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
- ...
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- ...
- 40
- »
dr ramesh and the love potion
01:46 on 24 May, 2014
panic on the streets of Glasgow after PL says to Sally, you’re the one for me fatty…
_______________________________________
Ooh I could Crush a Grape. :D
Defeat Is Murder
The Goatmaster Ritual
Rosevale Ruffians
I Want Everthing I Can’t Have
What Sally Said
That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
How Soon Is Now?
Nowhere Fast
Well I Wonder
Barbarism Begins At Home
Defeat Is Murder
If anyone bets against Sevco getting out of the second tier next season then they are feckin mad…..
Celtic Plc,Referees,and SFA (in this particular order) will not allow this to happen.
Take a bow Lenny……,you know what’s happening and wanted no feckin part of it son…..You got out……Well done!!
Sorry > http://youtu.be/E7t8eoA_1jQ Hail Hail and all that Jazz..
01:50 on
24 May, 2014
Lol, leave the poor grape alone!
Neil Francis Lennon…..have heard you lurk on here from time to time…..
Sorry for how you were treated in the country I was born in…..
All the best son…..wee song for ya…..
The Who So Sad About Us – YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WeBTWEFn_M
ryecatcher, unless Sevco sees sense and cans Sally then they are going nowhere fast. With a serious Hearts looking out for themselves, Dunfermline, Falkirk, Hamilton the zombies are going to struggle big time.
Some say the Devil is dead, the Devil is dead.
Who Honestly thinks the Devil is Dead?
The Greatest trick,blah blah blah
I Know the Devil is real, But I’m Mental, in comparison to Others.
When you realise this, well the Whole, case for Humanity and the Golden Rule is Totally Crystalised.
Yes it is another PETEC propopoPoganda Broadcast
I should point out that this was a hit for the Walter Smiths ( not sure it was clear earlier):
Defeat Is Murder
The Goatmaster Ritual
Rosevale Ruffians
I Want Everthing I Can’t Have
What Sally Said
That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
How Soon Is Now?
Nowhere Fast
Well I Wonder
Barbarism Begins At Home
Defeat Is Murder
ryecatcher,
The new club will do well to see their season out…expect admistration at least and watch the msm keeping stume about the fighting amongst thems…from the pubs to the stands.
Divide and conquer…job done. HH
“Sevco Is Dead”
Sevco Is Dead
Frankly, Mr. King
I Know It’s Over
Never Had No One Ever
Cemetry Gates
Bigmouth Strikes Again
The Twat With A Greggs Pie Wedged In His Gullet
Sally In A Tutu
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Some Young Managers Are Bigger Than Others
Sipsini….
Doesn’t matter how many administrations these bastards have…..
They are coming back…,
The play offs and Celtic Plc will see to that mate.
Should have put a hose in their mouths
The death of a Sevco chancer
Well, it happens a lot ’round here
And if you think peace is a common goal
That goes to show how little you know
The death of a Sevco chancer
Well, I’d rather not get involved
I never talk to my neighbour
I’d rather not get involved
Love, peace and harmony?
Love, peace and harmony?
Oh, very nice, very nice, very nice, very nice
But maybe in the next world
Love, peace and harmony?
Love, peace and harmony?
Oh, very nice, very nice, very nice, very nice, very nice
But maybe in the next world, maybe in the next world
Maybe in the next world
Love, peace and harmony?
Love, peace and harmony?
Oh, very nice, very nice, very nice
Maybe in the next world
Maybe in the next world
In the next world, in the next world
The death of a Sevco chancer
The death of a Sevco chancer
The death of a Sevco chancer
I am definitely Mad Cyril.
As I said before, the Devil is a figment of the imaginations of people who refuse to take responsibility for their own actions.
It wasn’t my fault mister. The Devil made me do it.
He’s also a good get-out for the sad people who always fantasise about death and destruction and the end-of-the-world and armageddon and we’re-all-gonna-burn and
B-O-L-L-O-C-K-S !!!!!!!!!
All good for crap Hollywood blockbuster action movies, but I prefer the REAL world.
Oooops. I think I’m supposed to be scared now.
In Glasgow tomorrow for all of two hours…..will even get to drive past this Celtic Way I’m dying to see…….
Hope it’s lit up…..Please tell me it’s lit up at night?
Wanna picture with my 83 year auld daddy..o
Creativity Time?
Panic on the streets of Glasgow
Panic on the streets of Coatbridge
I wonder to myself could life ever be sane again?
The dodgy side-streets that you slip down
I wonder to myself
Hopes may rise the east end,
But Honey Pie, you’re not safe here
So you run down to the safety of the town
But there’s Panic on the streets of Glasgow
Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeenshire, I wonder to myself
Burn down the gazebo, hang the blessed PL
Because the nonsense that he constantly says
Hang the blessed PL
Because the nonsense he constantly sells
On the Glasgow side-streets that you slip down
Provincial towns you jog ’round
Hang PL
Hang Pl
Hang PL
Read more: The Smiths – Panic Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Petec
CELTIC
ryecatcher –
All depends what time.
If it’s during the day, my guess is it will be lit up by sunlight.
If it’s after sundown well . . .
Celtic in a coma, I know
I know it’s serious
Celtic in a coma, I know
I know it’s really serious
There were times when I could have murdered her
But you know, I would hate anything to happen to her
No, I don’t want to see her
Do you really think she’ll pull through?
Do you really think she’ll pull through?
Do
Celtic in a coma, I know
I know it’s serious
My, my, my, my, my, my baby
Goodbye
There were times when I could have strangled her
But you know, I would hate anything to happen to her
Would you please let me see her?
Do you really think she’ll pull through?
Do you really think she’ll pull through?
Do
Let me whisper my last goodbyes
I know it’s serious
Don’t you just hate Country-n-Western song lyrics?
Gold Coast Tom
depends
Honest and Meaningful comments will always get my Vote. I voted UKIP in the European Elections to protest about about the main Parties not allowing people a vote to remove themselves from the EU.
What will happen, will definitely Happen. What Everyone Must Do Now, is Treat Everyone they meet, or interact with, the same way they would like to be Treated, The Golden Rule. The AntiChrist is Definitely alive and he will Fool the World, Gold.
ryecatcher
TSFM is a blog of a different nature, its audience is wider in supporter terms and the issues are of the type business and legal that are dry by nature.
After a long and excellent explanatory post which used a widget making company in its example that raised many questions I simply asked what is a widget.
Folk knew by my smiley I was joking and in true TSFM good natured form I got answers in the TSFM style that gave me a full technical answer including the history of the term. That will teach me eh?
In an attempt to introduce a note of levity today I took to answering the phone by saying I was not who the caller expected.
In answering to my sister in law my response of “Hamilton beer factory” just got a laugh and she asked for my wife.
The next one was from one of the boys.
In response to my “Hello East Kilbride fire station here” he came back quick as a flash
” I’d like to report a murder”
Even quicker (which I was quite proud of at my age) I said
” Unless you have set the victim on fire sir you are calling the wrong number”
I’ll get my fire extinguisher…..
Hearing John Collins is being viewed as a very credible next manager.
I’m biased because I have met him more than once, and spoke about football each time.
Highly impressive guy in his knowledge of Fitba2014 and what a modern professional player should do to be part of a top side.
Understands tactical formations with ease, and like his old boss Tigana knows how to entertain and win at the same time,
Very intelligent Bhoy is Oor John…..he is brilliant when talking Celtic up on Sky…….he knows more than we do amigos.
Hail Hail
Ryecatcher,
It will be a long time before their support stand together, thems are at each others throats.
I know, you work down South, but I see it every day.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the street staggerers battle with each other on their yearly toy soldier march.
As has been mentioned before… Sometimes the hole becomes too deep to climb out off.
Hell take them.HH
Delaneys Dunky
02:28 on 24 May, 2014
Petec
CELTIC
~~~~~~~~~~~
********
CELTIC
********
The Celts are being held back, straining at the neck…. The Lord MUST be doing it?
How Good is this website in helping others?
‘The death of a Sevco chancer
Well, it happens a lot ’round here
And if you think peace is a common goal
That goes to show how little you know’
Forget sense, employ a training cone for the SPFL and a German for Europe as they control Europe, apparently.
Dr R
How soon is now?
My song!
Morrissey the 23rd
02:41
seems spooky
Petec,
Did you meet up with DD and traveller bhoy tonight?
Streetwalkers
John Collins:
Probably one of the most professional, disciplined technical players Scotland ever produced, THE best at maximizing his physical and footballing attribute to the absolute max.
Trouble is, that is ALL he is. A superb grunt, a fine example of a modern pro player.
He’s not spoken of very highly by someone I know who deals with him regularly; not that he is objectionable, just not sharp or charismatic – his muted persona you see on TV is what you get in reality too.
That weighs against him being able to lead our club; as figureheads go the odds would be against him carrying off the personality side of the job. Peter Lawell would eat him alive, which may weigh in his favour there, however…
I’d like JC involved but on a practical level – fitness coaching, day-to-day development of players, honing their professionalism, focussing them properly to handle top-level European competition; I think he’s got a lot to contribute in those fields.
But the main job? Too much for him, I reckon.
Henke ONLY a gamble if you worry about risking your sentiment. None of us want to see him fail and ‘tarnish’ the glorious playing memories. But for me to see him SUCCEED – CL last 8, for example – would be epic and the worst nightmare of the Orcs.
Best ever version of Oor song?
Gary OG Fields of Athenry – YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWPkL-D00Vk
I am the son and the heir
Of a sleekitness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of the nothing in particular
You shut your mouth, how can you say
I go about things the wrong way
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
I am the son and the heir
Of a sleekitness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and the heir
Of nothing in particular
You shut your mouth, how can you say
I go about things the wrong way
I am human and I need to eat a lot
Just like everybody else does
There’s a club
If you’d like to go
You could meet somebody
Who really hates you
So you go and you wobble around
And you leave on your own
And you go home
And you cry and into your double chins
When you say it’s gonna happen now
Well, when exactly do you mean?
See, I’ve already waited too long
And all my hope is gone
You shut your mouth, how can you say
I eat too many pies
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
Ya!