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.
646 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- ...
- 17
- »
RobertTressell
20:04 on
26 May, 2015
Ex cathedra – I specialise in naivety!
================================
Ha,Nice one.
On a serious note, your correct of course,and it would be nice, but as you well know there are too many with a deep rooted aversion to our Club.
Mighty Tim
Good luck to you and your lad on Friday
What did Alfredo Phukedifiknow know about football anyway?
Seen a couple of references to Pointless tonight.
watched it myself and had a good laugh.
young girl asked
“was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas”
her reply was “JR”
Dining now. Laters.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
How much is the booking fee per season ticket when you renew online – not sure I’ll manage down to Celtic park this week
Would it be legal for Big Mike’s voting rights to be removed?
Stupid question I know as a different type of law seems to apply to that mob.
HH
PFayr
Thanks. When I Wikipedia that it tells me the following
“The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (Scottish Gaelic: Oifis a’ Chrùin agus Seirbheis Neach-casaid a’ Chrùin, Scots: Croun Office an Procurator Fiscal Service) is the independent public prosecution service for Scotland, and is a Ministerial Department of the Scottish Government.”
Isn’t that a contradiction (if true) in that it can’t be independent and a Ministerial Dept of the Scottish Government that itself enacted legislation that one of their own departments are responsible for prosecuting?
“The department is headed by Her Majesty’s Lord Advocate, who under the Scottish legal system is responsible for prosecution, along with the area Procurators fiscal.”
I read in Lockerbie/Megrahi book that the Lord Advocate is now(as opposed to previously) a political appointee also. If true doesn’t that further place more conflict with that ministerial dept?
IE it would be a very bad career move for anyone in COPFS to fail to toe the government line and so let’s just forget about being “independent”.
My friends in Celtic,
Apologies if already posted.
ST deadline extended to Friday May 29th.
To all that can afford it and swithering ,go for it. Even if somebody else uses it .
HH.
beatbhoy
19:25 on 26 May, 2015
Stan and Stefan.
You considering reverting to your original moniker after seeing the earlier post about Big Sutty’s interview with Danny Kelly?
——
Missed it and had a quick look back, but can’t find it.
I’ve met Sutton in person, he was first to step in when another Celtic player didn’t turn up for kids football session (his wife called him). He always had time to sign autographs when watching his son play. And he smiled a lot.
Would love it if he has redeemed himself.
Sunday was a great day out of that there is no doubt but one of my roundest days being a CFC supporter was that day at Kilmarnock when we lost the league to the cheating Huns and the thugs of Killie!
How that team played the way they did just days after playing in the searing heat of Seville against a very good Porto team – was awe inspiring!
Most knew going down there that day that we would probably lose out thanks to the fix being in with DAFC but I was just so glad to have been there supporting the boys giving it everything for the cause!
Little did we know – coming back up the road and suffering the taunts of Huns from all over – that a few short years later the Huns would be deid!
That’s why days
I’ve Sunday are just so much sweeter!
HH
Roundest should of course be proudest!
HH
RWE
I read your post to me. Thanks.
Mighty Tim
Please wish your Bhoy all the very best for Friday, hopefully another win for the Bhoys :-)
Driving along London Rd after game on Sunday, I was sitting next to a car with the Reg
Y44 NWA – pure class :-)
Hail Hail
Rwe
Previously The Lord Adv was a respected experienced QC….
Now they are members of the PF service beholden to the Govt for their employment
Hence we get crap like The OB Act …
Previously IMO The Lord Advote would have advised against such embarrassing legislation
Independecy of office is long gone
Advocate even
Hi bhoys and ghirls a wee appeal my daughter Elizabeth a long time season ticket holder since our return from hampden, and now has a son and daughter, season ticket holders, is running the Edinburgh marathon next Sunday 31/5/2015 on behalf of Celtic charity, the Celtic foundation. She has been training very hard and is looking forward to the run. If anyone would like to donate to the cause this is her address.
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/elizabethgemmell1
A wee aside Elizabeth’s birthday is on 6th November 1987 exactly one hundred years to the day, brother Walfrid, formed Celtic, a born Celt.
Elizabeth ran a wee 10k earlier in 50 minutes, just to keep ticking over, she’s working hard hail hail.
Stan and Stefan.
There ye go!
————————–
Coolmore Mafia said:
“Listened to Chris Sutton on ‘My Sporting Life’ with Danny Baker on Talk Sport late on Sunday night, and I have never heard someone express such love for the club.
Said that his five years were the best of his life, let alone career.
Accused Dunfermline of lying down again.
Said Larsson was best in the world.
Said people can’t understand just how amazing the fans are.”
Good luck wae this ya stupid stupid peepil :)))))
“But the club’s board has said it wants shareholders to support directors to ensure contractual arrangements between the club and Sports Direct are “renegotiated on a basis that is fair and reasonable for both parties and will delivery best value” to both parties”.
“Meanwhile Calderwood took off 2 Celtic minded players,Noel Hunt and the left back who was causing all sorts of bother”
Excath,
Hunt didn’t feature that day and the Celtic minded player you refer to is Gus Mcpherson.
Gordybhoy64,
Re the BBC show Pointless,
I took the family out for dinner yesterday in County Louth.
The lads in the pub were all watching Pointless.
A Glasgow lad came on and said he supported…them.
Anyway he lost.
The whole place erupted, laughter, cheers.
When the lads heard we follow Glasgow Celtic, we were set over drinks on the house.
McBrides, Castlebellingham, County Louth.
Clogher
Mighty Tim
Pass on regards to yer bhoy for friday,
It is a constant feeling of disbelief by ML5rs that Mullholland oversees these ridiculous cases being brought against our young folk
ClogherCelt: Very strong interest in the Dublin 2016 hootenanny expressed to me on Sunday. I spoke to Irish Tims as well and got a good response. I’ll be in touch by Friday.
Croppybhoy,
That’s how I felt at Rugby Park that day too. A gargantuan effort after Seville.
My golf club forum on Thursday night cancelled after a ‘significant number of members would be in a dilemma’ over attending forum or going to Snake Mountain. May have to consider renewing next year.
CK -No booking fee for ST online using a debit card,not sure about credit card mate.HH
….PFayr
I hope you take up Auldheid’s suggestion to meet up with BRTH.
Hamiltontim
17:57 on
26 May, 2015
@FACKilltheBill: Accies fan gets a Not Guilty this morning. Police evidence left a ‘reasonable doubt’. 5 court dates & 5 months away from games. Justice?
Just catching up and have to say
Hamiltontim
Brilliant news but where did they find that magistrate and will they ever be found again
keep up the good fight
HH
Clogher Celt
He also referred to his favourites as ‘Newco Rangers’, which caused eruptions of laughter in quite a few places.
And howls of rage in quite a few others!
Shorties subby displaying fantastic literary contortionism suggesting that ranjurs are on the front foot with regards to Big Mike’s EGM……………..
Dead subtle.
FE.
Almore,
That is great news.
Looking forward to meeting everyone.
Have been in touch with the venue I mentioned, there is an email on dublin2016@mail.com.
Talk to you later in the week.
I hope the Leaving Cert goes well.
Clogher
MT…
Just scanned back, all the best for Friday. HH
MT
Hope all goes well on Friday.
HH
leftclicktic @ 20:41
It was good to briefly speak to you at CP. Also good to see you helping out once again. This time selling Ronny Roar badges for The Foundation. Also enjoyed your eagle eyes noticing the guy dropping his money and honesty to get it back to him.
Can anyone be good enough to post a link to the Pointless clips and also to Danny Kelly or Bakers interview with Chris Sutton?
Cheers
Tlwio
bada bing blantyretim cowiebhoy leftclicktic thank you all for your good wishes. I will also pass them on to Sean. Sorry a bit slow answering but at work just now. Can I just say a big thank you to our very own hamiltontim who has helped Sean all through this. Your a top bloke C and a great tim. Thanks mate.
HH
KTF
Utlr
beatbhoy,
He got us a free round in County Louth.
You want to have heard the laughs when when he lost.
Best laugh I have had in a long time…
charles kickham –
I renewed online and paid by credit card being charged £10. I was paying for 2 tickets but not sure if it was £5 per ticket or just a total £10 per transaction.
RWE
The OBAF Act was introduced at the behest of Police Scotland and the SNP government. The claim was that it was to help tackle and eradicate sectarianism.
It hasn’t.
We’ve had a minister admit in committee that it was an ‘evening up’ exercise as existing legislation wasn’t effective in arresting and charging Celtic supporters in the same numbers as the huns.
The thing is that there was in fact legislation in place that dealt with the racist ‘Famine Song’ and the sectarian ‘Billy Boys’. There was nothing to deal with the ‘offensive’ political songs being sung by the Celtic support.
Consequently, this dreadful Act was introduced which would categorise a whole host of things as ‘offensive’ so long as they were deemed to be so by the police.
It’s entirely subjective and I believe dangerous to allow the police such powers.
We believe that the Act has the sole purpose of criminalising football supporters in general but Celtic supporters in particular. The best way to do this is to continually highlight the ridiculous charges which have been brought about under its name and the high number of cases which are either being thrown out before reaching court or are found not guilty when presented before a judge.
Apologies for the late reply, this Rebel had dishes to do :-)