Howe to Celtic – will a Director of Football be announced first? Will the Easter bunny be bringing us a DOF and new coach/manager in time for Champions League preparations?
A few weeks ago, I was given space to write here and mentioned Howe, Keane and Maresca as the likely lads we would look to decide between. At the same time, it seemed as if Fergal Harkin was the frontrunner for the Director of Football position but despite many leaks and a ton of press speculation, the club have managed to keep everyone guessing; however, it does seem as if we are in the end game, particularly with the opportunity to create goodwill for season ticket sales – and something to shout about.
If it seems Howe is favourite to land the coveted job, it’s an interesting one, in that he isn’t a Martin O’Neill or a Brendan Rodgers and definitely not a Neil Lennon. There are positives and some slight negatives in this appointment but that would be the case with anyone. Howe doesn’t necessarily need the job and this will likely give him a strong negotiating stance with Dermot Desmond and possibly Dominic McKay.
He knows that there are other jobs down south but I’m sure he’s already put a call or text into Brendan, enquiring what he might be walking into with such a high prestige role and I’m confident Rodgers will have talked up this as a huge opportunity for him. My own guess is that he could see this as maybe a 5-year project, after which he might stay another couple or move on to an EPL job – that is, if he is successful. So let’s look at the positives first:
The positives
Modern coaching approach – Howe will ensure the fitness of the players is kept to an exemplary level and he has the dynamism, energy and calm delivery to give confidence to his squad.
Bias and no baggage – Given his lack of experience here, Howe won’t be looking at which team the referee really supports; his job will be to help us find the goals to overcome any handicap like that.
The Thunder – This will be a revelation to the young manager; he will become an overnight fan when he hears the noise and backing of our fans properly and this will likely mean he is a lot more emotionally invested in bringing us success. Look at anyone ever associated with us. Ian Wright waxes lyrical about us, so does Roy Keane and more established ex players (in general – John Hartson, Chris Sutton, Stan Petrov, Shaun Maloney) continue to be ambassadors for all that is good about playing for us, particularly our fans.
Intelligence – In Europe, we have sometimes thrown our hands up at managerial decisions or wondered at the approach. Howe might not have managed in Europe but Bournemouth were having to prep for playing the top 6 in England as underdogs every season, for years. So he knows what it’s like to set your team up to play often tougher opposition.
Commitment – If he takes the job, it will mean moving the family up, finding a home, all the stuff that goes with a big move and he will not be taking the job only to walk away in a year. This will be a committed decision to deliver success.
A change is as good as a rest – With a new coach/manager, Director of Football and CEO, these guys are starting off with no blemishes, a ton of goodwill and an air of real positivity at making long term plans to deliver success on and off the park. If they can form a good unit together, it will create real harmony and success.
And the negatives?
Attack, attack – A few fans have mentioned Howe ‘doesn’t do defending’. He will if he has a good defensive coach, although maybe that won’t be John Kennedy (who has never been Celtic’s defensive coach). And he will know that in Europe, we won’t be facing the same opposition as we will in the SPFL but time will tell and we won’t judge beforehand.
Continuity and backroom staff – This is the one area of slight uncertainty. If it were Roy Keane as frontrunner, Damien Duff was mentioned favourably as one example and he knows the players. With Howe, what would be the link of continuity? If there isn’t a thread of continuity or a familiar name for the players to re-engage with, then he will have to earn their trust and respect quickly, whilst ensuring they buy into new ideas and coaching methods enthusiastically – and given our league and position in it most of the time, there will always be the expectation that most games should be won.
Have I told you lately, Howe I love you – None of the above is a reason for doubt but without trying to second guess a name, maybe having someone – at some level – who knows the players or at least knows Scottish football, would prove a real asset in embedding the new manager and giving him the time to adjust. Or just a trusted lieutenant that he felt he could lean on.
Summary
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – these could be exciting times for us. It’s still likely that Fergal Harkin will come in too and maybe he has already spoken to Eddie Howe and proposed they get to know each other better, in order to form a winning partnership, who knows. The respect will already be mutual at least and coming in with no preconceptions may be what we really need.
Make no mistake; Howe is an excellent coach – He survived 8 years in the English Premier League with less budget than bigger teams, although even that was bigger than what we have and from snippets read, that is something he might be negotiating on, the budget and input in picking targets. Another reason for the potential new boss and his Director of Football to forge a successful and close relationship.
Lastly, when will all this happen? Well, Easter is upon us. Wouldn’t it be nice if the holidays kicked off or at the very least concluded with announcements? We won’t have long to find out!
Paul McShane
