Just about managing

As interim regimes go, it couldn’t have gone any better.

Apart from one stumble in Europe against FC Midtjylland last month, it was victory after victory.

In the modern data-obsessed world of vibrant young coaches, it shouldn’t have worked.

After all, he was 73 and didn’t care about xG.

However, dear reader, he DOES care about people and engages with them on those terms.

This clip from last night, after the victory against Dundee, reveals that very well.

O’Neill has, in a remarkably short period of time, been able to motivate players who had previously looked deflated to literally put their heads where it hurts.

It is proof positive that you don’t need the Jamestown Analytics algorithm to get people to believe in you.

Players respond to authenticity.

It now seems like a very long time since this excoriating good riddance from King Dermot on October 27th.

 

 

 

A legal pal of mine described that statement as an example of “forensic anger”.

Of course, my learned mate is fully aware of the origin of that particular F Word:

Forensis  (in open court).

The continuing silence from Rodgers only enhances the accusations made by Desmond.

Last night, on the club website, he was styled as “Celtic’s principal shareholder”, a euphemism for owner.

Desmond, and thanked O’Neill for stepping onto the bridge of a ship that was listing dangerously after Rodgers had been…err…resigned in October.

“I want to add my heartfelt thanks to Martin for all he has done in recent weeks. He was the man we hoped could bring us through these last few weeks positively and together with Shaun and our other coaches and our players, they have done a wonderful job. 

“I will always hold Martin in such high regard for what he has done for Celtic and for what he is as a man – a man of such professionalism and integrity and someone who undoubtedly will always have the best interests of Celtic in his heart.”

Ok, let’s have that last bit again:

“…a man of such professionalism and integrity and someone who undoubtedly will always have the best interests of Celtic in his heart.” 

Now, dear reader, that might be a compare and contrast moment.

Since  Desmond got all forensic, there hasn’t been a peep from Celtic’s last permanent manager.

Now, Brendan never struck me as someone crippled by self-doubt or reticent about speaking to the media.

How do we interpret the silence?

Might there be a tell-all book in the offing?

No doubt any literary agent would negotiate a substantial fee for that.

Ah, those agents and their fees…

Of course, Celtic isn’t one person or even a “principal shareholder”.

We move on.

For now, Monsieur Nancy is the FNG.

Everyone in the green corner of Glasgow wishes him well.

It would not surprise me if he is given substantial funds in the January window to augment the squad.

However, what he doesn’t have is that precious commodity in football management- time.