The new season is about to start, and all the managers will have a firm idea of their objectives.
For some, it will be to remain in the league.
At the other end, Neil Francis Lennon knows that anything other than the top spot is unacceptable.
That’s fair enough as he currently has undoubtedly the best squad and the highest football budget in Scotland.
Now, I think that those two things are not entirely unconnected.
Indeed, I hold to the controversial view that having greater finances can amount to a sporting advantage.
When Mr Gerrard arrived at Sevco, he made it clear that he knew what was required, and that was to bring trophies.
This is his third season and not a hint of silverware so far.
Now, does Mr Let’s Go really want to be hanging around Govan when Celtic do the Decimo?
Now, I’m sure that Mr Gerrard is keen to get back in the dugout at a competitive match.
Moreover, doing so in the absence of the Ibrox klanbase might make his working environment more pleasant.
In life, timing is pretty much everything.
The offer from Sevco’s Convict Chairman in 2018 came at a crucial juncture of the Liverpool legend.
At that point, he was being ever so gently counselled out of the management lark by the club he had served so brilliantly.
As U18 coach, he had a more experienced person shadowing him to make sure he knew what was require din the job.
If you will, he was the coach but had the stabilisers on.
He then arrived at Ibrox, a place that doesn’t have much in the way of stability at the best of times.
It wasn’t the only offer on the table at the time as the Anfield outfit wanted him to become their global ambassador.
Mr Gerrad believes that he has the minerals to succeed in top-level football management.
Now, trying to do that by managing Espanyol Glasgow might not have been a wise move.
When he took the Sevco job, he immediately acquired Herrenvolk immunity from the local media.
However, two seasons without trophies has probably wiped out any goodwill that he had when he had the first Ibrox presser.
Even the Stenography Corps will not be able to ignore his lack of trophies if he doesn’t get off to a storming start in the coming season.
So, should he be eying the door at Ibrox?
For the avoidance of doubt, I understand that his personal terms make him financially difficult to dismiss.
However, if a club came in for him then the basket of assets would receive compensation.
I caught up with a well-placed source today, and he assured me that there WAS some substance to the Bristol City rumour.
In fairness, it was the English club who reached out to Stevie G’s representatives.
However, I’m told that their overtures were not rebuffed out of hand.
Time for Mr Let’s Go to let go?
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In Si Ferry’s recent interviews with Wes Fotheringham, Laugh-erty, and every Celtic fans’ favourite Sevco Fanboy Halliday….. they offered an insightful take on Let’s Go.
Whilst Mr Twelf, was mostly incoherent, he did managed to convey his opinion of Michael Beale, going as far to suggest if SG left and MB stayed, “nothing would change”. Halliday, equally as revealing, on SG, pished on pre season, singing Mo Salah as Liverpool’s is his love and the Ranjurs is the job routine in full swing. SG’s pointed out twice on camera in the last 9 months – so why wouldn’t he take “another job”. Both of them attributed the European and progress to MB as much to SG.
Wes, always amiable and offered the most interesting assessment whilst the other 2 chumps gave the “from where sevco was to now….argument” he said there was a lot of similarities to Paolo Di Canio, both Wes and Si played under him, but that overly emotional, coach – who couldn’t really understand why they wouldn’t or couldn’t do it….only ends in disaster.
I hope he stays, at least until their 6 points behind……. the implosion then will be incredible. – I wouldn’t be surprised, to see some imperfectly Covid+ registered players, to be announced and that’s why they can’t compete…. anything to collapse this season.
There is very little chance of SG stopping the 10.
They are vastly underresourced in comparison with the Champions. I’d expect that Celtic will spend enough to guarantee success in the league,
Lawell knows that this is the season that counts and anything else would be untennable. If we don’t win the 10, the stadium will be half empty next year. He has to invest for success.
I’ve been comparing the bookmakers odds over the past 4 seasons since our closest rivals joined the league.
Despite their attainment of being second best, this is the highest odds-on that have been offered in the 4 year period with Celtic being 1/2 on in comparison with 10/3 last year and 100/33 4 years ago.
I’m not a betting man, but this is money in the bank and the bookies agree.
Am I alone in thinking Gerrard has actually done a decent job? He has the second biggest budget and finished a comfortable second in the league both seasons, just as the person with the biggest budget finished comfortably first. What’s wrong with that?
Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs, who have the 3rd, 4th and 5th biggest budgets, regularly fail to finish in those positions, although it is telling that Lennon managed a comfortable top 4 finish with Hibs, which I think is further proof of his ability.
While Gerrard has not over-achieved, he has certainly not underachieved, and this is evidenced further by way of a cup final appearance and two very decent runs in Europe. That, to me and I believe to any objective critic, is a decent job and why he will have no shortage of suitors willing to take a punt – particularly in the English Championship.
The problem with Ibrox fans, the fanzine press and the EBT pundits is the unrealistic expectation which, according to Seneca, is the undoing of us all, although Seneca didn’t mention the taxman directly in his essay.
This season could be particularly bad for the Ibrox fanbase as not only might their 9-in a row triumph be a shared record no more, their other shared record, that of 54 League titles, is in jeopardy should their wee cousins at Linfield triumph again.
What will be left for the world’s most successful club?
Actually let’s not bring Real Madrid into this. Let’s remain on script. What will be left for the Ibrox club with nothing left to share?
Interesting times ahead. My only prediction is that sales of jelly and ice-cream will be going through the roof in the East End of Glasgow.
The world has moved on since Rangers died in the summer of 2012. At the time of their demise they claimed to be the most successful team in the world measured by the number of trophies won, 115 to be precise.
“Never mind that stupid cup with the big ears. Let Real, Barcelona, Milan, Liverpool, Munich, Ajax and the other wee teams have it. We’ve won MORE trophies than them!”
Alas time HAS indeed moved on. In addition to the fact that the people who used to be, “The peepul” are no longer, “The peepul” their world record number of trophies is no longer a world record and has been surpassed by Al Ahly of Egypt who presently sit on 118 trophies.
Al Ahly are also second ONLY to Real Madrid in the number international tournament wins and are the ONLY team ANYWHERE to equal Celtic’s domestic invincible season. They actually went one better and won an African continental tournament the same season although their league IS much shorter than ours.
Now back to the dead club and their tally of 115 trophies. Celtic are presently on 109, and with four trophies up for grabs this coming season (2 Scottish Cups) we COULD, theoretically pass their total in two seasons.
The weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth would be heard on the moon.
T’would be a joyous sound.
Good post but I’m sure you’ll not mind me pointing out Celtic currently have 110 trophies won in their history! 51 titles,39 scottish cups,19 league cups and 1 european cup!
I don’t mind at all. I stupidly believed the site I was reading the numbers from. However, that makes the scenario even better. A clean sweep this season would leave Celtic only one trophy behind. Can you imagine the reaction of the orcs when it’s pointed out to them that they are only one shared trophy ahead.
110 for Celtic when you include the one that killed Rangers
Celtic have won 110 trophies including the European Cup/Champions’ League.
Linfield, apparently, have already won 54 league titles with them being awarded the unfinished title last season.
Charger ma bhoy, great piece one wee question: looks to me like their league season is 34 games?
Anyway, 16 points ahead of Makaloon Barra at the half way stage prompts a spate of wordplays,not that I’d ever bring Aberdeen into it. Mon the Dons
Absolutely spot on. The odd bad result but overall performed a good 2nd in the league job (let’s not forget they were in a battle for 3rd before he arrived) and a decent showing in Europe. Frankly he’s exceeded expectations for a rookie manager (see John Barnes) and many clubs will see that he has been if not exceptional, then dependable. The problem, as you say, is that fot eh klan 2nd is not good enough. They still see themselves as the club of the 90s and EBT years and talk about “natural order.” How Slippy even copes with these delusional expectations is beyond me.
Was reading somewhere today that sevco are among a host of “big clubs” interested in signing someone I personally have never heard of.
Those of us in the sooside will also be partaking in a cold and wobbly dessert!
If Bristol or any other club are after Slippy’s services then they have to ensure they hire his backroom boys as well. Without them Slippy is nothing. HH
If a bigger club comes along it is hard to turn them down. Rangers were just a stepping stone to get to Bristol City.
Probably the only club he’s aver wanted to manage!
Ever wanted to manage.
Leave him alone, don’t give him Or his reps any ideas. He is doing just fine where he is.
I can’t see him going anywhere this year.
Phil, any take on a rumoured ruckus between SG and the missing from training today moreorless?
This has been doing the rounds on Twitter for the last week. Bristol has a huge LFC support, and they’ve been knocking on the door of the PL for the last few seasons so it makes sense
The easier option might very well be for Gerrard to leave now.
IF a club actually comes in for him, of course.
He was apparently about to depart Ibrox pre-lockdown anyway.
Has Gerrard ‘managed’ to improve squad morale since?
But, arguably his best chance of winning some silverware is to remain at Ibrox.
Even if he only wins the LC, he can call himself a ‘winner’ as a manager.
Plus, he’ll get more Euro experience if he stays another season.
The pressure could be intense though next season.
If TRFC starts the season poorly, the knives could be out for Gerrard – early doors.
He’s still a 2 year, rookie manager.
Remaining another year in Scotland shouldn’t adversely affect his future options.
It might actually raise his stock as a manager.
…so I fully expect Gerrard will leave Ibrox ASAP – for any club which puts in an offer!
🙂
The next Liverpool manager!
Liverpool just won the EPL and the CL before that. Why would they go for a failed Ibrox Manager who doesn’t even have his coaching badges? That is of course, assuming you weren’t being sarcastic.
Didn’t he negotiate a reduced exit fee as part of agreeing deferred wages?