New manager

I wouldn't have been happy if the huns got Muscat.

Alternatively, I dont think i would be happy if we got him either.

It would be a typical board appointment.

Low wage... Check
"Attacking Celtic way fitba" ... Check
Knowledge of the Asian markets for cheap players... Check
Previous experience of the Scottish game... Check.

To them, all if this makes perfect sense, and makes him a good candidate.

For me, im not totally bothered he was a Hun player. He was a * dirty animal no matter who he played for.
Its what lies underneath managerial record that concerns me.

Yes hes lifted a few trophies, and it appears hes followed the Ange blueprint, but some of his tenures have been far from stellar; only the one title with an overall win rate of 56% at Marinos in 3 years is hardly inspiring stuff. Sacked after 15 games in Belgium, leaking over 30 goals in those games? * no.

I think he could've got a tune out of Sevco players, getting them beating the dross in the league again.
But that not what we need. If beating the dross is the height of our ambition then we're truly * and should just forget about European football in any form.

Muscat wouldn't be a complete disaster of an appointment.
But it certainly wouldn't spell out any sort of ambition.

 

he did an interview stating that he had one last achievement he wanted with bodo and it was to get Into the champions league proper , he went on to say that as he has achieved everything he set out to do with bodo he thought that it was time to try something new but it would have to be a big historic club , with a good fan base that continually play for trophies or something along those lines but it matched everything we can offer which sounded promising ,

the “rumours” that seem to be about lately point to knutsen , with strachan saying December , knutsen basically describing us and him being fairly close to us before from rumours then I think he’s the man , after 7 years with bodo I don’t think he would want to leave in the midst of a title race so could be the hold up.

Out of all managers linked I think knutsen is the one biggest majority of the fans get on board with and the fact he will know the Norwegian market which the Norway national team is flying just now so it’s a good time to try exploit that market and find any gems that’s not been found yet.

 

I appreciate others reservation on Knutsen and it's fair, one club, time spent there, lot of conditions make that job a success for him.

But equally, he's prolonged that success for 7 years and no one heard of Bodø before Knutsen (in a sense of well known).

I'd be all for him, but it comes with two caveats from us.

Firstly, we announce it in good time. If it's not til December he can come in, that is fine - but at least communicate that to the fans. You know, fan engagement Celtic.

Secondly, we back and support him. Not just for the first window, but for every season. Back him and support him and he's the sort (we've had before as well), where if he told us he would make us a last 16/quarter finalist of the UCL, then he will do everything he can to achieve that. But needs that backed by the suits too.

So aye, announce it in fair time to ease the concerns.
Back the guy to achieve his and OUR goals.

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Aye we can't sit about doing * all till end of December then approach him to be told he's not interested. Which is a similar approach to our transfer deals

If it's him, fine but we need to know it's him well in advance and although he's still involved in a tutor race and Champions League it gives him time to * our squad ahead of January window opening

 

Just checking Bodø fixtures and seemingly last game I end of November, so announce him relatively soon (so our fans don't get rightly annoyed and concerned, Celtic help yourself take the heat off you), then get him in December. Even let him have a week's holiday.
Gives him a few weeks to assess the squad before January window.
* could even keep Martin around (Shaun will no doubt become a coach) til January as a sort of bridge for him as he comes in. Could ease the pressure initially coming in and allow him to sound off someone who's got time at the club.

But aye, their fixtures are mental for the UCL as well.
That has got to be the toughest run of European fixtures for one team I've ever seen - and we often get some * draws as well.

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I would be happy with Muscat, knuten or McKenna. Hayen maybe but risky as its more often the clubs being run fantastic in Belgium rather than the manager being the good one.

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If we got a new board, then even ambitious idealists like Nancy might work out in Europe, to a degree. However, if the board remain faithful to their dictatorial, stingy ways, the best we can hope for is Knutsen, Clarke, or just keep MON. Basically, a pragmatic miracle-maker is needed the more constrained the transfer budget is. Fancy tactics require fancy players.

 

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Lee Carsley is sticking with the FA and the England under-21 job despite Celtic’s interest.

The former Republic of Ireland coach has been contacted about the post but is happy where he is.

Carsley would only return to club football if the move appealed and is very much in the frame for the full England job when Thomas Tuchel moves on.

Celtic have also been sniffing round Craig Bellamy but the Wales boss is settled and not keen to move.

Even if the Welsh miss out on qualifying for the World Cup it is unlikely to change his mind.

 

I would be gobsmacked if we got Knutsen.

It would be quite the coup.

 

Properly speechless if that happened. Plenty have tried and failed before.

 

There's no getting away from what he's achieved at Bodo - a town with a population of 50,000. It's like winning the league with Falkirk or Inverness and making them a feared Europa League team then getting them into the CL.

 

So if you believe Desmond, then he'll love it and get to chose all his own players.

*then we lowball until we miss out

 

Can’t be having a repeat of the Howe saga so it would be good to get him to sign some sort of pre contract.

Trying not to get too excited as he is a brilliant manager.

 

That's lee Carsley ruled himself out another one bites the dust

 

Is Hayen a good coach or is he part of a good set up at Brugge?

I'm genuinely unsure and don't know if he's any less of a risk than Knutsen is

 

What I would say is that Hayen has went into Club Bruges who have basically established themselves as one of the best run clubs for about 15 years, regardless of the manager.

Knutsen has completely changed Bodo from top to bottom. The way the club is run is probably off the back of him and his recommendations. Having the “busby like grip” on the club has meant he has taken them from basically nothing to what they are now, all while playing incredible football.

Personally, I don’t think Hayen is anywhere near as exciting Knutsen.

 

One of our Belgian/Scandinavian contingent pointed out that Hayen joined them after their worst run in recent history though, 5th in the table or something like that, and ended up winning the league that season.

You're right he's at a well run institution, but by the sounds of it their recent outstanding success (performances in the CL etc) is very much down to him.