Who is Paul Tilsdale? And will he improve Celtic in such an important area for any football club?
Celtic hiring football ‘doctor’
Celtic are reportedly hiring football ‘doctor’ Paul Tilsdale as they bid to revamp the clubs football operations. The 51 year old has recently been working as a football consultant, but has amassed a wealth of experience in the game as both a player and manager.
As a player he played for the likes of Southampton, and as a manager he coached Exeter, MK Dons, Bristol Rovers and Stevenage. He’s also used his expertise in an advisory capacity at several clubs including Fulham and Crystal Palace so he clearly has a wealth of experience.
Overseeing several aspects at the club
Tilsdale will be charged with overseeing several aspects at the club including data, recruitment, plus player and coach development.
This is welcome news as it’s an area we’ve been in need of tending since head of recruitment Mark Lawwell and Chief Scout Joe Dudgeon departed back in March. The only questions are, will Paul be the man to improve us in that area and will he be bringing in his own staff to aid him?
A welcome additional to our football club
Let’s hope so as it’s been a major concern the way our club has been run in that department for quite some time. Let’s hope Paul is the man to change all that. He’ll be a welcome additional to our football club and will allow Brendan Rodgers to concentrate fully on preparing the first team rather than dealing with transfer business on the side, as was the case this summer.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
The unanswered question is going to be, just how well he is going to fit in, as the middle man between Rodgers and the board?
Not an easy task for anyone, but still a position that needed filling all the same, and wishing him luck in filling that void?
Even if our summer transfer business was very decent in the end, I wouldn’t class it as perfect either imo?
There seemed to be a bit more of an interest in reducing the squad numbers, which had to be done, than upon getting the required standard of players into the club?
Even now, I still believe that our finalised 25man squad in operation, could have ended up being constructed better than it eventually was?
Still remains a few areas within the squad, where improvements could be actually made for ourselves, especially as we don’t seem to be able to use a rotation policy for players within games, as much as Rodgers would possibly like to at present imo?
We have already seen on a few occasions already, the drop off in performances, especially with the effect of the much higher intensity matches of the CL come around?
In turn, without much if any type of rotation policy in place at present, it makes the demands upon the 16/17 regular players being used, that bit more harder to manage, with the demands of our club involved?
But there is a process involved in getting ourselves to where we hope to eventually get, regarding our overall 25man squad that’s required for today’s game?
We still require some huge improvement upon our homegrown quota requirements, which are only growing as Calmac and Forrest aren’t becoming any younger?
Still no resolution to the Taylor contract situation in sight?
With only McCowan added at the last minute of the window?
Still remains huge question marks regarding Bain, Welsh and Monty, especially after the Sligo match last night, regarding there futures within our 25man squad at present?
So potentially leaves ourselves looking at more ralston type of players for our squad?
Yet Rodgers would rather risk a not fully fit AJ with a niggling injury, ahead of ralston still?
Even using an out of position Trusty remains a better option than either Welsh or rocki, as a backup option for CCV, who continues to have his own injury concerns?
Only Forrest is being used to share the workload in our wider areas still?
So everything still points to, that maybe our overall squad depth, still isn’t at a level that Rodgers would really like it to be imo?
So could be some considerable work required, to get ourselves to the required standard of an overall 25man squad that Rodgers could be looking for, especially if he wants to introduce a more rotation policy into our squad?
And still could have done with a rotation policy in place, especially when we take into account, of our next 7 matches to be played in 3 weeks?