The Celtic Thread

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 TigerRoll wrote:

 Jock wrote:

 TigerRoll wrote:

The appointment of Eddie Howe is not only huge for Glasgow Celtic. It’s a huge appointment for Scottish Football, in the same league as Brendan Rodgers appointment. This is a manager who was in the frame for the England job not that long ago. He should be allowed to appoint whoever he deems fit, his work in Bournemouth is often belittled.

There are some similarities to Rodgers, but Rodgers was involved with big clubs, at Chelsea and took Liverpool within a whisker of their first league in countless years. Howe was working under little or no pressure at Burnley.

While Howe's work at Bournemouth is commendable, cant ignore the fact FFP rules where broke to gain promotion and he ultimately got them relegated after spunking a fortune. They also leaked a load of goals, which doesnt inspire confidence considering our shambles of a defence. Couldnt cut it at Burnley either.

As for being linked to England job, any English man that strings a few results together usually gets the same treatment.

On paper it looks like a good appointment, and probably the highest profile manager we could attract, that will excite the majority of fans. He could be a great appointment, just his lack of involvement at a big club concerns me. 

Howe should have had a larger job long before Celtic. ‘Commendable’ this is the issue. He took Bournemouth from the lower leagues of English football, to the Premier League and maintained them there for a few seasons. Bournemouth should never have been in the PL, LOI has stadiums that match Bournemouth’s. He simply didn’t just take Bournemouth to the PL, he took them there and played attacking football, against any opposition. He could of went down a big Sam route, but he didn’t. He matched the larger established clubs week in week out. 

The issue he will have is adopting to Glasgow. He’s been comfortable in the South of England, it’s a nicer lifestyle. That will change. He also goes into a club expected to play his style of football, but to win each and every game. And crucially, get into Europe. Having a pop at him for breaking fair play rules is a tad ridiculous also, his job is to manage the players the board and DOF buy in. I personally believe Howe should be given what he wants and needs, in Bournemouth that’s very much what happened and it led to his success. The DOF he wants is Scottish, and a Celtic fan. He understands how large the club is and what it’ll entail, and let’s be frank. Outside of Christie, Jullian and maybe one or two others. There isn’t much there to work with, he needs 7/8 new faces in the door to hit the ground running. A DOF he’s familiar with, is crucial to that. I do expect another few ex Bournemouth staff to come aboard, if that means Woods the GK coach goes. So be it. Celtic don’t need any reminder of the Lennon era. 

If he’s given the tools, the budget, and the team he wants around him. He’ll develop Celtic into an unstoppable force in Scotland again but make inroads into Europe again. 

I dont think its ridiculous to point a factor in his success was down to spending a lot to get into the Prem. You cant claim it as one of his success without putting some context on it. Would he have ever got to the Prem without the big spending? Tony Mowbray had similar success with West Brom and we know how that ended.

Our defence has been a shambles. He got Bournemouth relegated whilst conceding 65 goals in the league. Bit of a cliche but 'attackers win you games, defences win you championships'. Hes reportedly looking to bring in one of those defenders who played the majority of games that season.

I dont see any evidence he will improve us in Europe considering, to my knowledge anyway, hes never competed in Europe before. 

Agreed if he does come in he should be given what he wants and if that means a clear out of backroom staff so be it. One thing in his favour, will be as you say, an almost new squad will be required, Which should eradicate the cliques that had formed in the dressing room. Giving him a clean slate and a chance to put down a marker without being undermined. 

Just think the furore over his potential appointment needs tempered a bit. On paper certainly looks a studious coach that should improve us. Time will tell if he can handle the environment. I hope he can. 