Ok, so let’s hear it for us auld fellas!
Martin O’Neill for another year in the Celtic dugout was the no-brainer to end all no-brainers.
What he achieved in his second stint as interim manager was outstanding.
He took an underperforming group of players and turned them into a winning machine.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was three points after three points relentlessly to the title.
It is fair to say that Herr Röhl and Mr Angry McInnes were schooled after the split by an old hand at this winning titles stuff.
Consequently, after a season of mainly stupid decisions, bringing Martin back was THE smart move.
Any way you cut it, he isn’t an unknown quantity.
Moreover, he has an intact coaching team, and they’ve proved they can deliver discernible improvements on the training pitch.
When I reported here yesterday that the septuagenarian was back in the London building where the interviews were being held, I hoped.
All I had was hope.
There is so much to do now in the off-field structures at Celtic.
The hologram CEO needs to be replaced ASAP, as do other key individuals.
That this appointment was Dermot Desmond’s to take and no other remains the central problem at the club.
In the football manager village, his defenestration of Brendan Rodgers on the club website will linger long in the collective memory of those in the management business.
However, that is for another day.
The rebuild can now begin.
Once more, the resources available to O’Neill will be decided by one person.
Many of our problems haven’t gone away, you know.
Although not having a manager isn’t one of them.
I’ll take the win on that one.
The old Irishman with a decent budget is VERY bad news for the opposition.
Do it, Mr Desmond.
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
“In the football manager village, his defenestration of Brendan Rodgers on the club website will linger long in the collective memory of those in the management business.”
Completely disagree. For all his omnipotence at Celtic, Desmond is impotent with regard to the football world furth of Scotland.
The fact that Rodgers didn’t react in anyway shows it had no effect whatsoever on him or his future job prospects.
We’ve got to stop crediting Desmond with any reach outside of Celtic and Scottish football and recognise him for a complete nonentity, outside of this, that he is.
Of course, that doesn’t stop him being the little big man bully that frustrates our every move to improve.
I took it to mean that any manager of significance will think twice about coming to Celtic in the future, rather than any effect on Brendan.
Has it been officially confirmed by Celtic?
Another year allows Maloney to complete his apprenticeship under a genius tutor.
After the Miracle performed by Saint Martin of Kilrea, I was all in with him having first dibs if he wanted the gig for real. It really was the only sensible option, because no doubt, the board, bereft of any brain cells, would have been giving him a tinkle mid October.
Dermot for once took his time and left his options open. He could have jumped the Armalite and offered Martin the gig in the Shower after the Final. That would really have been the actions of a crazy person, I mean, Who would do such a thing?.
I hope the Board goes all in and supports the managerial team by opening the biscuit tin…They normally do it every ten years or so. It’s about that time again.
In Martin We Trust.
The appointment demonstrates an absolute lack of ambition. Out of the two candidates, I’m happier with MON but this was an opportunity for a complete re-set. New Chairman, new Director of Football, new Manager and potentially 11 first team players required. This could have been the chance to identify a whole new structure, with an exciting new manager, tasked with making headway in Europe. Instead, Desmond has shown that he’s happy as long as we stay slightly ahead of the two bitter twins.
Indeed.
The issue is the Elephant in the room, no matter how u dress it up after Nancy was shoved out the door moves should have been made. But as usual the worst run club bumbles along admiring it’s good practice and bank balance, great if your a corner shop. The treatment of the customers has been pathetic, all the issues with policing GCC happen because it is allowed. The media jump all over Celtic, print diarrohea, not an issue.
They have a decent 74 year old bailing them out, when they do not deserve it. MON is the only good thing about this. Hope he does well or the cretins will be demanding his head.
Common sense has indeed prevailed, it’s now time to get behind Celtic Supporters Limited and get that membership up to 5000, then, and only then will we have a board who will have to sit up and take notice…Evolution not Revolution
Of course it’s also a supreme opportunity for the much younger Maloney. Will the fans still turn up their noses when it’s announced in a year’s time, maybe two, that Maloney will be the new manager? Not a great success at Wigan or Hibs but that’s probably not his fault. When the time comes MON will talk him up. It makes sense.
Much as I’d have preferred MON to either take an upstairs job when it came to a 2 horse race it had to be him. Thankfully we’ve held to our principles. Actually surprised that Desmond didn’t appoint Keane just to show his power.
Absolutely no ambition in this signing. I cannot for the life of me see this board backing him to rebuild for 1 year. His first stint was littered with big money signings and I can only hope he’s been given the same assurances. This is DD at his best trying to soothe the support by making an emotional appointment. I have absolutely nothing against MoN, he’s a legend, his legacy is intact and I fear that may be ruined by a board unwilling to dig deep.
I pray I’m wrong.
Mo’N is no fool , in many people’s eyes he is a legend . He know what he needs & he knows what he wants . He wouldn’t return to Celtic 3 times within last year if he didn’t board would back him . MO ‘N knows Board can’t do what some Board members think they will do , but he know he will get what he has to get
Yes, sympathise… BUT… we thought we had it all with Ange… 2 seasons only… then… whoose… off to the Premier league !!
Brendan almost 3..(I think)… then…(circumstances now understood) Brendan.again. 2.5… then….(circumstances now understood)
Unless ‘your/our’ club’ is at the pinnacle of football then managers/players come and go. Long term planning in present day football, difficult. Pep….the modern day exception.
I suspect that MN will not put up with ‘project’ signings.
So although 1 year (if that is the case) or 1 year rolling,…. we could very well end up with a decent, better to be expected team next year, simply because Martin is (hopefully) now in charge and wont tolerate any sheeeiite or interference !!!
Here’s hoping anyhow.
Would that be the same Mo’N who walked away after Seville because (I believe) the board were not prepared to back him because he wanted to push on ?
Then again it could be that for the majority of Celtic fans that was before their time.
Although a relief, the whole scenario regarding keane seems a bit contrived. Suddenly the idea of o’neill permanently (as an all to convenient shield for the board into the bargain) is the acceptable and progressive move. I hope he has the blow torch to the boards balls for the whole summer now then the work can really begin, because it is needed. As you articulate at the end he’s probably the only credible option we have after Desmond torched the reputation of the club. I have no doubt martin will bring more joy and less stress next season, what the grey brigade do is what we should be watching out for though. HH
I honestly believe that Martin should have been allowed to walk off into the sunset. I truly hope he will be afforded the budget so he can do so next May with his head held high.
Thankfully common sense prevailed, Phil.