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The Season Ahead: Glenn Loovens
Posted by: | CommentsDutchman Got To Improve
This season may well be Glenn Loovens’ last chance to make a career out of defending in a Celtic jersey.
After knocking back an offer from the Dark Side to join the club from Cardiff City in August 2008 Loovens looked to be the answer to our problematic centre back position.
His early form suggested he’d be was a good acquisition but a serious of injuries saw him flirt in and out of the side. When he did play, Glenn seemed to be more comfortable in the opponents box than his own.
For such a big guy, 6′ 2″ he is too easily pushed off the ball, who can forget his nightmare at the Bigotdome two seasons ago under Tony Mowbray?
Even last season things didn’t get any better, spending a long time in the wilderness after more shocking displays, namely against the Govan Mob and St Johnstone.
Glenn did manage to work his way back into the side at the end of last term mainly due to lack of numbers and in fairness to the guy helped us win the Scottish Cup.
He is in the main a liability and will find himself either back in the stands or on his way out of the club in this his last year of his contract.
Anything else will be down to sheer luck….
Former Captain Set For Return To Paradise?
Posted by: | CommentsMick Heading Home….
Although nothing has yet been mentioned in the mainstream media, they’re too busy having a go at Lenny, a couple of things have happened over the past week or so to suggest Stephen McManus COULD be on his way back to Celtic.
For a start, the family have just acquired a new home in the Bothwell area, something that wouldn’t be practical if Mick was staying down at Boro and only yesterday former Celtic manager Tony Mowbray hinted that the higher earners, a category McManus falls into, would have to be moved on during the summer.
Back to Celtic?
Well few clubs would be able to afford anything like the money the big defender is on down south and Celtic have been caught short in the centre of defence on a number of occasions this season.
Mick for Celtic…..mibees aye, mibees naw!
Progress Attracts Potential Suitors..
Posted by: | CommentsInterest In Celtic Players Only Natural
Cast your mind back twelve months or so. At that point Celtic under Tony Mowbray’s guidance were almost in free fall.
There was a real malaise about the club.
Attendances were dropping and the support were bickering amongst ourselves about which way the club was going. Some in Tony’s camp, others not.
But it wasn’t just the management that weren’t doing their stuff. The Bhoys on the park were letting everyone done, big time. Players that had been through SPL winning campaigns were just going through the motions.
It took a dramatic 4-0 drubbing by St Mirren, of all teams, to bring it all to a head. Change had to happen.
The board relieved Tony and his backroom staff of their duties (on gardening leave) and appointed Neil Lennon to take charge of the first team on a temporary basis.
Without turning this into a history lesson, Lenny had to make do with the players he inherited. Somehow he managed to galvanise the team to an unbeaten SPL run, including an OF win, until the end of the season.
Celtic had arguably TWO main playing assets left at the club. Aiden McGeady and Artur Boruc. Both were subsequently sold during the summer.
Fast forward to February 2011.
Under Lenny’s guidance, the current Celtic side has many, too many to mention, valuable playing assets. Recognition of how far we’ve come in such as short space of time is the continuous media speculation of players leaving to join ‘bigger’ clubs.
Keeping the ‘wolf from the door’ is one job Lenny will enjoy, because that will mean he’s the manager of a successful Celtic. Something we all wish for!
Lenny,Too Passionate….Tony, Too Quiet….Can A Celtic Manager Ever Be Right?
Posted by: | CommentsCan The Celtic Manager Ever Get It Right?
For the last few weeks all the media attention has focused on Neil Lennon’s sideline enthusiasm. It has become something of an obsession amongst the hacks.
Every man and his dug have been invited to give their opinion on Lenny.
Most of course spouting the fact that he’s a new manager, will have to curb his enthusiam and settle down or he’ll be in trouble. In other words Lenny should ‘get back in his box.’
In fact St Mirren manager Danny Lennon took the time today to give Neil some advice!
Well I’m pleased to say the Neil Lennon won’t change his ways to suit anyone. And why should he?
Sure it was only nine months ago we were being told that the Celtic manager should show more on the touchline. Tony Mowbray was too quiet for the very same people Lenny’s too loud for!
Or is it all just an excuse to cause Celtic as much disruption as possible?
Tell me, what would you prefer?
Celtic Managers: Damned If They Do, Damned If They Don’t!
Posted by: | CommentsCan A Celtic Manager EVER Win?
While we’re waiting on Peter Lawwell and Dermot Desmond making Neil Lennon’s appointment official we have to ask ourselves what do we really want from our managers?
The reason for asking follows a conversation I had last night with one of my pals Charlie.
We were discussing who should get the Celtic job over a pint or two. As I’m firmly in the Lenny camp, I suggested appointing Neil right away. Although Charlie doesn’t have anyone specific in mind he reckons that Lenny’s not ready…..yet.
Of course the subject of the last eight SPL games came into play. Charlie somehow thinks that these games were no more than friendlies as there was nothing to play for. His words not mine.
I then pointed out to him that the Derby game was by no means a friendly and that Murderwell, Hibs and Dundee United were all playing for a European place.
This didn’t get much approval. So we agreed to disagree.
But the whole conversation got me thinking.
Remember when WGS was manager? After some abject performances he would duly tell us on TV that the game was great and his players were the same. Of course that didn’t wear with the Faithful.
Nope. The support demanded the manager tell the truth and stop trying to pull the wool over our eyes.
Enter Tony Mowbray. After winning 2-0 at St Mirren, Mogga publicly slated his players and told the fans the performance wasn’t good enough.
What happened then? the whole of Timdom was up in arms. How dare he publicly slag off his players, they cried!
So, on the one hand we want honesty, and on the other we don’t want to hear what the manager has to say.
Damned if they do, damned if they don’t!