Alternative View - Shooting from the Lip
AV: Why was it Celtic and not another team you chose to support?
Michael: Don’t suppose I had much choice really, and once you support Celtic there is no going back – they are just one of those teams. I imagine almost every player ever to have played for, leaves as a Celtic supporter to an extent.
AV: As we now look for a new manager with Tony out the door within 9 months after promising so much with his long term plan which never showed any promise at any time, the results of his time in charge and the mess left behind are horrendous. Do you think the board should have taken action sooner regarding Tony?
Michael: It’s a difficult one, you don’t want to jump the gun and change a whole management team too early (particularly one you have invested pretty heavily in). You want to back your manager and team to allow them to succeed. However I think Tony’s team weren’t showing any real signs of improvement at all, if there had been, I think people would have given him a bit more breathing space, but there wasn’t, so the St Mirren game seemed more an underlining of where they team were at, rather than a mere blip.
AV: Neil Lennon has come in and rescued what was left of the season, achieving 24 league points from 24 reducing the final points gap from 16 to 6. As we wait any day now for the announcement of the new manager do you think Neil will get the job or do you think Celtic will look for a more experienced manager?
Michael: If there was a decent calibre of experienced managers out there I think it would really ask some questions of the board, but given there doesn’t seem much in the market of a level, experience and price that would suit Celtic(and viceversa), I think the job’s all his to be honest. Is a guy with a couple of seasons experience that far above Lennon for the job? Or could Lennons knowledge of the players, of seeing the club run well, and conversely, seeing the club struggle, be invaluable, especially in comparison to what’s available.
AV: How much do you think you spend on tickets & Celtic merchandising overall each year?
Michael: £200-£250. I am lucky enough to be offered a ticket to most home league matches through various family members season books, but my wife and I always buy tickets for European matches and I buy the odd home shirt.
AV: Do you buy the Celtic View and do you think it represents the view of the support?
Michael: Haven’t bought it in years but don’t get the impression that it’s a ‘fans favourite’.
AV: What is your opinion of the Alternative View?
Michael: Its good that the fans have another option when it comes to our voice in the media, and it’s pretty widespread and relatively cheap.
AV: Do you think it matters that a Club like Celtic should always have an ex-Celtic player in coaching or management who understands the Club, rather than a foreign coach who would perhaps find it difficult to understand the supporters’ expectations and aspirations?
Michael: Not a jot. We should have the best available people in those jobs, there will always be enough people around the club who know what its about, and as fans its our responsibility to ensure those involved know our history, expectations and aspirations.
AV: Do you think the Celtic board do enough to make Celtic the force we expect them to be, or are you of the opinion that they look at what’s happening at Ibrox at any given time and only spend enough to financially compete on whatever level Rangers are at?
Michael: I am happier that we are living within our means, and actually think we have spent enough every year this side of the millennium to have won the SPL. I don’t think we are at a juncture where its worth gambling for European progression as in the next couple of seasons I think many teams who have tried that will pay the price.
AV: In terms of re-building for next season, where it looks as though we may well have to shift out at least 6 players, can you give us 6 players in the current squad that you think can still be part of a future successful Celtic side?
Michael: Boruc and McGeady if we keep hold of them (although Zalusca would be a more than able deputy), Brown who I reckon will have his best season in 2010/11 Crosas, McCourt, and surprisingly Samaras. Big Sammy has the ability to take teams apart – pace and power with good feet. He is horrendously inconsistent and his decision making is up there with the worst I’ve ever seen, but you don’t get many matchwinners around in Scotland anymore, and surely strong coaching and good management is what is needed to improve decision making and consistency. However, I’d like to see a bit more of Ki who looks to be a talented user of the ball.
AV: Do you think Scott Brown is a Celtic captain and do you think Scott is good enough to be an automatic first team pick, which is what a captain should be?
Michael: I think he looks to have all the attributes to be a Celtic captain, but the balance of the central midfield pairings this season have just not worked, and infact haven’t worked on a consistent basis since Scott’s been at the club, so he hasn’t been on top of his own game, which has affected his ability to inspire others. Given only Boruc in our current squad has real leadership qualities, I think Scott is as good as anybody at the moment and has every chance to become a great captain for us if he can grow and improve in the role. His ability places him as an automatic first team pick, lets hope he gets his form consistent enough to justify that.
AV: In your time watching Celtic who is your favourite manager and why?
Michael: Martin O’Neil, it wasn’t just the level of success, but the level of progression he made in that time. I will always judge future managers on where they have taken the club. From almost constant failure from Brady to Barnes to Uefa cup finalists and almost guaranteed champions league participants, I don’t imagine we will see a leap like that in such a short space of time again.
AV: You’re favourite Celt that you’ve seen in your lifetime and why?
Michael: Nakamura, just edges it ahead of Lenny, Lubo, Lambert, Cadete, Collins, and McStay. His ability, touch, vision, workrate, passing, and just the way he went about the game were a total joy to behold. In the modern game where so much seems to be focused on physical strength and lightning pace, Naka gave us the chance to see that regardless of his slight build and leisurely pace, remarkable footballers can play in any surroundings at any level.
Michael: Don’t suppose I had much choice really, and once you support Celtic there is no going back – they are just one of those teams. I imagine almost every player ever to have played for, leaves as a Celtic supporter to an extent.
AV: As we now look for a new manager with Tony out the door within 9 months after promising so much with his long term plan which never showed any promise at any time, the results of his time in charge and the mess left behind are horrendous. Do you think the board should have taken action sooner regarding Tony?
Michael: It’s a difficult one, you don’t want to jump the gun and change a whole management team too early (particularly one you have invested pretty heavily in). You want to back your manager and team to allow them to succeed. However I think Tony’s team weren’t showing any real signs of improvement at all, if there had been, I think people would have given him a bit more breathing space, but there wasn’t, so the St Mirren game seemed more an underlining of where they team were at, rather than a mere blip.
AV: Neil Lennon has come in and rescued what was left of the season, achieving 24 league points from 24 reducing the final points gap from 16 to 6. As we wait any day now for the announcement of the new manager do you think Neil will get the job or do you think Celtic will look for a more experienced manager?
Michael: If there was a decent calibre of experienced managers out there I think it would really ask some questions of the board, but given there doesn’t seem much in the market of a level, experience and price that would suit Celtic(and viceversa), I think the job’s all his to be honest. Is a guy with a couple of seasons experience that far above Lennon for the job? Or could Lennons knowledge of the players, of seeing the club run well, and conversely, seeing the club struggle, be invaluable, especially in comparison to what’s available.
AV: How much do you think you spend on tickets & Celtic merchandising overall each year?
Michael: £200-£250. I am lucky enough to be offered a ticket to most home league matches through various family members season books, but my wife and I always buy tickets for European matches and I buy the odd home shirt.
AV: Do you buy the Celtic View and do you think it represents the view of the support?
Michael: Haven’t bought it in years but don’t get the impression that it’s a ‘fans favourite’.
AV: What is your opinion of the Alternative View?
Michael: Its good that the fans have another option when it comes to our voice in the media, and it’s pretty widespread and relatively cheap.
AV: Do you think it matters that a Club like Celtic should always have an ex-Celtic player in coaching or management who understands the Club, rather than a foreign coach who would perhaps find it difficult to understand the supporters’ expectations and aspirations?
Michael: Not a jot. We should have the best available people in those jobs, there will always be enough people around the club who know what its about, and as fans its our responsibility to ensure those involved know our history, expectations and aspirations.
AV: Do you think the Celtic board do enough to make Celtic the force we expect them to be, or are you of the opinion that they look at what’s happening at Ibrox at any given time and only spend enough to financially compete on whatever level Rangers are at?
Michael: I am happier that we are living within our means, and actually think we have spent enough every year this side of the millennium to have won the SPL. I don’t think we are at a juncture where its worth gambling for European progression as in the next couple of seasons I think many teams who have tried that will pay the price.
AV: In terms of re-building for next season, where it looks as though we may well have to shift out at least 6 players, can you give us 6 players in the current squad that you think can still be part of a future successful Celtic side?
Michael: Boruc and McGeady if we keep hold of them (although Zalusca would be a more than able deputy), Brown who I reckon will have his best season in 2010/11 Crosas, McCourt, and surprisingly Samaras. Big Sammy has the ability to take teams apart – pace and power with good feet. He is horrendously inconsistent and his decision making is up there with the worst I’ve ever seen, but you don’t get many matchwinners around in Scotland anymore, and surely strong coaching and good management is what is needed to improve decision making and consistency. However, I’d like to see a bit more of Ki who looks to be a talented user of the ball.
AV: Do you think Scott Brown is a Celtic captain and do you think Scott is good enough to be an automatic first team pick, which is what a captain should be?
Michael: I think he looks to have all the attributes to be a Celtic captain, but the balance of the central midfield pairings this season have just not worked, and infact haven’t worked on a consistent basis since Scott’s been at the club, so he hasn’t been on top of his own game, which has affected his ability to inspire others. Given only Boruc in our current squad has real leadership qualities, I think Scott is as good as anybody at the moment and has every chance to become a great captain for us if he can grow and improve in the role. His ability places him as an automatic first team pick, lets hope he gets his form consistent enough to justify that.
AV: In your time watching Celtic who is your favourite manager and why?
Michael: Martin O’Neil, it wasn’t just the level of success, but the level of progression he made in that time. I will always judge future managers on where they have taken the club. From almost constant failure from Brady to Barnes to Uefa cup finalists and almost guaranteed champions league participants, I don’t imagine we will see a leap like that in such a short space of time again.
AV: You’re favourite Celt that you’ve seen in your lifetime and why?
Michael: Nakamura, just edges it ahead of Lenny, Lubo, Lambert, Cadete, Collins, and McStay. His ability, touch, vision, workrate, passing, and just the way he went about the game were a total joy to behold. In the modern game where so much seems to be focused on physical strength and lightning pace, Naka gave us the chance to see that regardless of his slight build and leisurely pace, remarkable footballers can play in any surroundings at any level.
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