Director of Football - Do we want one?

Both have a B team in the league pyramid

 

This is always a plus, Spain has it too. I think as long as the teams cannot get into Premier league or either cups (but can enter the Tunnocks one) then that would be great. Lower league teams would probably see their attendance go up as fans would see the Celtic b team if they are playing locally. The Scottish football team team would improve as players would get experienced at a young age.

 

https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.c...ligue-2-to-the-championship-has-been-awesome/

Brentford’s set up better than ours, and how we weren’t after this scout being Scottish too and all the players he’s brought to Brentford successfully.

 

Totally. players like dembele , welsh, oko flex etc. Could have had 3 full seasons of senior football by now. Ready physicality wise to make the transition to first team football with us

 

I started a thread on here seven years ago, around the time we brought in Deila (a very continental style of manager), to gauge opinion on a Director of Football. Views were mixed (including my own), but football has moved on a lot since even just then, and we've been well and truly left behind.

With the possible exception of Man Utd, I can think of no club in Britain right now that more desperately lacks a DoF than we do.

 

According to football manager 21, he’s a celtic supporter.

 

Bik has done well for himself.

 

He is.

Pretty vocal about it on twitter as well.

 

Let's look at the huns here... Gerard was getting his * handed to him, week in and out, until they brought in that DOF from Man City. Next thing all he does is coach and press * and the other guy does all the 'brain work' and they improved exponentially. Compared to our setup where Lennon was playing everything old school and we regressed dramatically.

Therefore, in my opinion our choice must be a knowledgeable DOF (preferably from European pedigree), with a dedicated COACH (Not manager!) below him, or we need to push the boat out on a Rodgers style manager and staff to combine the roles.

Not at all confident we'll not * up either approach, with the Barras knockoff version...

 

Allen appointed Gerrard.

And was so bad as DOF he was punted and now back in academy football.

 

Talking about the guy they brought in around the the 2018-19 season. No idea what his name was though

 

Where their B teams certainly help them there is a whole lot more these teams are doing than Celtic at present.

Another point worth noting is their B Teams or in Salzburg’s case sister clubs too, compete at a level just one below the parent club which is essentially their leagues Championship. Even if we get a team in the leagues it’s likely to be league 2 which is better than nothing but considerably below the level the players will need to be at to make our first team.

For me it is the scouting operations and breadth of both Ajax and Salzburg (RB generally). They already have the majority of their next generation in before losing the current one and reinvest when they do lose first team players at a level appropriate to the fees they are receiving. Salzburg are probably a better comparison to us than Ajax in that mould as Ajax operate at a level or two above what we do in terms of the fees they demand and progress in European football.

Another difference is the pathway from the youth teams, feeder team to first team is far clearer and efficient than ours. Salzburg also use loans well to either get players ready or put them in the shop window if they won’t make it at us.

Both those clubs have clear philosophies and all levels of those clubs are designed to operate under those philosophies and the staff responsible for them are recruited on that basis.

We have a lot of work beyond just getting a B team to get us there.

 

Looks like Webb is doing the rounds in either a method to get his name and hype going to get the job - or to sound the fans out before being confirmed by the board.
The alternative still seems to be the Man City link with Harkin which seems more likely considering the connections to Desmond he already has.

Personally, I would go for Webb as he doesn't seem to have that link and listening to some of the podcast stuff today, he understands the role required and looks to the modern side of football. Him in place, we wouldn't be signing Lennons again for sure.

He has a few connections in England and even abroad, I reckon if he was announced by end of March, he would have a manager and a backroom staff sorted for the end of April and ready to hit the ground to assess the last few weeks of the season before they all * off for their holidays before pre-season.

Ideally, now, that would be the way forward.

Ideally it should have been done 3 years ago while Rodgers was still here, but lets be positive these days.

 

Would definitely rather Webb than Harkin.

Harkin is just more jobs for the boys.

 

Yeah fully agree.

Even if it is Harkin, I will give him his chance, but I think a lot of us will be watching with careful eyes knowing his connections to the men in charge already.

Jobs for the boys and being "Celtic minded" is destroying us at times, just look at this season.
But not every Celtic minded lad is a bad one of course, just look at Rodgers.

 

I think a Webb/Howe appointment wouldn't necessarily be a bad move they sound like they have decent experience and could be a success.

It's not box office though and a lot of fans would need to be convinced.

 

Doesn't have to be box office as long as we make the innovative restructuring needed to our whole footballing operation..

And then employ a coach who can deliver the shared ethos, an ethos that is sustainable and maintained even when that coach moves on..

Howe was dreadful in the transfer market at the end of his time at Bournemouth, so if we do go with someone like him, recruitment should really be overseen by the DoF with the coach consulted.

 

If Howe isn't box office, and I suppose he wouldn't really be, then who is? If anyone is expecting a bigger name than him then they're delusional.

And as JC said, we don't need a box office name. Just a forward thinking, modern manager with a good CV.

 

I'd be happy with Howe but there are a lot fans that want someone like Benitez. That's all I'm meaning some season ticket holders might be expecting a big name.

 

Is there honestly anyone who is feasibly attainable that is as close to the rep Rodgers had before coming?

Howe is likely the closest in terms of regular names banded about. If anyone seriously expects us to go arguably a level above and make serious efforts to sign, i dunno, Rafa as an example. That is pure pipe dream madness. Not happening.

Howe would a great appointment assuming the right DoF is in with him and we make serious changes to out set up from youth progression to scouting and modern training tactics and analysis.