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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Scar will give you an air of mystery, TD – like a Bond Baddie! :-)
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Hmmmmmm, I think I’ll buy a white cat now ;)
the battered bunnet
09:15 on 24 May, 2014
TD
You’ll be perfect for the leading role in “Harry Potter: The Horlicks Years”
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Nice one ;)
Is there any better story than ‘ The Celtic story ?
Morning all. Very changeable down here at the moment. Oh for a sunny day and a bit of warmth.
Be good to hear of some warmth being spread by the Scottish media about Neil Lennon. Can’t even imagine the likes of scum like Waddell ever contributing to that. I wonder how those who actively contributed to demonising him can look themselves in the face. What they unleashed is sickening. Imo, the Scottish Government is complicit in this. Ghod rid us of all of them.
Good morning folks,
Not had a chance to post since Lenny left. Good luck to you Neil, wish you all the best for the future.
The board brought Lenny in as a rookie and taking in to account his lack of management experience I think this was reflected during his managerial reign at Celtic.
Got some things right and some wrong. He certainly improved the team from the Mowbray era, and the pinnacle result of his tenure was the famous Barcelona victory and his greatest achievement for me was the team reaching the last 16 of the champion’s league.
Negatives would of course be cup defeats against lower ranked teams. I think he probably took the team as far as he could and it’s a good time to walk away, head held high, after all he went through outside of football, because of who he was and which team he was managing.
In my view, on the park probably not the best manager we have ever had, but off the park a man of courage who went through a terrible ordeal at the hands of bigots, and a very hostile media who were hugely to blame for the negative image portrayed of him. He came out the other side much respected.
On the new manager, I would prefer an experienced manager, who is a bit more tactically able than Neil was a times. (My humble opinion of course) I would be very disappointed if we go down the rookie route again. For me I think Paul Lambert would be outstanding for us, also like big Malky.
I think football is full of folk who would not understand reality if it slapped them in the coupon.Big Johann saying Lennie and him were getting stale after 4 years in the job a Celtic now im sure they both were paid handsomely for there work and never gave a consideration to normal punters who graft hard in the same job for the whole of there working life without going stale.It is called self motivation or maybe even survival.I am certain that when the dynamic duo get a new club it will be much smaller than Celtic and very unlikely to be in the CL and it may well not take either of them very long to realise that they walked away from one of the top jobs in UK football. H.H.
RIs there any better story than ‘ The Celtic story ?
I doubt it, but I’m bias.
Twists n Turns and TBB
It was reported previously that Celtic had approached WGS for the role as DOF.
It won’t matter to PL too much ,how many tiers of management there are.
What will be important is that they are in tune with the business plan,understand it ,work within it’s parameters ,and support it.
It was just a thought that entered my head in the wee small hours.
TT
Moyesie must have got a massive pay-off so he could afford to work for Celtic wages for a few years.
Timbhoy2
In his last 4 years at Goodison, Moyes transfer dealings made a profit every season. Almost £20m in total. That may be an attractive factor for Celtic.
The biggest factor of concern for most would perhaps be that his record in big games is very poor indeed, with very few victories v the bigger sides Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City.
Of course, the above 2 facts, money spent ( or lack of) and big game wins, are connected. I guess in the EPL , David faced the same issues Lenny faced in the CL this season. No real money to spend relative to the opposition.
David would swoosh the SPL, no doubt, but how would he fare in CL? Open to debate I guess.
JFH 09.26
Bang on.
Having gained a certain degree of success ,their ego’s have wandered to what they believe to be better pastures.
The likely hood is that they will be on the broo in 3 years,and accepting jobs of much lower stature.
TT
Swoosh? Skoosh!
joe filippis haircut
09:26 on 24 May, 2014
I think football is full of folk who would not understand reality if it slapped them in the coupon.Big Johann saying Lennie and him were getting stale after 4 years in the job a Celtic now im sure they both were paid handsomely for there work and never gave a consideration to normal punters who graft hard in the same job for the whole of there working life without going stale.It is called self motivation or maybe even survival.I am certain that when the dynamic duo get a new club it will be much smaller than Celtic and very unlikely to be in the CL and it may well not take either of them very long to realise that they walked away from one of the top jobs in UK football. H.H.
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Totally agree I think they will at some time look back and regret it, but! Good luck to them both, I wish them nothing but success on there journey.
Seriously can’t believe the board dont have there man identified and poised for an approach.
Given Neil’s ambition coupled with the relentless abuse he and his family you’d think a plan b course of action would be highly appropriate.
I’d like us to go foreign again and keep away from individuals with celtic connections.
German possibly?
Hail hail
juventus are a good template for newco
demoted for being naughty people
where are they now
brand new stadium
just hosted major euro final
3 league titles on the bounce
hail hail
FrankMarker
09:37 on 24 May, 2014
‘juventus are a good template for newco
demoted’
###
The huns weren’t demoted.
They died.
A new club in their likeness was given dispensation to join the league, in breach of the rules.
I saw the headline in today’s record,,,,
ALLY’S SECRET NEW YORK WEDDING…And the advert below it is kinda mischievous …..
LOSE WEIGHT FOR THE SUMMER,….LOL.
Petec. Delaneys Dunky and everyone else.
I love a game of pool.
I saw mention of organising a wee day of pool from you both on last nights night shift .
I would be up for such an event.
We could even arrange a wee pool tournament with the winners pot going to charity.
May I suggest the best pool club in Scotland as a venue .
Styx pool and snooker club in KDY.
We could make a great day out of it ,one Saturday during this summer.
Anyone who is up for it ,get my email from Paul67 or leave a message on here.
My view is that ONLY CQN commentators would be able to enter and it would remove any ringers.
We could have a great day out and help others.
All that golf stuff is for nancy bhoys(:-)
TT
Luke Kelly.How do any of us know that the board dont have there mind on a particular candidate the news about Lennie leaving is fairly recent and currently the movers and shakers at Celtic are in Portugal for the CL final so it is likely things wont start to happen until the middle of next week. H.H.
My view for what it is worth, I like the look of Oscar Garcia, just a feeling,if we stay to the traditional route then Malky Mackay and his assistant Joe McBride jnr. Oscar would obviously needed to be assisted by some who know the Scottish game,open to suggestions.Hail Hail Hebcelt
Tiny tim
Sorry, but where is KDY?
Thickocsc
Does anyone agree with me that with all the shit Neil Lennon had to endure as Celtic manager that Celtic PLC could have postponed the glorious balance sheet for just one season and in retrospect together with the TV deal the board are really just waiting on the OF for their guaranteed pension income?
I mean they are just a PLC in a stakeholder protection racket after all and we all know what the donut wants.
Tiny Tim where on earth is KDY? -Kirkcaldy? Karakandy? Hail Hail Hebcelt
TNT
Sorry .
KDY = Kirkcaldy.
TT
Hebcelt
Closer to Celtic Park the Stornoway (:-)
TT
TT
Of course.
Thanks
Tiny Tim everywhere is closer to Celtic Park than STY!!! Hail Hail Hebcelt
Hebcelt
(:-)
TT
Tiny Tim
I’ve got OVD rum in KSC for yon Fife Bhoys….8)
KTF
Tommy Gemmell book just arrived……that’s tonight’s reading material sorted assuming I can see after my Brum day oot:-)
Twisty
time is first race on scoop 66
got a Saturday off at last…
H oooops
6 even
BT
You have to force Marinello to play pool.
OVD would be a good enticement.
TT
TD67
Tony be prepared for Pat, Billy and the rest of your amigos giving you it tight about the chib mark.
If you get the scarface patter, tell them you prefer ‘Pacino’. ( better lookn of course).
Twists & Turns 9:17
Thanks for that post. Certainly a bit surprising and informative, but maybe too small a poll to be really accurate
Margaret McGill
09:43 on 24 May, 2014
No offence, but that’s just a statement of the bleedin’ obvious.
And I suspect Neil Lennon’s Damascean moment was probably a bit like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MiO-2Qnm8M
Ongoing cuts, no increase in managerial autonomy to match his growth in experience, the occasional foray into Europe, the return of the old firm with the bitterness more visceral than ever, and he and his family serving as a lightning rod for it.
A glance through the questions from CQN in Tommy’s book, and I note my question to Tommy which was along the lines of who he’d like to see replace Neil as manager didn’t make it to print. I assume, that’s cos Tam said, Neil wouldn’t be leaving!
Ah..betcha he wished he answered now:-))
Is PL too busy with Sfa and spfl now to continue in his role as director of football?
Just asking like…