we need a coach, not a manager

What I mean is it is likely we need a real hands-on training ground coach who can mould a team and probably mould and improve young inexperienced players. We need more of an Ajax/Arsenal type approach because I do not believe there will be a big budget. We do not need a chequebook manager or a big hands-off 'character' manager. We essentially need a brilliant coach with a record of moulding teams out of what he has and of working with youth. A great eye for a player would be handy too.

 

We need a manager who can incoportae both. However like Ajax and co, we at Celtic should have a big enough collection of staff that if the manager falls short we have people able to help youngsters make the step up.

 

Totally agree with that We could really do with a tactical genius aswell I know thats a pretty obvious statement to make but under WGS we could only play the one way

 

In other words, we need Gordon Strachan back. :icon_mrgreen:

 

not exactly but the reality is we need a manager of the same basic training ground type, not the sheepskin jacket, cigar, sportscar and shades sort. I think improving the players we have is a going to be a big thing although we will need to sign a couple of CFs and a LB. I think WGS did that but possibly had been there too long and was beggining to lose the ability to see the woods for the trees and had developed blindspots for some players (Mick being the main one).

Some of the managers and coaches of international sides have a lot of experience in coaching youth and essentially depending on those skills and tactics rather than being a wheeler dealer. So maybe Bilic is not as crazy an idea as I thought. Mogga did it with youth at Hibs but I have a bad feeling he is a football idealist of the Tommy Burns type. Am struggling a bit to think of anyone who fits really well. I think years ago Roy Hodgeson was an example of a real training ground manager.

It also seems that to win the SPL, the best formula is being solid, hard to score against but with a wee bit of flair too. Too much flair and ball players just doesnt work in Scotland for some reason. I suspect Levein would put together a side who would be great in the SPL that if he had a wee bit more money than he has at the Arabs. Great eye for a player too. For me, too many of the names being mentioned sound like gambles. I dont think Levein is a gamble at all. So, for me, I think he would be the safest bet. There is just something about the guy that makes me feel that if he had the resources he would run through brick walls to be a winner. He has that aura that only a few have.

 

Bilic would be good with a director of football. Normally laugh at clubs who have one but I think it could work here. Bilic just concentrates on training and tactics, let someone else more experienced deal with the day to day running of things.

 

Steve Clarke springs to mind, I was thinking along the same lines - coaching what we have & cheaper mostly unproven young signings.

Lets face it we're no longer in the running for any players remotely on the EPL level's radar, so we really need to rely on quality coaching & tactics.

Clarke may be the answer in that regard.

I like Levein very much too.

 

Yep a brilliant training ground manager/coach who has good tactical awareness and an eye for a player. Sounds like the sort of person you might get from an international football setup and who has worked their way up through all the coaching levels from youth to the top- a sort of Craig Brown type but not such a wnker lol. Unfortunately my knowledge of football has declined in recent years so I cant think of a name.