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.
As well as reading for FREE here (don’t try to read through the graphic below), you can subscribe for £10 or £20, and our sponsor, Executive Shaving, who offer an enormous range of grooming products, are offering readers a £20 voucher for all £30 CQN Magazine subscribers.
[calameo code=0003901717b03ef5e64cb lang=en page=8 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
774 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- ...
- 21
- »
Was trying to find stats relating to players being sent of at
tannadice for celebrating a goal. Didn`t come up with much
apart from carlos tevez getting a straight red card for
celebrating a goal whilst playing in Argentina.
The referee was senor G. Ollum
mygodtheremightbe500mofthemafterallcsc
“Old Firm kept apart in Scottish Cup Draw” – according to SSN.
Who said that?
Was it that t*** Tanner by any chance?
HH!!
I think they will do anything to ensure a Celtic v Sevco tie!
Hmm, not sure about this ‘or’ business. I reckon we could take Inverurie Locos AND Arbroath. Would boost the attendance too.
Jude,
Cherry picking from our rivals in order to warm the bench doesn’t sit right with me.
PS New club yet “old firm” stinks! Sky need to be told.
Paul67
14:05
In that 10 minute spell Tony Cascarino also slid to catch a ball that was going out of play and took out a Policewoman on the touchline!
Martin gave me the best season of my life as a Celtic supporter. I never thought we would get to a European final in my lifetime.
I will always be be grateful to him and his players for that.
St Martin
Hail Hail
I dont know why it is as long as I have followed football and thats a long time Sunderland have never been anything but a struggling side.I do remember them beating Leeds Utd in the FA Cup final but despite having many managers and spending vast fortunes on players that has been the only highlight.Its a thankless task for MON. H.H.
G M
Its not cherry picking it will strengthen our team!!
ASonOfDan
The police attention is totally unwarranted and is nothing more than persecution.
I watched the actions of three police officers, two constables and one Senior officer during the St Johnstone game. They stationed themselves in the entrance tunnel at section 09. During the entire first half (I moved round during the 2nd) they focused on the GB failing to scan any other part of the support.
It’s the lack of justification for this focus that draws me to the conclusion of “unwarranted” and “persecution”. The GB are certainly vocal vociferous, nothing more.
A couple of seasons back I was walking round to the Celtic end at the front of the North stand with my young son. There was a steward having what he described as “a laugh” with a Celtic supporter. The steward’s “laugh” was singing “I was born under a Union
Jack”. Couldn’t believe it at the time, but honest to goodness, this steward was standing in front of the Celtic support, on the club’s payroll belting out a sectarian song.
When I told him to stop singing his bile the result nearly landed me in jail.
His supervisor told me his tune wasn’t sectarian and I should move or “else”.
I spoke to two cops only for the supervisor to reappear, only this time he had decided to fabricate some lies.
Thankfully some fellow supporters got involved and possibly my son being with me thwarted his efforts to get me jailed.
Both these stewards are still on the club’s payroll.
I find it really easy to conclude why the GB are getting such grief.
Big Mike,
sky are complicit in the fraud, no amount of protest will disuade them from their aim.
Well except one, mass subscription exit, and thats not going to happen, too many Celtic supporters prefer lip service to action.
Scottish Cup fourth-round draw
Aberdeen v Motherwell
Partick Thistle v Dunfermline
Kilmarnock v Queen of the South
Hibernian v Hearts
Airdrie or Raith v Deveronvale
Turriff United v Albion Rovers or Morton
Livingston v Dundee
Rangers v Elgin City
Forfar or Nairn County v Ayr United
Ross County v Inverness
Celtic v Inverurie or Arbroath
Dumbarton v Hamilton
Cowdenbeath v St Johnstone
Stranraer or Queen’s Park v Dundee United
Stenhousemuir or Berwick v Falkirk
St Mirren v Brechin or Bonnyrigg Rose
Ties to be played weekend of 1/2 December.
Thought there would be a wee bit more seeding than that……3 SPL sides are going out while a load of cachc from div 3 and below could survive to another round….
The o** f*** tag gives them kudos in world football(our fans do that)
and perpetuates the myth of being the same club.
Hopefully our board take on…board the wishes of the fans and
cuts the sponsorship ties with them.
Chico-another cheeky chappy- said on saturday, ” that people tell
him there is no o** f***, but that doesn`t matter, to him they are”
Says it all really that facts shouldn`t get in the way of a
journalists prejudice.
The Zombies are everywhere and trying to sully our club at every turn.
This is from the Poppy Scotland FB page. The thread is trying to promote the song Unforgettable by Jai McDowall, yet some Zombie tries to have a go at us –
* Alan Williamson Is it true Celtic Football Club have banned the sale of poppies from their ground. If so then they should be ashamed totally
Thankfully the Poppy Scotland administartor sets them straight –
* Poppyscotland Hi Alan, not really one for this thread but there is no truth in that rumour whatsoever
What should we expect from them. They are scum, total scum!
HH
/Bishop B
That was as good an article as i have seen on here – not least because any (and I use the word loosely) “criticism” of MON can be viewed as herressy.
His record from 6-2 to Seville was wonderful, hi charisma limitless and he gave a generation memories to last a life time.
But at the risk of being an iconclast, I have to get it off my chest that his leaving still leaves a bit of a hollow uncomfortable feeling.Not because i dont understand and totally sympathise with his reasons for leaving. Its because since he has left I have often wondered just what Celtic meant or means to him. When you read of his journeys on the eve of the first game V Newcastle to visit the site of his first love at what was Roker park it indicates where his heart lies.
When WGS and MON were interviewd before the charity match it struck me that Celtic got far deeper under the skin of the former than the latter.
Could you see martin coming for a Q n A with Lenny?
I know its pitiful to cling to that idea that those who represent the club love them and have them as close to our heart as we do , but when you get someone like lenny who does the job magnificently and shares our passion then that is what makes this period so extra special.
One other wee thought( i dont post on here much so when i do i like my tuppence worth) I must prefix this by saying i am at best indifferent to international football and support anyone on a sliding scale – Celtic players / connections first , who else is playing who we cant support… avoid injury to our playes etc….We all have our systems….But here is my perverse idea just to flush out the truth in Scotland – likened to Alabamah circa 1950 – ref George Galloway. An innocent suggestion on a fone in, light touch paper and stand well back……
Provided i can get through for that guy lawrie or ian grant from falkirk……..
” Hello panel scotland need a new manager – who wont cost much , tactically aware, can motivate , knows the scottish and english scene well , how about they appoint Lenny on a part time basis……”
can you imagine….!
BIG-CUP WINNERS
If CFC are indeed employing people like the (bar) steward you mentioned then I am gob-smacked!
Questions need to be asked!
Hunbelievable!
HH!!
Why are we playing in the Scottish Cup in december – usually it’s January?
Pete
They’re trying to squeeze as many matches in as possible before Armageddon
BTW, if we play the Locos, we can create a new episode of Thomas the Tank Engine –
‘Gather round, everyone’.
‘Whats happening?’ the engines all replied.
‘We’ve got Celtic in the Cup’ said the Fat Controller.
Everybody was very excited…
PeteTheBeat,
The cup is earlier this year to allow for a winter break in January
Paul67
Good article, thought provoking and ties to the thinking behind my post a week or so ago when Ai asked who would swap Lenny for MON..
Martin cuts a desperate character these days. I loved MON and will always cherish the many joyful football memories he provided.
I wonder if the game has just moved on. The team that reached Seville would be quickly dismantled by Barca in a way that our current team weren’t at Camp Nou. Something to do with coach and team and critically as you allude to scouting that lies behind player identification.
I tho k To y Watt is in the mould of the next generation of footballers. He has the physique of a Sutton but the guile of a more sophisticated ball player. Inevitable that future players will have more strength, pace and technique.
Watt’s goal yesterday showed strength, touch and technique. He must feature on Wednesday?
Re: winter break in January –
We play Motherwell at home on the 2nd (possibly 3rd) January, and dont play again until the 19th at home to Hertz.
HH!!
Thanks, Gordon (you can be in the Thomas the Tank episode with a name like that).
I did not know about the winter break.
Old Firm ?
Seems to live on in many a Celtic supporters mind . Every time the 4th tier half of the partnership takes to the field you get Live Updates from that game on here .
BIG CUP-WINNERS 1518
That is a shocking tale-and yet I am not the least surprised!
I don’t get to the games as often as I would like-I stay in Swindon-but my family have their tickets right next to the GREEN BRIGADE.
On the few occasions I have been there,I have been blinkin’ scunnered at how the stewards and the police treat them,and the rest of the fans in the vicinity.
On the other hand,a fellow fan had a serious medical problem,sitting in the row behind me,and they were first-class.
IMO,they are wrong in what they are doing,and the club are wrong in condoning it.
But now and again,they come in handy.
Alex O’Henley @OHenleyAlex
SFA have reached decision on Craig Levein. TBC but I understand that Craig Levein is no longer Scotland manager
If true I expect Smith to be given the job, he is woeful and would get football stopped
Good afternoon,
Any update on Izzy ‘ injury?
Thanks in advance.
Off out for a good olde fashions CQN meet up, TenMenWonTheLeague and KevinBhoy in Doha.
Majic, CQN at its best.
Blantyrekev
I’ll see you your messi named after lionel richie and raise you a ronaldo named after ronald regan.
I kid you not
DESSYBHOY
That’s the very expression my kid sis uses about him!
Expect a battle over copyright and royalties…..
CG making some noise(what else) about stripping titles etc.
he says that he is not part of the spl and not under their jurisdiction,
but the titles won by fraudulent means are spl titles and its the spl
who will make the decision on the titles.
Where does that leave CG , how can he fight against an
organisation that he doesnt recognize and in fact believes
that they will fail before he does. If the spl do the right thing,
how can a club newly formed and a member of the sfl
have a right to have a say in anything about titles won in the
spl by a club that has been liquidated
Levein out?!
Smith in?!
McLeish his assistant?!
HH!!
Who would you suggest for Scotland job?
( open question to all)
I see VMHAN’s bud and fellow TIM,Micky Mellon,being linked with a move to Blackpool.
Gaun yersel’,son-onwards and upwards.
BTW,I think Holloway,whom I have long rated,made a mistake by leaving.
But he does miss Bristol,and can commute from there.
Mind,he can commute to both from Swindon. Trust me,this town disnae need TWO highly talented lunatic managers…….
Good God!!
Could we have a Smith-McLeish ‘dream team’ scenario foisted on us?!
Nightmare more like!
HH!!