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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Jamesgang
Thoughts with you.
Lost my mum to it last December. Also never smoked a fag in her life.
Jamesgang
prayer just said and candle lit for the intentions of you and your mother( at inlaws St Marys Ardmore).
KTF
Artur Jorge next manager of United- Hugh Keevins…
The wheels were ready to come off the Man U bandwagon . They won the EPL last season but they were not impressive in doing so . I thought they were dire but Fergie squeezed a last trophy out of them. The Dortmond guy seems to be the best coach out there at the moment but would he take it on or even be offered it? A few seasons struggling in mid-table coming up for them.
David Moyes is a good manager who had an impossible job to do this season but Id be ok with him taking the Celtic job in the summer.
Dont think he would demand much in wages either given his pay off.
Jamesgang
God bless your mother.
Hope & pray she pulls through.
BRTH
Just seen your post on TSFM
Cap doffed
—————–
jamesgang forgot too add look after yer da he will need support as well.
KTF
Jamesgang
God Bless your Mum and all your family..
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers ………praying for our wee hero!
12:51 on 22 April, 2014
VMHAN
Bring sis along, I may bend her ear re the GB, your sis may listen that TD67 fellow is naw for changing (smiley)
HH
Jamesgang-All the best mate.HH
sipsini
13:11 on
22 April, 2014
!!bada bing!!
Same here, nice and personal aswel.
Heard the hun ones come with the writing in invisible ink:)
Aye and a 5 year Auto Renewal :}
Wayne Rooney on 25 grand per day – could this be the real reason why there was dissatisfaction in the Manure camp with a lot of the staff not bothering their arses to put in a shift on the field.
I accept that it’s hard to find a football manager for a top side but surely there can’t be too many variables to use as a benchmark before they get past the selection criteria?
With Moyes it appears there was no selection criteria and rather it was justifiable as he had kept Everton on an even keel for a long time. Actually this could be perceived as under performing when you look at Evertons current performance.
I agree to an extent with the boot room approach but only from a continuity of scouting and general ethos angle. Celtics approach to the most significant post has been haphazard and circumstances dictated to them rather than the other way around apart from Strachan.
Even then Strachan had his own approach to tactics, scouting, man management etc.
if its a boot room approach you better make damned sure it is not through the appointed heir scenario. Eric Black anyone?
I suppose supporting Paul’s argument you would need to have your ear pretty close to the ground with really good info from really well respected folk in the game. Would Ferguson and Mourinhio have supported pochitino for example or did Southampton happenstance on him.
EN
I’d like mr NFL to win in Europe first, I can see Moyes at CP but this is Lenny’s time.
HH amigo!
Starry plough
Vgood :)
Jamesgang, KTF.
Jamesgang
Thoughts and prayers with you and your mother.
LB
Thanks a million Ghuys.
HH jamesgang
So nobody like pink then?
I’m fumdounded.
Jamesgang – sticking them ole toes and fingers acrossing for yeez.
MWD says Aye Aye #indyref
Vmhan – YNWA Wee Oscar 13:48
‘NL to win in Europe?’
The big cup?
Suuurely no, what if we get Morton, Aberdeen, St Mirren, Ross Co or somebody like that in the last 16? :)
Hope you’re well fella.
EN
Jamesgang
Speaks volumes of you that your helping run a team of Under 10’s at the Falkirk Cup this weekend as your family are going through tough times. Fingers and toes crossed for your mum and there’ll be a candle lit in the Church of the Holy Family tomorrow morning, stay strong bigman. HH
What about Kelpies? Does anyone like Kelpies?
MWD says Ohhh yeah.
SmashingMilkBottles:
Behave! But I’ll promise you this, and my God be my judge, the day the huns win the Big Cup, with a team of eleven Scotsmen, that’ll be it, no more threatening, I’ll go off it for life.
Also , I’m always surprised at managers getting the blame for signing players. Surely if the Man U board didn’t think the signings Moyes wanted were correct they would have just said no… Here’s a list of alternatives… just like our board?
But seriously, saying ok to Mata and then blaming the manager after how many games playing him?
If anything they should have sold Rooney who is one rung below world class and is no better than some of the second strikers you would find at most other top European clubs.
Hail hail
Been a while since I last posted. Regarding David Moyes. I was never convinced he was the right man for the job in the first place. Although his record whilst at Everton was good, his record against the top clubs was pretty average at best.
On top of that, the Man Utd defense was needing an overhaul over a year ago. Sir Alex was in someways very lucky with his last EPL title. Rio Ferdinand has been well past his prime for a couple of seasons.
As to who they go for now, I suppose one could argue that for them the only way is up.
Hail hail
jamesgang
Very sorry to read your news. Thoughts and a prayer for all your family.
Would love to see Giggs get a proper crack of the whip in the manner that Lenny did. Even if he won the last four games in style and had the fans behind him, it would still be unlikely though.
A ringing endorsement from Sir Alex would probably fall on deaf ears too…
***Snooker spoiler alert***
McManus sees off Higgins.
Down to just one Scottish manager in the EPL now from 6/7 a year or so ago.
We are just edging ourselves out ahead of independence….
If the SFA are waiting for Police Scotland to act, what would will happen if he is charged and found guilty on that charge?
I can’t see anything other than a nominal fine or, perhaps a slap on the wrist.
Can the SFA then still proceed with their case, after he has already been punished?
What is the precedent of a player being charged both by the police and the SFA?
Is the football charge under the OB act, relative to his ” offence” being committed en route to a game. If so, will he be banned from attending a football stadium for a set period.
For my money, this is going to fizzle out, with much harrumphing and spluttering from the assorted beaks.
I can’t see Celtic allowing a case to drag into next season, with the potential to lose a players services over what, in reality, was not an alleged offence against the rules of the game.
On another note.
Neil Lennon is punditting on TV3 tonight, during the AM v Chelsea match and, more significantly, the Donegal CQN AGM takes place tomorrow night, with Noel 90 and Ard Macha sponsoring the refreshments.
bournesouprecipe
13:33 on 22 April, 2014
………
He is a bad yin right enough, if it’s allowed to pass unpunished the next thing he’ll be blessing himself, Fenian b that he is (thumbs up)
Unrepentant V_CSC
@ JAMES GANG
BE ASSURED YOUR MUM AND DAD WILL BE REMEMBERED IN MY NIGHTLY ROSARY.
Sorry for Davie Moyes, but he was on a hiding to nothing.
Posted on here a few weeks ago à rumour I heard in Italy.
Fergie invited Carlo Ancelotti to dinner – and Carlo likes his grub, washed down with the finest wines – and asked him if he wanted the Man U job.
Allegedly.
Carlo said no because he had already accepted the Real Madrid gig.
Allegedly.
So there you have it.
HH!!
OK! OK! OK!
What about flaky skin. Anyone have a remedy – YES/NO?
MWD Awe AYE man.
From Fans For Change.
http://wp.me/p4ixLZ-U
jamesgang.
KTF
Jamesgang.
Prayers fir yer ma.
Big sean.
Fergie came twice to see Lenny for a friendly chat. Once after beating Barca and another after.
Maybe Lenny told him to come back after ten in a row.
Tallybhoy 14:17
BeIn Sports last night were casually discussing Carlo Ancelotti going to Spurs in the summer as if it was Spurs decision to go for him, classic EPL delusion at its best.
EN
Tallybhoy 14:17
Didn’t he also meet up with Guardiola in New York? Of course they may just have been discussing the best time of day to go up the Empire State Building…..