Wilfried Nancy facing a baptism of fire. Is there a new Celtic manager who has ever been tasked with a tougher start?…
Wilfried Nancy looks increasingly likely to be named the manager of Celtic Football Club at some point this week , with it seemingly just a matter of when and not if he signs on the dotted line.
It’s widely believed that this Sunday’s vital home clash with Hearts in the Scottish Premiership will be Wilfried Nancy’s first game in charge of Celtic, and it has to be said, has their ever been a manager tasked with a tougher start to their Celtic career?
I’m not just referring to the top of the table clash with the Jambos, but four days later we face Roma at Paradise in the Europa League, in what is a must win game, before facing St Mirren on the Sunday at Hampden Park in the Premier Sports Cup final.
That’s three different fixtures across three different competitions, and each one will be season defining. That’s not an exaggeration. A good result against Hearts could possibly send us back to the top of the standings, and deal a physiological blow to the Jambo in the process, while sending out a message to the rest of our so called challengers.
Likewise in the Europa League, where a win would boost our hopes of automatic qualification, and of course Sunday is a must win as it’s a cup final and the first trophy of the season.
Talk about being thrown in at the deep end. Nancy will have no other option but to swim, sinking isn’t an option and he has the added pressure of having, as Conor Spence pointed out on The Celtic Star this morning , to replace not one but two Celtic managers in Brendan Rodgers (11 trophies from 13) and Martin O’Neill , who has done an absolutely fantastic job since stepping in to answer Celtic’s call after Rodgers had his offer to resign accepted by the Celtic Board.
Tomorrow night will see Martin say his goodbyes and appropriately enough that game is at Celtic Park after he has secured a treble of vital away wins against St Mirren, Feyenoord and Hibs. It’s Dundee who are the visitors tomorrow night while Kilmarnock travel to Tynecastle to take on Hearts. If Celtic win the next two games we will be back at the top of the table on Sunday night with a game in hand and we can look forward to the Roma game and the Cup Final with optimism.
Three wins in his first three games will see Wilfried Nancy hit the ground running, that’s got to be his target. It’s not impossible but it’s certainly challenging from a manager new to Celtic, to Scottish football and to European competition.
Welcome to life at Glasgow Celtic, Wilfried. You’ll have our backing from the first whistle on Sunday.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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Getting Nancy confirmed as manager, doesn’t necessarily mean, he will take charge of the team for Sunday, or even the next 2 games after?
Timing is always going to be an issue, and still my preferred choice, would be after the cup final imo?
A win tomorrow night, and I would disagree that our next 2 games after, would be classed as season defining?
The thought of not winning the cup final is unthinkable, but isn’t going to be straight forward with the Thursday/Sunday turnaround in operation?
The big question still remains regarding the Nancy appointment, is to whether he actually is looking to change the set up of our team?
Again a Timing issue exists, if that is the intentions of Nancy?
The obvious question is whether we might be looking to go with 3 at the back?
Personally don’t believe that we have enough within our squad at present, to opt for the likes imo?
Trusty, scales and Tierney could be regarded as a potential partnership, but is Murray and Pusey strong enough as back up options, without CCV and AJ available? Also Pusey isn’t even eligible for our European campaign?
Even sticking with the current back 4 in place, still leaves the question of whether the Donovan and ralston combination, is strong enough to cover, until AJ eventually returns?
The same issue exists within our CBs position, with the loss of CCV for the season.
So even come January, there are decisions to be made, upon our defensive set up alone, along with the added complications of maybe only 3 changes, can be allowed to our original European squad named earlier this season?
The midfield areas, hopefully are easier to resolve, yet the nagging question exists as to whether Paulo, has intentions of seeing out this season with ourselves?
Not convinced myself at present admittedly.
Also could Hatate and Engels be looking for a late push for a chance of gaining a world cup squad place for themselves now?
So would there chances increase if they were involved in a higher standard league, than what the SPFL seems to be regarded as, within the European stage at present imo?
At present, our squad was formed with the usual 7 attacking options within it, when formed.
Also at present, 4 aren’t getting game time for various reasons at present. So that remains a serious issue that has to be addressed, especially regarding the situation with Maeda and Yang still lingering from the summer, and again the world cup possibility in place.
Not forgetting the African cup of nations, which possibly could effect Seb and Balikwisha also, come late December, and doubtful they will be available for the next Glasgow Derby by the looks of things already?
So overall Nancy has far more issues to try and find solutions to, than just next week, with the 3 challenging matches involved imo?
Would regard his decision making, along with Tisdale, and the workings with his coaching staff, of going to be far more season defining imo?
Can’t overlook that so many of our players stopped buying into Rodgers methods, as now been proved, responding under MoN and Maloney partnership, will that continue under Nancy?
So season defining is going to last for at least the next 2 months at least imo.
Within that 2 months are some massive footballing decisions to be taken, with the prospect of only allowing 3 changes for our original europa league squad, which will possibly be the case until late January, with not being in a position to let players go beforehand, with the remaining 2 europa league matches?
Would like to think that Nancy is fully prepared for what lies ahead, over the course of the next two months.
Can fully understand MoN not fancying the prospect?
So yes, I would say Nancy is potentially walking into the biggest challenge that any manager of ours is potentially facing, and this not even at the mid season point yet?
I will wish him the very best when confirmed, as certainly going to need it, with everything involved within his appointment imo?
O’Neill saves. Martin is living. And Martin is here. He has risen. There is only the here and now. The greatest footballing love story ever told
Sabotage the deal for Martin O’Neill.
We don’t want you Nancy. They are insane to give him the job. What an absolute disgrace.
F*ck Nancy. Get to F*ck and sack the board as well.
We want Martin O’Neill.
F*ck Nancy. We don’t want you.