Derek McInnes’ sleight of hand was at work yesterday as he tried to put pressure on Neil Lennon ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final, telling The Scotsman, “If [Neil] loses the Cup, it’s Neil’s team and I think the only pressure on Neil will be from himself”.
The words were wrapped in a generous sentiment, but the Aberdeen boss knows his chances are improved if he can transfer pressure onto Neil Lennon. Some self-contemplation would be more appropriate. McInnes has been at Aberdeen for six years, a period which has seen the club comfortably settle into the role of second force, but after winning the first trophy available to him, the 2014 League Cup, he has watched others pick up the spare trophies Celtic dropped.
Since winning a major honour in his first season and four consecutive second place finishes in the league, progress has stalled. They perennially failed to reach the Europa League group stage and now sit fourth in the Premiership.
Derek McInnes needs a trophy more than Neil Lennon. Beating Newco in Glasgow are his only ‘trophies’ this season, and while Aberdeen fans enjoyed those days in the big city, they will count for little if they are out of the Cup on Sunday night and behind Kilmarnock in the league.
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HOT SMOKED
JJ, correction, it’s the B955 I mean. Lol, obviously need a map with bigger print ?
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There were 17 other clubs in the top tier in ’66-’67, and Celtic scored a total of 7 or more goals in both league matches against 8 of them, including Clyde who finished 3rd, (5-1, 3-0).
Ayr, Thistle and St Johnstone were hit for 10.
Thistle must have hated the sight of us that season, add 4 for no reply in the Glasgow Cup final.
Correction to 10:46, 7 or more against 9 of them, so against more than half of the teams in the league.
That’s Assange dragged out by Americas lapdogs, sovereign nation my arse
The death of free speech and the U.K. Struck the first blow
I did not think Brendan Rodgers would sign for us so I am reluctant to dismiss the Wenger and Martinez aspirations as totally unrealistic, however they would remain as outliers.
We do not have a history of recruiting managers from the highly sought after list (Rodgers excepted). Most had only had one or two managerial posts before and I fear we would no longer be excited by recruiting a manager who had only Dunfermline and Hibs on his CV these days.
However, I also worry that we post all these high tariff targets here and we will then exercise cognitive dissonance to blame PL and the board for failing to recruit them after they had been “promised”.
On the same tack, I don’t see a DoF role solving the inherent and unavoidable conflict between those in charge of controlling spending and those in charge of recruiting players. Clubs see advantages in having a consistent DoF who remains in place to provide continuity whilst “unsuccessful” coaches depart regularly. However, fans may be fickle but they are not stupid; they see through this ploy and most of them want DoF’s and scouts to go, along with the coach, if there club are unsuccessful.
In that case, a DoF just becomes another layer of management the coach and scout must go through. Those thinking that it will sideline a CEO who is DD’s representative in Glasgow, will be disappointed, I think.
there = their.
I’d like to blame auto-correct but it was most likely auto-carelessness that caused that.
BEATBHOY, what a numpty im embarrassed, don’t know why I said 2-1, oldcodgers.com.hh.?
A DoF might be able to control squad numbers, the amount of money going out the door every week without any return is frightening, although a lot of it was down to BR’s largesse.
HUNTLYBHOY86 on 11TH APRIL 2019 9:46 AM
I agree with your sentiments regarding Neil Lennon, his appointment would not come under the heading marquee.
First and foremost we need a manager who will take the team forward. Second to that is someone who makes the club more attractive to younger players who may not know much about Celtic or our history.
It remains to be seen if Neil can build upon the work started by Rodgers. If Neil is the new manager then I’m sure he will get the full backing of the support. For me I’m not sure it is the right move thinking back to some of the football we seen when he was manager before but if the board look and can’t find a suitable alternative then I’ll give him my full backing.
Hail Hail.
AVB not interested says his agent
SFTB
” Most had only had one or two managerial posts before and I fear we would no longer be excited by recruiting a manager who had only Dunfermline and Hibs on his CV these days.”
*****
What if he had Dunfermline as Scottish Cup Winners, European competition Quarter Finalists, Hibs as Summer Cup winners and third top of division one on departure, all in just over 4 years, both clubs having had genuine relegation worries before he took the reins, on that CV?
Add Celtic double-winning Captain, and the obvious potential, and the excitement might be higher than you think.
Big Packy 1
It’s what happens when your team has won as much in their glorious history as the mighty Celtic.
I’m sure if Sevco ever win a major trophy a Zombie will be able to remember every detail about it!
bada Bing
“A DoF might be able to control squad numbers, the amount of money going out the door every week ”
Is that not what PL gets it in the neck for trying to do. Why would we thank a DoF for not backing a coach’s transfer requests but not PL doing the same? Why would a DoF be more successful in moving on un-needed squad members on high wages than PL is?
I think a Director of Football role (whatever it is called) makes very obvious common sense. A strategic manager if you will, to complement the “Manager”, who’s role is more tactical. If you hope to have any continuity in the Club operations over the medium and long term, then there must be a DoF. Football Managers have a short shelf life, especially at Celtic, where it seems, missing out on a single trophy, may see you receiving the ole P45 (should that be Colt 45? he’s getting the bullet ?). Ronny Deila must be in a fairly select club within football, who loses his Job after securing back to back Titles. I know he “resigned”, but I am sure that there was… ahem, pressure from within the club, to help him reach that decision.
Generally speaking, no Celtic manager will survive, certainly two seasons, maybe only one, without winning the league, without losing his job. In that instance, it is unlikely that everything the individual Manager did, was bad practice, and some aspects, or practices of his tenure, may be worth retaining. With a capable DoF, this evolution will be seamless.
I don’t personally think Wenger would be right for that job. He will be set in his ways, and his hunger may be in doubt. After his time at Arsenal, he deserves his retirement.
I am not in a position to identify any one person for that job. The remit is wide ranging, and requires a very broad skill set. My feeling is that a current number two at a big European club, in his thirties or early forties, might be the man. Maybe even someone outside of football, but with top level professional sport experience (What ever happened to Clive Woodward and whoever it was he joined?)
The role, for me, is a no brainer. The candidates? That’s a harder question.
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Hello to all my fellow Tims from a pleasently mild central Éire. I’ve not been on CQN in a while but said I’d pop in and leave a message.
Huge game for the Celts on Sunday but I’ve every faith we’ll win – not only win but do so in style. I just have a feeling we’re overdue a big performance and Sunday will be the day. We have some big options in midfield so it will be interesting to see what team Lenny goes with – Sinky and Rogic (to a lesser extent) have both been somewhat off form lately but both have a fantastic record against the Sheep so will surely be strong contenders to start. I’m going for a 3-0 Celtic win.
Also I’d like to extend my gratitude again to AngelGabriel for very kindly helping me source tickets for the Sevco game at the end of March.
HH
new article posted.
Beatbhoy
“What if he had Dunfermline as Scottish Cup Winners, European competition Quarter Finalists, Hibs as Summer Cup winners and third top of division one on departure, all in just over 4 years, both clubs having had genuine relegation worries before he took the reins, on that CV?”
The excitement was high when Jock came but we were not recruiting Helennio Herrera or Miguel Munoz or Matt Busby or Bill Nicholson.
The thought of any other Scottish club getting through more than one round in Europe (bar Sevco) nowadays is laughable. A fairer reflection would be in our modern recruiting period post Bosman and post – Big 5 leagues.
An equivalent of Tommy Burns would be Jack Ross (before he left for Sunderland of course) or Gary Holt (to provide the ex-Celt link). An equivalent to Lou Macari would be Paul Lambert. An equivalent to Dr. Jo or Wim would be Craig Brown or Patrick Kluivert. An equivalent to Tony Mowbray would Be Tony Pulis or Alan Pardew.
Would any of them excite our fan base?
We are looking for a big fish too come to a small pond and, as we saw with Brendan, as soon as they are successful and develop any sort of rep with us, they swim away to a bigger lake.
Our best hope in manager recruitment is to go the same way we do with players and recruit promising newcomers before they get snapped up.
Jamabhoy,
I agree entirely. Hope the club look at all options available but should they decide that Lennon is the best available he’ll have my full support. To be fair there aren’t many people who I’d rather see have success with us, love the man as an individual. I just can’t shake this feeling that the club (and some fans) have become complacent, expectant and we’re sleepwalking somewhat. You would think that given we’re only a few matches away from a domestic achievement that might never equalled and only a few short months away from kicking off the quest for 9IAR that there would much more of a buzz around the club. Instead there seems a general malaise and a feeling of apathy that makes me feel very uneasy. The close season is the time to put the foot down, spend the money that’s needed and obliterate any belief that the Huns May have of taking the league title. I know a few of them who would be quite relieved were Lennon to get the job. At the same time seeing Lennon essentially finish what he started might just kill them. Interesting times ahead!
Hunderbirdsaregone
The Walk Highlands website is an excellent resource, with 1000s of walks listed and described. There are a few options around Glen Clova per: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/angus/loch-brandy.shtml
Hunderbirds
Loch Brandy is a popular walk and, although I accept that everything is relative, is also an easy walk. Return journey from Clova Car Park is a couple of hours. Further up the road, Glen Doll offers the starting point for Dreish and Mayer, two Munroes which, although not particularly difficult, offer more of a challenge and a much longer day out.
As TBB says above, though, Walk Highlands is a fine site and much more informative and professional than I am !
JJ
PS Bike ride was excellent , thanks.I Off out . If I can be of any further help re Clova/Doll etc, feel free to get my email address from Paul 67.
SFTB
“The excitement was high when Jock came but we were not recruiting Helennio Herrera or Miguel Munoz or Matt Busby or Bill Nicholson.”
Are you saying that the excitement would have been greater had any of that illustrious quartet been engaged instead of Jock?
If that is what you are saying, I can assure you that such was not the case in our house.As soon as we heard Jock had been appointed, we felt that we had gor a miracle man and that everything would be wonderful. We genuinely believed we had appointed the greatest manager ever ! Obviously, I cannot speak for the older generation of the time but for my age group,that was it. We were going to win everything !
JJ