I can’t argue with John Hughes winning the Manager of the Year award. Without glossing over the obvious semi-final issue, he’s taken Inverness to stick-on favourites for the Scottish Cup and, for a while, stuck with Aberdeen in the Best of the Rest fight. The second half of the season have seen fortunes fade, but this reflects the resource paucity he has, compared to Dundee United or Aberdeen.
What’s just as clear is that Ronny Deila would have been a contender for the award. Appointing a manager is always a risk. Gordon Strachan was as safe a pair of hands as you could hope for in 2005, but it took nerves of steel for him to cope with some early reversals. Tony Mowbray was also a known quantity, who should have done better, but rookie Neil Lennon pitted against experienced Walter Smith was highly risky. Neil could have sunk without a trace, instead of winning all those trophies.
At least Neil knew the club and the club knew Neil. Appointing a guy from one of the smallest professional clubs in Europe, totally unknown in the Scottish game until Celtic scouted Stefan Johansen, was an almighty risk.
What we recruited was a philosophy. Celtic knew how a football team should be prepared, how to recruit, what tactical intelligence was required in a manager, and they travelled to Strømsgodset to find their man.
Had he qualified for the Champions League group stage, I reckon Ronny would have won Manager of the Year, but as this is the standard Celtic managers are judged by, he missed out. There are no guarantees in football, so qualifying next season cannot be taken for granted, but he should be better prepared. As should the players. This is the target, Ronny.
SPECIAL COMPETITION ALERT
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Who is the Celtic assistant manager?
Email your entry to celticquicknews@gmail.com with the name of the assistant manager in the SUBJECT line of your message. Competition closes at 1pm tomorrow, so you have one day to get your answer in. Terms and conditions apply.
These are two fabulous prizes. While you are entering the competition, you might want to donate £1 to our Mary’s Meals school kitchen campaign. You can do so here. Thank you.
Many thanks to Magners (who get what we’re about).
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DD,
Had 3 pints of stout tonight with the lads, that’s the job done. First real pints in months.
Watching Vincent Browne now, have you ever seen that Irish Current Affairs programme?
Clogher
Clogher
A few wet ones in terra familiar is always good. :)
Not a big TV man me. Sorry. :)
Some Heavy SNP bashers Noticeably Absent Tonight…Has Eddie Izzard Went Home Per chance..Ps…Outfit Was not Nice Ernie/ sorry Eddie..
Watched the Rube game in an ‘Irish’ pub. Surprisingly there were no Rube fans. The pub was called ‘The wild duck’. The obligatory Celtic scarf was there as were the obligatory high prices. More surprisingly, there was an actual live duck in the pub. Health and safety?
Rube looked up for it. Bale will get slaughtered.
Captain beefheart..He, Bale was Garbage..
exslaemuirbhoy
22:02 on 5 May, 2015
That fish sounds awesome !!!!
Wonder if you can get it in St George’s market ?
Apologies to everyone on the blog for the torrential rain, cold and high winds……
….I decided to take the week off work!
Thanks Big Mhan :-(
Agreed bgx. Still think Madrid will thump them next time. Incidentally, this ‘Franco XL’ nickname is outdated. I have some lovely friends who follow Madrid. They wouldn’t be interested in such garbage.
AoW
Nae luck pal. At least the gardening is on hold. :)
Glesga summers are magic!
Interesting debate starting on BBC NI. Not all leaders attending.
Nigel Dodds of DUP says he will work with anyone for best deal for NI.
SDLP talking up fair wages for those in freezes, won’t work with Tories
Alliance. Not a lot to say. Blah blah. Spend , spend
UUP. happy with Labour or Tories but picking up on mental health issues?????
Sinn Fein, got ignored! Laughs all round. Martin McGuinness says no kingmakers in NI, better all parties work together in NI. Re-stated that they see no legitimacy of UK govt. made a big point about inclusiveness across the island and anti sectarianism and homophobia
Moving onto Middle East politics, this is great!
DD,
No, that’s fine I don’t blame you about TV.
Great hearing the auld Irish accent again.
I’ve been looking for a post from earlier today from someone who said that Glasgow Celtic have a much wider international and Scottish support, (sorry paraphrase) and that it isn’t all about Celtic’s links to Ireland.
Just to say I, personally would welcome any poster on here from Catalonia, Scotland based Polish people, Eastern Europeans, Asian people, who support the bhoys.
I think it would be great personally and for Celtic, if we could encourage the international support to become engaged, on blogs like CQN.
That doesn’t mean that Celtic were not formed from Irish roots.
Walk down any street in the ROI, and many in the 6 Counties with the hoops on and you will be made very welcome.
Clogher
Still haven’t forgiven that Rube fullback for his cheating. That said, Celticq didn’t prepare well for the usual Italian ways.
Good night everybody. New posters please post your thoughts. Variety is wonderful.
Captain Beefheart,
The Franco 40? is that no cheatin :o).
Hail Hail.
Captain beefheart..I Like Real…i Think They Will Do them..as for the politics in Spain..Jeez..Enough problems here in Scotland…
Interesting debate on whether NI MPs in Westminster have more influence than MPs who are in power in NI but abstain .
This is way more civilised
Hello again all you young rebels.
The Aussie fish you are all discussing is called the dream
fish, in Aboriginal it’s Nar Nar Gon , my wee princess has
been eating it nearly every day since we came over and
nearly every night she shouts at me is that you finished
drinking.
A think she must be hallucinating.
H.H Mick
Clogher
This Polish/Irish Scot is looking forward to Dublin 2016. As my son is.
Oops Fred!
Captain Beefheart,
:O).
Hail Hail.
Clogher,
Our worldwide support is exaggerated in my opinion. Just had a look on a major Russian speaking social site. This place has tens of millions of users from many countries. One Celtic site has 750 followers. One Wayne Rooney site has 45, 000.
The connection to Ireland is a massive positive factor in my opinion and I for one am proud of our unique heritage.
UUP just pulled the IRA card against Sinn Fein reforms.
Big cheer in the crowd. Shame on UUP, all others having a good debate including DUP.
Well handled by the BBC guy to move onto LGBT rights now
The Poles, in my experience, have a little affection for Celtic but don’t actually follow actively too much. Glasgow may be different though.
Sinn Feinn commenting on the vote down here. Says there would be a yes on equal rights marriage if given a vote in NI.
SDLP taking credit over the years . But a few members ”missed votes” on same sex marriage
DUP say all equal(laughs all round). Says elements of all parties have reservations.
Alliance. Had abstentions. They are ‘on a journey’
DD- missus bought 15 litres of masonry paint to paint the outside of the old villa.
God obviously doesn’t like masonry paint haha!
If this is not relevant , please say. I just find NI debate more civilised than in Scotland
In fairness Coney,
Scottish politicians aren’t renowned for their knowledge of guns.
NI politics is like Balkans politics. Difference is that at least Balkans politics has some good looking politicians to cheer the disgruntled up.
Captain Beefheart,
In my time as a Season Ticket Holder, I have to admit I never saw a huge boost in the international support. I’m away back to try and find that post. It was a link to a blog…not that I disagree but maybe it is a topic for debate.
DD,
Can’t wait for 2016. If I can do this right it will be something else. I’m in Dublin at the moment, just having a laugh at the patter.
Clogher
Cpt Beefheart
This is a good debate, no nasty stuff. So well controlled that there is no heckling.
We are on welfare cuts now
I am only comparing to the UK debates which can go off piste or have a speaker shouted down
Captain Beefheart
I take objection Sir! The Alliance MP has at least 14 beauty plooks. A big smasher
Another night of SNP love-in and goading.
Yet, it will just take one post from ernie or Neg Anon to bring out the accusation that politics are souring the blog.
But not one Yesser or SNP man called out this evening’s exchanges.
Sad stuff.
Clogher Celt
I have 2 spare rooms in Kildare. When the lads come over next year I have loads of room to phone you and tell them to stay at WITS hoose!
SFTB
Mob mentality on blogs is no predictor of reality at the ballot box. I think SNP will win in Scotland but Labour will form a minority without them.
Keep the Red flag flying
Clogher, it is an interesting topic. Thanks for bringing it up. I.don’t doubt that we have a big support.
Coney, each to their own. Enjoy the debate.
Night all.
Oops! Bombs and guns mentioned now. UUP
SF. Looking for United Ireland, peacefully. Lots of laughs. Backing SNP for Indy because 40% was tipping point
Why are Pescara asking so much (£5m or so) for a player they have sent out on loan who has never scored for them in Serie A and who cost them much less than £3m?
This deal does not sound right?
DUP and UUP both having a go at SF on violence. SF holding fire(as it were).
Coneybhoy,
If you have 2 spare rooms, can you take 15 lads? Full Irish Breakfasts all round.
I thought we might have a party in WITS hoose on Good Friday.
Thanks for the post, I think it will be some weekend.