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.
‘By any means necessary, Journey with Celtic Bampots’ by Paul Larkin, is now available at Lulu and other outlets. Paul charts the remarkable events the Internet Bampots became embroiled in since 2008.
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thetimrieper
I’m admit I’m a bit ‘injurist’ and tend to judge players on availability, before I look at capability.
NL’s choice taking everything into account is clearly Ambrose and Wilson, to the extent Rogne has slipped in the pecking order and was selected to rest Ambrose, and because he was doing so well in training.
NL also moves CM out of the back four where some fans thinks he’s best to accomodate the
Efe and Kelvin duo.
Thomas Rogne gets up higher than the others but because of his fragility, any manager will naturally look to the fit and able, to form a team.
Rioskorrie
Sky Italia show all the CL matches live.
Must be a bar in Rovigo that has it.
Failing that – someone who has it at home. A friendly work colleague perhaps?
HH!!
From the CSA site.
The Harassment of the Celtic Supporters has to stop.
It bamboozles me the thought process the police use to decide their strategy for the visit of Celtic supporters to some towns and cities in Scotland, no more so than in Dundee yesterday afternoon.
I arrived in plenty of time to find a long queue forming to gain entry into the West Stand behind the goal, on enquiring as to why the queue, I was informed that there would be a blanket search of the Celtic supporters.
On my arrival at the turnstiles I refused to be searched by the steward on duty because he didn’t have the required SIA credentials, I spoke to a Police Constable and invited him to do the search, he carried out what I would describe as a quick frisk, no disrespect to the copper, but I could have got a large cerry- oot past his attempt at a search.
The main point is this, why the need for a blanket search in the first place? I can answer that for myself, they are looking for smoke bombs and flares, and I guess alcohol as well, I believe the alcohol gets smuggled in internally though, so is not found in any external body search.
As for the smoke bombs and flares, I don’t believe there has been an incident of these involving Celtic supporters in domestic football since season 2010/11, and let me stress; I strongly oppose the use of these at a football match.
Added to that, Tannadice is probably one of the favourite grounds the Celtic supporters visit, there has been no trouble there for a very long time, and the supporters of both clubs mix freely in the streets before and after the match irrespective of the result.
So what conclusion should we take from the policy? Is it another example of unnecessary harassment of the Celtic support? Many supporters would agree with that conclusion. The Green Brigade issued a statement last week regarding Police harassment, the actions of the police yesterday seemed to back that statement up.
We also last week had the case of a young Celtic supporter being brought to court in Inverness for allegedly singing offensive songs. The case was found Not Proven; the Judge said that the evidence of two Police Sergeants was unreliable.
This situation cannot be allowed to continue, the young lad last week had to travel to Inverness on four occasions to get justice, it cost his family a lot of money to defend the case, I know, because they are personal friends of mine, the worry that young keiran’s parents went through was unacceptable.
I have this morning spoken to Ronnie Hawthorn, Celtic’s Head of Operations; I have made it clear to Ronnie that this persecution of the Celtic supporters cannot be allowed to continue. I have also written a letter of complaint to Superintendent Kevin Lynch (aye, that’s his name) who was Match Commander yesterday. And incidently, the Match commander was aware of the GB statement.
tsoal
To slow!!
Rioskorrie .
Buona serra !
Sky Calcio 3 ———- 8 45 PM – Italian time
Have you lot noticed I havnt mentioned Jon Daly lately?
The Spirit of Arthur Lee
13:43 on 5 November, 2012
Better aff with Terry Griffiths
he’s as slow as McCourt
There were even those who thought we should sign Kevin Kyle….
If we cant defend a shy god help us when Barca turn it on!! We had 5 players in the 6 yard box. Bloody hell!!
.
BlantyreKev..(Maybe I Am Stalking Ye)..
BlantyreKev
13:40 on
5 November, 2012
Got a preview of the banner display. Jock Stein is mosaic of Craig Whyte.
North Stand is Che Guevara.
Lisbon Lions stand hard to make out, but it’s either Mother Theresa or Farrah Fawcett.
..
Its a Hologram of Sammi..:O)
Summa of HolyCatFishSammiItsAGrammeCSC
sp
No me. You lot ganging up on me? I really think Griff could do a job for us. Could take the pressure off our rotten defenders for a start.
bournesouprecipe
Prefer the ambrose/wilson pairing as well.
All in all we look pretty strong in that department.
HH
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/
Jude you’re paranoid!!
Leigh Griffiths is this years John Daly!!!
My question is always this who in the Celtic team would you drop for Griffiths and why would you want Tony Watt to fall down the pecking order??
asonofdan
13:45 on 5 November, 2012
…………….
Thanks for posting this mate. I’ve been close enough to touch the police when they went into 111 last year, one young lad was thrown 2 rows and must have been hurt, the GB closed together and long after everybody left the ground we were still there. There’s a lot that the Bhoys n ghirls don’t see before and after the game.
All I’ll ask is to keep the faith, it’s what we do, Hail Hail
Rioskorrie
If you cant find a bar in Rovigo showing the game your best bet is probably the Celtic Pub in Verona which is about 80 kms away.
Never been there ‘tho (the pub), but Verona is worth a visit – was last there a couple of years ago.
Not sure of transport links either. Remember the game wont finish until almost 11 pm local time.
Good luck!!
HH!!
TootingTim, true.
KevJungle, ha!
JaseBhoy, I am sure Celtic are up to speed.
Lennon n Mc….Mjallby, forget about yesterday, all grist to the mill.
Joe Filippis Haircut, interesting question. No harm to Martin but I don’t see many wanting to swap.
SwanseaBhoy, delighted to hear that about Paul Larkin’s book.
Tim Malone Will Tell, I think our media tormentors have more important things to worry about this year.
Rocket Man, aye, but Tony Cascarino didn’t take his shirt off, he hooked a Hearts player.
Vmhan, thanks.
Delighted to see Messi is fit for the game on Wednesday night. It would diminish our win if he wasn’t playing :¬)
Rioskorrie .
Telephone number for Finnegans Firenze — 055 490794 .
Don’t know the place
Unable to find anything re The Black Brew in Verona ——- any online info is very basic and is well out of date.
Leigh Griffiths for Celtic?!
Somebody having a laugh?!
We’ve got Paddy!
HH!!
MWD – you have mail.
.
TBB..
I Thought Missi was Messing..You Missing with Us..?
Summa of MissingMessengerCSC
MON V Neil… When we had money to spend MON spent ( mostly) well. I think Neil ( and the backroom staff) are better than Martin with the limited budget. I think Europe will be the benchmark and if Neil does as well as Martin I will be happy. So far the signs are good….
Leftclicktic
If you’re lurking I’ve tried to contact you on that number and it’s going to voicemail.
It would suit me to collect your donation this afternoon mate so give me a call back when you can please.
Summa
I see you are using the Rotterdam pronunciation of Messi
Paul67
‘Cloud Coaching’
An interesting concept. Do you think it will catch on and will managers be on their smartphones for the latest developments during an actual game? :)
TBB-Delighted Messi is fit,you might never get another chance to see him live,cannae wait!
Ah but is it Lie-onel Messi or Lee-onel Messi??
Bags packed, check.
Passport packed, check.
Travel documents packed, check.
Glasgow here I come, the youngest Bhoy’s 18th birthday today, Skyfall tomorrow night and of course CP on Wednesday for the game v Barca. What’s not to like? Not to mention copious amounts of curry and beer.
C’mon the Hoops. Hasta la vista Celtic
Hail! Hail! PMTYH
Gordon_J
I just call him Leo!
As in Leh-oh, not Lee-oh!
HH!!
BB
Dunno about you, but I’m expecting to live well beyond April when we draw them again in the Semi final :¬)
Laird of the Smiles
Hope you have a safe and fruitful journey?
HH
CRC
sp
Nerr mentioned Tony being dropped!! If you check back I said he must start v Barca. And last week I said Tony Watt plus the rest.
Paddy has had his day at Celtic let him go now b4 his career rots away and ends up on the pile of might have been’s He had that here we go again look on his face yesterday when he came on!!
Paul
Don’t post as much because of the pseudo intellectuals but…
Much respect as always….
But…
Fergus McCann
Nicknames; Atomic Flea, La Pulga Atomica, Leo, Messidona, Paddy.
TBB-Very good mate.
SC Draw coming up on SS News
Tallybhoy
Griffiths goals for = 5
Paddy goals for = 0
.
TBB..
De Niewwe Binnieweg to be Precise..
Summa of DirtyHarrysCSC