Thompson back to aid Lennon’s Celtic revolution
Thommo knows what it’s all about
The drip-feeding of news about Neil Lennon’s appointment as Celtic boss continues apace and the latest piece in the puzzle comes with the Alan Thompson rumours. A number of strong sources are indicating that Alan Thompson is on his way back to Celtic to assist his former team-mate and good friend Neil Lennon at Celtic Park.
Thommo has been employed at Newcastle United of late, primarily with the youth team, and even though the Geordies are back in the top flight of the English football pyramid, the lure of being at the front of the action in Glasgow is no doubt a massive draw.
With this season being Walter Smith’s last in charge of rivals Rangers, there is no doubt that there will be a lot of talk of passion and doing it for Walter from the Rangers squad this season. On this level, Celtic are undoubtedly fighting fire with fire by lining up a management team that knows exactly what it means to take on Rangers and what the SPL can throw at them.
So on that score, things are level but of course, the Rangers management team have the experience which could make all the difference. Then again, there is a lot of time to go before the transfer window slams shut and Celtic may be able to offset this experience deficit by improving their squad and first XI.
All managerial appointments are gambles and it has to be said that Celtic are no longer shopping in the area that they once used to. In an ideal world, choosing a novice manager would not be an option for a club like Celtic. However, downsizing has changed all that.
There was talk about Celtic looking at Mark Hughes or Roy Hodgson but in reality, was this ever likely to happen?
In relation to the other names that Celtic were linked with, Neil Lennon has advantages over all of them which means that his lack of experience was offset.
It could all go wrong and if it does, you wonder where the Celtic PLC board can turn to next? Then again, if it all goes right, it would be one of the sweetest victories ever for those of a Glaswegian green and white persuasion.
As far as things are looking, the Celtic management team is shaping up as:
Neil Lennon
Alan Thompson
Johann Mjallby
Garry Parker
Have the Celtic board taken the right route?
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If this is true then it is the wrong option. It would be heartbreaking if this bunch of novices are appointed. Celtic is not a job for people new to management. An experienced manager is needed and anybody else is too much of a gamble. The appointment of these novices is a statement by the board that they have no ambition other than to win the SPL by the cheapest means possible and progression in Europe means absolutely nothing to them. The prestige of the Celtic job will be totally undermined if any guy with no experience is appointed. Seriously would any club in England consider Neil Lennon for their job based on his CV.
The cheapness is clearly a massive reason for the appointment – the board banking on the popularity of the men involved will appease a number of fans.
If there is something to be said for Lennon – it’s the fact that he should know who needs to be punted out – Lennon has been around for all of around 8 months since the heights of the last 16 against AC Milan and the descent since them. Tony Mowbray lost too much time in giving everyone a chance – Lennon should be able to hit the ground running in knowing the capabilities of the current squad.
I’m afraid that I am with Timmy on most of what he says. Does the board think appointing folk who were part of one of Celtic’s most successful sides ever (but who have zilch management experience) is really going to appease the already mightily peed-off Celtic supporters? I would have liked to have thought that the majority of the supporters would be able to see past the whole “He’s one of us and bleed green and white” mentality. I love Lenny to bits and would love to see him as manager one day when he has learned his trade elsewhere at a place where you can afford to make mistakes without being hounded out of a job!
I’ still clinging vainly to the hope that the board have shown some ambition and imagination and are going to appoint someone who will surprise everybody, with Lenny being involved in a large capacity (he’s obviously taking charge of signing talks, whether under his own jurisdiction or at someone else’s behest). Lawwell, Reid & Co know they are in the last chance saloon. Get it wrong and it will be a rather unpleasant parting of ways.
a calming influence in old firm games a man who never saw red lol .
3 reds at Ibrox wasn’t it? Not good.
Then again, Celtic fans will point to Alan Thompson winning more games and being decisive against Rangers than what he cost the club.