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.
[calameo code=000390171873c910154bd lang=en page=106 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,509 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- ...
- 40
- »
I was a great fan of Neil as a player, also the fact he was an out & out Tim. He is certainly a braver man than I am, all the bigoted shit he had endure.I would have been gone long before now. For all that he has my utmost respect and admiration and I wish him much happiness and success for his future. In saying that, am I that sad he is departing, not really. The main reason I have a season ticket, is so my two grandsons can go to the matches . I have to say a lot of games this season have been hard to bear. The result against Morton was a disgrace, the Aberdeen cup game at home not much better, they could easily have won by much bigger score. I have to say I used to scratch my head at some of his team selections and tactics.. My choice for the job is Henke; because I think he will set out his team to play attacking exciting football like he did. Whoever gets the job, he will get my full support as will the team. Come on the Tic
Philbhoy
Doubt it will be before Monday. Lawwell is in Lisbon is he not?
LB
Billy bhoy
Thought you weren’t talking to Ernie
MWD
Your only mate has baldy baws?
Moonbeams @ 3.51.
Class. LMFFAO!
HH jamesgang
Various:
Peter Houston was taken by his father to watch Celtic in the 1960’s and his hero was Jimmy Johnstone. “In awe of him” when he happened to be in his company in Uddingston one time, says the information in my hand.
He appears to be a Celtic man.
Paul67
Your article is tripe — revisionist tripe at that.
You are just passing on PL propaganda.
Surely you understand the needs of the club beyond PL’s bonus.
The Irish Raj is hollowing out the club and the support in full view.
And yet you continue with these nonsense articles.
Please try harder or let someone else do the journalism.
Luke Shanley @LukeShanley
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell tells @SkySportsNews they have made no approach for any new boss yet & will take time to make decision.
Succession planning in action. Don’t panic!!! Corporal Jones CSC
Henke said no. Apparently.
Whoever it is, I just hope chances are given to Filip Twardzik, Tony Watt et al.
I think we need a big clear out of players as well.
“the baldy Bhaws” only you’d know.
go on. Gees your name and address and i’ll come round and give you mine. just for a laugh.
MWD says Aye.
Som mes que….
All the more alarming then ,that he was prepared to miscall CFC and cosy up to the Huns
I have an awful felling this is gonnae drag on for weeks.
Hopefully wrong but this just smacks of the club being caught on the hop.
HH
/Bishop B
TimJim
you might believe that of Henke but there is not much evidence to back it up.
After 10 games his team is the 2nd lowest in goalscoring of the 16 teams in the Swedish top flight. They have the 7th best defence though.
Ernie
Behave!
You don’t live in Croydon. You know Cadizzy. Cadizzy lives in Croydon.
No one who knows Cadizzy would ever knowingly live in the same neighbourhood.
This place has turned into one big “stroke job”
Pathetic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEej1feA9N8
margaret mcgill
15:54 on 23 May, 2014
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?
Well where does he or she sit on the old toasted versus roasted cheese n toast debate?
(As we all know Tims Toast their cheese while Rockets Roast it….. Everyone knows that….)
HH jamesgang
Moonbeams @ 16:11
Class. LMFFAO!
Just wandered round to see the Art School there. Smoke still billowing out and flames clearly visible on the upper floors. The big ole stone walls are standing up defiantly but I wouldn’t hold out much hope for a whole lot of the interior surviving. V. sad.
#NoToCoyle
@PFayr
You have to admit, Chelsea have started to balance out their squad well. Sell Mata for £40m and sign the CM they desperately needed for 20m.
Sell Sideshow Bob for 40/50 million and sign Diego Costa for £32 million (a striker they desperately needed) and still have money left over for Mandzukic.
Jose may be a cheat and a liar but he is a great chequebook manager.
ernie lynch
16:02 on 23 May, 2014
Billy Boy
16:00 on 23 May, 2014
Do you know who Bob Oblomov or whatever he’s called is?
###########
As far as I’m aware he doesn’t represent himself as someone else on this site.
margaret mcgill
Ernie has said some very nasty things to me and called me a liar: he is the liar.
##########
Pfayr
It’s not Ernie I am talking to.
“the baldy Bhaws”
so that’s why you COME here then.
MWD says Aye
EDB
You are so, so wrong about me.
I love the club, big time, I just don’t have much time for the suits who run it.
FC not PLC
HH
Mad Mitch
At 16.10
How Dare Ye! Talk tae Sir Paul. Like That!
Whit’s Goat Intae Ye?
Ah hid ye Pegged wrang. Ah Do Declare~
Ah shoulda bin Mair Observant.. But Ah wiznae..
Yer Nomme de Blog.. Said It Awe.. N. Ah Confess that Ah missied it!
“Mad” Mitch….
Aye .. Ye Goat that Right!
Kojo
Still,Laughin
DBBIA
Was offered the White Hart Lane gig but meant too many late nights and I’d miss my baby so I turned it down.
Thankfully very busy at work in my own wee office so makin’ a bob or two.
At the moment anyway.
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
16:13 on
23 May, 2014
I live in hope
Billy Boy
I called you a liar because you claimed you couldn’t remember posting this.
‘I live in Scotland which is a fantastic country and will improve a thousandful when we get rid of Unionists like yourself.’
The truth was you could remember posting it perfectly well.
PS
And I was one of the ones on here who was behind Lenny’s appointment 100%, never wavered a jot from the day TM got his jotters.
HH
And…………………..I’ve got the day off tomorrow!!!!!!!!
Ya beauty!!!
Well, I suppose it’s beautiful if trailing round the ladies boutiques all day in Edinburgh with my gorgeous wee, but expensive, daughter is beautiful.
Och, of course it’s beautiful!!!
Rolll on Saturday!
Note to self ; Must go to bank.
Crass….I meant.
From the moment you thought of that ridiculous moniker to your endless says AYE bollocks.
Im not the one whos trying to expose posters on here like a thicker version of Sally. If your not willing to reveal your identity then desist from your hunnish behaviour, VAGINA.
JohnnyClash
16:15 on 23 May, 2014
We’ve been assured by a very reliable source that it’s only smoke damage and nothing to worry about.
THM, wish I could have made it down, but ah well.
Hopefully you can all discuss the new manager and his first couple of signings.
Billy bhoy
Yes you were @16-00 you asked him a direct question
You lost all credibility with me when you refused to answer a straightforward question from many re your assertion that you would expel unionists from an independent Scotland
Stop being deliberately stupid
Do kids not read this site anymore, no?
Ernie
You’re still lying.
Post the full exchange. You are lying by omission, and maybe being a media person you will know what that means.
What have you got to hide Ernie?
Jamesgang….
Yep, ah’m a toaster not a roaster!
That’s me for the day bhoys!
Have a great weekend!
….pfayr supports weeoscar
16:22 on 23 May, 2014
Billy bhoy
Yes you were @16-00 you asked him a direct question
You lost all credibility with me when you refused to answer a straightforward question from many re your assertion that you would expel unionists from an independent Scotland
Stop being deliberately stupid
###########
The crap is back again: read my response to Ernie and I look forward to your apology
Mr johnny Clash- if you’re lucky they’ll knock it down and put up an ole wind farm.