Chris Sutton has turned to cricket for an analogy on the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as Celtic manager.
The worst kept secret in football was confirmed at 9am this morning with a series of video interviews from the newly appointed manager and in-coming CEO Dom McKay. On the Celtic website there were words of endorsement from Peter Lawwell.
For the Celtic cricket fans from an older generation… ?? Ange Postecoglou taking the Celtic job in the current situation is like being sent out to bat against Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee without pads, helmet, gloves and a box…
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) June 10, 2021
Not at all. I’m saying he needs help from the powers that be. Big overhaul required. Best players likely to leave and will need replacing. It’s a mess he is inheriting and he needs time and patience and help. https://t.co/uayl2cUnRF
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) June 10, 2021
It was a lighthearted view of the situation Ange is walking into John… huge apologies for the offence and upset the tweet may have caused you… https://t.co/CdNVZwcxo8
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) June 10, 2021
Do you think Ange Postecoglou will win the 21/22 SPFL Premiership title?
Yes, I'm all in, the bounce back is underway
No, Ange is walking into a club in turmoil
Behind the hype and high-fiving of today’s announcement Postecoglou is facing a bigger task than any other Celtic manager has taken on since Billy McNeill took over from Jock Stein in 1978. That was on the back of a fifth placed finish in the Premier Division, a Scottish Cup defeat to First Division Kilmarnock and European exit to SSW Innsbruck.
A week today Celtic begin pre-season training. Of the team that started the final match of last season only Vasilis Barkas is scheduled to attend. Postecoglou will be looking on from afar.
On Tuesday the draw will be made for the Champions League qualifying round, in the non-Champions route they will face Rapid Vienna, Galatasaray or Midtjylland with those matches to be played on July 20/21 and 27/28.
Putting together a squad or team in time for those dates looks highly unlikely, all of those possible opponents are superior to Cluj, Ferencvaros and AEK Athens who have ended the hopes of Celtic in the last three seasons.
Sutton’s view might not be popular but it is hard to argue that the odds are stacked massively against Postecoglou making a success of his critical first 106 days in the job.
