With just a few weeks
to go to the end of the season, most fans are asking who will be the
Head Coach next season. Here's a personal take on some of the
candidates:
Ronny Deila
Sorry, but no. Most
fans seem to like him but few seem to see any evidence that he can
vary his
That's quite a
collection of shortcomings, which perhaps reflect his lack of
top-level experience. It can't go on.
John Collins
Absolutely not. Collins
has the air of a self-annointed aristocrat of football. Rumours of
him rubbing people up the wrong way seem all too credible because he
just exudes smugness. Sunnier climes await to keep that tan topped
up.
Neil Lennon
No. Celtic were on the
way down when he left, which seemed like a smart move at the time.
Now, Neil's coaching career is on a downward trajectory, why should
he be expected to make things better? And his “same club”
nonsense may have won him friends in the media and the Celtic
boardroom but it has lost him some admirers amongst the support. Time
to move on, Neil.
David Moyes
Maybe. But would Moyes
take on the job without a clear assurance that he would have funds to
recruit players of his own choosing? Moyes's stock is not as high as
it once was but he could do a good job at Celtic – only if the
conditions were right.
Gordon Strachan
In our dreams! Probably
the best candidate by far but he knows too much about the
machinations of Celtic PLC to walk out on a crack at qualifying for
the World Cup with Scotland.
Martin O'Neill
Forget it! This is the
man who spent circa £6m each on Chris Sutton, John Hartson and Neil
Lennon. He is not going to come back to Celtic under the current
strategy.
Roy Keane
Let's hope not! The man
punches people who ask for his autograph. Enough said.
Eric Black
Not on your nelly. One
of the more bizarre internet rumours. Black has a long history of
taking over as caretaker, having been someone's number two and then
being let go. There's a reason for that and we don't need to find out
precisely what it is from a second stint at Celtic.
Henrik Larsson
Seems like madness. Why
sully a near-flawless reputation as a player by appointing him as
manager of a club in the eye of a storm. Helsingborgs are currently
12th in the Allsvenskan and Henrik's win
rate with them is around 35%.
Alan Stubbs
A solid
season with Hibs but nothing yet to suggest that he is ready to step
up to the Head Coach's role.
Mark McGhee
The perennial
stage-door Johnny no doubt reckons he has the club connection,
coaching experience and lack of scruples to woo Dermot Desmond and is
probably pleading with his mate Strachan to put a word in. Gordon
should give him two words: “Get tae!” © John Brown
Derek McInnes
When hell freezes over.
Robbie Neilson
Not as bad a candidate
as some might think and seems to know the game but he would be a hard
sell to the fans.
Mark Warburton
Celtic plc wouldn't
weaken the new club they have done more than most to create by
wrecking their management structure.
John Hughes
A left-field candidate
whose credentials shouldn't get him anywhere near the running but would
probably do a decent job for a club with no European ambitions. At
least he can coach, organise and motivate.
Brendan Rogers
A named that's bandied
around more in hope than expectation but he sort of fits the bill in
that he has top-level experience and is currently out of work. Slim
chance.
Michael O'Neill
Hotly rumoured at one
point and has done well with Northern Ireland but would the board
really take on someone who they fans would struggle to accept? They
would – the plc damned well would appoint him. Just to piss us off.
Malky Mackay
A name only suggested
by a mainstream media pundit to stir things up. He would be a PR
disaster and has a reputation for liking to spend on players.
Steve Clarke
One of those guys who
is definitely well-respected in the game and knows his stuff but who
is also bandied about by those who like to think they are smarter
than your average fan. Doesn't feel right.
Steve McLaren
Just the sort of tosser
Celtic plc would like to foist on us, accompanied by a puff piece on
a well-known blog, telling us how smart a move it is.
Paul Lambert
Is currently with
Blackburn Rovers, sitting 18th in the Championship, having
lost six and drawn one of their last 10 matches. This probably makes
him the hot favourite.
Owen Coyle
Refused the job before
Tony Mowbray, because he saw the conditions he'd be working under.
Hard to imagine he'd leave the States to walk into the same
conditions, having seen how hard it has been for the last three
managers.
Jackie MacNamara
Ha! Just messing with
you, Jackie!
Pep Guardiola/Jose Mourinho
Likely to be mentioned
around season-ticket renewal time. You never know.
In conclusion, Ronny is
on his way out and unless the board changes its policy, we're in big trouble.
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