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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Oscar Garcia’s odds shortened to 5/1 with Willy Hill.
That said, I shall wait and see what Celtic do in terms of transfer dealings. Generally, we have been well run.
stephbhoy,
Well said sir,
If I may be so bold I would also add the said person no matter what people who have met him say does not meet the definition of a supporter.
“We are Celtic supporters, faithful through and through”
HH
HH
Aiden
Yes, it usually does, though it’s extension this year will have added significance given we are managerless in the interim, and a whole lot of supporters will potentially swither.
John O Neil
Neganon
I find the idea that Celtic are stockpiling money for the return of Rangers absurd.
The traditional advantage Rangers had over Celtic was their crowd size. Ibrox held more than CP so they could take in more money, pay better wages and could attract better Scottish players than Celtic could from the domestic market.
Fergus turned that dynamic on its head by building a stadium that holds more than Ibrox thus increasing our wage competitiveness in Scotland to outstrip theirs.
Stripped of ebt advantage and generous bank handouts, as long as our crowds match theirs and paradoxically they will when TRFC eventually get into the top tier, then, especially if they are renting Ibrox, we will always out wage them.
So why stockpile money when it could be spent to try and ensure UEFA competition each year especially when we have valuable players we can sell to balance the books if we do fail to get at CL money?
The dynamic Celtic face is how do we keep our European competitiveness level high enough for the 6, hopefully more, UEFA games without totally destroying the competitive level in the other 38 league games?
As long as well sell the same or more STs than TRFC do at the same price ( and they cannot match our price at present) we have no need to stockpile.
Like many of the ideas floated to be discontent they bear no reflection of the reality of the situation.
macjay1
70% saved – we can rebuild it.
ryecatcher
Turnstiles isn’t even open.
Neganon2
Read yor words:
“Ok tiny tim then tell me……why should anyone pay money to watch celtic in the meantime?”.
What a statement.
Aiden Bhoy
cheers, perspective is everything
HH
Ryecatcher
Get yourself to the Kerrydale bar to watch champs lge final . Opens at 5.
ryecatcher,
Please tell me your not coming up for a square go with anyone ??? :-)
HH.
BOURNE
My wife and I used to do the C.R.M. circuit.
Hill House in Helensburgh.
Sauchiehall St. tearooms.
I was schooled close to the Art school.
Thanks for your reassurance.
Almost felt like a death in the family.
On Res. 12 , all I can say is I told you so,.
And I will leave it at that.
Morning Auldheid.
I have no evidence that Celtic are stockpiling. My point was about the general principle of such q strategy. Generally, I have been satisfied with Celtic’s board overall but one should always be holding them up to scrutiny. Good luck with your patient attempts to seek change.
Offski.
The Lions are back in Lisbon lads lets hear it!…. In the heat of Lisbon, the Celts came in there thousands, to see the Bhoys become, Champions, ’67…..Hail Hail
Or afternoon Auldheid.
Outta here.
More of the Lisbon Lions
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
Kitalba
TwistNTurns
As my Da used to say when walking away when trying to point me in the right direction(when my brain & attitude were incapable of hearing & seeing) what he meant.
“families who’d have them”:)))
Noregrets csc
make the 1st move
it’s our job :)))
Sorry for butting in.
BSR
no sign of big Tam
Btw Paul67 I waited an hour and a half in a queue outside Celtic Park yesterday to renew my season ticket paying by cash. In light of your post the other day about customer service, oh dear, some things never change.
Neganon
I did read your article in CQN Magazine, and thanks for taking the effort to write it.
Your criticism of and suggestions for supporter engagement are valid, but the article rather starts and stops there.
The question I asked you was… given our opportunities and constraints, what would you do? (I ask that at the business level, rather than the ‘attachment’ level, although they are mutually inclusive).
Celtic has a pile of cash in the bank because the current business strategy in the current trading circumstances has proven to be spot on.
Aside the engagement issues, what would you do differently?
Up the Dubs
For you
67 in the heat of lisbon.wmv
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLiIQTirC2k
Jonny the Tim
11:50 on 24 May, 2014
Oscar Garcia’s odds shortened to 5/1 with Willy Hill.
And 14/1 elsewhere… the only thing we know just now is that the bookies have no idea.
tonydonnelly67
12:05 on
24 May, 2014
Hey,pal.
Great to hear you bummin` your chat .
And back where you belong.
Unreconstructed Tims. There`s a lot to be said for us.
Hail Hail
Desent day outside so will be spending it in the garden with the grandkids. Building a fence round the patio as I got some free wood from work. Jayden(7yrs old) says we don’t a manager to beat Rangers their rubbish. Ah out of the mouths of babes, will pop in later to see if the mood of the blog has improved.
Lisbon today…
https://twitter.com/celticfc/status/470153655895990272/photo/1/large
leftclicktic We are all Neil Lennon
12:11 on
24 May, 2014
Butting in?
No way,pal.
We`re all in the same boat.
Doing the best we can.
My consolation is……………My Aussie boy supports the Tims.
My job is done.
:-)
John O Neil
I was not addressing you but the idea that sprung up to part explain Lenny ‘ s departure.
I did not think that in mentioning it you believed it.
Your post just gave me the hook to examine the idea.
Stephbhoy- good post earlier although there are still huge problems within the club at present.
Here’s a question that’s never been asked to the best of my knowledge –
In order of priority, what 10 actions are required from our club to ensure crowds return to celtic park?
*Question open to all*
stephbhoy
11.45
Fair comment.
In addition, the Club invites to our oldest ST holders at the end of the season as well as the trip back to Lisbon for our Lions indicate to me that efforts are being made to re-connect with us.
Its been a disappointing week. I regret NFL lost his appetite for the battle but wish him and JM well.
Think he should have taken a more ruthless approach to trimming the fringe players around the first team squad.
Owen Coyle should be a non-starter. Simply as a straight comparison at Wigan, he had that club in an elevator heading down to relegation when Uwe Rosler arrived to completely alter their outlook for the better.
On the club building cash reserves. It’s commercially prudent and sensible.
Our role as supporters is to pressure current and future board members to plainly state that there are no circumstances when they will propose dividends be distributed to Ordinary Share-holders.
TT @ 10.56
What you support is the worst possible situation.
We thrift now because we can — we then stagnate and the fan interest decreases.
We put our biggest advantage — CL group stage participation — in jeopardy.
If we lose that in the coming months then it going to be long hard season.
Death spiral — smaller SPL crowds, less merchandising smaller brand.
Then we have the squad management issues — no proper succession planning.
The TFOD then turn up and it will be a PL “splurge” special — 6 bought / 5 on the bench.
The club needs a total revamp — playing / commercial / match day.
Now is the time to sink the TFOD and their football “Ludge” booster club.
If they get a sniff they will bust a gut to get one over on us.
We should never offer them that hope.
CL is critical — we should hire / buy / trade over the next 8 weeks with only that in mind.
No more close shaves like last season — no more Agent friendly punts.
If we fail then PL has to go.
Hopefully some of the HappyClappers will start to see his very apparent limitations.
Winnings Captains,
TG book received with Tommy’s special message to my old man.
Many thanks
Dan
TBB
“Celtic has a pile of cash in the bank because the current business strategy in the current trading circumstances has proven to be spot on.”
Having cash in the bank and half a team on the pitch is a failed strategy for me…..team first cash reserve second
The board bought into armageddon and built up reserves and consequently the team has suffered..
TonyDonnelly 67
Would you like to meet Celtic’s Company Secretary and tell him to his face that he is lying to shareholders?
For that is what you are suggesting.
Can I just say that Billy Mcneil is my all time hero….!!! Hail Cesar!
King vic 67
Supporters Forum question that one.
Aiden Bhoy
Thanks for the invite mate but only passing through Glasgow to pick up my auld Da on the way up to Oban.
Got no interest in any of the teams in CL final mate…….feel sorry for BayernMunich and Dortmund fans watching it knowing that their hard earned Euro taxes have paid for both the teams taking part,and for most of La Liga teams to be honest.
One of those games where I hope both teams lose……wish that was possible.
Auldheid:
Are you going to ask the same question of BRTH that you just asked of TD?