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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Bada,
Defo. I’d even go down the line of buying older players if they have something to offer. Not all about the sell on as far as I’m concerned.
But kc will have to regain some of last years form if I’m to be bothered over his departure.
BMCUW beltahh!! lol smiling here.
:-)
Glad you had a good night, last night and saturday last
will get to next one.hope your enjoying your time up here wi family etc
Still trying to pic OT chattin to Ernie ha
HH
An Tearmann @ 16.23
Haha very good
Go on oor John!
B-)
What’s Ernie like? I’ve always pictured him looking and sounding like Jimmy sanderson for some reason
oor Phil is the only person who has ever blocked me on Twitter!
He didn’t like that I (politely) objected to Angela Haggerty’s slagging off Celtic for selling the Fergus bunnets. (he re-tweeted her post)
I still have my bunnet, which I will wear at Halloween.
I don’t miss the tweets. For avoidance of doubt!
An tearmannn @1623
That actually made me laugh out loud.
Cheers ma man:)
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/celtic/295871-celtic-youngsters-to-play-in-english-premier-league-tournament/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Hopefully this will increase our fringe players chances,more competitive matches etc
Enjoy your night Celts
HH
coolmore mafia 16:39 on 15 October, 2014
“What’s Ernie like?”
Apparently has a larger shoe collection than Imelda Marcos and is often seen strutting around town in a cocktail dress…
Richie.
Did you not have your bunnet on at the hootinannie, Just booked the Carlton George for Friday night,Wont need to head home early.
AN TEARMANN
My trips home are always a pleasure,because they are the only occasions I can see my family.
That should be enough,and it would be. But getting a buncha Celtic fans out for a bevvy session is a bonus. And a welcome one for which I am always grateful.
But the trump card was realising that I’d met Ernie Lynch years ago before she coughed to her moniker.
Still,it explains her love of Abba…
An tearmann.
Magic stuff that’s what I love about this blog.
I was totally unaware of Sweden v France u21 happenings.
Bet the French boy feels a right pillock
STEINREIGNEDSUPREME 1645
There may be more to that than you know. Certainly she is being wined and dined tonight in one of Edinburgh’s finest establishments tonight.
As befits her status,of course.
An Tearmann
Seems this is the groups
https://twitter.com/CelticFCSLO/status/522409799372120064
An Tearmann.
I must admit she got me hook,line,and sinker.fell for it 100%.Are you joining us in the Blane Valley on Friday, Kitalba’s coming.
BMCUW
Last night was indeed most enjoyable.
Even ‘tho I nearly missed the (second) last train!
HH!!
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS 16:51 on 15 October, 2014
“There may be more to that than you know. Certainly she is being wined and dined tonight in one of Edinburgh’s finest establishments tonight.
“As befits her status,of course.”
It all makes sense now. Women are never wrong…
Doc – In the early days I would have agreed with you when Phil was getting out all sorts of info that no one else was. I never stopped to wonder how he was getting it. I just loved the fact that, for once, the media was out of their control.
But for many months now, Phil has reguarly reported on the conversations from private meetings, meetings between 2,3,4 people, as if he had actually been there.
Look at his latest piece, posted this afternoon, on the King meeting at Ibrox yesterday. It is typical of many of his other articles in that it offers verbatim information from a board meeting in which only 4-5 people were present. What goes on behind the closed doors of a private board meeting is not something that a journalist uncovers the day after unless he is simply being fed the information (or obtaining it illegally which I have no doubt is not the case). To tell us, his readers, what was said during the private telephone conversation between two of the main players can not be held up as an example of good and balanced reporting – he is given the side of the story his source wants out. That source is certainly not from the King camp.
My opinion is that the faction controlled by Easedale/Green/Ashley is not unhappy with Phil’s reporting. Phil´s source would be in the bottom of the Clyde by now, figuratively speaking, if that was not the case.
So Pravda 2 gets all revisionist and sticks the football boot into MO’N. Best manager we had since Mr Stein, best football team we had since the immortal lions. We’ll no see the likes of Mr O’Neill or a team such as his again MO’N CELTIC LEGEND. All in my humble opinion of course.
Frank Ryan’s Whiskey
Can’t ever think that way. I believe Celtic one day will have a team as good as the Lions. To think otherwise would be out with the normal thinking of football supporters.
LB
DeniaBhoy, The source, as I say, has his motivation, the journalist has his.
Just because the info is deliberately put out doesn’t make the information itself invalid.
Nor should that, in itself, stop the journalist publishing it.
I still like Phils journalism, not always, but it’s a better source than most.
I’m pretty sure he isn’t niave enough to not already have considered what you are saying.
Because you do have a good point, I always like salt on tomorrow’s chip wrappings.
Richie, I’ve blocked on Twitter too:-)
LiviBhoy
17:09 on
15 October, 2014
Frank Ryan’s Whiskey
Can’t ever think that way. I believe Celtic one day will have a team as good as the Lions. To think otherwise would be out with the normal thinking of football supporters.
LB
==
Imagine Bobby Murdoch, Billy McNeill, Jinky etc in RD’s team. We’d be able to admire them for a season or 2 before PL will have them sold to the highest bidder, but hey-ho wads of cash in the bank.
Just maybe players are very happy to leave Celtic for riches way beyond Celtic’s ability to pay?
Naw. They’re punted oot the door against their wishes. Dear oh dear.
Gordon’s first season, we played very well with Shaun & Naka particular, being stand outs..
His second our standard of football wasn’t as good but he got us to the last sixteen of the Champions League and the double.
His third season, the wheels came off a bit but again we got to the last sixteen of the Champions League, beating the horribles (RIP) in two must win games helping us to win the league for Tommy..
His fourth season, we finally beat the brethren in a League Cup final after twenty seven years.
He achieved something significant in each season and most important, he got us.
Martin gave us back our pride and standing. I feel the Mint signed the peroxide jobbie as a real kick in the nuts for us which, until Martin returned, we mentally hadn’t recovered from.
My main gripe with Martin was letting that slimeball McLeish get the better of us for a season and a half. Once he realised it was time to set up the team differently, we improved.
In Martin’s last season various things worked against us with him playing his trusted players when they were out of form or carrying injuries.
In my opinion, both were marvellous overall for us as they made us talked about & respected in European football again.
Sydney Tim, who I first met in 1982, has always wanted a good Celtic team on the pitch as often as possible to help us keep a high profile in the football world. I may not agree with some of his posts but he wants the best for our team as we all do.
KevJ has made some valid points except his opinion of Keevins & McNee who have shown a lot of disdain & disrespect for our club when both claim they were supporters.
Gordon
ElDiegoBhoy
17:17 on
15 October, 2014
Just maybe players are very happy to leave Celtic for riches way beyond Celtic’s ability to pay?
Naw. They’re punted oot the door against their wishes. Dear oh dear.
==
Aye like our Greek Ghod.
Frank Ryan’s Whiskey
I would say maybe you are right BUT the whole of Scottish football needs to look at what is wrong in our game.
Reduce ticket prices
Scrap the TV deal or agree a deal with BBC that will attract kids to the games
Secure sponsorship
We will not improve as a team until our league is more attractive. The others are certainly dragging us down to their level at the minute. We have made mistakes but as a whole the Scottish game needs a shake up.
The landscape will change though at some point and when a European League gets underway Celtic will be in it. Then the need to sell our top players will subside.
LB
In the English Premiership International cup, we have Sunderland, Everton & Villareal in our group.
It’s a tournament for youth teams. Nice to renew acquaitance with our chums at Villareal.
Just for the avoidance of doubt…..
I am 100% not married to Ernie lynch.
The Imelda Marcos thing was close to the mark tho!!
HH PC67
Frank Ryan
You ur Speculating..
Yes.. Speculating is Fine n Dandy. it Is a Great Fill-up.
But..it is..jist a Speculation!
The Hard Facts ur,pal..
“No Money… No Celtic!” ( n THAT’S NO SPECULATION!”)
We need tae SELL,in order tae Survive,
Due…
Tae the Type o’ Fitba Environment..n the Peculiar Set o’ Geographical Set of Circumstances… tied taewhere we Live.. Twenty First Century.. Style..
n.. THAT’ No Speculation.. Eethur!
Ye Must Accept it.. n.. Ye should be Happy as Larry .. that we hiv a Guy Like
Mr.Lawwell, who is guiding us Thru.. this.. Twenty First Minefield!
D’ye no Notice .. whit hiz happened tae Loatsa Soccer Teams..the world Over..
who Hiv Fallen in Terrible Times..
because .. They Didnae Hae A Guy .. Such as Peter..(Or..a Board of Directors.. Like Oor Ain… Celtic Board of Guardians)… Watching the Pennies?
Ye hiv a very Narrow Field o’ View in This ,Pal
Ye should Broaden it.. a wee bit..
Then Ye may get “wit the Program”
n.. Come up wi the Bright idea..
“Heck . Mebbe, Peter is Doing a Great Joab.. efter Awe!”
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
Here’s a wee game to play on a wet wintery night….
Buy a small box of sugar puffs, take 8 out of the packet, line them up on a table or other flat surface.
Then get a picture of Joanne Lamont’s mouth……
See if you can spot the difference!!
Impossible.
Pedrocaravanachio67 I think you will find you have 2 sugar puffs too many mate
Loved MON…..but, that horrible day at firpark, where I had to sit on my hands in amongst the well fans. He should have been able to see that game out, the clock had turned to 88 mins, 2 mins & stoppage left and we had 2 subs still sitting on the bench…..naive, stupid, didn’t have his eye on the ball…whichever, an experienced man like him should have seen that game out.
pedro
By the 88th minute we should have been about 4 ahead. Lots of failures that day.
Kitalba
Sorry, been sampling the delights of Shieldaig, Lochcarron and Applecross so not been on today.
The Cumbernauld bus is full for Dingwall (not with ST and KevJ)
Oops too early…..
Do you want me to ask my own bus?
Eldiegobhoy
Agreed, but we weren’t and he should have.
Aff oot, fur that slap up that BMCUWP’s wis talkin about…
Laters
HH PC67
Has the lying King been appointed Fuehrer at the Bigotdome yet?
Frank Ryan’s Whiskey is there any need to insult the guy who pays for this blog himself.
If you do not like his opinion fine disagree but do not insult the host. No one forces you to visit this site, nor do they force you to accept everything written by Mr67 as Holy Writ so disagree politely or why not put your own money into a blog of your own and critique Paul’s opinion to your hearts content.
For the record I do not think Paul 67 denigrated Martin O’Neil at all, That at Villa, with a vastly greater budget, he was not as successful as he was at Celtic and that things did not work at Sunderland are all facts not insults. Paul67 did describe him as “royalty” too.
Just my take on your post and do not wish to cause any upset so will say no more about it.
A wee thought.
See if I’ve not eaten enough to compensate for the amount of energy I’ve exerted, I feel lethargic and tired.