We need a manager that not only does tactics but can lift the whole club

Further lockdown thoughts from Chris Wotherspoon…

We had known for some time that yesterday’s outcome was inevitable, but that didn’t make it any easier. It’s best just to accept that we were masters of our own downfall and move on. It is not helpful for established players to come out with statements like we are all gutted, the 20 point gap isn’t a fair reflection and we want to stop their title party at Celtic Park. I would like to issue my own statement… gutted doesn’t get close to describing my feelings, it will end up more than 20 points and we haven’t a chance of stopping their party. Welcome to life outside your snowflake bubble. And now breathe….

Given that it was going to happen at some point, yesterday should have been more about playing the right players in the right positions to allow us to build confidence and compete in our next league match and the Scottish Cup. It is evident to the majority, hopefully including the coaching staff, that yesterday’s line up was not that.

I think we knew there was a bunch of players who were not performing for whatever reason. John Kennedy needs to reverse that or stop playing them and they need to be moved on. I don’t know if he would describe that as a massive overhaul, to my mind it is the situation we find ourselves in. Deal with it. When Neil Lennon took over he continually pointed out that it was Brendan Rodgers’ team and so he kept playing the same players. That was his mistake, they may have been Rodgers’ players but the new manager was picking the team. Let’s hope John Kennedy doesn’t make the same mistake.

John Kennedy has gone out of his way to say that it’s about the team, not him. I get that, but the two are inextricably linked. If the team play well, that will reflect well on him and vice versa. He needs to stamp his mark on the team or let someone else do it. The time for rearranging the deckchairs has long gone, that ship has sailed and sunk.

I like John Kennedy; he is very personable and appears switched on. Having said that it is legitimate to ask the question. Is the now ex-defensive coach, part of the problem or can he turn things around in his new role? (Not sure that he was ever the defensive coach to be fair – Ed).

READ THIS…John Kennedy talking to The Celtic Star about working with Ronny Delia, Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon

Playing Edouard up front on his own and leaving our three recognised strikers on the bench was brave, given it has never previously worked. Replacing Turnbull earlier than normal was brave. Replacing him with Rogic was very brave given the Australian has gone walkabout all season. Bringing a striker on with just over 5 minutes to go was brave but not unusual this season. Unfortunately none of these decisions worked and, therefore, words other than brave better describe them.

Whilst the players were more up for it, the outcome was the same. I guess the answer to the questions is… the jury is still out.

Lots of names have been mentioned for the new long term manager, including John Kennedy’s. Is he the future? I guess that depends on how he/we perform in the short term and who else is available/affordable from now until the end of the season. We need a manager that not only does tactics but can lift the whole club. Getting back to winning ways would be a start but we need someone who can also provide some added value.

Take Everton as an example. They are by no means the finished article but Ancelotti has improved them tremendously. His profile has allowed them to bring players like James Rodriguez to the club and he has coached/coaxed the best out of previously underperforming players like Calvert Lewin. Sound familiar? A bit like Brendan Rodgers’ time with us?

For me, many of the names being touted at the moment don’t add any value. We need to make the right appointment and it needs to be done soon. We need to identify what has gone well and what has gone badly in recent seasons and use that as the basis for a decision.

“Why should we look to the past in order to prepare for the future? Because there is nowhere else to look.” (James Burke)

Chris Wotherspoon

READ THIS…Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – A decade of belief and hope chucked. Before the clocks have even gone forward