How well do we handle succession? Mostly very well. Back in the 90s Celtic stumbled from one manager to another, picking up whoever was available and prepared to pick up the inevitable poisoned chalice, without any perceivable strategy.
Wim Jansen came from nowhere, or Japan, to be geographically accurate, and was a success, but despite a legendary respect for Fergus McCann, this appointment looked like a stab in the dark. After Wim left, we had the seminal reign of John Barnes. Millions were spent, and wasted, before King Kenny held fort for the final few months of season 1999-2000.
The changes introduced by Martin O’Neill are still being felt. We had been rubbish for decades in Europe, hadn’t knocked out a team from the ‘big five leagues’ since Leeds United in 1970. We were conditioned to expect and accept defeat, but after Martin, the world would never be the same again.
Martin’s strategy was not without its flaws, for a start, it wasn’t sustainable. Celtic lost millions every season, despite competing in Champions League football for the first time, and the momentous matter………. Seville.
Gordon Strachan came with a remit to change the problems the club faced immediately before his arrival – bring spending down to meet income, win the league and make progress in the Champions League. Despite starting with one of the worst weeks in the clubs history, Gordon delivered.
There was a problem, though. A disconnect opened up that first week when Artmedia smacked five goals past David Marshall, which was never fully resolved. When we went back into the market, fixing this disconnect was high on the agenda. Who better than a popular former player who ‘invented’ the Celtic huddle.
Tony Mowbray ticked the boxes which Gordon Strachan showed little appetite for but he was miles off plan for Celtic. The first week in the job he asked to sign Marc-Antoine Fortune for close to £4m. I’m sure the proposition was a bolt out of the blue to the club. Expensive 28-year-old strikers with a low- scoring record was not on strategy. Having appointed Mowbray, the club had little choice but to back his maiden request, but I bet there was a raft of people at Lennoxtown who knew how this chapter in our story would end.
Neil Lennon was working as a coach at Celtic during the Mowbray era. He was close to the scouts, sports science people, fitness experts and chief executive. In other words, he was on plan. After the John Barnes ‘tried and tested rookie manager’ strategy, I didn’t want Neil, or any other debutant, but he was intelligent, tactically aware and experienced inside the Celtic system. Within no time, Neil was making headlines as a Champions League manager. The shine will quite rightly never fade from Martin’s halo, but I could make a case that Neil Lennon has been our best manager since the guy from Burnbank.
Notice the pattern?
We have a habit of appointing a manager to address the perceived deficiencies of the previous incumbent. Right now, the need for someone to connect with fans will be less pronounced than it was when Gordon Strachan left, the need for someone to work within budget is fundamental, but will not stress anyone.
Neil’s most glaring faults are a whole lot less glaring than any of his predecessors. This time, we should be looking for someone just like the previous guy:
A student of the game, who understands the tactical trends in the world game.
Intelligent.
On plan with club scouts, nutritionists, sports scientists, coaches, player trading policy and budget.
Order your SIGNED copy of Tommy Gemmell’s All the best from the (fabulous new) CQN Bookstore.
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Uly Mcghee- chillax.
We will shortly be up to our oxters in guff.
Moonbeams WD. Wee Oscar’s our Bhoy and Kano’s our mhan.
15:27 on
23 May, 2014
Awe Naw defo a Tim (well so his sister maggy says and you wouldny want to argue with Maggie)
Neganon defo a Tim (I am positive about that)
Ernie is media.
……MWD is a fud
£50mil for David Luiz!?
The world’s gone mad…
TOSB
I’ll meet ye there…
…………………….just printin’ the T shirts……………hats, scarves an’ badgeeees noo!
WhatDoWeNoWant CSC
Uly
I’ve known you for some time …never had any reason to disbelieve you…
“the bould bhoys”
Actually. To give my my Sunday name. It is Vagina. Thank you.
MWD says Aye
Thought David Luiz was Barca bound. Luis Enrique obviously wants someone who can defend
It’s hard to keep track of who is picking a fight with whom on here.
It’s even harder to see why they started.
SFTB
See my first line in reply to PF
U
MWD
Ill remember that in future. Cheers x
….pfayr supports weeoscar
15:36 on 23 May, 2014
Ernie
Defo never met you
Maybe not to your knowledge
Prerequisites so far:
Proven tactical genius
No EBTs
Owned
Cheap
Can handle the media
Red hair
Dietary science optional
Celtic minded
Has nothing against the handicapable
Likes yogurt
….. What else?
sipsini
15:44 on
23 May, 2014
Jonny the tim, if your lurking, your bhoy is busy putting the house back together, my bhoy has just went over with two dishwasher tablets…I wonder why he needed two :))
……………………………….
and why was he going through the Yellow Pages for a plasterer !!!!
braw
SFTB- exclude me out.
I love everybhody.
I see Cardiff have signed the Austrian internationalist Burgstaller.
I’m sure many of our recent posters were looking for Celtic to get a better class of BurgerStall.
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
15:53 on 23 May, 2014
‘It’s hard to keep track of who is picking a fight with whom on here.
It’s even harder to see why they started.’
###
That’s nothing.
I’m starting to wonder if I really do live in Croydon.
SFTB
It’s usually you that is causing the fights ya hun-ey yae. ;-)
MWD says Aye
Delighted Neil Has Gone
Not because he was not good for us – he was
But because his life in Glasgow was a nightmare – no man deserved what he has had to live through – but a bear with a sore head is a dangerous animal – that animal turned on Neil and his family
So good luck Neil I wish you nothing but a successful and peaceful life
67 ECW
AlbertKiddCSC
£50mil for David Luiz!?
The world’s gone mad…
————–
Basically doubled his value while at Chelsea despite getting worse and proving a bit of a bombscare.
Chelsea are starting to realise how this football game works, selling players for profit is easy.
Ernie
When”s Croyden getting it’s independence ?
Maggie
Is a CQNer
MWD says Aye
I think we should all pick a fight with DBBIA so that he does not feel excluded from the clique.
ernie
Somebody has to live in Croydon, I assume.
I’ve never been to Croydon but I kinda like the music.
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
15:53 on 23 May, 2014
It’s hard to keep track of who is picking a fight with whom on here.
It’s even harder to see why they started.
…………………………………..
Butt out or al smash yer face in!
(Do I really need to add a smiley face?)
So who are u Ernie?
A right wing zealot who pretends the opposite?
It is obvious Bob is referring to you as you are the only person on this site, to a lot of posters knowledge, that no one has met.
What have you got to hide?
Maybe you are a Cybernat as Bob said you do the opposite !
Whatever or whom you are you’re a WEIRDO!
I can officially announce that my commitment to jazz tinged, navel-gazing, fey, acoustic based songwriting leaves me out of the running for the new Celtic manager job.
Although I can say, without fear or favour, that my nutritional nous and my position as doyenne of all things dietary, would have had me well up the short leet…
margaret mcgill
15:54 on 23 May, 2014
Doesn’t have the names Owen or Coyle in his name
Billy Boy
16:00 on 23 May, 2014
Do you know who Bob Oblomov or whatever he’s called is?
MWD
Sumdy else kens ye :-))
I just hope we get our new manager, whoever he is, sooner rather than later.
Please.
billy bhoy 05
16:00 on 23 May, 2014
Behave!
Philbhoy
16:02 on 23 May, 2014
‘I just hope we get our new manager, whoever he is, sooner rather than later.
Please.’
###
Hopefully before the poppy debate starts.
Excluded from the Clique never ever managed to throw off the shackles their seminal album ‘I don’t care if your daddy’s a Dentist, I love you!’ built around them. Although singer, Pauly Graph’s solo work ‘ I could be a tree, and happy too.’ showed great promise…
Philbhoy – so we can get back to arguin’ about the ole referendum?
Why don’t you apply for the job , or are you still waitin’; to hea rfrom White Hart Lane?
PFayr
No. I only have wan pal. ‘the baldy Bhaws”
MWD says Aye
£50m for Sideshow Bob…bonkers
Can you get a manager on a bhawsman?
Billy bhoy / MWD
Post your name and address then ernie might reveal his identity.