Surprised at the success our former (very successful) managers, Martin O’Neill and Gordon Strachan, are having on the international stage? Perhaps a bit surprised they’ve figures out how to collect points away from home in Europe.
Martin O’Neill will always be royalty at Celtic but after a couple of well-financed seasons at Aston Villa his star fell, eventually leading to an ignominious departure from Sunderland, who managed to replace him, and improve, under Paulo DiCanio.
A decade earlier Martin was the hottest property in management in the UK. Campaigns were run by Liverpool fans to tempt him, he was tipped for the Manchester United job when Alex Ferguson retired, but the absurd reality that Di Canio was able to stop the decline of O’Neill’s Sunderland team damaged his brand considerablty.
Gordon Strachan had a claustrophobic four years at Celtic. He became only the third manager in our history to win three consecutive league titles, and broke new ground in the Champions League, but Celtic’s commercial competitiveness declined during this era, making Gordon’s life harder than it would otherwise have been.
The Ireland and Scotland jobs both looked like poisoned chalices. Ireland reached Euro 2012 but came home pointless, looking like a team in decline. Scotland had fallen so low they were hardly in decline when Gordon Strachan took over from Craig Levein last year, but it seemed shifting demographics had consigned our interest to club football only.
Martin may have found his niche. His teams have always known how to defend and how to score goals, issues like ball retention always appeared trivial to him. Gordon is an example of a manager who is always learning. He was an excellent Celtic manager but it should surprise no one that he is a better manager now than he was when he left five years ago.
I’ve absolutely no idea which side is going to win the bun fight for control over Newco Rangers, but, there is some interesting form to consider……
Just when people with money and a plan (on this occasion Ashley with the Easdales) look to have things sorted, the cabal, previously known as the Blue Knights, pitch up without the wherewithal to take control and drive a poisoned wedge between fans and club.
It’s a master-class in subversion. Based on his previous exploits my money’s not on the tax crook (the one convicted in South Africa, that is) succeeding.
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Leftclick, just start at the top of this page Mhate, my first posts of the day, it got better then;-))
weeminger
Like yourself I have been frustrated by AS many times. For every good game there is five bad.
Losing a stone would not improve his judgement in regards to offside,. who knows it may even exacerbate the situation.
I have half jokingly said that the way the pitch is cut at Parkhead is to help AS. No lines across the park to aid the officials.
HH.
Scroll on by, doo doo doo doo doo doot doot, just scroll on by…….
Denibhoy spooky or what I could have written your post,my thoughts exactly. I think Phil’s stock has fallen somewhat. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Hi Doc
When you in Aberdeen for a stopover again?
RWE @ 12.24hrs,
“I often wonder if he tried to change the culture too, but encountered too much resistance, above and below him”
———————————————————–
I too have wondered about that.
HH.
Richie, by end November likely, nothing definately yet.
Just sold some kit there, so when that’s delivered I’ll be spending some time there.
I’ll let you know in plenty time.
DeniaBhoy, HebCelt, Phil, like any journalist will get some stories wrong, because his source gives duff, or not up to date info. His average is pretty high though.
He still highlights the issues surrounding the debacle at Sevco.
Dunno if this has been posted..
Interesting…. couple of Celtic Fans apear at the start also
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29618299
Celtic could learn a few things
Congrats to Irish and England Thistle managers.
Did Phil not tell us yesterday there was no meeting between Huns and HunKing?
MWD said AYE
Doc
Well ,well ,well a hat-trick :))))
Doc
12:29 on
15 October, 2014
Richie, written word is libel, spoken slander.
I’m sure I’ll be quickly corrected if I’m wrong:-)
———–
i think if you say something via broadcast media like tv or radio then that can count as libel as well
Although i too am “sure I’ll be quickly corrected if I’m wrong:-)”
Paul67,
Good article.
What I would say is Mon won plenty times away in Europe, it’s just he never done it in cl group stage.
Wgs on the other hand managed us when we didn’t need to play many qualifiers (don’t mention AB) or had too many games in the cl’s poorer relation.
I think you are correct foghorn but I’m sure there are no distinction between libel and slander in Scots law.
It’s all defamation.
Or in kevs case, defecation
Hoping for a good result on Saturday.
Sounds like Lustig is fit, given he was with Sweden and Adam is back in contention.
Immediately our defence looks much stronger.
Charlie is likely to be available which give the manager a real dilemma. Putting Charlie into the midfield alongside Scott and Stefan allows us more solidity in there along with the added height Charlie brings.
It does mean Kris would have to sit out though.
I’d go with Charlie and push Stefan slightly forward to allow him freedom to press the opposition.
That would leave the 2 wingers and striker positions to fill.
For me, i’d put Wakaso on the left as he looked more comfortable there. He offers real pace and no shortage of effort. I expect his contribution on the ball will improve as he settles down here.
On the right, i would go with young Callum and hopefully James F is fit enough to be on the bench.
Up top, either Guidetti or Scepovic – i don’t mind.
A sub bench of Zaluska, Ambrose, Matthews, Forrest, Bitton, Scepovic and Commons would offer a whole range of options.
The game will be scrappy, for 2 reasons, firstly we are on the back of an international break and secondly most games are up there.
Hopefully the fans will take a balanced look at the performance and compare it with our normal ones up there.
Geordie Munro
:-)
My friends in Celtic,
Kev J’s posts may not be to everyone’s taste, but libel ,slander etc.
HH and overreactioncsc.
the cabal, previously known as the Blue Knights, pitch up without the wherewithal to take control and drive a poisoned wedge between fans and club.
…..
Don’t know if I agree with this Paul. I believe they do have the funds- whether they have the voting rights to complete a takeover (16m loan for 51% perhaps?) is another matter, with the Easdale / Ashley axis against Dave King.
It’s easy for us to think of them as a zombie club that are no threat, but IMHO, we could easily lose the next few leagues if RIFC was to invest say, 15m in their team. Unlikely at the moment, but by no means an impossibility.
We should be planning for such an event, and we need to sign up the spine of the team (Gordon, VVD, Broonie, Guidetti) on long term deals and add a serious central mid, centre half, and winger.
You’ll have your wish PL and DD for RIFC to come into the league – fair enough – but it will destroy you if you don’t provide us with the tools to defeat them.
To lose next years’ league will be unforgivable. I have no doubt PL will lose his job if that transpires, along with the coaching staff. We must sign in January to bed in the quality of player needed to defeat RIFC and reach CL groups.
Guernica @ 13.04 hrs,
I am glad you mentioned James Forrest. IMO we are a better team when he is in it and fully fit.
He takes some abuse from many; similar to what SM and AMcG got.
Now we hear the same people saying how great they are and we would love to have them back.
Well we have James Forrest so lets get behind him.
HH.
DeniaBhoy
I’m glad we have at at least one journalist keeping the spotlight
on this house of corruption, maybe Phil is being fed a line but he
knows these spivs read all the blogs gathering info so who’s to
say he is not putting a worm on his own hook to draw them out.
H/H Mick
COOLMORE MAFIA
Agreed. We can laugh at that lot as much as we like but if they win the title next season,there will be a lot of laughter from everyone.
And all aimed at us.
bhoylo83
12:51 on 15 October, 2014
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Not just celtic, SFA should really try for once to bring in things the premiership doesnt allow.. Standing, drinking etc
Been over to a st pauli game once.. Standard was poor but the day itself was brillant, atmosphere was great.
To be fair to celtic they have seemed to try and improve match day experiance with keerydale bar etc
They should drop prices and try fill stadium more… Seeing a half empty stadium at times will put people off going sometimes… Least if a games bad but it has great atmosphere it always makes it abit easier.
prestonpans bhoys
Just out my scratcher so hadn’t read back – honest
Just wonder if WGS also bans ginger :o)
HH
big-cup-winners
11:40 on 15 October, 2014
He’s also a total erse…….
I would expect it would be 16 million invested in the Club rather than a loan. If you invest 16 million for a 51% share, you are effectively paying 8 million for the stake. As a 51% owner, you will automatically own half the 16 million, so you are effectively giving the value of 8 million to the existing shareholders. I can see why Ashley & Easdale might oppose it but equally I can see why some hedge funds might see half a loaf as better than eff all. With no inside knowledge, my guess would be the same as Paul’s that the offer will be rejected but I wouldn’t be shocked if it went the other way.
Foghorn Leghorn, someone will correct us both soon enough:-)
LeftClick:-) I’d like to thank……..
baba bing, from previous article
I also think Kris Commons may find himself in Bolton come end of January
lenny usually operates with a 3 man back room team (4 if you include goalkeeping coach)
At Bolton he only has Mjallby and Parker, so a space for KC as player and coach ? A role Lenny had in mind for KC at Celtic
Just my opinion
Guernica, I’ll get back to your team shortly, a lot of sense, but I change some of it :-)
Hail Hail ( breakfast to get)
Doc – Phil has got plenty right in the past, not disputing that. But was that primarily because of investigative journalism or because he was the chosen mouthpiece of an individual or individuals within Ibrox?
When you are getting reports of secretive meetings in word for word detail (meetings only attended by RIFC board members) then you have to conclude he was either at the meetings, bugging the meeting or someone at the meetings was passing all the info on to him. As the first two are most unlikely then it has always appeared to me Phil was a willing pawn in the Sevco power struggle. His reporting suited someone’s agenda.
Other journalists, of course, rely on their own moles for “exclusives” but I think we got a bit carried away thinking Phil was single handedly uncovering the truth. No journalist could have uncovered the stories Phil was serving up without resorting to illegal espionage. In my opinion has been used in the same Keevins and Jackson get used, just by those on the opposite side of the PR war who are much more liberal with the truth as long as it is not attributable back to them.
.
I Stopped reading Phil about 6 Month before l Stopped reading A Thompson..Which was after l read Him saying “But this is Glasgow” for the third time in the First Article l read of His..
His first interview on Radio Clyde is the Most cringe worthy interview l have ever heard..and Celtic supporters were hailing him as the Messiah..WTF..??
I Would Describe Phil as a Cross between Brian McClair (Intelligent) and Peter Grant (No Skill or Class)..
Thompson is Simply Charles Green..with Punctuation..
None are Celtic Supporters..
Maybe Thompson is more so than Phil l feel..
MON Vs WGS..Do the Math..
WGS Signed Sammi..lol
Summa
Kevin j’s argument :
1,Don’t give the suits your money,Don’t go to games
2,There are more supporters for them than there are for CELTIC going to games
HH
Doc Your version was traditionally the correct one, however because words spoken over the airwaves can now be reproduced in tape form, these are now classified as libel. The waters between the two have become muddied and as someone said earlier, defamation is now the most usual term utilised for both offences.
Paul67
To this day, I cannot understand why so many Celtic fans were anti-WGS …….. WELL, THEY CERTAINLY GOT THEIR WAY, AS DID THE MEDIA …… an absolutely fantastic manager who, single-handedly, destroyed oldco and the media agenda ………HAIL HAIL to WGS
The old 4 2 3 1 debate continues. Strachan had a better front 3 and 1 that we have. All of the 3 tracked into the areas they were supposed to but also Maloney was mobile and fast enough as the number 10 to go into Fletchers vacated space when he dropped back to hold and pass. See the goal as an example.orher difference was Scott Brown playing as a holding midfielder then Darren Fletcher coming in to join him late on. James Morrison looks more composed and less burst pipe like than Johansen.
As a consequence of yesterday’s post on Anya and Maloney I watched both more closely last night and concluded that both would improve our team no end. Anya can play on the right and would be a great balance for Wakaso. Maloney for nothing in January to replace Commons would be a great move if that had to happen.
Stokes losing weight is a good thing. It may make him 5% better but he needs to work on decision making and team work before he would realise his potential. I watched Lewandowski come in of the left last night and compared that to Stokes valiant efforts wistfully.
It will be Dave King all the way when the price is right. The January transfer window is key to Rangers survival next season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go for emerging Scottish talent. Watch us wilt as they tap up players and Dundee United no longer able to sell to the EPL.
DeniaBhoy, no doubt Phil had an inside source, or sources, whether they were using him or not is, for Phil, a moot point, he was getting accurate information, therefore doing his job professionally.
Sources have their own motivation, some for public information, some for straight forward financial gain, or for manipulating situations. I’m sure you are correct, the individual/s divulging info to Phil had their interests at heart, doesn’t make the info less valid.
He never claimed to be single handedly uncovering the truth, indeed he encouraged others to join in, it’s a big story with plenty of angles he was unable to cover.
Hi Ho, back to work.
.
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon ….The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
13:29 on
15 October, 2014
Paul67
To this day, I cannot understand why so many Celtic fans were anti-WGS …
..
Really..????
Summa
Celtic are funding rangers and the possibility of celtic not winning the league next year.
There’s a care worker somewhere not doing their job.
CorkCelt, just shows how up to date my legal knowledge is.
Do they still use rolled up parchment in court?
:-)
Laters.
summa of sammi….
13:23 on 15 October, 2014
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Now I know why you don’t post very often……doooohhhh