The Celtic Thread

We will be second favourites for the league next season and I hope fans realise that, whoever comes in.

Having 65 caps for Holland doesn't mean much in coaching or managerial terms and Jansen had a poor record with Feyenoord outside the cups. I think he got lucky, Tommy Burns accrued more points in each of the two previous seasons,  playing better football, but luck is a factor. 

Howe is an excellent coach with a good few question marks over his record as they are all at one team that was bankrolled into the EPL. His achievements were in keeping them there playing good football. His mindset seems really good. He is clearly intelligent and the type of coach that modern players react to. He is a sort of poor man's Rodgers; less of a **** but probably not as good. The difference with Rodgers was he had little immediate pressure. He was appointed because the other mob had got promoted and knocked Ronnie's team out of the cup, but they were still a basket case. He had a lot of room for error that Howe won't have.  

The worry about his mindset, as well as that of the Celtic fans, is if the league looks lost early on and that's a realistic outcome. 

Rangers might not seem that far in front, but as RB pointed out, they have a settled team and style built on confidence and with a decent defence. Celtic have only a handful of players that anyone would consider keeping, have played without any clear style all season, have changes in the boardroom as well as the dugout and have  very unhappy fans. 

I just think, given all that, that getting a 'Scottish mindset' will be that key!

Edouard for me has been the biggest disappointment. I think other teams realised he wasnt at it and became braver when playing against us. Surely playing him for so long despite the awful performances needs looked at? Reports he didnt play in CL qualifier due to him looking a move, but I'm near sure he pulled up before that game so not sure how true that is. 

I said before the pursuit of Ajeti set the tone for our season. He lay on a boat sunning himself and we hung about like a lovesick schoolboy waiting on an answer. For a guy who hadnt played much you would have thought he would have been chomping at the bit to get going. To top it of we ended up signing him permanently instead of a loan with option to buy, which has backfired. I still think there might be a player there, but hes looked as unfit as when he first came in. 

Absolutely no chance Celtic aren't going to pay his huge wages or give him a massive budget that he would demand and after his behaviour in the 2003 UEFA cup final I wouldn't want him.