Sometimes I look at the trajectory of Martin O’Neill’s career and wonder why he didn’t land another top job after leaving Celtic. He was the hottest property in football while he was in Glasgow, almost joined Leeds United (then a top side), while he was short odds for the Liverpool manager’s job at each annual crisis on Merseyside. At the time Ferguson at Manchester was talking about retiring, had he gone, Martin would have moved to Old Trafford.
In 2003 he met Mourinho in the Uefa Cup final. The Portuguese had some of the finest footballers of that generation at his disposal, unquestionably a better collection of players than Celtic, as their Champions League win 12 months later would prove, but Porto were pinned-in for long spells in the second half and required (literally) every trick in the book to prevail.
Despite losing, O’Neill did better with the resources available to him than Mourinho.
After a few meritocratic years at Aston Villa, where he spent more than the club could afford, but delivered a better team than they would otherwise expect, he left a day before the season kicked off, apparently unhappy Villa’s budget was being curtailed.
Without meaning offence to Sunderland, I was disappointed when he pitched up there. Martin O’Neill was surely a manager who should be competing for league titles and in the Champions League. His early form at Sunderland was transformational but it was a transformation built on fragile foundations.
Those founds’ have now disappeared, Sunderland sit two places above relegation. Their play is recognisable from how Celtic played a decade ago, and how Leicester played in the 90s. Opponents know what they get from Martin’s teams, so they know how to prepare for them.
Martin’s former players talk about his inspirational qualities not his tactical incision. It’s hard, if not impossible, for a manager of a major club to master all the attributes required in the job. The successful ones realise this and delegate.
One of the frustrations we had with Martin when he was at Celtic is his reluctance to indulge the scouts. We signed former Leicester players, players who featured on Match of the Day, or players from other SPL clubs. The Wanyama, Izaguirre, Kayal-recruitment model, players signed with greater trust in the scouts and limited supervision from the man at the top, would never have happened under O’Neill.
The technical side of the game is perhaps even more important than recruitment. Great football systems, clubs and countries develop from one coach doing something sensational. Successful tactical changes are then studied and copied, but how do you study and learn from a system that’s not utilised against you, or on TV, when you are manager of a large club? You can’t, on your own.
Instead you have to deploy the systems you already trust and used to get yourself the big job in the first place. Or you can tinker a little, or use what, for the want of a better term, we’ll call a technical research team. People who can say to the manager, “A club in Romania is doing something really clever, we should try it”, without being frog-marched off the premises.
The lesson of evolution is that it is not the biggest, strongest or healthiest who thrive, it’s those who can adapt to a changing environment. The list of great managers who end their career in humiliating relegation is longer than the list of greats who regularly discard their tried and tested formations and become early-adopters of successful new systems.
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Wee Catriona will be away for a boak after that news bulletin.
Morning and God Bless to the Celtic Family on this momentous date.
125 years of Joy, Anguish, Laughter and Tears.
Pride is a sin, well I have sinned every day of my life and will continue to do so, as I will never stop being proud to be a Celtic Supporter.
Hail! Hail!
36 hours……
Happy Birthday Celtic
Canamalar,
So Cosgrove didn’t pick jinky and big billy as his heroes??
What’s the problem with that?
I think he plays that one well as two tims in there could easily spoil the credibility of the entire piece.
Good morning CQNers and Happy birthday Celtic FC, 125 years old and still going strong.
Interesting leader from Paul67 that has a pop at Martin O’Neill for not evolving his tactical nous and not using the scouting system at Celtic but is it a fair critique?
I’d argue that Celtic’s tactics haven’t really progressed much since Martin O’Neil’s time where midfielders ran past opposing attacking players to get into defensive positions, exactly the same tactics deployed by Neil Lennon.
With all the midfield in defensive positions in the 18 yard box there is no out ball and balls won, usually by headers, fall to the attacking team about 25 yards out, does this remind you of anything?
Have a look at the first goal last Sunday, that goal is reminiscent of so many goals we’ve conceded in the last 10 years.
The defensive frailties of MON’s team persist today in Neil’s team and from an attacking perspective little has changed there either with attacking full backs and the predominance of a lone striker.
Yes, there is greater reliance on the scouting system now but I’d suggest this is more a result of the club’s financial position and the direction of the board rather than a managerial decision.
So, all-in-all it Paul’s leader could equally be targeted at Neil Lennon and Celtic FC for not being progressive tactically.
Morning all. Dark, wet and windy here in North Ayrshire.
Was very astounded of forehead this morning, listening to Radio Scotland. They had the sheer temerity to allow free rein to the opinions of the utterly discreditted Peat and Smith (he of the questionable follicles) concerning the sacking of Craig Levein. Only in Scotland….
Happy Birthday to the World’s Greatest Football Club, Celtic Celtic that’s the team for me..
Don’t remember the 75th being celebrated; do so well remember our Centenary Year. May our 125th be as joyous. Thank you, Celtic.
Happy birthday to all fellow tims.
What a year it has been so far,hopefully we can take something tomorrow to help us progress to the last 16.
The cherry on the cake will be the stripping of cheated titles.hail hail to cqn.
On a day like today,I choose not to dwell on the weasel words of Stuart Cosgrove.
He was always an enemy of Celtic,and he always will be.
Happy Birthday Glasgow Celtic my love for you grows stronger with every passing year.
Hail Hail
Parkheadcumsalford
Our 75th birthday would have been in 1962.
… but we had not won the league or cup since 1954, and the league cup since 1957.
We were a bit pash then it has to be said – but most of the future Lisbon Lions were there, just waiting for a manager to mould them into a great side.
The rest is history!
Incidentally 1962 was the year I was taken to my first Celtic match -2-2 v Hertz a CP. That’s all I remember!
HH!!
I noticed a few people referring to SG. Was that intended to be SC for Stuart Cosgrove? If not, who is SG? (We demand to know.).
.
If l Was born in 1988 l would be 24 Right..
So if 1988 was Our Centenary Season..
100 + 24 =
Has Peter Lawwell sold one of Our History Years..?
Summa of LogarithmosBetalCSC
Happy 125 years fellow Celts, from grey windy Renfrewshire.
Looking forward to St Mary’s tonight – well done to the Celtic Graves Society for all their hard work, planning and organising the event. The group do outstanding work and deserve immense credit.
Then tomorrow, we welcome Barca to Paradise. The script has been written for this season, all that remains is for Cekts everywhere to play their part.
I hope there are lots cameras around to record these events for our grandchildren, and all the future generations.
HH
skyisalandfill
01:32 on
6 November, 2012
Just flying a kite here, but while reading an article about Levein not really getting the bullet but effectively being paid to play golf, the question why springs to mind. Why wasn’t he just sacked with a proportionate part of his contract settled.
The SFA seem to have had some difficulty in doing this necessary deed.
What has CL agreed to say or rather not say?
Probably just paranoid.
HH
……….
They have done the same as we did with Mowbray. He’s on gardening leave picking up his wages, but if her takes another job money is saved as he has to resign and give up the remaining cash.
On the display tomorrow, I hope the GB have behaved themselves and have not set up anything thjat will make us look stupid in the eyes of the world.
Also today is the 125th Anniversary of the conception of Celtic Football Club, our actual 125th Birthday is on May 28th, 2013.
Tallybhoy,
I was already into my 9th year of watching Celtic in ’62 (mind you, I remember very little of the first couple of those). 7-1 game I well remember, although I listened to it in my Uncle Eddie’s. I remember too visiting Hampden only to be be beaten, especially by Mr Stein’s Dunfermline. I remember when the Lions were a bunch of talented but unsuccessful players and, of course, what they became. I have felt for a wee while that our young team today might emulate them, if we can keep enough of them together, although economic reasons might affect that.
Greenjedi
I am sure Celtic have looked at the display,and have given it their approval.i cannot think of one display that has made us look stupid in the eyes of the world,the opposite in fact.
If today is not our ‘official’ birthday then why is it being celebrated by the club?
We were founded on this day in 1887, but did not play our first match until 6 months later.
We should then have the year 1887 on the club crest and not 1888.
HH!!
aweebitconfusedCSC
Happy Birthday Celtic a day to think of all those through trials and tribulations made such a great contribution to a unique Football Club. Founding Fathers, Administrators, Managers, Coaches, Players and Supporters some famous, some unsung, combined to make such an unlikely yet unsurpassed success.
murdochbhoy @ 08:08,
Good post, very pertinent points.
One thing I loved about Martin O’Neill is his ability to change his tactics for different teams and different environments.
Someone yesterday compared Tony Watt to Chris Sutton, we seem to forget Chris’s utility, he would be very likely to take the chances Celtic got at Tannadice on Sunday he was equally likely to clear the ball that ended up as an O. G.
Martin O’Neill’s team was no one trick pony or one man team.
fanadpatriot
08:50 on 6 November, 2012
Aye.
Tallybhoy
I am sure we are just carrying on that quaint Brit.,custom.Do you not know the Queen has two birthdays,what’s good enough for her,is good enough for Celtic.
greenjedi
What precedent causes you to worry about the Green Brigade`s planned display?
JJ
On this 125th anniversary of the conception of the Club there is a game you can play with all the family.
From your birthdays subtract 9 months (assuming you were full term). Get a fixture list from that month and decide if there is a particular goal or result that may well mean Celtic had a major part in your own conception.
To those of you born around February/March 1968 Lisbon may have a whole new meaning.
fanadpatriot
08:50 on
6 November, 2012
Greenjedi
I am sure Celtic have looked at the display,and have given it their approval.i cannot think of one display that has made us look stupid in the eyes of the world,the opposite in fact.
………..
The poppy banner shamed the club and the entire support. The GB have been 95% positive, its just that 5% that always worries me.
But thats a debate for another day.
Greenjedi
If there were more Celtic supporters in the mould of the GB then Parkhead would be all the better for it.
In light of all the excellent displays I think that was a troll of a comment to make.
Pierre van Hooijdonk
@ pierrevh17
Congratulations #CelticFc with your 125th anniversary today. #proudtobepartofit #HailHail
Greenjedi
The poppy banner did not shame me.Infact I think you are being insulting to say it shamed all the support.Not In My Name.
“Let them scoff and jeer. Celtic will yet win to their proper position by their merits and those who scoff today will one day have to applaud.”
HT
I agree totally, if there was more supporters like the GB, CP would be all the better for it, as long as they stuck to songs and banners that are 100% to do with football and left everything else at the gates.
Its not a “troll of a comment” IMO it was airing a wee niggle at the back of my head
Greenjedi
Leave the Poppy’s at the gate.
greenjedi
I think it was when you refer to it as ‘shaming the entire support’
There were plenty of Celtic supporters who weren’t shemed in the slightest. Fair enough that you were but less of the sweeping generalisations please ;-)
FP
I wased to highlight a specific basnner that embarressed the club, the person who asked me had to know what the reply was going to be
Chairbhoy
Chris Sutton had already been England’s most expensive transfer when he arrived at Celtic for £6m. Not to mention his £10m transfer to Chelsea.
I think it’s a wee bit unfair on young Tony to compare the two.
Equally, comparing Neil’s team to MoN’s isn’t fair due to the latters much greater budget. And Henrik!
Happy birthday Celtic!!
Nursing a slight hangover today from my own birthday celebrations yesterday!
…. and I was given a ticket for Barca. Best birthday present ever!!!!
Hail Hail
TBhoy
southside
And Lubo!!