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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tonyd67
have a great time in Brampton,you will absolutely love the grandkids.
Finally caught up with the past 2 days blogs – welcome to our new mhan Ronny!
Interesting choice of coach – from what I’ve read (his CV) his star seems very much in the ascendancy. Came across very well at the press conference.
Like all new managers/ coaches – time will tell if this ‘radical’ appointment will be a success but I certainly like his ideas about attacking football and his previous reliance on youth development in Norway. It would be great to see another crop of ‘Quality Street’ type players coming through these next few years – the infrastructure is there – let’s hope he maximises it.
Strange – was just thinking that I’ve been around through all bar 2 Celtic Managers tenure and have never got ‘my choice’ of candidate bar Big Billy (Centenary Season). In the main they have all given me some memorable times – hopefully young Ronny will deliver more of the same!
H!H!
TBB13.11
I hear ya(:-)
TT
skyisalandfill
We only have one and because we haven’t had a decent one for years some get over excited with Izzy. Have another look at CL games. Decent teams rip us a new one down that side when he plays. Never happened with Matthews there. We’ve been looking for a left back for years. Still need one imo. That, a striker & a creative mf are a must.
PBB understand your post but would not agree with high profile guys appointed to our club. It was pointed out on here why it was important that KOK was not appointed as it would have destroyed a dream for all in Celtic if he was not successful. I believe Larsson is to smart a ghuy to risk the unbelievable esteem we hold him in.
Celtic fans have given their answer loud and clear why Keane should never be considered. He is the media choice who have no scruples other than to get headlines. It is what drives the modern media and thereby modern society. My first priority is man management skills. Keane has spent his career looking after Keane, (ditto Liam Brady) which is fair enough , but they would never have the care for their fellow man. Look at all the great managers, and it is no surprise that so many were tough, hard but looked out for all their players. A high percentage were Scots, North of England and N. Ireland including Rodgers. Most other Irish successful managers are committed to GAA.
Watching Celtic from age of 6, my favourites were Peacock, Evans, Price and so on including wee Bertie, none of whom were Celtic minded, so it is not about Celtic minded. That is what makes Celtic football club unique. Very happy with new appointment.
Ernie Lynch With regards caring I believe it is partly an age thing. I think you will find the older fans having experienced the hard times and recognise that survival includes keeping books in order is just as important as playing attractive football. Ofcourse fans going to games want 100% success and that demands spending. We have seen all the big teams being allowed to cheat, but they are protected. Experience has shown, Celtic would never be protected. So us older guys and many smart young people are pragmatic enough to accept our limitations re. spending, but make no mistake it hurts when the blog is in overdrive when Celtic lose. I confess that I could have turned into Sydney Tim if Keane was appointed.
CorkCeltic On Thursday night I was pleasantly surprised to here Up The Celts in the River Lee Hotel. I was told it was a guys night out party. I thought it was a Celtic Rally.
I was speaking to a Swedish lad who was telling that Larsson’s son will not be as good as dad but that he would play for Sweden.
Thomthethim. Pity I missed you. I am up again on 20th July to beginning of August, so getting dates in early. There are some events for the Asgard 26/27th July. I presume they are going into Gola. Had a card from Tess last week.
TBB wonderful history and the important thing is that the love for the Celtic Way has been passed on.
That settles it!
Ah wiz jiz told that..
Yes…~~
Ronny Dee is LEFT-HANDED~~~
Yippee!..
We hiv Noo Goat oor Leader.. A Real Leader..
N.. A Very Intelligent wan .Tae.
A few weeks ago. right oan here..Ah gave you folks how much Ah ..Kojo..
Respect n Admire..
CORRIE FISTERS!
Left-Handed Folk are…Oan the WHOLE…
Much, Much Smarter..n Successful whitever they Turn..”Turn thur Haun Tae!” .. ( Ouch~.. ed) ( Ah know. But Ah couldnae resist!)
N. Ah hiv the Names tae Prove that..n.. Here is Jist a SPRINKLIN’..
How aboot these Folk.. All “South Paws”..
Alexander the Great
Charlemagne
Julius Caesar
Joan of Arc~
Napoleon Bonaparte
Henry Ford
Dr. Albert Schweitzer
Helen Keller
Vince Scully..(Go..Dodgers!)
Jay Leno
David Letterman
Lenny Bruce
Ronald Reagan
George W Bush
Clinton
Obama
Cole Porter..( Ma Favorite,, Composer n.. LYRICIST.)
Tiny Tim!..
Benjamin Netanyahu
Prince William
John Dillinger~
Noel Gallagher
Paul McCartney
Judy Garland
Leonardo Da Vinci
Michelangelo
Matt Groening ..Cartoonist.. Homer.
Lewis Carroll
H.G.Wells.
Jack the Ripper!
John Wesley Hardin..( But.. Billy the Kid..wiznae..it wiz jist a Myth that he wiz)
n..
Oh.. Aye!…
Is Kojo.. a South-Paw?… ( Well..Actually..Ah am Ambidextrous.)
Ach,Ah believe Ma Point is Made.. n Ah didnae even Mention..
Albert Einstein. who WROTE with His RIGHT HAND…but wiz..indeed.. Left-Handed!)
Charles Darwin.. n. .. Benjamin Franklin..
Corrie Fisters ur.. Very UNIQUE FOLK.. Awe Right..
N..
n.. Sure As..
God Diznae Ever..TALK.. tae T.V. Evangelists… Despite,Thur Claims
tae the Contrary!
That..
We hiv goat Anither
Very Unique n Talented Left-Hander in oor Pilot’s Chair!
Noo Ye Know.
Kojo
Happy a Larry n Heidi wid be..if They Wur..Kojo!
Overwhelmed !!
Cheers guy’s , weefra ;))
I could bore you with a long personal post about the word Retard and how much hurt it brings , bad memories….
Anyhoo on a lighter note Mraspapa’s 4 is now 5 attending , the oldest has just renewed too + new manager , let the fun and games begin … C’mon the Hoops ;))
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7-nOoMkdcqc
On this day in ’67 we won in the Bernabeu
HH
Canny even get ma ane name rite !!
Marspapa sheesh !
You speak for a lot of people, Marspapa.
I don’t know if there is any mechanism that could be put in place to block specific words, but I can see no justifiable reason for such a word being used.
That said, I realise that no offence was intended by anybody who has used it.
Language can hurt unintended targets.
hebcelt
Sorry for the late reply. Yes indeed, the only publication I spend my money on, is, wait for it, The Scottish Farmer. :-)))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Well worth a read…
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/a-quietly-impressive-display-of-intelligence-warmth-and-wit.24430013
Not sure how to do the link thing but i have the weirdest story about tim booth from james and wgs
Doubt Andrew Smith will be getting many Christmas cards from G52 following this intro…
KENNY Miller has revealed that he was neither given nor asked for any pledges from the Rangers hierarchy about the financial state of the club before he signed on this week at Ibrox for a third time.
The 34-year-old was paraded yesterday after agreeing a one-year deal with Ally McCoist’s Championship side, having departed the last incarnation of Rangers in January 2011.
I just seen an advert for BBC Alba for monday night at 9.00 pm. Jock Stein. What’s not to like. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Enjoy the break Tony,do you know Leo o’donnell? He lived in Glasgow before going to Toronto originally from Donegal
cathach
13:50 on 7 June, 2014
From what I’ve seen it’s nothing to with age.
proudbhoy
Don’t think he has signed. Read comments attributed to PL indicating they are in discussion with his agent.
Understand your concerns, but he seems like a good option for Celtic right now.
I’d like to see him signed as he was a good keeper and seems to have retained his abilities. What is uncertain is his physical capabilities. At 31 he is a good age for a keeper.
And he’s already scored for the Celtic !
These feckin Looms are everywhere
fieldofdrams
Think you’ll need to cut and paste the Herald article.
oneneillennon- Izzy is always encouraged to get forward, there should be cover for him when he does,but you’re right,teams know how to exploit the space
Dye-ler.
Kilbowie Kelt
Agree with you that no offence was meant , i’ve met CRC a few times , a nicer guy you’ll find hard to meet , i’ve had to deal with this horrible word for nearly 45 years kids and adults using it against my brother as i said i’m sensitive towards it
CRC xx
oneneillennon
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I am marching in the Brooklin Fair today. One of the tunes our BRASS band will be playing is ” Death or Glory”. Please You Tube it ..but you’ll find it is also a fave of the Bowler hatted mob and they play with flutes. So mea culpas in advance.
weefrathetim-how’s yer gaelic?
Rod Petrie looks like he has been drawn by Dudley D Watkins .
I can’t make up my mind whether he looks more like oor Wullie’s pa , Hen Broon or PC Murdoch .
Brass Man
No thanks , it’s a horrible dirge.
… and yes I know PC Murdoch was bald
!!bada bing call me a traditionalist but my left backs need to be able to defend first and foremost. Another player having to worry about his own position & covering lb is too much at that level. I like the guy but not good enough imo
Fieldofdrams
Yip, good piece, thanks for linking.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/a-quietly-impressive-display-of-intelligence-warmth-and-wit.24430013
TBB
Saw that yesterday and thought it spot on.
So it is all about setting realistic expectation levels, then enjoying and being grateful for what is real rather than grumping about what is not.
Works for me ( but I’m also thinking we should install a roller coaster with the unspent cash.
I’d call it “The Celtic Whheeeaaaay!”
Bada
My thoughts exactly. I canny wait to hear big Jock talking gaelic. Hehehe
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
big-cup-winners cheers know how to do that but when i paste into comments box it comes up as multi lines. Im on an iphone
mickbhoy1888
12:08 on 7 June, 2014
Not too many disagreed with big Sutties comments regarding Dunfermline in 2003 seems he knew what he was talking about then
———————————
I said something in 2003 that people agreed with. Doesn’t mean they agree with what I say in 2014
Auldheid! You’re developing a sense of humour :¬)
I read on twitter that his name is pronounced the same as dial-a as in dial- a- bus. Only in his case it’s dial-a-coach. Boom boom. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
My friends in Celtic,
Radio reports that Ronny Deila will be in charge of Stromsgodset on Monday night.
If true, it is worth looking out for.
HH.