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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Billy bhoy
I was part of the original discussion
Your attempts at obfuscation were cringeworthy
I don’t think you’re stupid ….but you’re deliberately stupid at times
Henrik is a shoe in for the job imo
He gets at least at year before the return of the mob to settle in
In that time he gels with the team passes on his peerless goal scoring skills and of course puts bums on the season ticket seats
Now I hear no experience etc etc
Not a problem for a chap who learns quickly and has an eagle eye for goal
Henrik is the mhan for the jhob
There I have said it
HH
Ave no fell out with anyone or arguing with anyone, and feel a bit left out.
Bada Bing do you want a square go!!!
Philbhoy
As Ye Know..Ah hivnae Bin Back In Scotland fur a While..
So..
Kin Ye tell Me..
If..
Ye kin Still get .. A Bag o’ BROKEN Biscuits.. at the wee Grocer’s Shop.. At the Coarner o’….. Walton St street n Deanston Drive.. in Shawlands…
Fur . Thrupence Ha’Penny?
Ah used get Them fae . Mr. Broon ..who wiz the Proprietor.. Nice Fellow.. even although..
He Supported the Third Lanark.
Well.. Kin Ye still.. ??
Kojo
Still Laughin’
PF Ayr
I don’t know anything about calling Celtic out or otherwise.
TDD- ole Cadizzy does not live in Croydon- heaven forfend!
He lives in the tranquil bosky nightingale infested Elysium of Whyteleafe.
He merely changes trains in Croydon; as the blue plaque on platform 4 confirms.
Kittoch
Is Bada Bing not one of the larger gentlemen on this site?
Should you not be picking on someone smaller?
DBBIA can provide avcurate height statistics on all posters.
It’s skwerr.
Uwe Rosler took the Wigan job following Oweny Coyle’s departure.
He has done a particulary decent job, wins over Man City and the battles v Arsenal were epic,
Previously at Brentford, he is said to have overhauled a struggling playing staff by his coaching and attitudinal methods. Known to be demanding of his players, intense, with modern thinking applied in an ‘old school’ method, akin to a Van Gaal.
Has had experience in Scandinavia as a coach, knows the market there and it is also a market from where we seem to do reasonably well in, in terms of signings.
On the leaving of Lennon, I think the time was right for him to move on to a new challenge. I really felt he needed it and importantly, with the zombies most possibly being Premiership bound next summer, I believe he would have been unable to leave for a couple of seasons at least. Faced with that set of circumstances allied to budget restrictions and the demands he faced on a personal / family level of living in Glasgow and what that entails on his day to day life, he has made the correct decision on many levels.
For the club, it is an opportunity to move on with fresh impetus from the managerial position.
Many many names being bandied out.
I would be delighted for an inspired Dermot and O’Brien financially backed appointment.
Daydreaming CSC.
Pfayr
I don’t give a hoot regarding your opinion. Don’t forget this is not the first time you’ve joined the gang against me.
Henke and Morten. That’ll do nicely. HH.
Kojo
If you stand on a corner in Shawlands long enough, you can get most things broken.
“the baldy Bhaws” awe diddum. Can’t believe I’ve upset your sensibilities. I’m away to see my therapist! I would recommend it. Great for anger issues I hear.
MWD says Aye
PS. Thank you for showing me due respect using my Sunday name. Love you.
Aye,Farm at 8 ya rocket !!!!!!
Anyway – are we all meeting in the Kerrydale Bar on Matchday One – for another new era?
Long may the Magners connection continue.
Nothing in this world cannot be fixed over a pint and a gourmet burger – or indeed a cola and a square slice with brown…
U
Dontbrattbakkinanger
16:27 on
23 May, 2014
Mr johnny Clash- if you’re lucky they’ll knock it down and put up an ole wind farm.
Not if Donald Trump has anything to do with it. He has the site earmarked for a billionnaire health spa
Can’t understand why big Johan is not being considered for the managers role. He was leaving for a challenge – that challenge just presented itself. Win-win in my books and good continuity.
Bob Loblaw…
Knew Grayson Perry Lived In Croydon….
Never Guessed He Was Mad About The Hoops…
getting a bit like a techy crowd at a gig on here,waiting for the headline act who is an hour late…
DBBIA
Wind farm? Pah!
As a great believer in renewables – I nearly voted Green last night – I feel that the great turbines are more at home in the provinces, mudflats and close to anywhere Donald Trump intends to play golf.
….pfayr supports weeoscar
16:28 on 23 May, 2014
Billy bhoy
I was part of the original discussion
Your attempts at obfuscation were cringeworthy
I don’t think you’re stupid ….but you’re deliberately stupid at times
############
I must be clever to be choose to be stupid when I want.
Before you take sides think about this. I don’t misrepresent myself. I don’t deliberately lie: and continue to do so with every post.
Never mind the ‘obfuscation’ let us see the full heated exchange.
I’d like Uwe Rosler but he has only been at Wigan half a year. He’d probably fancy a crack at Wigan first.
I can see them getting promoted next season considering how they have played under him.
Owen Coyle is more likely. He has some merits.
People were laughing at the appointments of Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes last summer because things went sour at their previous clubs. People forget how much of a basket case the clubs were (QPR and Sunderland) and have continued to struggle since.
We shouldn’t turn our back on a coach who’s stock has taken a bit of a hit. We offer stability and clarity of vision at our club. We could get the best out of our coach.
grilled skwerr with toasted cheese……….braw ……..
Setting Free the Bears
Has Shawlands Gone tae Seed..?
When I live in Tantallon Road.. Shawlands wiz a Nice Place tae Live..
That wiz.. Nigh oan .. Forty or Fifty .. Years ago… though..
As they say.. the only thing that Diznae Change..is the Ability fur Things tae.. well.. Change.
NIce Chatting..pal.. As Usual
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Thindimebhoy
16:28 on
23 May, 2014
I’m afraid he’s already said he’s not taking it.
Kojo
Used to live on Minard Road
Alas the broken biscuit shop is a hairdressers now the last time I looked or some fancy interior design shop
Shawlands does not have broken biscuits shops anymore you will need to go Govanhill for that kind stuff noo
Also I have to have a laugh at those claiming the board have to back the new coach with big money.
We have little competition domestically as it is. We should be developing young players like Tony Watt.
Trump’s building a course oot here an we don’t need no wind farms!
ElDiegoBhoy at 14:45 on 23 May, 2014
I first saw young Davie Moyes when he was 10 years old battering a ball against the gym wall in Anniesland College. His father made football possible for many people. He ran a high quality Juvenile Team on a Saturday afternoon and had two teams from Anniesland College playing in the Saturday Morning League. I spoke to him on many occasions and found him a true football man who had no enmity towards our club. When medals are given out for football, Davie Moyes senior deserves a really big one.
weeminger
No way he would say that
“the baldy Bhaws”
I see you don’t do irony.
Saturday night you name called a fellow poster a W*nk*r and today from the ether you jump in with disrespect calling me a fud when you know it’s the Sunday name for me.
Then you worry about the kids.
That therapist I was talking about…
MWD says Aye
What’s it all about, Ernie?
Are you a holograph, a cyber Tim or the bete noir of CQN? (Cannae do the circumflex above the first ‘e’)?
You’ve certainly got all the cyber private eyes exercised today :-))
Lay off Shawlands.
Miley Cyrus came to Shawlands for a burger last week. So there.
Yep Shawlands has misplaced its 50s charms.
It’s not been the same since the last tram departed for Auchenshuggle with Molly Weir as a conductor. That was before she started dropping acid.
Been off the blog for two days and the world is turned upside down, Didn’t expect NFL to leave so soon.
Thanks Neil for being a great servant to our club as a player, captain and manager. You have left the club in good fettle and your successor can start from a position of strength, unlike you.
My preferred option is Steve Clark.
HH
Tosh… Did you ever find out what happened to Tina?
timaloy29
16:36
I’d like Uwe Rosler but he has only been at Wigan half a year. He’d probably fancy a crack at Wigan first.
I can see them getting promoted next season considering how they have played under him.
Good points !
I didn’t realise that Rosler had only been there such a short time.
Thindimebhoy
16:39 on
23 May, 2014
Actually your’e correct. He’s rejected the direct approach from an unnamed club and stated his intention to see out his contract at Falkenberg.