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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summa of sammi….
13:30 on 15 October, 2014
Are you a…….. Hope so
Here is Phil’s latest piece (twitter 30 mins ago):
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/the-kings-terms/#more-5201
Look at the detail of the info. regarding who said what on the phone and at the meeting. If it is not “made up pish” then let’s call a spade a spade. Phil is the plaything of someone on the RIFC board.
deniabhoy
13:22 on 15 October, 2014
Some folk can’t see the wood for the trees …….
greenpinata-Proudbhoy-The club said it was in talks with Samaras,he said he was never offered anything,i know who i believe.Looks like same smokescreen scenario with Commons.I hope i am wrong btw.HH
67 heaven,
A lot of them said “he was not Celtic minded enough”. I’ll leave it to yourself to work that one out. Shame on each and everyone of them, who made that claim; totally against what Celtic should stand for. Sad to say there is a segment of our support who are too easily led by the nose, like those who booed both Fergus and Brian Quinn.
“The club said it was in talks with Samaras,he said he was never offered anything,i know who i believe”
Bada, from what you have said both parties can be telling the truth.
Mullet,
Scotland didn’t play 4-2-3-1 last night. But I agree that if they had, their 3 is much stronger than ours.
Cool more Mafia, agreed. W Smith would be back in some capacity aided by McCoist. The black arts come back along with tapping up players. 10 million spend on the types of players they would get would give us a challenge.
Those words… ‘We don’t need a strong Rangers’ keep coming back to me. They might not be strong but they will sure as hell challenge us in their resourceful ways. They will appeal to former players… They will sign the best Scottish talent… They will play Wattanacio… They will control the press and radio…
What do we have other than a balance sheet and the higher ground.
CELTIC FC Foundation is delighted to kick off the inaugural ‘Zip Slide in Paradise’ fundraising event. It will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at Celtic Park, with participants ‘sliding’ from West to East, leaving from the Jock Stein Stand and enjoying the exhilarating 190m ride all the way across to the Lisbon Lions Stand, taking in the glorious site of the hallowed turf below.
My understanding is that Peter Lawwell wishes to encourage a number of CQNers to take up the challenge. Please note that Peter Lawwell is in charge of the rope.
Anyone think Salmond is insane, cant quite fathom the fact he got humped,sad tosser
COME ON THE REPUBLIC AT CELTIC PARK
Doc – perhaps he invited other journalist to join in knowing they couldn’t? Asking Easedale and co. these questions in a conventional journalistic way would have gotten them nowhere.
I guess my annoyance is that Phil baits the rest of the media with barbs of, compliance, laziness and, more recently, being nothing more than stenographers, when perhaps he is little more than a stenographer himself.
parkheadcumsalford
13:38 on 15 October, 2014
Absolutely spot on !!!!!!!!…. many lare influenced by the bigoted anti-all-things CELTIC smsm…. hell mend them….HH
Deniabhoy,
What where Naismith, Maloney and Anya if not a 3?
One mans right midfielder is another’s winger I suppose depending on how far they run.
mullet and co 2 – think you are asking the wrong person? I haven’t commented on Scotland match.
The reason a lot of people never liked strachan,was the awful football we had to endure,it,s not our fault the board are a bunch of scrooges,and wont employ a proper manager
67Heaven
Re WGS:
It really is a case of be careful what you wish for.
Back then , and I’m writing this relative to what we’d gone before under MON and his own first few years, we were dire. The support were anything but, and many acted petulantly.
WGS also wasn’t the greatest at endearing himself to many of our supporters. He is a chirpy wee guy, who I always felt would alienate a section of whatever audience he has. His slightly abrasive style and intelligence when perceived as smugness raised hackles in some Celtic supporters.
I remember when he came to us and reading about his journey to Australia and Spain to enhance his knowledge. Gordon could simply have looked in the mirror. But that’s perhaps what makes the wee guy.
He could have tempered his style and shown his passion for the Celtic. He clearly gained a love of the club during his managerial stint. He shows it every time I hear him reference Celtic.
Personally would have him back in a minute
Mullet,
Me sir. Me sir. ;)
It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if this latest King “bid” for FoD was smoke and mirrors designed solely to discredit Phil. I note a few on here are ready to count him as a conduit for one of the sides in the battle for control. Remember, they absolutely hate him for stating what they should have seen clearly. He is one of us.
King can’t invest any significant sum into The Rangers without the South African tax authorities asking where it came from, and thereafter imprison him if it turns out he told them lies at his last trial.
If he wants “control”, he must lay out approx £30m: then he would need to spend another £15m to improve the team. He would need CL qualification AND be forced to sell a quality player every year to maintain this level. It ain’t gonna happen.
Celtic fans will not need to worry about a meaningful challenge from Govan for at least a decade, more likely, never.
HH
I’ve heard a few people saying Strachan’s Scotland are playing nice football at the minute
Is this true?
Cos i do agree, as much as i loved the man, that his Celtic teams were hard to watch…
(until Nakamura got the ball)
Summa of Sammi….
13:23 on15 October, 2014
Or Derek Hatton…!
Back to the grind..,
Until we meet again
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
“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.”
Given what he achieved at Celtic, this appears to be a bit of a sly dig at MON. After seeing similar from Matt McGlone, dismissing O’Neill as a cheque book manager, I think it’s worth a few points.
His “well-financed seasons” at Villa saw them finish 6th in 3 consecutive seasons, given the significant resources those teams above him had that’s a creditable performance.
At Sunderland he took over a team that was 17th in the table, and left them in 16th, with Di Canio taking them to 17th at the end of the season, winning 1 match in 6. Di Canio was sacked when they were bottom of the table, hardly an improvement on MON.
He’s no longer the manager of the club, but let’s not forget he’s the guy who knocked the huns off their perch and set them on their downward spiral to where they are now.
His brand remains undamaged with me.
It’s a myth that Di Canio had an impact
Sunderland picked up points at the same rate as they did against O’Neill. A derby win goes a long way I guess.
greenpinata
13:04 on 15 October, 2014
My friends in Celtic,
Kev J’s posts may not be to everyone’s taste, but libel ,slander etc.
HH and overreactioncsc.
Calling someone a criminal ( money launderer etc) is slander/ libel. This is not an overreaction as there have been quite a few cases of people being taken to court for similar.
Bhoylo,
Imo Wgs celtic was as hard to watch as a Mon team sans henke and lubo.
I say hard to watch….I didn’t mind either if I’m honest :)
.
67..Heaven..
..???
Do l Not post Much..Sorry..
..
Am l a..???
What..??
Transgender..??????
Listen 67..Don’t listen to What Your her on Ole CQN Corner..I’m just a Good Looking Guy with Boobs..
Summa of CluteSakCSC
lawwellsacountant
What you got to understand is in the bigger picture Salmond is the winner.
The referendum was just a starter .
Its got the people thinking and saying “we can really do this”
Dont worry independence will be a reality sooner rather than later.
Ye wait all day for a post about Mon and dicanio at Sunderland…….
:)
bamboo
14:03 on 15 October, 2014
You have clearly never heard the old saying about mudwrestling with pigs…..
Celtic are unhappy that Aberdeen have cut visiting tickets from 3,500 to 2,000 for the 9 November match at Pittodrie. (Sun)
Looks like tickets for the game against the Sheep will be tight.
LB
so MON was mince and WGS was magic
aye right! and Ronny is a genius tae!
many folks forget that WGS spent as much cash on players as MON did
he bought around 40 players over 4 seasons
compared to MON who bought 15 over 5 seasons
when i look at the current Celtic squad – i dont want another manager who is going to sign 10 players a season and bin most of them. I want a manager who is going to sign a few players and these players will make up the backbone of our club for the next few years
WGS being hailed as genius either because scotland got a draw with Poland or compared to RD he is better
IMO neither of these feats is remarkable
yorkbhoy,
I am aware that there are laws and subsequent consequences regarding social media, however what I am saying is this really a discussion we want to contemplate in regards to a well established poster.?
HH.
bamboo @ 14.03 hrs.
“What you got to understand is in the bigger picture Salmond is the winner.
The referendum was just a starter .
Its got the people thinking and saying “we can really do this”
Dont worry independence will be a reality sooner rather than later”
————————————————————–
The referendum is over. Thank God its finished. Accept the democratic wish of the people while respecting the legitimate views of the losers.
And move on.
HH.
PS : Salmond is not a winner, if he had won would he have resigned. ?
Pleased for both WGS and MON. Their sides did well yesterday. ROI’s 1-1 draw was a great result for Scotland as well, just a pity we lost the late goal otherwise it would have been a perfect day. I agree with WGS that Scotland are in the toughest group in the competition. We also had the toughest start with both Poland and Germany away. 4 points is a decent haul from the first 3 matches. The next 3 games are huge. 2 vs ROI and a home banker against Gibraltar. The head to head games between Scotland and ROI may well decide which one of these two qualifies directly from the group.
Great to see Scotland competing internationally again. WGS has worked wonders with the players at his disposal.
Lads not a referendum debate, though I think Greenpinata is being somewhat naive, if he thinks its a question of its over, forget about it and move on. Politics and political ambitions just don’t work that way. Anyhows, I shouldn’t be adding to it myself, so back to the fitbaw.
If we really want an international goal machine up front we should look at that boy lafferty.
His goal last night was like an ugly samaras.
.
Dutch Government clears NS (No Surrender Biker Gang) to Fight IS..(Islamic State Syria)..
The Foreign Legion 2014 Stylie..Oh God..
Summa
mncelt, I agree it is probably the hardest group of them all. Only thing is that everybody except Gibraltar can take points off the other teams. The two head to heads between Ireland & Scotland will be the defining matches, if one side can take 4 or 6 points they are almost there. Last thing we want is 2 draws, a win each would not be a disaster for either team.
Greenpinata
I think it was possibly a warning from some to watch what he said. Regardless of what anyone thinks of Kev I hope no one would like to see him in trouble. I know it’s unlikely but if he continues with those accusations someone may get annoyed.
yorkbhoy
Paul67 has said in the past that each poster is responsible for their posts, not the blog.
Paul67 has also said that posts like Kevj’s should have his contact details on it so that the people he is slandering can get in touch!