Celtic’s next permanent manager

I would embrace that wholeheartedly for the next two years.

 

Fair enough, domestically 10 in a row is the biggest goal. I want to get back a bit of pride on the European stage after we were spanked in the CL and fairly ordinary in Europa knockouts two years running.

 

We can concentrate on conquering Europe after the 10.
I would even say I’m not going to be over concerned if we lose the domestic cups in the meantime, that’s how important & how much focussed I feel getting the 10 is & should be.

 

As much as I would've liked to see him in our dugout I think it's very unlikely he would sign. He'd probably command a higher wage than Solid Snake and if he's been working with scraps in NUFC (£50m this season according to Transfermarkt), then the transfer budget he'd be handed here would sadly be seen as a * take.

 

I wonder if Eddie Howe is getting bored & looking for a fresh challenge.

 

Like Eddie Howe, but it's often overlooked how much he struggled (with being homesick) when he went to Burnley.

In fairness most sensible people would struggle in Burnley, but could he cope with pressure

 

The wheel's were in motion to sign Moussa long before Rodgers got here. Our ex-scout David Moss was the one to identify him and be in regular contact with his agent for months before the rat pitched up at Lennoxtown.

Ntcham hasn't exactly pulled up trees consistently for us. The majority of Celtic fans don't want to see him played now. There's a strong likelihood that Lawwell's son played some part in bringing him to our attention. We'll likely make our money back and then some but his contribution to us has been pretty minimal.

Edouard is the one shining light in Rodgers transfer dealings, the rest is absolute muck. Millions frittered away in fees and wages that will contribute absolutely nothing to us.

To suggest Lennon's record is even closely comparable is mental. Outwith the ones that have went for big money - Forster, Van Dijk, Wanyama, Hooper - he also signed plenty of guys for free/virtually nothing who then went on to give us years of brilliant service and occasionally a decent fee after.

Mulgrew bosman - POTY, years of good service
Ledley bosman sold for £900k
Wilson bosman sold for £3 million
Matthews bosman sold for £2 million
Lustig bosman - years of good service
Rogic £400k - years of good service, worth more than 20 times our initial outlay
Commons £300k - POTY, years of good service
Izzaguire £600k - POTY, years of good service
Griffiths £1 million - POTY, years of good service, over 100 goals

There will always be an element of risk with every signing at any club, particularly one that operates with the constraints we have in place but Lennon has been our most successful manager in the transfer market in the post MoN era...and it's not even close.

 

Bielsa would be interesting, no guarantee of success as clubs blow hot and cold under him.

But considering Rodgers was 'Bielsa light' the full on recipe could be amazing. Not sure he'd leave Leeds though!

 

Poor * only being given 50m to spend

 

The next two seasons are absolutely massive. Whoever we bring in as manager will be a massive gamble. Lenny is now looking every bit as risky as a foreign manager who doesn't know the Scottish game.

One thing is certain: if Lawwell invests the tens of millions we have hoarded away in the bank we will secure the ten-almost regardless of the manager. The ball is entirely in his court. This is the time to speculate to accumulate.

 

By premier League standards that is scraps. Newcastle I think is the only team who turns a profit in that league - so he works to similar constraints as our manager would have to. Of course we can't spend £50m but tactically he's a good manager (imo). Guaranteed silverware and another crack in Europe might tempt him now he's been around the block a bit.

I'd at least ask the question.

 

I agree, but as a fan I want to see us hold our own at the highest level possible. Europe is always the barometer for me. Snake has better domestic record than most of our managers but he can't be considered one of the greatest as he couldn't do it on the big stage.

 

Okay I'll do the rat's then.

De Vries - horrendous in Europe, rarely seen since complete waste of money, no resale value

Toure - calming influence in the Champions League qualifiers, experience was crucial, done little of note thereafter, retired

Dembele - as above he was scouted long before the rat came in, albeit he did well in coaching him into a top class player subsequently

Gamboa - complete waste of money, millions down the drain with nothing in return

Eboue - £5 million+ gone on transfer fee and wages for very little in return, decent in flashes eg. home game v Zenit, unable to break into the team even when squad was thin on the ground.

Hayes - £1.3 million, likeable guy with admirable attitude, shouldn't have been signed


Benyu - low cost punt, hasn't worked out

Ntcham - undoubted ability, questionable attitude. Will likely bag us a profit when we sell but hasn't contributed enough in 2 seasons.

Sinclair - signed for a hefty fee and wages, unplayable first season, mixed bag since, has contributed to our success. The fact he's on the bench more often than not these days tells it all. Unlikely to recoup anywhere near our outlay.

Roberts (loan) - blighted by injury the 2nd time, outwith his control.

Edouard - undoubted success, guy is top class

Compper - unmitigated disaster, millions down the drain for an 80 minute cameo against a lower league side in the cup

Musonda - another disaster, arrived with a fanfare, left through the backdoor having contributed little

Hendry - Lol. Rodgers had a hard-on for months for this guy. The fact he stated that he "got everything he wanted in the January window" which included Musonda, Compper and Hendry tells it's own story. Hopeless and a waste of millions.

Morgan - low cost punt, may or may not develop into a Celtic class player. Jury is out.

Bain - brilliant acquisition on a free

Izzaguire - likeable guy, Hibs away showed that he's no longer at our level. The fact he was overlooked on Dec 29th for McGregor to play LB is a clear admission of that.

Arzani (loan) - going on his comments it doesn't sound like this was the rat's, looked promising when he came on then got an unfortunate injury.

Mulumbu - barely played, when he did he looked okay then would be dropped, bombed out the squad. Waste of money in the end.

Benkovic (loan) - outstanding player but not ours. Signed to paper over the cracks of the rat and Congerton's inability to find a CB

Toljan (loan) - another stop gap signed due to his inability to find an adequate RB. Not up to standard

Weah (loan) - great prospect, not ours, played his part but unsure if we'll see him after May.

Burke (loan) - another short-term stop gap signed because of our previous failures in the market. Has played his part since coming in, not the answer long-term

Bayo - not been seen, unable to tell

Shved - Going by his comments wasn't his signing, looks decent and recently won Ukrainian player of the month, seems to confirm it wasn't his man.

 

I never said he could be considered that, however as much as I despise the man for the way he left & his feigned love & loyalty, back to back trebles & on the way to another is a helluva legacy.
Time will be kind to him, looking at it from the outside he will rightly be seen as one of our greatest.

Looking at it as a supporter it’s hard to be dispassionate, hate the way he left, but appreciate what he brought to the club with his training methods, sports science & professionalism, if what we saw & read is true.

 

Can't argue with any of those.

Anyhoo, * the snake. Wee * will start strongly with Leicester then go doon the swanny. * him.

I have to confess, my heart has been ruling my head with Lennon. Delighted he got the job, delighted with the wins he's got so far, but * me the football has been atrocious.

Yesterday sealed it for me - I don't want him in as permanent manager next season.

The group of players he has at his disposal are by FAR superior to what anyone in Scotland has. Yesterday we played a bunch of haddies who did the only job that they reasonably could - defend for their lives with 9 men in defence most of the time. Lennon could not even mastermind a win...at home...to * Livingston. A 13 point gap (which should have been stretched to 16 with those monkeys playing today) will now be cut short to 11 when they win today.

Now fair enough I'm so naive to think that a team like ours cannot drop points but the fitba has been atrocious. Relying on virtually last minute winners, and producing flat as * performances in front of your home crowd.....nah, just not on!

Celtic have £9m in the bank, plus the countless thousands of pounds we have saved already since the wee fat rat * off back to England. There is plenty of money in the coughers for us to go and secure a * good manager from a foreign league that will play exciting, attractive fitba. Sick of watching the most highly talented team in Scotland play as if they have * weights strapped to their ankles.

Thought it was pie in the sky stuff the first time I heard Benitez' name being mentioned. Now? The nore I think about it we have the resources to get a manager in of his standards, * we could even afford a * like Mourinho! I want class now, and I want a BIG name manager. Some might think i'm spoiled, but too * right mate. Sick of mediocrity amd us failing to advance on from positions of strength.

We have a realistic opportunity to make history and secure 10iar. We need to pay the * money and ensure it happens.

Get it done Pedro.

 

Totally understand everyone wanting to stick with Lennon or "what we know" i.e. a Scottish/British manager as we seal the 10. I actually think we'd be better served with an unemotional yet tactically sound quality foreign manager, someone outwith the bubble. Basically an older, wise, better Deila.
This is a completely different scenario to when Celtic were stopping the hun 10, back then we needed homegrown passion and emotion to overhaul their far superior financial upper hand.

Now we're in a unique position of dominance, even Juve in Italy or PSG in France don't utterly own their countries like Celtic do. We could literally buy every single player in Scotland if we wanted. We are the ones with all the experience, confidence and spending power.

For me it shouldn't be a choice between doing 10 in a row or European progress. Celtic should absolutely be achieving both, a domestic double as a minimum plus CL group stage 3rd place then knockout rounds in Europa League every season. Any remotely competent manager should secure this.

 

Exactly people are acting like we’re up against competition and need to have someone to fight a war. We need another manager like Rodgers who will meticulously prepare a team to beat a highly inferior opposition on a weekly basis in the league and cups but push us on in Europe

 

Fair comments. Our play has been very flat at times. Lennon was going tonto on the touchline a few yesterday, particularly at the back 4 and sitting CMs to push up and make more of an effort. Said it on Wednesday as well but if the players want Lennon to get the gig full time then there's a fair few hiding it at the moment. Complacency and slackness has definitely crept in.

I'd love us to at least attempt to get a real top level coach like a Rafa Benitez but that could be pie in the sky.

I don't want Moyes or Keane anywhere near it. My fear is that's who the board will turn to if Lennon doesn't get it. I hope I'm wrong.

 

What do you mean, Wim Jansen was the manager when we stopped the 10.