I’m delighted for Alex Neil at achieving promotion for Norwich City just a few months after joining and transforming them. Alex was groomed for the Hamilton Accies job by former boss Billy Hamilton for years before being given the position as a 31-year-old two years ago. Billy would talk him through training games, “Reds are being overrun, would you do to change things?” I listened into some of this, but in football it’s never apparent what’s being absorbed and what’s slipping through the cracks.
Lots of credit has to go to our former commercial head, David McNally, who took as Norwich chief exec six years ago, in the wake of departing Neil Doncaster. McNally spent much of season 2013-14 dangling the Sword of Damocles over Chris Hughton, before sacking him with relegation looming, then sacking his replacement, Neil Adams, whose only previous coaching role was as a Norwich youth coach.
Fresh from having to admit a mistake in appointing an inexperienced manager, it was unfathomable that McNally gambled on Alex Neil. Last season Neil got Accies into the play-off final against Hibs, where they lost the first leg 0-2 at home. At that stage his achievements were no better than could be expected, but Terry Butcher was master tactician at opponents Hibs.
Ahead of the second leg Butcher spoke to his players about post-match celebrations. The only thing anyone at Hibs could celebrate after the game was Butcher’s resignation. Six months of spectacular overachieving with Accies this season was enough for McNally to see something special in Alex Neil. It was a breath-taking gamble which worked.
Norwich’s gamble has echoes in our own, in appointing Ronny Deila, but Celtic had a bit more form to judge. When I asked a Norwegian journalist about Ronny last summer he actually compared Stromsgodset wining the league to Hamilton Accies winning the SPFL. Ronny had six years, not six months, of pretty spectacular form to study before Celtic made their offer.
Ronny and Celtic know they are working to a medium-term plan and that short-termism isn’t going to get in the way. Such planning is a luxury in football, and isn’t something Celtic enjoyed when they were caught in an arms race with a liquidation-bound opponent. Norwich might just have learned enough self-awareness to know that next season’s target shouldn’t be survival, it should be medium-term development, even if that means accepting the short-term pain of relegation.
I read yesterday that Real Madrid have sacked a manager every season they failed to win a major trophy since Alfredo Di Stefano’s side finished second in La Liga, and were losing finalists in the Copa’ Liga, Copa del Rey and Cup Winners’ Cup, the latter to Aberdeen. Medium-termism at Real is counted in weeks, not seasons. Being intolerant of short-term failure is incredibly wasteful.
Alfredo was sacked a year later.
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It’s laughable, the written press are still trying to promote a 4million bid for Anya.
Now we are meant to believe a swap with Van Dijk…really.
Some people get paid far too much money to write utter p@sh
I’m convinced.
Name changed back.
supersutton-you were missed……;)
supersutton…
Well done:)))
Excath,
Not a problem neebs.
That was the wee player that reminded me of jinky at the time.
HH
Thanks Almore and WITS,
I was on to Glasnevin today to try and talk to this man, I had no idea he had passed.
I know I posted this before but I got a bit of a shock, 46 years of age.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L7O7oU47n4&feature=player_detailpage
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/wellknown-historian-shane-macthomais-has-died-30114366.html
HH,
Clogher.
James
Loved your Norwegian headwear.
EddieIK near soiled his breeks when he saw you approach with what he saw at first as a Union Jack on your napper. :))
I think the Dutch guy Dijks at Willem II , and B.Douglas at Lech Poznan, would represent more realistic value, in terms of left sided defenders.
4 million for Anya…whoever forced that through to print, should be on britains got talent
ruggygman
And the likes of us come on and write pash for nuffink!
Dena
I’ve yet to meet these crazed maidens of whom you speak. I struggle to believe they exist.
Night Timdom.
Night Praecepta. How’s Grace Jones treating Ya scamp?
HH jamesgang
Delaneys Dunky
Has your nephew got a new club yet or did I miss the memo :-)
HH
DD
Oh my life!
What a horrible thought!!!
https://twitter.com/jamesgang5446/status/603313914881953792
HH jamesgang
Does anyone know what happened to Stan and stef that used to post on here.
Sadly missed.
jamesgang
22:35 on
26 May, 2015
Goodnight ya eejit :-))
HH
DD
Was Eddie skipping school (we can’t say dogging any more!) the day they were doing flegs???!!!??
HH jamesgang
Dena
;-)
HH jamesgang
On the Mash fiasco at sevco…
Will their directors ever stop claiming that it wisnae me, it was a big boy who ran away and he lives in Morningside, Monaco, Normandy, London, South Afri…oh I’m getting ahead of myself now – that last won is scheduled for early next season.
The SFA must have their emergency committee men on speed dial for the next scheduled crisis at Scotland’s newest senior club.
BlamelessandClueless CSC
Delaneys Dunky,
I thought the headware suited the Original Gangster, what Ronny is Gonnae do is Shoot the Huns Down
And encourage every other Team to Win, in Scotland. The Guy has been there and done it at Stromsgodset, no reason a provincial team can’t be the best in Scotland, that is what Ronny ACHIEVED in Norway. Not daft Ronny Deila.
The Hun don’t deserve nothing.
Super Sutton
How do you change your name
I’m on iPhone
Jamesgang…
What is the Stars, is consistent at least
RWE
That was a very disturbing read but I’m glad that I did.
barrach obampot
No worries mate I’ll get your details.
Dena
His contract and life in his Dundee digs end on Friday.
Nothing concrete yet.
Looking forward to him being back in Clydebank near me though. :)
@TFN: Texas Senate Committee Revives Zombie Marriage Discrimination Bill http://t.co/x3pzVszzbA #txlege
As Ireland votes for equality. So too does Texas for stickies!
HH jamesgang
if i was on a jury then I would take a policeman’s word at the same value as the accused. If 2 policemen i would ignore anything they said..based on my dealings with them they lie 90% of the time, make up facts, destroy evidence and don’t record complaints..
Petec
Sleazy, cool track.
My favourite Stone Roses track. This week. ;)
HT you are a prince among men. Bumped into eddie toner and signed the petition. Sorry I never got to say hello on sunday.
Keep up the fight.
Hail Hail to ypu bruv
ruggyman
Anya not going to happen as I saw him on a list of
“10 players Rangers should sign this summer”
Also included Ricky Lambert but best part was
it started along lines of
“Rankers unprecidented climb
from bottom to top division”
Do they mean as a new club ?
Because Gretna did it and won league every year ?
Ohhhh and they still have to get past Skippy Pearson
and Mcmanus
Jamesgang: Cheers, I just love the Celtic and want to acknowledge and encourage those who do. I supported Celtic since I was nine years of age but didn’t get to Glasgow until I was 35. I get over as often as I can and I just love meeting people with the same passion and interest in Celtic as I have.
Níos mó ná cumann ė (more than just a club)
Dena29: Left a message earlier. Great to see you and your daughter on Sunday, keep on posting.
Right, off to mo leaba, oíche Maithili.
So Iteland has finally arrived in the 20th century …… Back slaps all round… Pity their banks are in the 21st :)
Jamesgang
Part of my missive on Monday am was marvelling at how big a Unit you were and delight at the fact that Ruairi (Irish sp) had got his looks from his mothers side.
DD
Will definitely get something sorted re a beer next season. Will try and hook up with Almore re a stay over match.
HT
Could you email me some of the petitions and I will get them signed and returned. Have been getting friends ( yes I have a few) to sign online version.
Missed ACGR was he at corner
Think of it
Scottish independence
The rise of English nationalism and an exit from Europe … Hell mend them
Wales don’t count
The end of the UK
Who cares?
Then
Then
Norn Ireland goes back to the Irish ….. If they want them
Maybe they can have another referendum
RWE In 2014 The Baltimore Sun published a breakdown of money awarded to settle claims of police brutality, totaling $5.7 million
a damning indictment of the treatment meted out.
A horrible read one of the things that struck me was black (not pc sorry) officers seemed to be more vicious than their white colleagues,
HH
ACGR
Oor chat was too brief on Sunday bro. Biggest coarner turn out I have seen.
Great spiritual day I experienced around Paradise on Sunday. There was something in the air. Loved the YNWA mellow version. :)
New upload of YNWA and a bit more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjZFP6u2Wno
Delaneys Dunky
Hope he gets sorted………..I’m sure you’ll look after him :-))))
HH
gearoid1998
I read that pal. Very true. But read it a while after you’d posted it so wanted to wait till your were back on to say hi.
DD
JJ and I commented on the acoustic version of YNWA. Mibbee the whole crowd were running on (your!!!) Ganga fumes!!!!
Right. I’m away.
HH jamesgang
17s beat 4-2 by Accies 17s tonight. End of the season stuff. Josh got a bad back injury Dont think he will sleep much tonight.
Why Celtic not go for this guy? CF for Rosenberg
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_S%C3%B8derlund
Jamesgang, just catching up with today’s posts.
The boca 10 t shirts are great. My first one was the fidel mcgrain one.
The just can’t get enough one is a cracker.
My favourite is the lisbon calling t shirt.
They have a beatles celtic t shirt now and do two moravcik ones.
My son has the henrik/heineken t shirt as well as the henrik / adidas trainers one your son has.
The club are missing a trick as the boca 10 t shirts look better than those the club produces.
Re that killie game in 2003, did martin o’neill not state in his autobiography state his disbelief at jolly jim jeffries telling the killie players to waste time after the first minute.