The Art of Winning an Unfair Game
After Neil Lennon resigned we discussed how Celtic have recently appointed managers to address the most glaring deficiency of the previous boss. Gordon Strachan bought in value markets, whereas Martin O’Neill pretty much bought players who appeared on Match of the Day or Sportscene.
Despite his success, Gordon was manager of Celtic, not the leader of the club; there was always some distance between him and a section of the support. As a consequence, we next appointed the guy who ‘invented’ the Celtic huddle.
Tony Mowbray was close to our hearts, but he was also a flop of a Celtic manager. People inside the club knew this from the first week he was there when he asked to spend close to £4m on Marc-Antoine Fortune.
Tony was out of sync with scouts and coaches. How do you fix that? You appoint one of the coaches who saw it all happen.
Neil Lennon didn’t have many obvious deficiencies. If we were to ask what his weakness was, there would be a range of answers.
Perhaps as a consequence, we’ve gone out with a clear remit: our manager should be intelligent, technically capable, insightful, and have a progressive and modern approach to the game. He must dovetail with the infrastructure we have worked so hard to build up, and be in tune with strategy.
All we know today is that the criteria for the job was correct and our man matches that criteria.
Ronny is one of the scientific innovators in the game who has had the ‘Moneyball’ tag applied. Back in 2009 I wrote about the books, Moneyball, and the football spin-off, Why England Lose (now re-launched as Soccernomics). I also put a copy of Why England Lose into the hands of a senior decision maker at the club.
The point about Moneyball and this type of analysis cannot be abbreviated in few short sentences, and it is certainly not as prosaic as ‘buying low and selling high’ – that’s old news now, which makes it a dead topic as far as Moneyball is concerned. The Michael Lewis book which did so much to publicise ‘sports economics’ was actually titled, Moneyball – The Art of Winning an Unfair Game.
The Art of Winning an Unfair Game
The game is unfair because others have more money, or more experience, or more sympathy with officials, or whatever your circumstances dictate. But most sports are also full of enormous inefficiencies.
Football clubs are hostages to ridiculous forces, just listen to the names within the game who urged Celtic to appoint a well-known name in order to put bums on seats. Some clubs do this – put a ‘name’ in, in the hope they sell some tickets, without realising there are enormously difficult football games ahead.
The football industry is top-heavy with fools with big budgets who don’t know what they are doing. Celtic’s job is to build a team who can compete at an ever-higher level in the Champions League. To get there we need a ruthless conviction against the inefficient nonsense which paralyses the rest of the game.
In 10 years I’ve never once agreed with a Celtic managerial appointment. I welcomed Gordon, Tony and Neil while saying the board have made the wrong decision. All of these appointments are risky, there are no guarantees – for short-term or long-term success. Guru managers don’t exist and Ronny has years of work ahead of him to build Celtic ever-higher, but I couldn’t be happier at his appointment. Eye on the prize…. it’s all about winning.
Welcome to Celtic, Ronny, you’re going to love it here, but keep your kilt on.
All of this and 300 Celtic fans at the CQN the Lisbon Lions gig in Greenock tonight! Hold me back!
Lladro replica World Cup trophy
My thanks to Liam, from East Kilbride, who donated his prize memento, a Lladro replica World Cup trophy, commissioned by the Spanish FA in 1978, and acquired by Liam in 1982. It will be auctioned on Saturday with proceeds going to our Mary’s Meals school kitchen appeal. You can get involved in the auction, or keep an eye on it as it happens, here. The auction takes place at Great Western Auctions, on Dumbarton Road.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his tome, All the Best.
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SydneyTim
I know when he arrived. I was making a joke.
MON had to spend big to compete. Celtic knew that. That spending killed Rangers. It was worth it.
The game has now changed. Having money in the bank is important. The club needs to be balanced and I have said it 100 times on here. Peter Lawwell is an employee who does what he is told. If he doesn;t he will be sacked and someone else will be brought in who does what he is told. The board run the club. Peter Lawwell is well paid to do the work on behalf of them.
LB
DBBIA
modern (quite posssibly) sherbet lemon related posts are rubbish
The queer thing for me about the appointment of the new manager is that we were told that both Keane are Larsson were bums on seats appointments.
My phone has went daft with guys from our supporters club excited about Ronnys appointment over the last hour. From a couple of old greys to our sole green brigade member.
Even a good few ‘hard to pleasers’ from cqn are…well….pleased.
As for the ‘never pleased’…..less said about them the better.
SFTB
Fair enough. But I would rather the club told me that than you.
Let’s hear some honesty from PL and watch as he accepts a renegotiation of his current salary and bonus to match the clubs current economic stand.
Right. I’m holding my breath in 3… 2… 1…
Are you on a epic journey to defend Celtic and CQN agains all negativity?
MWD says AYE
I’m not a particular fan of Peter Lawwell but he appears to be doing a decent job, you need to pay for talent whether that’s on the field, in the dug out or the people running the club. I seem to remember Arsenal were interested in him as their CEO a few years back, maybe he’s paid to stave off any interest in moving to another highly paid job. I’m not sure who the other candidates would be, but if DD thought he could get better value for money, I suspect he would do so.
The Green Man.
The only way Snodgrass plays at Celtic in the near future is if he holds out to the end of his contract and signs on a Bosman. There is no way we will sign a player approaching 27 for say £5m and £25k a week. There will be EPL interest in him, and I think the carrot of £50k may mean his head overrules his heart.
If Lenny was right and we do have £6m to spend on one player, it’ll have to be a young player with potential to be sold on for huge profit. Unfortunately that’s just the only way we can operate. However we’re not alone in that strategy, Dutch and Portuguese clubs have been following that model for a long time.
What I will say is, VVD is IMO a better player than Wanyama, he’s also on a fairly hefty salary compared to the entry level Victor was on, so unless we get a circa £15m offer, I’d refuse to sell in the same way Liverpool refused to contemplate selling Suarez last summer.
If we don’t make it through the qualifiers though, all bets are off, and some difficult questions will have to asked and answered.
I see lots of posts regarding previous managers but no mention of the great Dr Jo. Imho One of the best Celtic Managers ever. Great tactician, knew a player, brought some excellent technical players and one of the few ever who could materially change a team at half time to a different tactical line up or strategy.
I think Our Ron will be similar. Let him sell a couple. Give him some cash and watch him go! :)
Welcome to Ronny. Things have changed and indeed we have to look at reducing costs ( including ceo’s ) and getting better returns on development Indeed our youths have not provided 1st eleven players so maybe look abroad for youths
God bless big jock, Martin , Lisbon and San Siro and Seville teams
Now Ronny, what are you going to do about ’10 men behind the ball’ defences?
And…will you wear that trackie with the tricolour collar?
MWD
Why would any man in a job take a wage reduction? A new man has been brought into a role and accepts the wage on offer. It happens in all lines of work. If you have less experience you get less money. Peter Lawwell hits his targets year on year. Now we may not all agree they are aligned with the football club as in results but he keeps the board happy. If his bonus is made up of a football component (CL qualification group stages & 2 domestic trophies) do you seriously think that is fair? He doesn;t coach or play in the team. Get behind the club. It helps nobody at Celtic to continually slate the club. At the time of a new dawn we should all unite and get behind the manager and the club as a whole. The constant sniping at PL is boring and inaccurate.
LB
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
14:26 on 6 June, 2014
BMCUW
Quite correct and to think that I used to correct my kids about less and fewer with the rule about “if you can count them…..”
Ah but you were talking about criticisms (plural, i.e. separate eaxamples of criticism) not criticism in general, so I think “fewer” was correct…but what do I know though I make less mistakes, the fewer I read the writings of Jeffrey Archer.
The Celtic Managers first exclusive interview with Celtic TV in full. http://www.celticfc.tv/archive?video=1504
In reality….The EPL failures/chancer candidates were never going to be appointed
They are hugely overvalued with staggering wage demands…and basically not worth it.
I feel Ronny is the right way to go, we can leave the merits of the PLC until another day.
But…..If you want to progress at CL level, theres no getting away from it, you will have to spend money at some point.
I don’t advocate stupid spending….but theres no doubt, that money has been wasted on projects as amido, derk, pukki, rogic, etc….that money could have possibly got us Roberto Snodgrass for example.
And I think we would be better buying one or two established players, rather than half a dozen projects.
Its ok to admit we cant compete with the top sides in Europe in regards to finance, but we could be doing better in our signing policy.
Cue…Ronny
HH
Michael Herbet…
FENIAN ARMY!
mwd:
It is not negativity, that is what ‘head in the sanders’ call daylight, it is healthy and inquisitive cynicism.
It was interesting that Ronny mentioned the academy in his interview. I’m hoping he gives some of the younger bhoys a chance in the pre-season games with a view to including them in the first team squad for next season.
Congratulations are in order…to…
Bognorbhoy
Top podium place on D Day on CQN.
Take a bow.
HH
Havent read back so apologies if I am repeating anything.
Firstly welcome to Celtic Ronny – you have landed in the big time and of course each and every Celtic supporter wishes you success.
But for all of us – are you reading between the lines?
When our new manager was asked today if he was worried Celtic would sell our big players before CL qualification he gave the equivalent of a shrug and said so be it. I think this says everything about this appointment. What Ronny doesnt realise is that if he doesnt qualify for the CL he is a busted flush and the recriminations around the club will be awful. We are playing most of these qualifiers away from home.
I am very fearful for Ronny and us.
Additionally we have both Paul’s and the Club’s obsession with moneyball. To be clear the concept of moneyball isnt about sporting success (well perhaps in that it is a by-product of making money). Its about the money! Only about the money.
That Paul is so cock-a-hoop at all this tells me that, at least for now, we have lost the battle for the soul of celtic. I was laughing at poor Ronny’s comments about attacking football. I can almost hear PL telling Ronny to say that.
Celtic have lost their way in a footballing sense. Paul says above that:
“Celtic’s job is to build a team who can compete at an ever-higher level in the Champions League”
If that was the case then why do we sell young players performing well such as Wanyama or Hooper etc etc? Why are we about to sell our two remaining top performers? That not what I call building a team who can compete at an ever higher level in the CL. Thats contrary to that so called strategy.
You see celtic dont have sporting ambition any more. The league is guaranteed – and we hope for CL qualification. And thats it. The only reason we want CL qualification is to make money.
So Celtics strategy is not to get better on the field – its to make money by whatever means possible. The actions from celtic tell us that.
I also disagree entirely with the reasons Paul gave for previous appointments. For years its been all about money.
I agree that Ronny is “on strategy” – because he wouldnt have got the job if he was going to complain.
Celtic aint going nowhere……..
Still holding ma breath
C.mon Peter. tell us and take your cut or I’ll dee here.
MWD says AYE
Da doo ron ron.
Da doo ron ron
Welcome Mr Deila.
HH
the ole Gazebonians can look forward to some changes with the new regime
NegAnon2
“Celtic aint going nowhere……..”
i.e we’re going somewhere?
That’s almost positivity from you!
Kit
i’m just goping with the flow of the blog thinking here.
CQN healthy cynicism = negativity. It’s getting like The Celtic View. ;-)
MWD says AYE
Livibhoy
I think if you take a look around you you will find that most of the country is taking wage cuts year on year in the same jobs. By means of actual wage cuts or wage increases were companies refuse to keep up with Cost of Living increases.
You just need to open your eyes to see the light (or in this case darkness).
MWD says AYE
neganon…
You may be right, or not but…
What a dark place you occupy…
No doubt through the pain of experience, but…
Go on… think positive thoughts for a while…
At least until your proved right…..or wrong. :-)
HH
SETTING FREE THE BEARS
Good spot,I left it out deliberately.
RWE,
Is this a new song maybe?
‘We met him on a Friday and our hearts stood still
Da do ron-ron-ron, da do ron-ron’
mWD
“Are you on a epic journey to defend Celtic and CQN agains all negativity?”
Not all negativity, just the wasteful kind.
I have said before that our club deserves a lot of criticism for its handling of press statements about the events of 2012 and for their own faltering steps in dealing with both real and imagined wrongdoings by our fans. I am with you on most of that.
I part company on the football arguments. I think I am clear eyed about our football position from 1975 through to 2000 when we were Euro also rans, 1980 excepted. But we were young and carefree and still managed to find ways to enjoy ourselves in supporting Celtic. I think we are a tougher crowd now and when we are enjoying a football status far higher than we enjoyed then, we are grumpy carping oul men who are finding new ways to call our club a disgrace because we should be spending as much as WIgan and West Ham do on their top targets.
I can understand the dissonance caused by the changes in football finance. We are still a big club but we are being kept out of the VIP lounge and less attractive, much smaller clubs are getting access to areas we feel we should be in. We could get rid of Peter Lawwell tomorrow and that would change nothing about what is oppressing us.
He is not the reason that Roy Keane turned down Celtic.
He is not the reason that big name and big salary footballers and managers won’t come here.
If we halved his salary, and I’d support that, our football finances would not be any more advantageous. It would pay a half year’s salary for a Joe Ledley type player.
The sun is shining. Celtic have a new manager. Nothing has gone wrong yet.
it might do but I’ll save my grief until I have something to grieve over.
NegAnon2 – Do you not think it may be about not getting into debt ? Hooper and Wanyama wanted to leave, there’s not much that can be done about that but if it’s a stick to beat PL up with then fire in.
I laughed when I heard people saying that Neil Lennon made all the good signings and Peter Lawell made all the bad signings. I’m starting to believe that people on here really believe that…
Anyone out and about today and sees Andy Walker – hit him a boot in the balls !!!!!!!
Delighted with our new manager BTW
MWD
My eyes are always open. When it comes to Celtic I don;t like to be negative. Tell me why Lawwell should take a wage cut?
LB
Mon was a good manager. What would have made him gooder?
Giving Paul Lambert £28k a week to do his coaching badges? Giving Bobo that massive contract that became noose around wgs neck as attempts to asset manage him failed with his declining form. Not selling some players to buy better ones with the proceeds and instead giving ageing players long lucrative contracts.
People act as though criticism of Mon is sacrilegious. How do thoes folk answer those issues? Would you have given Paul Lambert 1.5m to go and do his coaching badges in Germany?
Kit alba, I don’t see anyone stopping you from posting so why are you accusing others of silencing you? Blog away.
cavansam \o/
14:47 on 6 June, 2014
“NegAnon2
“Celtic aint going nowhere……..”
i.e we’re going somewhere?
That’s almost positivity from you!”
Taking from Neganon’s use of a double negative that he is being positive???
Aye right! o;)
..
The Ronny Deila Story (Height 1.888 Meters)..Part 67..’Velkommen Til Paradise’..
..
Stromsgodset Write Own History to Shrug Off Liverpool Rout Association..
There are clubs whose role in the world of football seems to be to act as a mere footnote in someone else’s history book. A good example are Stromsgodset IF. In England, the Norwegian club are mainly remembered for an 11-0 defeat to Liverpool in 1974 in the first round of the European Cup Winners Cup. Over in Italy however, Stromsgodset mean Diego Forlan and his absence from the Champions League. When the Italians bought Forlan, nobody at the club noticed he had already played in Europe with Atletico Madrid; the opposition? Stromsgodset.
But the time has finally come for Stromsgodset to write their own history, as earlier this month they defeated Haugesund to grab the Tippeligaen title for the first time in 43 years. The Drammen-based club finished one point above giants Rosenborg, who for the first time since the early 1980s have now gone three seasons in a row without winning the league; in 2011, 2012 it was Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s Molde who were crowned champions.
Two men stand firmly behind Stromsgodset’s miracle: sporting director Jostein Flo and coach Ronny Deila. Flo has been vital in transforming a club that were close to being bankrupt, as they indeed were in 2006, into one of the most consistent Tippeligaen sides, mainly due to a productive and committed youth policy. Little money, big ideas – this has always seemed to be Flo’s motto. Flo has also called it right in the dugout; when Dag-Eilev Fagermo departed in 2008 to join Odd Grenland, the sporting director wasted no time in promoting 33-year-old Delia, who had been Fagermo’s assistant, to the post of head coach.
A qualified teacher, Deila melds a coaching philosophy based around excellent man-management with an attacking approach based on quick transitions and aggressive pressing. Under Deila, Stromsgodset’s 4-3-3 is in no way less exciting than the more celebrated champions (and richer) Molde, who dominated the previous two seasons in Norway.
Deila’s time at Godset has been a crescendo: eleventh place in 2008 (29 points), twelfth (36 points), seventh (43 points), eighth (45 points), second (58 points, and the lowest average team age in the Tippeligaen at 23.2 years) and finally first (63 points). Moreover, in 2010 Stromsgodset lifted their fifth Norwegian Cup, beating Follo in the final.
One of the two goals in that game was scored by striker Ola Kamara, who played a key role in this year’s title win. The forward, with Sierra Leonian roots, only played at Stromsgodset for the second half of 2013 having returned to the club on loan from Austrian Bundesliga outfit Reid in the summer. His impact was impressive, with 12 goals in 14 games and the title of club top scorer.
Karama is the son of a refugee from Sierra Leone and a Norwegian woman. He was born and grew up in the suburbs of Oslo, but at just one year old was given up by his parents for adoption as they suffered financial difficulties. He spent his childhood living in two different places: from Monday to Friday Kamara was with his foster parents, while at the weekend he went back to his natural parents.
His first steps in professional football were not easy. At the age of just 16 Kamara moved to Stabaek and was included in the first team squad that won the Tippeligaen in 2008. The striker however was a regular bench-warmer with the Baerum side. In 2009, after unsuccessful trials with Reggina and Sandefjord, he signed for Stromsgodset. While Kamara’s career was slowly given a boost, especially after the departure of striker Marcus Pedersen to Holland, his poor financial state (due to the low wage Stromsgodset paid him) forced him to move back in with his mother Kristin, who in the meantime got divorced.
After Kamara ended the 2011 and 2012 seasons with double-digit goal returns he moved as a free agent to Reid, but was immediately loaned out to 1860 Munich for the rest of the 2012/13 season. But the striker’s impact in the 2. Bundesliga was unimpressive and in the summer of 2013 Kamara was back at Stromsgodset, on loan.
On 11th October, Kamara made his international debut for Norway, while four days later – on his birthday – at the Ullevaal Stadium, the striker started for the first time as a regular for national team coach Per-Mathias Hogmo.
Both Kamara and Stromsgodset are now more than a mere footnote in someone else’s history books.
‘His Awesomeness..’
KTF
Syd
My lyrics were very limited…just a wee bit chorus.
But I love what you did..
Let the people sing….
HH
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers
14:19 on 6 June, 2014
LYMMBHOY
Nope,same the year before.
Check if you don’t believe me.
=============
BMCUWP
Tune right…….words wrong…..if you know what I mean! (Was wrong by a financial year or so)
Was just trying to point out that PL like anyone else under contract is due what he signed up for……
HH
Seems to me there are an awful lot of so called experts in the MSM, as well as Celtic supporters, wanting RD and Celtic to fail so they can say ‘told you so’ and justify there own little agenda against the Club and certain individuals within it.
Sad!
mullet and co 2:
Who am I accusing of trying to silence me?