Nancy's potential appointment is driven by control, not ambition, and signals a worrying shift at Celtic. As Desmond and Lawwell’s influence could reduce Celtic’s next manager to a puppet.
Appointing Wilfrid Nancy as the next Celtic manager is a tremendous risk, because he is massively under qualified for the job.
Celtic should have been looking for a manager with proven experience in a competitive league, who understands the dynamic and mentality of the Celtic/Ranger's divide in Glasgow and the West of Scotland, and who has some kind of European pedigree. Like you say, this signals the end of ambition of Celtic FC under the current Board of Directors.
Utter pish and the sort of piece we’d ridicule if it appeared in a tabloid. None of us know enough about Nancy to make these sort of comments. Rather keep MON till end of the season. . . Jesus wept.
I love MON but he’s analogue in a digital world. Not to mention he’s 73 years of age. Mental to expect him to last until May.
What has Knutsen achieved? Never been outside Norway, much of his success is down to structure and geographical location.
Let’s get behind the new guy from day 1. We can continue to slate the board.
I wasn't claiming Celtic should be signing top quality managers, we have a level of manager that we can attract - but that doesn't mean we should be bargain basement shopping either. If Nancy is appointed and it works out then great, but if it doesn't then the board have hammered the final nail into their coffin.
Give what a rest? Highlighting a potential managerial candidate and giving my opinion on his credentials or lack thereof when it comes to the Celtic job? Rather than saying give it a rest, maybe argue an alternative theory as to why you think he would be a good fit.
It's a lazy response to a guy that nobody knows enough about. The kind of commentary that we saw from that moron Jamie O'Hara on Sky earlier today.
Could just as easily compare him to Ange than to Ronny in that respect.
Kieran McKenna has no European experience, does that rule him out ? Nicky Hayen was managing Havefordwest 2 years before bringing Brugge to Celtic Park and playing us off the pitch for 45 minutes.
Eddie Howe had no experience in Europe when we went for him prior to Ange but would no doubt have been a fantastic appointment.
Why he would be a good fit ?
Appears to be adaptable.
Works with a dressing room full of different nationalities and cultures that he has developed into a winning team.
Known for playing attacking football.
Thierry Henry thought enough about him to promote him to his staff.
Already working in a league that is stronger than the SPFL - and could bring knowledge of players from untapped markets, as we seen with Ange.
I could do a list of negatives too, no doubt, but I'd rather look at wider picture.
Making presumptions that he is going to uproot his family and come to the other side of the world to be a yes man for Desmond and Lawwell is unfounded. He literally quit his job in Montreal due to a falling out with the owners, so doesn't sound like a yes man to me.
According to Juco James profiling on the HuddleBreakdown he is precisely the kind of guy we should be targeting. As with players Superstar Managers just like players come with a price tag, unlike players a Superstar Star manager may be worth 4 - 8 pts a season a Superstar Striker 20 pts.
Why should our manager recruitment strategy be any different to player recruitment strategy, not that we appear to have either presently, but from what I read about Nancy he certainly ticks a lot of boxes.
Fully understand, everyone will have their own opinions on the man at this time. What matter is what he does at Celtic if or when he becomes manager - he will be given support from the start - but he needs to hit the ground running there cannot be any delays or hiccups. He needs to keep this team winning - even if it is ugly in the interim.
From my perspective, and I have said it before. Yes he plays attacking football, but this football is just like Rodgers' possession-based. I'm not saying I know his game plan or style inside and out, but from the games/highlights I have watched since his name popped up - it's more of this tippy tappy pish that Rodgers played. Slow build up play passing across the back line, passing up and down the wings trying to find an opening. It may work in the MLS and maybe in Europe also - but in Scottish football when you have teams setting up all their players behind the ball we need to be quick and direct in attack. Getting the ball behind their defenders as quickly as we can. Then there is the clear risk of being caught in the counter attack or a high press - which was prevalent under Rodgers and is similar to what happens to Columbus under Nancy currently also.
My concerns will remain, he has a lot to prove, but if/when he becomes manager he will be given support.
Nancy cannot be compared to Ange at all. Ange had around 20 years experience in the game in Australia, in Japan, and more importantly with the Australian national team at major competitions including the World Cup. Ronny Deila only had experience in Norway and he was a 'project manager' like Nancy clearly is.
Kieran McKenna may not have European experience, but he does have experience of the British game and specifically the EPL. Nicky Hayen has proven himself on the European stage with Club Brugge as Celtic and Rangers have seen up close over the past few years.
Every single example you are using are nothing like Nancy - Eddie Howe? An experienced English manager from the lower leagues to the EPL with Bournemouth before we even went near him with an offer for a job.
As for Nancy, he hasnt managed at a big club where the demands are greater than any MLS club has seen. He may be adaptable [unlike Rodgers] and may work with different nationalities and cultures - but his style of attacking football is not suited to the Scottish game and will have to change it immediately. He plays possession based football - very similar to Rodgers - and we have seen how easy clubs counter that now especially when the build up play is slow.
There is also a huge difference between hiring him as a coach and hiring him as a manager. So what if Thierry Henry thought of him highly - his managerial credentials are less than impressive.
The MLS may be regarded as stronger than the SPFL but we all know how these club/league rankings work and they are easily manipulated - especially with commercial revenue.
He may have not been a yes man in Montreal after standing up to the owner looking to force his way into the dressing room after a league defeat - and threatening to quit on the spot - it's different managing a side in the European theatre and standing up to the likes of Dermot Desmond. Doing so this side of the water, would effectively see him lose his job AND any change of another in Europe, he knows it especially as he is a rookie unproven manager this side of the Atlantic. Whether he is a yes man or not - he will be a compliant manager - one that is easily manipulated and controlled.
However, my greatest issue is his links with Tisdale - a failed Stevenage and Exeter City manager who seems to have been given the keys to the kingdom. Nancy is only on the list because of his links with Tisdale thats it. If he is so good - where are the other suitors in Europe? Because these clubs don't want an untested rookie MLS manager taking the reins at their club.
I would have concerns if Tisdale was being asked to be our manager. But he isn’t, he is a football data analyst. Rather than using the old boys network and the managerial merry go round, we are bringing data evidence into our appointments.
Problem is Tisdale is using his old boys network to try to get Nancy appointed. They know one another. He has proven nothing during his time at Celtic as Director of Football Operations. And what makes a failed Exeter and Stevenage manager have the right credentials for such a high profile job at Celtic?
In your words "The club requires proven experience - especially familiarity with British football’s grit and the nuances of European competition."
Neither McKenna or Howe have or had any European experience.
Ange had no European experience or "British grit"
Lennon has all of the above, by the bucket load - is he a credible candidate ?
OPTA club and league rankings aren't manipulated - they are created by the people credited with among the highest level of data recording across the football sector, so they are actually a good barometer.
They show for instance that whilst MLS is ranked higher than the SPFL that Celtic are ranked higher than Columbus Crew. If you look in Europe you will see that Midtjjyland are way ahead of Celtic and Rangers whereas the UEFA rankings have Rangers ahead of both. I'd contend then that these are more accurate representations.
Nancy wouldn't be my choice, Tisdale wouldn't be anywhere near the club if it was up to me - Tisdale for me is less suited to the club than Nancy.
What is the connection ? Kwame Ampadu ? He was youth coach at Exeter when Tisdale was manager. His son got his debut under Tisdale (a top class footballer it must be added)
Ampadu has been at Arsenal as a youth coach, and worked at Monaco and Montreal under Henry. Doesn't that count for anything ? Is that more than John Kennedy for instance or Stephen McManus ?
If this guy is to get the job, he has my support. It's not his fault we have a dysfunctional club with a major shareholder with too much power.
Plenty of well performing clubs in Europe look at inexperienced coaches.
Tullberg at Midttjyland - straight from Dortmund youth set up
Hayen at Brugge - Havefordwest to Club NXT to Champions League
Pocognoli at Royal USG - from Belgium U18 coach, wins the league and now poached by Monaco.
Intriguing piece. Like you, i hate the cronyism and one of the biggest issues with the board is that there appears to be no clear idea of who is responsible for what and accountability. However, if we take Ange out as he approached celtic, then the last appointments by the board have been: rodgers, lennon, rodgers, deila, lennon. So im not sure Nancy would be a lurch down so much as a retention of the status quo if he is as you describe. And you mention wanting someone established, but sadly i think those days are behind celtic. we cant/wont pay the compensation. We need to be one step ahead in finding an up and coming (apologies awful phrase) manager who has a track record in improving players as a coach, intellectual flexibility on strategy, has a firm idea on scouting, and can inspire. that is a lot to ask. in many ways Deila was the closest we have had to that as he was clearly a good coach. lest we forget he brought mcgregor, tierney, ajer etc through and had zero budget. but he wasnt a manager and couldnt inspire the way a MoN does. I sense the right appointment for the football club will be an unpopular initial announcement. Im just not sure we are thorough enough in our search or have the courage to go there. This is a massive decision because of the previous mediocrity appointed.
Read a wee piece today part of which stated DD not involved, his Son and The Good Doctor were leading up recruitment. I wondered if we were heading for the great handover
The Doctor will turn out to be our Harold Shipman - how the hell has a failed Stevenage and Exeter City manager been given so much power at a club the size of Celtic FC? I'm just surprised that Peter Lawwell hasn't rung up Man City yet to sign a manager from one of their feeder clubs around the world.
If the board goes ahead with ths appointment, the club will have finally veered off MON's fabled "slow lane" and straight into the vehicle recovery area at the motorway services junction.
I do think Maloney definitely has something to offer, and I daresay that someone like Nancy would also make an ideal No 2 with fresh ideas and perspective.
But as a leader in such challenging times...not so much.
The fear is Celtic could lose the league with the appointment of a rookie manager like Wilfrid Nancy.
Good piece Andy, and I basically agree with it.
Appointing Wilfrid Nancy as the next Celtic manager is a tremendous risk, because he is massively under qualified for the job.
Celtic should have been looking for a manager with proven experience in a competitive league, who understands the dynamic and mentality of the Celtic/Ranger's divide in Glasgow and the West of Scotland, and who has some kind of European pedigree. Like you say, this signals the end of ambition of Celtic FC under the current Board of Directors.
Time for a change at Parkhead.
Where 's The Bunnet when you need him ?
Utter pish and the sort of piece we’d ridicule if it appeared in a tabloid. None of us know enough about Nancy to make these sort of comments. Rather keep MON till end of the season. . . Jesus wept.
I love MON but he’s analogue in a digital world. Not to mention he’s 73 years of age. Mental to expect him to last until May.
What has Knutsen achieved? Never been outside Norway, much of his success is down to structure and geographical location.
Let’s get behind the new guy from day 1. We can continue to slate the board.
Please be aware that there is not a list of top quality managers queing up to join Celtic!
I wasn't claiming Celtic should be signing top quality managers, we have a level of manager that we can attract - but that doesn't mean we should be bargain basement shopping either. If Nancy is appointed and it works out then great, but if it doesn't then the board have hammered the final nail into their coffin.
Nancy is going to split the support (and I think lose the league).
give it a rest FFS
Give what a rest? Highlighting a potential managerial candidate and giving my opinion on his credentials or lack thereof when it comes to the Celtic job? Rather than saying give it a rest, maybe argue an alternative theory as to why you think he would be a good fit.
It's a lazy response to a guy that nobody knows enough about. The kind of commentary that we saw from that moron Jamie O'Hara on Sky earlier today.
Could just as easily compare him to Ange than to Ronny in that respect.
Kieran McKenna has no European experience, does that rule him out ? Nicky Hayen was managing Havefordwest 2 years before bringing Brugge to Celtic Park and playing us off the pitch for 45 minutes.
Eddie Howe had no experience in Europe when we went for him prior to Ange but would no doubt have been a fantastic appointment.
Why he would be a good fit ?
Appears to be adaptable.
Works with a dressing room full of different nationalities and cultures that he has developed into a winning team.
Known for playing attacking football.
Thierry Henry thought enough about him to promote him to his staff.
Already working in a league that is stronger than the SPFL - and could bring knowledge of players from untapped markets, as we seen with Ange.
I could do a list of negatives too, no doubt, but I'd rather look at wider picture.
Making presumptions that he is going to uproot his family and come to the other side of the world to be a yes man for Desmond and Lawwell is unfounded. He literally quit his job in Montreal due to a falling out with the owners, so doesn't sound like a yes man to me.
According to Juco James profiling on the HuddleBreakdown he is precisely the kind of guy we should be targeting. As with players Superstar Managers just like players come with a price tag, unlike players a Superstar Star manager may be worth 4 - 8 pts a season a Superstar Striker 20 pts.
Why should our manager recruitment strategy be any different to player recruitment strategy, not that we appear to have either presently, but from what I read about Nancy he certainly ticks a lot of boxes.
Fully understand, everyone will have their own opinions on the man at this time. What matter is what he does at Celtic if or when he becomes manager - he will be given support from the start - but he needs to hit the ground running there cannot be any delays or hiccups. He needs to keep this team winning - even if it is ugly in the interim.
From my perspective, and I have said it before. Yes he plays attacking football, but this football is just like Rodgers' possession-based. I'm not saying I know his game plan or style inside and out, but from the games/highlights I have watched since his name popped up - it's more of this tippy tappy pish that Rodgers played. Slow build up play passing across the back line, passing up and down the wings trying to find an opening. It may work in the MLS and maybe in Europe also - but in Scottish football when you have teams setting up all their players behind the ball we need to be quick and direct in attack. Getting the ball behind their defenders as quickly as we can. Then there is the clear risk of being caught in the counter attack or a high press - which was prevalent under Rodgers and is similar to what happens to Columbus under Nancy currently also.
My concerns will remain, he has a lot to prove, but if/when he becomes manager he will be given support.
Nancy cannot be compared to Ange at all. Ange had around 20 years experience in the game in Australia, in Japan, and more importantly with the Australian national team at major competitions including the World Cup. Ronny Deila only had experience in Norway and he was a 'project manager' like Nancy clearly is.
Kieran McKenna may not have European experience, but he does have experience of the British game and specifically the EPL. Nicky Hayen has proven himself on the European stage with Club Brugge as Celtic and Rangers have seen up close over the past few years.
Every single example you are using are nothing like Nancy - Eddie Howe? An experienced English manager from the lower leagues to the EPL with Bournemouth before we even went near him with an offer for a job.
As for Nancy, he hasnt managed at a big club where the demands are greater than any MLS club has seen. He may be adaptable [unlike Rodgers] and may work with different nationalities and cultures - but his style of attacking football is not suited to the Scottish game and will have to change it immediately. He plays possession based football - very similar to Rodgers - and we have seen how easy clubs counter that now especially when the build up play is slow.
There is also a huge difference between hiring him as a coach and hiring him as a manager. So what if Thierry Henry thought of him highly - his managerial credentials are less than impressive.
The MLS may be regarded as stronger than the SPFL but we all know how these club/league rankings work and they are easily manipulated - especially with commercial revenue.
He may have not been a yes man in Montreal after standing up to the owner looking to force his way into the dressing room after a league defeat - and threatening to quit on the spot - it's different managing a side in the European theatre and standing up to the likes of Dermot Desmond. Doing so this side of the water, would effectively see him lose his job AND any change of another in Europe, he knows it especially as he is a rookie unproven manager this side of the Atlantic. Whether he is a yes man or not - he will be a compliant manager - one that is easily manipulated and controlled.
However, my greatest issue is his links with Tisdale - a failed Stevenage and Exeter City manager who seems to have been given the keys to the kingdom. Nancy is only on the list because of his links with Tisdale thats it. If he is so good - where are the other suitors in Europe? Because these clubs don't want an untested rookie MLS manager taking the reins at their club.
I would have concerns if Tisdale was being asked to be our manager. But he isn’t, he is a football data analyst. Rather than using the old boys network and the managerial merry go round, we are bringing data evidence into our appointments.
Is this not what a modern football club does now?
Bournemouth, Bradford, Brighton….
Problem is Tisdale is using his old boys network to try to get Nancy appointed. They know one another. He has proven nothing during his time at Celtic as Director of Football Operations. And what makes a failed Exeter and Stevenage manager have the right credentials for such a high profile job at Celtic?
In your words "The club requires proven experience - especially familiarity with British football’s grit and the nuances of European competition."
Neither McKenna or Howe have or had any European experience.
Ange had no European experience or "British grit"
Lennon has all of the above, by the bucket load - is he a credible candidate ?
OPTA club and league rankings aren't manipulated - they are created by the people credited with among the highest level of data recording across the football sector, so they are actually a good barometer.
They show for instance that whilst MLS is ranked higher than the SPFL that Celtic are ranked higher than Columbus Crew. If you look in Europe you will see that Midtjjyland are way ahead of Celtic and Rangers whereas the UEFA rankings have Rangers ahead of both. I'd contend then that these are more accurate representations.
Nancy wouldn't be my choice, Tisdale wouldn't be anywhere near the club if it was up to me - Tisdale for me is less suited to the club than Nancy.
What is the connection ? Kwame Ampadu ? He was youth coach at Exeter when Tisdale was manager. His son got his debut under Tisdale (a top class footballer it must be added)
Ampadu has been at Arsenal as a youth coach, and worked at Monaco and Montreal under Henry. Doesn't that count for anything ? Is that more than John Kennedy for instance or Stephen McManus ?
If this guy is to get the job, he has my support. It's not his fault we have a dysfunctional club with a major shareholder with too much power.
Plenty of well performing clubs in Europe look at inexperienced coaches.
Tullberg at Midttjyland - straight from Dortmund youth set up
Hayen at Brugge - Havefordwest to Club NXT to Champions League
Pocognoli at Royal USG - from Belgium U18 coach, wins the league and now poached by Monaco.
Would you take any of those guys ?
Intriguing piece. Like you, i hate the cronyism and one of the biggest issues with the board is that there appears to be no clear idea of who is responsible for what and accountability. However, if we take Ange out as he approached celtic, then the last appointments by the board have been: rodgers, lennon, rodgers, deila, lennon. So im not sure Nancy would be a lurch down so much as a retention of the status quo if he is as you describe. And you mention wanting someone established, but sadly i think those days are behind celtic. we cant/wont pay the compensation. We need to be one step ahead in finding an up and coming (apologies awful phrase) manager who has a track record in improving players as a coach, intellectual flexibility on strategy, has a firm idea on scouting, and can inspire. that is a lot to ask. in many ways Deila was the closest we have had to that as he was clearly a good coach. lest we forget he brought mcgregor, tierney, ajer etc through and had zero budget. but he wasnt a manager and couldnt inspire the way a MoN does. I sense the right appointment for the football club will be an unpopular initial announcement. Im just not sure we are thorough enough in our search or have the courage to go there. This is a massive decision because of the previous mediocrity appointed.
Read a wee piece today part of which stated DD not involved, his Son and The Good Doctor were leading up recruitment. I wondered if we were heading for the great handover
The Doctor will turn out to be our Harold Shipman - how the hell has a failed Stevenage and Exeter City manager been given so much power at a club the size of Celtic FC? I'm just surprised that Peter Lawwell hasn't rung up Man City yet to sign a manager from one of their feeder clubs around the world.
Pep does look u settled 🫣
Great piece Andy.
If the board goes ahead with ths appointment, the club will have finally veered off MON's fabled "slow lane" and straight into the vehicle recovery area at the motorway services junction.
I would rather we stick with MON and Maloney until the likes of Knutsen becomes available rather than going for Tisdale's pal.
I do think Maloney definitely has something to offer, and I daresay that someone like Nancy would also make an ideal No 2 with fresh ideas and perspective.
But as a leader in such challenging times...not so much.