What a lot of nonsense we’re been through since last week. My information was that we were interested in Roy Keane but no deal had been concluded. Martin O’Neill helpfully (cough) poured fuel on the fire by confirming he gave Roy permission to speak to Celtic, but despite several newspapers running the story that he was set to be appointed no later than today, the deal was never as close as reported.
Roy’s position on the short list was made time-critical by the fact that he was due to leave on tour with Ireland tomorrow, but talks continued in parallel with other targets.
The overwhelming reaction to yesterday’s news among the Celtic support was that we had a lucky escape. There was a Rangers fan who used to come onto the CQN comments section after Neil Lennon’s first season in charge and taunt us that Dermott Desmond was going to sack Neil and appoint Roy Keane. We didn’t take him seriously………
I’ve never been in the business of rubbishing Celtic players or managers before they arrive (although I’ve never backed a managerial appointment since starting CQN) but Keane represented a huge and unacceptable risk to Celtic. We have an excellent football infrastructure and development strategy, with good coaches at all levels. We need a technically gifted tactician, capable of dovetailing with this strategy. Whatever Keane is, there is little evidence that he is a tactical genius, or that he’s likely to dovetail with anyone else’s strategy. The potential disruption his unique brand of focus would bring could be considerable.
Although you can expect a daily drip of ‘news’, I don’t expect any actual news in the short-term.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his tome, All the Best.
Shout out to Frank O’Hagan, who supported the CQN Charity Golf Day with his music three years ago. He’s playing Glasgow Uni Union on Friday night, get along if you can.
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bums on seats
moustaches in ole gazebo.
dksglen
14:30 on
3 June, 2014
The players are on holiday. So it won’t be fully impacting on CL preparations just now.
The good thing about NFL was he’d no experience or time to fail.
Irony CSC
Tactical genius ???!!!!!………not needed………..strong personality, ….being able to spot a player…….and mould them together……..tactical genius… no……..
So IF RK was definitely, genuinely the top target.
Does this mean The Great Desmondo is an idiot?
That seems to be the suggestion.
French open
Fantastic viewing to day
Cmon
Eugenie bouchard
Perfection
Dermot Desmond’s moustache is barred from the Gazebo.
TooWide CSC
Leonardo Di Caprio would be box office
Would it be acceptable for whoever gets/ takes the job, to promote some of the youths into the first team.
By so doing, he will be completing the missing link between youths and first team, giving them the necessary experience, which will stand them in good stead when Hearts and Hibs resume Premier League status next year.
A youthful team should be good enough to win next season’s title.
The downside, will be putting CL qualification at a greater risk.
Will the loss of a season’s CL cash be compensated by the emergence of two or three players from the ranks?
henry clarson
14:32 on 3 June, 2014
estorilbhoy 13:57 on 3 June, 2014
“Paul,
What concerns me is that the powers that be at CP deemed Keane a suitable candidate to open up talks with him.
————————————————–
Maybe Roy Keane made the initial approach asking to be considered before changing his mind?
Hey chaps, why all the panic about the new manager? It’s been two weeks since Neil Lennon resigned but some people are implying it’s taking an eternity to get a replacement in. What other business would make such a key appointment within a fortnight? Not many. As long as we get the right person in, that’s what counts.
What about Paul’s old mate from Copenhagen? Solbakken?
I confidently predict some of us will be disappointed with whoever gets the job.
The more I mull it over the more I’m inclined towards MacNamara…
He would bring at least 3 good players !
And I have experience on the Celtic bench: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gPywm7cZAU&feature=youtu.be&t=11m36s
What more do you need Lawell!?
*ttp://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/celtic/celtic-step-up-clarke-pursuit-27-years-on-165857n.24388615
Celtic step up Clarke pursuit … 27 years on
Published on 3 June 2014
Ronnie Cully
CELTIC are negotiating to bring Steve Clarke to Parkhead – 27 years after they last attempted to recruit him.
The 50-year-old Ayrshireman has jumped to the top of the Hoops’ list to replace Neil Lennon. Clarke was the subject of sustained support in the betting as Roy Keane informed Dermot Desmond he no longer wished to be considered for the vacancy.
Keane was later reported to be on his way to Aston Villa as Paul Lambert’s assistant while another in the running, Oscar Garcia, accepted a job in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Clarke played for St Mirren and Chelsea before working as assistant manage to Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Gianfranco Zola and Kenny Dalglish, and finally became a manager in his own right in 2012 when he took over at West Brom.
He was put on gardening leave in December, but is finally free to take up another position.
Brighton are set to speak to him about the manager’s job there, but Celtic have a head start.
Sources at Parkhead insist they still have some way to go in their negotiations – Malky Mackay also remains a strong candidate – but the idea of Clarke becoming the next boss is already winning support among the fans.
However, it is not the first time moves have been made to recruit him.
As former boss, Davie Hay, explained, Celtic wanted to sign Clarke when he was starting his career as a full-back with St Mirren, only to lose out to Chelsea, where he went on to play for 12 years.
Hay recalled: “Danny McGrain was coming to the end of his career, and we identified Steve as a young player who could take over from him at right-back.
“He certainly looked to have a bright future, but our offer was not accepted because Chelsea came in with more money.
“Alex Smith was the Saints manager at the time, and, coincidentally, I met him last week and he was reminding me of how we missed out on Steve.”
Hay, who had been a supporter of the Hoops’ move to make Keane their next manager, believes Clarke would bring a lot of the qualities he had as a player to the Parkhead hot seat.
“Steve has always been very professional in everything he has done, as a player and since he moved into management,” said the man who played for Celtic and Chelsea and was dubbed the Quiet Assassin.
—
*ttp://scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/steve-clarke-ideal-for-celtic-post-fitzpatrick-1-3431397
Steve Clarke ideal for Celtic post – Fitzpatrick
Published: 03 June 2014
Steve Clarke has already shown he has the mental strength to boss Celtic – by bouncing back from the collapse of his dream move to Parkhead as a player, former team-mate Tony Fitzpatrick believes.
Fitzpatrick was St Mirren skipper when the 19-year-old Clarke burst onto the scene with the Paisley club in 1982 as a talented young defender.
After more than 200 run-outs for the Buddies, boyhood favourites Celtic had seen enough to make their move.
But the Saints board turned down the Hoops’ bid as they refused to deal with one of their domestic rivals.
The collapse of his Celtic switch left the full-back heartbroken but he refused to sulk and eventually won a £422,000 move to Chelsea in 1987.
During an 11-year Stamford Bridge career, he would win the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Now Fitzpatrick believes that steely resolve will help the 50-year-old succeed if he is chosen to replace Neil Lennon as the Scottish champions’ new manager.
He said: “Stevie is a Celtic fan. I remember when Davie Hay was in charge of Celtic, they came in for him but St Mirren – who were challenging for Europe around that time – would not sell to another Scottish club.
“So he ended up going to Chelsea, where he became a legend.
“Stevie had been desperate to go to Celtic but it’s a mark of the man that he never threw the toys out of the pram. He dealt with it brilliantly and it shows his mental toughness that he was able to put that disappointment behind him and do so well at Stamford Bridge.
“That’s exactly the type of thing you need if you are going to be a successful Celtic manager.”
Fitzpatrick has watched the former West Brom boss’s career with interest since their Love Street days and always knew he would go on to manage at the highest level.
“Stevie is a winner and you could see that from the day he walked into the St Mirren dressing room as a young player,” said Fitzpatrick. “He was always very focused.
“In terms of his stature, he was right up there with all the big Saints players of the time – Frank McGarvey, Frank McAvennie, Billy Stark, Peter Weir.
“He was just so determined to be a top player and he had a real steeliness about him, that mental toughness.
“From an early age you could tell he would go on to become a manager too. He was a student of the game and always hungry for knowledge about his position and how the team should play.”
Clarke became the bookies’ favourite to land the Hoops post after former Manchester United skipper Roy Keane pulled out of the running on Monday.
He started his coaching career as assistant to Ruud Gullit at Newcastle before helping Jose Mourinho land two Barclays Premier League titles after returning to Chelsea.
He also had spells as number two to former West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola and Kenny Dalglish during his second stint as Liverpool manager.
But his sole venture as a boss in his own right ended after less than 18 months when he was axed by West Brom in November last year, despite leading the Baggies to eighth place in his first season in charge.
“I really hope he gets this chance because he deserves it,” said Fitzpatrick. “He’s a phenomenal guy.
“Just look at the experience he has had and who he has worked under. Gullit, Mourinho, Zola, Dalglish – these guys are from a different planet.
“You also have to look at how well those clubs did during his time there. Stevie played a huge part in their successes.
“If you listen to the way Mourinho talks about him, you realise just how special a coach he is.
“I was surprised the way things worked out for him at West Brom, though, because I thought he did a great job. That would have hurt him, especially because he was doing well – but it will have made him even more hungry to succeed.
“Now, he’s more than ready for the Celtic job and I’m sure he would make a great appointment.”
—
Mrs. Doyle Says,”Go On,Go On..!”
“You Know You Want To…Dermot!”
“*rse!”,Says Fr. Jack Hackett…
BADA
The guy that left the salvage and joined the FS
was Raymond Pettigrew
HH
I’ve got it
Gerry butler will be our new manager
A Tim who has played in the hoops beside Henke Larsson …tough act to follow and has played in previous roles with worldwide rolls including coaching and battling the forces of evil
And he is Defo box office .. He would put some really nice bums on seats
Paul67
Keane would not fit the strategy.
Of course he wouldn’t but would his “fame” overcome that objection.
That was the subject of discussions and I think the majority where in the No camp.
On the Keane for manager issue of course :)
ernie lynch
14:43 on 3 June, 2014
So IF RK was definitely, genuinely the top target.
Does this mean The Great Desmondo is an idiot?
That seems to be the suggestion.
………………………………………………………….
Maybe he is, maybe he is just an Irish David Murray who knows the right palms to grease in Ireland to get things done?
Now I am not saying that I go along with that line of thought, because he gets the views on here relayed back to him and I don’t want to upset a man who looks so sternly at one while twirling his moustache and raising an eyebrow in a certain way.
TSFM
I must say that Steve Clarke seems to tick a lot of boxes in terms of continuing with the existing strategy.
bums on seats
bosoms for pillows
TSD not tsfm predictive yarghh
Celtic beat Fiorentina 3-0 in the European Cup Quarter Final First Leg on Wednesday 4th March 1970. The image used on the cover of Tommy Gemmell’s new book All the Best was taken at the end of this match.
Barry McGonigle is well respected for restoring older Celtic photographs – adding colour to black and white images and bringing the image to life. He’s working on this cover pic for us at the moment and I’d like to check with anyone who can remember if the Fiorentina strip was purple and if so a light or dark purple? Anyone know?
Maybe this will jog your memory…
“Before the first leg Celtic had a slight worry about Tommy Gemmell, who had picked up a knock on his shin in the previous weekend’s game with Airdrie. At this time Gemmell was Celtic’s top scorer in the European Cup and it was a worry that his injury may affect his famous “Big Bertha” shot.
“I’m sure I’ll be okay,” he said as he packed his bags for Celtic’s Seamill retreat. “The injury is still rather painful, but it should clear up. It’s a pity it’s “Big Bertha”, but I’m sure there will be no twinges when I’m shooting against Fiorentina.”
“He’s still a wee bit doubtful,” his manager said. “He’ll have a tough test today.”
Fiorentina coach Pesaola, earning a widely reported £30,000 a year, rejected claims that his side played in a style similar to their Scottish opponents. “We are a highly technical side. More so than Celtic. Our play is not like them at all. The fans will see this tomorrow night and I’m sure they will agree that we are value for money.”
He couldn’t have been more wrong.
Celtic, with Gemmell fit and in the starting line up, began in their now customary whirlwind fashion, worrying Superchi in the Fiorentina goal straight from kick-off.
The hero of the night was 30 year old Bertie Auld, considered the “veteran” of the side. Out of the team for six weeks after picking up an injury, he learned only 30 minutes before kick-off that he would be in the starting line up. In the 30th minute of the match, he received the ball from the right, 22 yards out. He calmly looked up and sped a sweet shot that whizzed past Superchi’s despairing dive.
Fiorentina players were on £1,500 a man to win the match. This was an unprecedented sum at the time. Any hope of picking up that win bonus disappeared 4 minutes after the break when Auld made Celtic’s second goal. Auld sent over a cross which defender Carpenetti attempted to clear. He only succeeded in sending it above the head of his advancing goalkeeper and into the net.
With a minute to go Bertie Auld sent another cross into the box. Harry Hood headed the ball on and Willie Wallace was there to knock it over the line.
The Italian media blamed the result on Fiorentina concentrating too much on defence, but that did a disservice to Celtic who had rarely looked so commanding in their European career.
“Bertie could not have done more for us,” manager Jock Stein said afterwards. “I have got to single him out for the way he played there tonight.”
Stein’s opposite number Pesaola spent almost an hour after the match ensconced in the dressing room explaining the heavy defeat to furious club directors. When he emerged he said “Auld was the master tonight. He was the great midfield player for Celtic.”
Auld himself was more modest, saying, “The rest of the lads carried me for the last 20 minutes. After being out of first team football for six weeks I felt just about jiggered.”
From Celtic Wiki.
Some people are saying whats the rush. I say Celtic knew at least 3 weeks before it was announces Lenny was leaving. So thats 5 weeks they’ve done nothing.
Fail to prepare….
Oh sorry, I forgot Lenny is going to help find his own replacement. yeah right.
Mr blue tie? Did Elo not record that?
announced.
On balance not disappointed in Roy not coming to us, much as I love watching the guy.
From a managerial point of view it would have been like lighting a rocket – it might have sailed magnificently into the sky but it might have blown up in our faces.
Regrettably , the latter was every bit as likely as the former.
For me – Steve Clarke or , failing that , Malky McKay.
auldheid
Including the poor wee Celtic fixation with EPL myopia and relative failure.
Can I just throw into this.. as someone with a friend who has supported lincoln city for years, when chris s*tton was appointed manager there it was as a high profile figure expected to bring experience and tactical know how. Ask any lincoln supporter how that went
I don’t find your post very reassuring Paul… Keane ticks none of the boxes for us yet clearly we were interested enough to open talks with him.
The nature of Neil’s departure, and the prolonged search for his successor, suggest we have been taken completely by surprise here.
My information is that Lawwell was dead set against Keane, but others weren’t. Keane backed out because he realised this, allegedly.
Our search for a manager is in danger of descending into a very public bun-fight.
(PS – what odds would you give me on PL leaving before transfer window shuts?)
HT
I was pass-remarking that you are RK’s agent, hence your trips to Celtic Park in recent days. Poor stuff really.
Then, failed with an attempted pun on understudy/understood eh.
What muddled nonsense. One day I’ll manage to post something that actually makes sense first time around.
jackthehun..
Are You A Jock..?
(ThumbsUp)
winning captains
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACF_Fiorentina#Second_scudetto_and_.2770s
Coyle, Collins, Clarke, Jackie, Keane, Mackay, Houston etc…………….how far have we downsized ?
Hope you sleep well DD and you also Pedro.
HH
Go foreign Celtic.
relative failure
-John Sutton
TBB
It’s at this point that I wish I had BSR’s skill in creating wee, mental icons or images showing hilarity or indeed confusion :-)
“We have an excellent football infrastructure and development strategy, with good coaches at all levels. We need a technically gifted tactician, capable of dovetailing with this strategy.”
Jings! It’s Andy blomin’ Roxburgh isn’t it?
Had Keane confirmed to Celtic yesterday that he wanted the job would he have been appointed? Worryingly I suspect that he would have been.