only begun. After losing the Ibrox Championship the Celtic team have to find it within themselves to slog on towards the Scottish Cup final, where they will contend for what will be their third meaningless trophy of the season.
Consequently, should they suffer the great misfortune of winning this cup final they will go down in history as the only team to win an embarrassing domestic treble 3 seasons in a row.
Meanwhile their arch enemies, Rangers are in a celebratory mood as they take their open top bus through the streets of Glasgow to a record crowd of supporters, believed to be in the region of 100000000, in attendance.
Andy Halliday has somehow found a moment to break away from the party atmosphere to make this post “I really do hope Hearts do the right thing next. Rangers won the Ibrox cup & it is only right they get their uard of Honor, as true Champions should.”
So it’s all down to this one Cup final. This lne game. Will Celtic be able to pick themselves up in time to claw out a spirited defeat or, will they have to suffer the humiliation of that dreaded treble treble? One thing is for sure, the clock is ticking….
Good Evening CQN,
I hope this lovely evening finds you well?
Does the Chief Scout not find/source a list of players based on parameters set out to them by the manager/board based on position sought/affordability?
It is then up to the Manager with the CEO to approve their designated targets and then try and sign the players they want from a list of players scouted. Surely, the chief scout does not have the final say? Am I wrong in my assumptions here?
Need to get John Park on the phone and ask him how many players he signed for the Hoops. :-)
HH
CRC
GENE, yes all ok here, as long you beat stoke city you will be fine,?
Thelurkingtim
I just read back.
You are not alone, and you’re among friends here mate.
Talk to us.
TheLurkinTim: not sure if there is anything I can do but if there is, let me know. Thoughts with you, my Celtic friend.
Not a betting man — Grand National is my limit.
Any news on the betting patterns associated with our next manager?
RB — Seemed to be the guy in pole position regarding the betting.
Bit of a story this morning that he was having talks with SD / NU regarding next season this week.
Not sure if the betting odds had changed with this news.
Some chatter out there regarding more money going in to back RB — dead cat bounce or finger on the pulse?
Guys,
I’ve been pretty Scunnered since Sunday but a wee bit of hunguffery has just cheered me up.
So, many thanks to Stewart Fisher in the ET for this:
Rangers complete Ibrox OF clean sweep for the first time in seven years.
Yup, who would have thought that two wins can now be categorized as a clean sweep.
Kinda puts our double treble in perspective, eh?
Now a distinct possibility the club will be contesting a cup final without any recognised strikers.
Ridiculous.
HH. ?
Hello again all you young rebels.
Finally getting over that no show from our team on Sunday.
Bitterly disappointed with the lack of fight in the team and i’ve
got to admit although i’m a Lenny lover and want him to be the
main mhan, his tactics baffled me and a few others in our
packed out CSC pub.
And after watching it again with the sober heid on he looked
very passive and not the mhan who wants the job or is getting
the job, very strange.
But it didn’t stop our bhoys from singing our songs through the
night and a massive and emotional YNWA at the end.
And you know what? thats the difference between us and thems,
when we get beat we sing and dance, when thems win they go
looking for people to scar and maim.
In the cold light of day when we’re playing in a cup final and going
for a Treble Treble that dead rubber game will become like a midgie
bite it will soon go away 8-))
Was in a very bhoyant mood as well driving down the peninsula,
our youths had just won 5-1 and still sitting joint top, but behind on
goal difference, this Sunday it’s crunch time against the Brighton huns
who are lying third, bound to be a toughie but the weemhan is on
fire after a fine brace at the weekend.
One things for sure our bhoys will show more fight than those that
wore the hoops on Sunday at bigotdome.
H.H Mick
TLT,
I hope you can find a way to ease your troubles.
X
NorrieM
“SFTB, from your earlier post on Celtic scouting under John Park
You do know, Neil McGuiness was Not employed as a Scout when he identified VVD – positive he was in IT dept.( TET, posted on this at the time)”
I linked the views of Peter Houston on the Celtic scouting set up; these were not my own views. I have no sources and precious little information of my own that I can put out there.
It seems to me, however, that , in the article, Peter Houston credits the IT guys as being crucial within the set up. I assume they put together a reel which shows strengths and weaknesses of players scouted as opposed to the “Greatest Hits” stuff you get from their agents.
So, No, I personally don’t know the specific roles of any individual within the ground or how proscribed their roles are, or whether Mr. McGuinness remained in IT or branched out. I do assume that Peter Houston has some knowledge of this from his time with us, though.
THE LURKIN TIM
Really sorry to hear about your troubles, and it is to your
great credit you can still come on here and talk about Celtic
and their woes.
Hope everything works out for you in the end and just maybe
the empathy from the blog will be of some comfort to you.
Keep the faith
H.H Mick
Good morning CQN from a beautiful and sunny Garngad
For us to be going into a cup final with no striker is incredible.
D. :)
TLT – good luck my friend????
D. :)
My friends in Celtic,
Many, indeed most of us have a sentimental attachment to Neil Lennon. We all acknowledge the personal trails and tribulations he has endured on our behalf.
However our custodians must not sentiment get in the way of our ambitions.
HH to all.
THE LURKING TIM , hope you get through this mate , DD , stay strong mate hope coping ok
D D , sorry hope you’re coping ok , ps has anyone seen or heard from Jimmy not Paul , hope all is good with him HH
DD – just seen weebawbabitty’s post and in case I have missed one from you, thinking about you pal.????
Although I know you have a lovely family around you, If there is anything I can do to help, you can get my email addy from Paul67. God bless pal.
D. :)
Celtic By Numbers
Love reading your analyses
https://twitter.com/alan_morrison67/status/1128533685773451264?s=21
This is indeed the game I watched.
HH jg
Reading back, I see some mention an open top bus parade if we win the cup final, the route finishing at Celtic Park, with fans there to greet the team.
I don’t see this being given approval by the police as there is an event going on at Celtic Park that day, the Pro14 rugby final (no, I don’t know either)
https://www.pro14rugby.org/final/
morning bhoys, from a beautifully sunny Cheshire, tlt your in our thoughts.hh,
Chief scout at Celtic . Very difficult job.
Remit – Travel (first-class?) around Europe – and beyond – staying in (very nice)hotels and of course, get paid a very generous salary + plenty of holidays.
Oh – and top of all that he will have to go to a load of football matches!!! Take a few notes.
Its a very hard job but – I just I might be tempted to apply.
MADMITCH on 14TH MAY 2019 10:18 PM
I’m not much of a gambler either but know a few who are practically pros.
They have said, essentially, the odds are meaningless. The bookies know no more than anyone else most of the time and react to betting patterns.
All it takes is one excitable punter to put 500 quid or so on Rafa to Celtic and he becomes the favourite, apparently!
If its at all likely there’ll be more ‘chatter’ and the price will be odds on – the betting market for the Celtic job is all odds against at the moment(Lennon was about 4/6 last week).
Interestingly Steve Clarke was 1/6 with Paddy Power for the Scotland job yesterday.
HH
Thelurkintim
I have a connection with a properly reputable company, registered with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland ,which deals in financial distress cases.
I don’t know if you fall within Scottish jurisdiction but, if you do, new legislation came into force on 1 April 2015 which does make it easier for the person to manage through these situations at much lower cost and spread over a period than was previously the case.
If you wish to email me to hrvatskijim@gmail.com I will connect with you and see if they can help you.
This article conveniently leaves out any criticism of the board for their role in recruitment. Presumably the budget/parameters are set by the board in terms of transfers? I doubt Lee was looking around the market and thinking “Mulumbu is exactly what we need to take this club forward”. A free agent whose last club was Kilmarnock speaks volumes.
So apparently Celtic’s poor signing policy for the last 3 years is the result of our chief scout/Brendan axis (although at no time over that 3 year period did Paul ever criticise the business conducted over a transfer window- curious that!).