Appointing a manager is an incredible gamble but the risks can be mitigated, especially at a club which is successful or even pointing in the right direction. In this case, clubs should look to build upon whatever platform they have. Bringing in a new guy with a team development strategy which is completely different from the existing plan accentuates the risks.
This is why the boot room strategy is successful over any extended period. Build on what you have, sign players needed by the squad and who have been scouted extensively. The new man may or may not prove to be the world’s best coach but at least he’ll have a successful infrastructure to insulate the club from lurching into oblivion.
When Gordon Strachan succeeded Martin O’Neill, Gordon picked up a scouting folder, flew to Poland and got on with the development project, much as Martin would have, had he stayed. Celtic were technically no less successful when Tony Mowbray took over in 2009 but the team, and strategy, were tired. A change of direction was appealing, we couldn’t continue to sign Hibs players, although the execution of the new strategy was flawed. The writing was on the wall from the moment we signed £3.9m Marc-Antoine Fortune.
Neil Lennon was an enormous gamble when he was appointed in 2010. He was a rookie, had never signed a player, won a trophy (as manager), or deployed a game plan in anger. There were a few facts in his favour. He’d worked with the other coaches at the club, as well as chief scout, John Park, and Peter Lawwell. For years, they shared a development vision. Celtic retreated into a strategy closely aligned to the vision of the remaining technical staff.
Despite the Scottish Cup semi-final debacle against Ross County Neil got the job, spent much of the next year learning a few painful lessons and hasn’t looked back since. The club gambled on the guy with ultimate responsibility, but they knew he was not about the step out on a ledge.
The time to have a root-and-branch clear-out is following a John Barnes-type season. The manager was wrong, as was tactics, scouting and team development plan. Martin O’Neill brought with him radical and necessary change. This worked at Celtic but, if anything, it is even more risky than appointing a rookie. The lower leagues of England are full of clubs who have gambled unsustainable money on a manager only to come a cropper.
There are gems out there, Pochettino and Simeone, for example, but finding them is a challenge. Pochettino pitched up at Southampton after being sacked by a hugely underperforming Espanyol, and Simeone got the Atletico Madrid job after several years of average-to-poor returns.
Big Davie Moyes was a good manager at Everton but watching him at Manchester United was a bit like watching him 30 years ago in a Celtic shirt. He started by dismantling whatever platforms were in place and served notice he would be following a Haphazard and Wasteful player recruitment policy on the final day of last summer’s transfer window by blowing all his pocket money on a guy he didn’t need and refused to sign for less money a few weeks earlier. He had to go.
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lionroars67
17:58 on 22 April, 2014
Ever voted SNP?
ACGR,
Have you tried emailing him?
Sad to see big Dolph go, really loved the big guy…
Dont mess with the Johan!!
Any ideas who we will get to replace him?
Leigh Griffiths .
another perspective ——-had a wee chat with my in his 80s Inter supporting neighbour – he thinks a professional footballer should have respect for a fellow professional footballer but more important than that ——–what was a professional football player doing in a boozer.in the first place ?
squire danaher
18:09 on 22 April, 2014
‘Why didn’t the PF accept the plea of guilty to Assault?’
###
Because there was evidence that the offence was aggravated by sectarianism.
Are you suggesting that the fiscal should have ignored that?
Help hide Scotland’s dirty little secret?
I hope Johan holds out for a better job than the OT one.
Good luck, Johan and thanks for your time and efforts.
Raman the Hun talks to sheela mclaren about big dolph .. Is she at Celtic park ?
Nope
Downstairs sitting on her desk in the newsroom
SFTB
I hate to disagree with you as I never learned any lesson on postings. I took a right crap illness which I am not quiet over and refrained in general. You may also note that some of the more decent posters apologised to me for let’s say their over exuberance in their responses and I gratefully accepted. Some of course like Ernie who called me stupid and a liar didn’t.
Of course Ernie seems to hate against Scottish and asks many questions which are answered but answers none.
Is he being paid to infiltrate this blog?
I don’t know, but I know if he is being paid the payers are not getting value for money.
There are many decent posters who post many lovely stories so I will continue to lurk and submit the odd post.
The Unionists (as described earlier so there is no insult intended) can continue with their delusions and no time of mine will be wasted on them.
Bhoylo83
18:12 on 22 April, 2014
Jimmy Bell.
He knows how to park the bus and drive it too.
I don’t know if we could afford him though.
Dessybhoy- John Kennedy will step up to the first team coaching staff IMO.HH
Good call Bada. Hope it comes to pass. Someone steeped in the history.
Billy Bhoy 05
Sorry to hear of your illness.
However, the effect of shortening your posts and making them less frequent has made them more effective and less counter-productive, IMO.
Ps
heard Jimmy Bell is “burnt out” as a Coach.
SFTB
Heading out, but just wanted to say that I think the fall-out he had with Longson was due more to Longson being unable to cope with Clough’s controversial tv appearances and statements he made to the press almost on a daily basis. I think he felt he was losing control of the club, certainly the fans who,naturally, backed Clough. No doubt money was an issue, but not the only one. I wonder how good that team might have become, had they managed to make their relationship workable.
Billy Bhoy 05
18:18 on 22 April, 2014
‘Some of course like Ernie who called me stupid and a liar didn’t.’
###
As I recall I asked which of the two you were, stupid or a liar.
Looks like I need to ask you again.
Interesting suggestion that I’m being paid to infiltrate the blog.
You haven’t been on here long, have you?
All the best to Big Dolph…………
Not sure what the club will do to replace him, hopefully JFK will be given an appropriate role / promotion…………….but how about offering salvation to the boul’ an’ errant
………………………. Kenny “McDowally” McDowall……………….
He used to be a hun, but he could be awrite noooooo?
Good luck to big Johan.
Maybe the thought of an independent Scotland didn’t appeal.
I’m sure he’s not alone :-)
If Dolph is going to be replaced is there any chance it could be by a striker?
Ernie- Chris Sutton?
beatbhoy
Fans will mostly back a spending manager over a prudent chairman. Neither the fans nor Brian Clough, latterly, paid too much attention to where the money was coming from.
I was thinkin big davy jeffrey myself
B-)
I bet PL will be happy with this.
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1961&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=13248
!!Bada Bing!!
18:26 on 22 April, 2014
‘Ernie- Chris Sutton?’
####
Interesting suggestion. Certainly much more realistic than Henke.
South of Tunis
Yeah they should keep away from pubs and nightclubs. Thats where most of these unsavoury incidents happen.
My friends in Celtic.
“MWD’s reality could be a Scotland run by Alex Salmond without Celtic.”
—————————————
Absolutely nothing wrong with that statement.
IMO, it is what Celtic should be aspiring for and merely echoes what myself and many others have posted for yonks’.
In reality it would mean playing Liverpool, Arsenal, Man Utd etc. etc. in a league of equals more befitting of our status.
It would also mean we have left the unholy trinity of “Oldco, Newco and in all probability even Newerco. in our wake.( Once more apologies about terminology )
Or have I interpreted this incorrectly :-)
HH.
Ernie
No but I would see the primary job of the PF to obtain a conviction.
It wouldn’t have been difficult if Wilson was prepared to plead to simple common assault.
The court of public opinion would have convicted him of sectarian aggravation.
Off oot to Punta Secca ( where Montalbano lives ) —–Catania supporters club to watch Atletico v Chelsea . Picking up my elderly Inter supporting neighbour en route . He will be rooting for Atletico ——–” cant stand Mourinho , second worst moaning faced **** in football ” I made the mistake of enquiring re the worst and got a 10 minute rant re the current Manager of Rubentus . The Catania supporters will be rooting for Atletico -Simeone did well at Catania. Me – I hope Atletico win .
eurochamps67
17:54 on 22 April, 2014
Best wishes to big Johan. Terrific and terrifying player. You know when you’ve been Mjallbyed.
With him and big Sammi going, it will be all down to big Chas Muldini and myself in the ole Celtic handsomeness stakes soon!
—————————————————————-
You’ve obviously not seen our Garry Parker with his new barnet…
…and a huge thanks from me to Johan…
South Of Tunis
18:13 on 22 April, 2014
Who was the English player who played in Italy and on joining his club was asked out for a drink by a couple of the players only to find a drink meant just that, one drink?
Jamesgang & Tallybhoy
Sorry to hear about your family health issues.
KTF
ernie
Top scoring Man City and Liverpool are managed by former defenders.Cardiff and Stoke are managed by ex-top forwards.
The concept of a striker coach is a modern idiocy.
Does anybody else think Neil won’t be here next season either ?
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
18:32 on 22 April, 2014
We’re managed by a former defensive mid fielder, and it shows.
Green,
As I have said before,
Entering a new relationship with Ivana would be great fun at first. However the casino debts would soon lead one to fondly yearn for the unglamorous days with Tracy in Saltcoats.
EPL is capitalist hell.
ernie lynch .
That was Ian Rush
aiden bhoy
18:34 on 22 April, 2014
Does anybody else think Neil won’t be here next season either ?
Last year’s ST drive had NL front and centre,phoning guys up etc,got ST pack today,Scott Brown’s name is on the letter,NL nowhere to be seen?.
One of Big Dolph’s finest moments
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bj_xWr2CcAANnMO.jpg:large
HH
any chance of a promotion for Peter Houston?
squire danaher
18:30 on 22 April, 2014
‘No but I would see the primary job of the PF to obtain a conviction.’
###
I don’t think it is.
Otherwise the PF would just run every trial as far down the scale as possible.
Attempted murder would be serious assault, serious assault would be assault, assault would be breach etc.
If there was evidence of a sectarian element to the assault (and there was) we’d have been the first to complain if the fiscal had taken the easy option.
The perverse outcome was due to the fifteen jurors, no one else.