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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You have to laugh when some of the more vocal nihilists on here go tonto when one of their favourites gets a mild ribbing.
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With a possible team of Ronny John Collins and Jim McGuinness will we have the fittest squad in Europe or will they be all plum tuckered out come next Easter
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
All good points well made. But how do you justify us missing out on Kenny Miller? :)
Just watching a re-run of the press conference -thought Ronny handled himself very well – and he kept his kit on
Ribery out of World Cup
I was disappointed, in fact gutted when Neil left as I thought he would be our manager for years to come.
I was disappointed about Keane as I really do feel he could have been a great manager for us. The one thing that struck me about him being touted though was that it really would have required a change of tact from the way the club is being ran.
I am DELIGHTED at the appointment of Ronny. He totally fits the the strategy and it seems to me we took the same approach with management as we have been doing with players in recent seasons. My gut tells me we have unearthed a ‘good un’
Get us into the CL RD….. And let the show begin.
I love Glasgow CELTIC
HAIL HAIL
Livibhoy
for the very reasons that I put in my first post that you questioned. not sure which part of that you missed?
I don’t mind being negative about Celtic.
MWD says AYE
NegAnon2
The sun is shining man,ffs, if you and you might be
a billionaire looking to increase your wealth,would
you see a fitba club as a worthwhile investment?
Syd- VG
MWD and kitalba
I don’t think cynicism IS healthy. Scepticism is useful but cynicism is debilitating
“Cynicism is an attitude or state of mind characterized by a general distrust of others’ motives believing that humans are selfish by nature, ruled by emotion, and heavily influenced by the same primitive, barbaric instincts that helped humans survive in the wild before agriculture and civilization became established. A cynic may have a general lack of faith or hope in the human species or people motivated by ambition, desire, greed, gratification, materialism, goals, and opinions that a cynic perceives as vain, unobtainable, or ultimately meaningless and therefore deserving of ridicule or admonishment.”
It’s only the wiki definition but I would not thank you for calling me a cynic. I’d take sceptic though.
Clinko
do you reckon we could enter the team in the commonwealth games.
I’d prefer fit, skillful and good with a mixture of senior experience and youth.
in Chris Graham (check my brown brogue) speak – lets see how this pans oot.
MWD says AYE
From Twitter
@celticfc: Ronny is mobbed by fans and photographers as he heads down The Celtic Way. (MH) http://t.co/vvdUp4Mgmu
HH
SFTB
now go put the pshycology books down. What is your opinion away from the books? lol
MWD says AYE
West end. So if vic and hooper wanted to leave, why not give all their money to the manager? I think what gave a bad taste in a lot of fans mouths that PL used that money to show a great balance sheet and improve his personal income
As Moonbeams says. Cut PL income now
MWD
I disagree completely. Each to their own.
I am excited about the change of direction by the club. A young manager with a strategy and vision.
Seeing our youths play in the first team is brilliant. I hope our new gaffer can make it happen and get some success.
This strikes me as being a long term approach with the emphasis on youth, attacking football and fitness.
This manager fits the bill for the type of team I want to watch.
LB
Good to see that Ronny comes from a Drammen club.
Hopefully we’ll all be doing plenty of drammin in the future as trophy after trophy rolls in.
“Celtic’s job is to build a team who can compete at an ever-higher level in the Champions League”
When I read that at first, I thought Paul meant that the level was getting ever higher. My mistake: I think Paul means that Celtic’s performances should reach an ever higher level in the Champions League.
I don’t think the bar is any higher today than it was, say, 10 years ago. Fact is, there are a finite number of footballers playing for a finite number of teams. What has occurred over the past 10 years is the concentration of top talent in fewer clubs, and the consequent emergence of ‘super clubs’ – those who routinely capture the best players.
The evidence of this can be seen in the lists of semi-finalists in the Champions League over the past 10 years, where the same clubs recur year after year.
Barca, Madrid, Bayern, Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Juve, Inter, Milan. Occasionally a less well funded club from the big 4 leagues makes it – Liverpool, Dortmund or Shalke for example, but pretty much, the superclubs have dominated the competition for the past 10 years.
Atletico were the first outwith this group to reach a final since Porto in 2004.
Prior to that, talent was more widely distributed, and clubs such as Monaco, Porto, Kiev, Ajax, Panathinaikos, Nantes and PSG (pre Qatar) all assembled teams that competed regularly at the semi final stage, and did so regularly. On average, there would be at least one club from outwith the big 4 in the semi final every season.
The early years of the millennium – the MON years – were the last where successes in the Champions League were enjoyed on a more meritocratic basis.
Since then, the standard has been reset, and the standard is essentially a wage bill exceeding €150 Million per year. With that spend, a club can compete for the top players, and create teams filled with players of that standard.
The rest of us have to make do and mend with what’s left after the behemoths have taken the elite players. That’s the way it’s been for a decade. The bar hasn’t moved.
For Celtic, outstanding achievement in the tournament is capped at quarter final stage, with Benfica the benchmark.
In that light, thank goodness for Simeone and his Atletico team, put together for a wage bill just a few million more than Lenny’s last season.
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No idea where that guff came from. Back to work.
SFTB:
cynic
Highly delighted that Ronny Deila has been appointed as the new Celtic manager. It shows imagination and I’m sure Ronny will bring a lot to Scottish football.
Don’t listen to anyone who says the job is too big for you. It isn’t. Just be yourself and just do it. We’re all behind you.
Welcome to Celtic, Ronny.
Mrs AG has declared herself a Ronette. Shameless. Said she would never get over Dolph leaving too.
Bemybabycsc
Ronny, welcome to Celtic, make it happen for us.
Bada, I noticed that he had a couple of guys on loan from Man City last season, would be good if we could pick up a couple of their ‘duds’ for this season!
AR
west end of east end
14:52 on 6 June, 2014
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…
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Fair point.
Also a fair point,I think,that the manager should be in control of ALL signings,subject to the budget he has negotiated.
Do you think Neil Lennon was?
cadizzy
If you think I did not make a grammatical error, I hereby appoint (Is that a split infinitive?) you as grammatical Gauleiter and bestow upon you the Order of the Dangling Gerund.
As you are also the most worldly person here, having visited East Croydon, I need to ask you a question about the most recent Cultural Development Darn Sarf.
I read online today that the latest collection of Big Brother entrants includes a Catholic Lingerie Model.
Now, my obvious question is :-
“Is she a Catholic who models lingerie, or is she a model who is sporting Catholic Lingerie? And what is Catholic Lingerie, if I can ask a supplementary?”
I had the pleasure of meetin’ ole Neganon at CQTen.
He is a complete and utter ray of ole sunshine.
SFTB:
You’re not really a psychologist are you?
Good afternoon from a beautiful G72, just down the road from Paradise.
Welcome to the best football family in the world Ronny. The famous Glasgow Celtic.
From the information I’ve seen on Ronny my gut feeling is that we’ve bagged a manager with great potential and if we stick with him he could be sensational.
Might need a bit of time to bed things in. My thoughts are give the lad time and hopefully he comes through with attacking football, giving our young wonderful talent a platform to come through and thrive in, and ultimately making an impact in the Champions League.
HH Dan
Fantastic bit of forward thinking by the board.Not always my favorite people,but when they do good I will say so.Of course it could all fall on its @rse,but if you dont strive for better,you dont get better.I see some on some blogs,”Aw nawing”the Collins link.Cant understand this at all.Great Celtic man,who seems to be on the same wavelength as Ronnie.
Always talks very intelligently about the game.Would be a great addition.Will have great contacts.Would not be averse to Davy Hay as assistant manager,but today,I am just delighted.
We will see what the next month brings.
SydneyTim – the manager did get money to spend, he just didn’t spend it wisely enough but you know that and it doesn’t sit with your bash PL agenda.
Welcome to Paradise Ronny..
Maybe see some of you CQNers in the Greenock CSC tonight, I’ll be the pished one trying to get the autographs with the 40th anniversary top.
Hail Hail
Ronny
Welcome to Celtic
If you do what you say you are going to do I will be very happy.
Maybe she’s a model who illustrates a wide range of lingerie; encompassin’ a great number of ways of expressin’ desirable pulchritude.
Earlier today, rightly or wrongly, I was accused of negativity when I expressed the opinion that the appointments was an indication of lack of ambition on Celtic’s part.
On the negativity front, I can’t hold a candle to THE HERALD.
It chose to accompany its article on the appointment with a fifteen year old Celtic Park Boardroom photo of the failed Barnes/Dalglish regime.
setting free the bears supports res. 12 & oscar knox
15:06 on 6 June, 2014
cadizzy
If you think I did not make a grammatical error, I hereby appoint (Is that a split infinitive?) you as grammatical Gauleiter and bestow upon you the Order of the Dangling Gerund.
As you are also the most worldly person here, having visited East Croydon, I need to ask you a question about the most recent Cultural Development Darn Sarf.
I read online today that the latest collection of Big Brother entrants includes a Catholic Lingerie Model.
Now, my obvious question is :-
“Is she a Catholic who models lingerie, or is she a model who is sporting Catholic Lingerie? And what is Catholic Lingerie, if I can ask a supplementary?”
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You’ve got a habit of asking questions like that.
MWD
“now go put the pshycology books down. What is your opinion away from the books? lol”
My opinion is that you have misspelled Psychology.
Kitalba
“cynic”
I’m taking that as an upgrade on “prick” and “fud” but I’m sceptical about whether it is correct to do so.
How many of those synonyms for cynic would you tick against yourself and how many would you attribute to me?
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS – No I don’t think he was but he knew that was the model he was signing up too and obviously bought into it. Remember, he had the get out clause that PL signed all the duds :-)
..
I heard His name on Monday and my heart stood still..
Da You know Ron..?
Da You know Ron..?
Someboy told me that His name was Keane..
Da You know Ron..?
Da You know Ron..?
Yes, my heart stood still ..
Yes, His name was Ron..
And when I sang walk on..
Da You know Ron..?
Da You know Ron..?
I knew what PL was thinkin’ when Ron caught Our eye..
Da You know Ron..?
Da You know Ron..?
He looked so quiet.. but my oh my..
He Caught my eye Yes..
Well, We picked Him instead of No7 and he looked so fine..
Da You know Ron..?
Da You know Ron..?
Someday soon were gonna make Him shine ..
Da You know Ron..?
Da You know Ron..?
And when We sang Walk On..
We Knew Ron Ron Oh Yes..We Knew Ron Ron..
Neganon, if you don’t sell you don’t get enough money to buy new. The idea is that we make money from selling players to reinvest in the team. Gradually the team gets better.
That’s if the players scouted and bought to replace them are better or have the potential to be better. We failed spectacularly at that game last season.
Your problem is that you believe that Celtic are only buying low to sell high purely for profit only. That is a spectacular accusation given the structure of the club and its stated aims.
SUMMA
Welcome back,bud.
STAY.
Kitalba
“SFTB:
You’re not really a psychologist are you?”
Not anymore, I have retired.
I am now a professional prick and aspiring to a docorate in both fudness and fudiddity