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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Looks like arsenal cowiebhoy
Cowiebhoy
Arsenal I think
HH
were any of you lads well off enough to get Collmans paste on yer pieces at the tatties or berries? (first week though)…..
TET
Here it is…..
CONGRATULATIONS to Ronny Deila for landing one of the biggest jobs in world football.
At last Celtic have secured the man they want to move the club forward.
It is important everyone associated with the club gives Ronny the support he will need.
The powers that be say have chosen him on merit. The fact that if you asked most Celtic fans to write down 100 names for the job Ronny Deila wouldn’t be one of them should not be held against him or the board. The proof is in the pudding, as they say. Time will tell.
But my gut feeling is something isn’t right. I can’t quite put my finger on what but unless I’m missing something the appointment is an enormous gamble.
Ronny has a good pedigree in Norway and comes with a decent track record over a short period. According to Vidar Riseth, he has good knowledge and is strict. He must have something the other candidates didn’t.
But Ronny admitted in front of the cameras he doesn’t know much about the other Scottish teams. That’s probably not a problem as Celtic are so superior domestically. But it surprised me because I’m sure there were candidates who know Scottish football inside out.
I’m a believer in people who have football knowledge. Whether you are 75 or 38 it doesn’t matter – if you know, you know.
When it comes to systems and formations, most if not all people with half a football brain understand the pros and cons. I’m sure Ronny must.
The thing I don’t get is that so many other candidates who have an association with the club would know the same. Surely in the current climate with Rangers out the picture and gates dwindling, getting someone in who knows what the support demand would be a must.
That’s why I suggested a Henrik Larsson or a Roy Keane.
In the end it will come down to this: Fail to qualify for the Champions League – then don’t expect fans to turn up in numbers for the domestic campaign.
Am I being negative? Well, that’s possible.
Football is about players. Do Celtic have enough? They have a good core but injury to a Scott Brown, Kris Commons or Fraser Forster could be catastrophic in the Champions League qualifiers. Get knocked out and after two months Ronny will be under huge pressure from the fans.
It will be incredibly tough if he doesn’t hit the ground running and I am certain a Keane or a Larsson would fill the stadium much more because they are legends.
Ronny won’t get the same patience and time from fans.
Fantastic news Jobo, and a huge relief for both
Roy meant to add, the season we had no sponsor on our shirt as well, think it was between CRSmith and Umbro season, while that dead mob had McEwans, who wouldn’t sponsor us ?
I believe both Co’s no longer exist, shame ?
sorry there’s more
Lesser gates mean less revenue. Less revenue means less to invest in the squad.
Less quality means less success. Less success back to lesser gates. It’s a vicious circle.
I don’t know exactly what Celtic were looking for but Ronny must have offered a great deal to secure the job ahead of so many superb candidates. He must have had an X Factor the others didn’t.
But when I said earlier something doesn’t sit right I can’t get over Keane. He was in talks with Dermot Desmond then withdrew.
If reports are true, Keane may become assistant to Paul Lambert at Aston Villa. Come on – Villa assistant over Celtic manager? I’m not having it.
Peter Lawwell must know what he is doing and knows a lot more about Ronny than the rest of us. He may turn out to be one of the best man managers, motivators and tacticians Scotland has seen in years.
Fans, players, media have to give him a chance and I wish Ronny all the best.
Deep down though I’m thinking what can he offer that a Larsson, Keane, Jackie McNamara or Malky Mackay can’t? Does he know the history, the fans, the culture more than these guys? Does he know the magnitude of what he has walked into?
Time will tell as I say and I am sure the Celtic board have done their homework but I can’t help thinking they have missed a trick.
I hope for the supporters’ sake that Champions League status is continued and the brand of football is the Celtic way.
Champions League or bust.
It will be either triumph or disaster.
TBB, as a 1970s Frank I may well have been one of those pupils
BT
Was trying to work out with JVC as sponsor
Right been summoned like Jobo, catch you all later :-)
Hail Hail
Cowiebhoy
I prefer the unsullied classic hoops.
HH
Cowiebhoy:
I thought McEwans offered us the same deal they offered Rangers.
I don’t think Chris Sutton has said anything that has not bden said on here.
And here’s another thing about Brian McClair.
He is one of only seven Celtic players to have scored 40+ goals in a single season in all competitions.
Name the other six.
HH!!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bpg5E7wIYAAMeLz.jpg:large
Jock looking out for the new Bhoy
HH
……It’s a new dawn it’s a new day and I’m feelin’ good……
so how must the boul’ Ronny “Blood-Axe” Deila be feelin’ as he wakes up in Valhalla and proclaims –
“It’s gøód to bæ å Tim!”
HH
roy croppie
I was 75-79, was at St. Vincent’s Langbank 74-75.
He caught me and another skipping a Class, we were in the Prefect Room…bad example he told us!!
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
tallybhoy
10:58 on 7 June, 2014
McGrory
Larsson
Lennox
Chalmers
Nicholas
Dalglish
Phyllis
I don’t think Coyle gets any abuse on here. Lots of light hearted ribbing, a few reasonable criticisms about his record and his reluctance to take the Celtic job a few years ago, but not much in the way of abuse. The abuse is reserved for his Granny :¬)
Stairheedrammy – you know who to blame then ;¬)
PBB
Thanks.
Not the most complimentary piece, but maybes he has had some inside info >}
HH
roy croppie
10:48 on 7 June, 2014
I miss black and white football boots; physios with buckets; rattling the number boards for subs and the wee women with the teddy
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bpeqi1bIYAED_Q8.jpg:large
HH
*****
You call that nostalgia?
Hotspur boots
Physio? Trainer with a white coat
Subs? Who they?
Wee woman with the teddy? OK, I ‘ll give you that.
What about the half time scoreboard at the back of the East Terracing?
Chris Sutton was a failure in management. The Norwegian isn’t.
Did Chris even write that dross? Probably one of the Retard’s hacks made it up.
How Tim Booth (James) met Gordon Strachan (Scotland)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-tim-booth–gordon-strachan–youre-not-turning-up-in-one-of-those-dresses-you-wear-on-the-cover-of-the-album-are-you-9457521.html
I’m not a fan of Chris Sutton the man.
However I must defend him.
There is nothing wrong with his article.
He expresses a view that many many Celtic fans will have sympathy with.
How do I know what many many Celtic fans think.
Well .
Just guessing.
TT
Tally bhoy
Charlie Nicholas
Jimmy McGrory
Joe McBride
Henrik Larsson
Jimmy Quinn
Bobby Lennox
TT
gary67
Correct.
Pour yerself a celebratory drink!
HH!!
I am optimistic regarding this appointment.The managers that were touted tended to have a knowledge of the EPL and Championship, markets that are overpriced and maybe out of our range.Ronny Deila is totally unknown to me but that says more of my world football knowledge than his credentials.He appears to get the best out of players,develops young talent and has an appetite for success.Well Deila,”let’s be havin ya.”
Gary67
Sorry!
You got one wrong.
Tinytim
One wrong for you too.
HH!!
Deila’s appointment breaks the last link to MON’s time at the club and the 2003 team.
No surprise that Sutton is a tad negative about Ronny getting the job. I was though more concerned with Lenny’s comments yesterday, which could be construed as spoken by a petted lip.
I was highly critical of the board for how they dealt with WGS leaving. My understanding is that he told the board in December 2008 that he would be leaving at the end of that season.
In my view, as soon as he had indicated as much, he should have been papped out into the garden to run his notice down. He wasn’t. He continued to manage the team for the remainder of the season, and it all slowly melted away in hugely disappointing style.
5 years on, it seems Lenny indicated to the board that he’d be inclined to take a job with an EPL club if he got the offer. You can’t have the guy in the top job at the club being anything less than fully committed for the long term, least of all given the model we try to run the club on.
This time next year, finances notwithstanding, it seems likely that Sevco will be playing in the SPFL. Celtic need to be in steady state to prevent Sevco getting any encouragement or traction. That’s not possible unless the manager is embedded, the squad strong, the direction clear. A prevaricating Lenny doesn’t fit in that picture.
Celtic acted this time. Maybe a few folk got a wee surprise. Maybe Lenny himself.
Fair well to the Bhoys of Seville, and the last of the 2003 vintage.
Chris Sutton, if he wrote that is talking out of his erchie.
Yes KoK or to a lesser extent Roy Keane would be a sell out as novelty value for a few weeks. If however, the fitba was uninspiring, the crowd s would dwindle. People would soon tire of it and the wow factor/box office/ call it what you will would vanish.
The belief that a manager needs to have some sort of spiritual assoiciaton with the club whether as a player or supporter is imo hogwash.
From everything I have heard, Ron Manager is an intelligent, switched on young professional football manager who demands fast attacking football. In his press conference, he must have mentioned that he is a quick learner about 5 times. This indicates that he wil very quickly ensure that he gets the Celtic way and will learn the culture.
Chris mate. Loved you as a player, but lowering yourself to this sort of tacky tabloid rubbish shows you must be desperate for a few quid.
Rant over
Lovely day here is Morayshire BTW
HH
Chris Sutton was a great player for us. I don’t think the article is dross, he is as entitled to his opinion as anyone else. Ronny has done well in Norwegian football, yesterday he came across as intelligent, articulate and charismatic and I must admit I felt a bit better about his appointment going to bed last night than I did getting up yesterday morning. Talking about exciting attacking football philosophy is great yet Stromgodset’s goals per game ratio last year in winning the Title was inferior to Lenny’s Celtic. I know the saying re lies & statistics but I remain in the wait & see camp.
The Battered Bunnet
11:24 on 7 June, 2014
If an EPL side came in for Ronny Deila today what do you think he would do?
Football has come a long way if having a “star” manager in the dug out trumps having a progressive team on the park, in the seat filling stakes.
Another strange thing is that we take offence when media hacks and pundits negatively undermine Celtic staff, via their outlets, but tolerate our own supporters, on blogs, who at times, produce stuff that could be considered actionable if published in the mainstream.
The Celtic Fans’ Cloak of Impunity.
Calling winning captains/BRTH
Just wondering..
Is there a problem with the Tommy Gemmell books being dispatched??
Mines was ordered at the time of the the great mans CQN Q&A session
Cork, good morning to you.
Lenny’s Celtic had an enormous financial advantage over their competitors. Ronny’s side didn’t.
Chris is entitled to his opinion.
Have q good day everyone.
Getting Busy at Easter Road
https://twitter.com/RetroScot/status/475221401528721408/photo/1
TBB
As I understand Lenny was happy to stay until his budget was slashed again.
He left without a job, which is highly unusual in my view.
HH
CRC
thomthethim for Oscar OK
11:30 on 7 June, 2014
In my experience the more hardcore fans tends to be more critical, and more vocal in their criticism, of the way the Club is run, than the less committed ones.
Maybe because it matters more to them.
That’s my impression anyway.
the battered bunnet
11:24 on 7 June, 2014
At last. Someone agreeing with what I have been trying to put across for weeks.
Neil had gone public on his wish to move on.
He could not commit as he wished to progress his own career.
Quite right, too, to look after himself.
However, Celtic have the responsibility to look after the club’s interest.
So, in the end, each got what they wanted.
J O’N. Many SPFL teams play 10 behind the ball against Celtic, have never seen a Norwegian League game but doubt very much if Stromgodset had to face that problem on a regular basis, yet last year their goals per game ratio was 2.2 whilst Lenny’s team was 2.62.