TRENDING:

STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE
Win Tickets for an evening with Martin O’Neill
Celtic secure dream draw ahead of Champions League Grou...
Brendan Rodgers – Lets Go Round Again...
So Farewell Then……
Politically expedient to criticise football
Sensational Celts retain Women’s Scottish Cup with 2-0 ...
CITY SNATCH TITLE FROM CELTIC AT THE DEATH IN DRAMATIC ...
Cummings injury time equaliser keeps the B Team in the ...
THE DEMISE OF THE AWAY FAN
I Should Be so Lucky
Hayes Double seals win for Ghirls on Derby Day
Hampden awaits the next Glasgow derby : Rangers vs Celt...
Fran Alonso on SWPL Glasgow Derby
Another three points in Airdrie: Celtic Women 3-0 Aberd...
Celtic 3-0 Livingston – match report
Euro Vision
Celtic edge closer to the top spot: Hearts Women 1 – 2 ...
50 YEARS A CELT THE TOP 10 PLAYERS – NUMBERS 5 TO...
Only a fool would dismiss a statistical anomaly
League action for the Ghirls: Glasgow Women vs Celtic W...
Celtic B vs Civil service strollers – 04/01/2023
Points shared at Ibrox as Celtic remain Nine clear at t...
Comeback Kings: Celtic B 5-2 Rangers B
Derby day at Paradise: Celtic FC B vs Rangers B match p...
2022 done and dusted for the Ghirls : Celtic FC Women y...
50 YEARS A CELT – THE TOP 10 GAMES
XMAS Cheer at Paradise:Celtic 4-1 St.Johnstone
Two goals and three points for the Hoops: Celtic 2-1 Li...
They Never Stop: Aberdeen 0-1 Celtic
The Ghirls set out for three points before the break: C...
Return to action for the Hoops : Aberdeen vs Celtic mat...
Young Celts defeated in disappointing midweek clash
Share The Magic: An interview with Celtic FC Foundation...
Dominant display in Airdrie: Celtic 7:0 Dundee United
Celtic hit Dundee United for Magnificent 7
A TALE OF THE NOT SO UNEXPECTED
Celtic B 5 Edinburgh University 0
Yuki Kobayashi Press Conference
Celtic women look to get back to winning ways : Celtic ...
RESILLIANT CELTIC B TEAM TURNS THE TIDE AGAINST BO’NESS...
Past V Future? – Juranović and Johnston feature as Croa...
Our Latest Days in Europa
THE WAY AHEAD FOR CELTIC
The Umpteenth Avoidable Failure
KEEPING THE FAITH
The Celtic Underground
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Articles
    • Season 2022-2023
    • Season 2021-2022
    • Season 2020-2021
    • Season 2019-2020
    • Season 2018-2019
    • Season 2017-2018
    • Season 2016-2017
    • Season 2015-2016
    • Season 2014-2015
    • Season 2013-2014
    • Season 2012-2013
    • Season 2011-2012
    • Season 2010-2011
    • Season 2009-2010
  • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
    • Images
    • Video
  • Twitter
  • News Now
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Select Page

Why Avram Grant can be Celtic’s Saving Grace

Posted by The Celtic Underground | Apr 12, 2010 | Season 2009-2010 | 0 |

Why Avram Grant can be Celtic’s Saving GraceScore 0%Score 0%

Let’s get this straight first: this is not a propaganda piece for Grant after yesterday’s result. We as a club must be searching for the right manager now if we are to get back to the heights of seven years ago. If we sit and dwindle our thumbs, we could end up with another Tony Mowbray.

We need a manager who can rebuild the mess that has been left. We need someone who can build a solid spine for our team and get together a defence that is capable with dealing with the basic set piece. We need a winner with experience and someone with the right winning mentality. So why Avram Grant?

If it wasn’t for the rain in Moscow back in 2008, Avram Grant would most likely be out of reach for a club like Celtic. Instead, it caused John Terry to miss his penalty, and ultimately, cost Avram Grant his job as Chelsea manager. It wasn’t just Terry’s inability to score a penalty that cost Grant though, as he was always up against it at Chelsea to succeed the ‘Special One’. Despite never being a fans favourite, Grant took Chelsea to a League Cup final, a Champions League final (something which Mourinho tried and failed with Chelsea) and had taken them to a last day title decider against Manchester United, stacking up an impressive 74 of the 96 points available.

Despite that, they won nothing. However, Grant has won numerous titles back in his native Israel and does have a winning mentality, something vital for a club like Celtic. A similarly important aspect was how Grant managed to control a dressing room of personalities, none bigger than the Chelsea one who where loyal to Mourinho. Grant knows what it’s like to handle players, however big their status, and I think there could be one or two Celtic players who ‘s attitude would suitably lighten up if he was given the job.

It’s hard to describe what’s going on at Portsmouth and the job he has done/doing there. He inherited a squad which was dwindling by each month and could sign absolutely no one (Jamie O’Hara’s loan was only extended) but despite that, has managed a 30% win ratio at the club when they lost their first seven games and were docked nine points due to administration. Nevertheless, it’s hard not to admire how he managed to get Portsmouth to the FA Cup final. Whatever he did to the players, we badly need some of that fight and desire here in Glasgow because this is one of the worst Celtic teams that I have seen that has no passion, heart or hunger for the shirt. Watching our semi final then the Portsmouth one was like light and day; it was embarrassing.

One of the most important features about the new manager is money. How much will be given to him and how much will we need to spend to bring him in? I severely doubt Grant will be at Portsmouth next season (or any of the team) and more importantly for us, he would cost very little money, if at all any. He made shrewd buys at Chelsea (Nicolas Anelka and Branislav Ivanovi? – important players for them currently) and knows the European market inside out with his previous work, so would you trust him to build our team? I would.

The board simply must grow some balls and make a stand for our club: this appointment is going to be one of the most important in our history. If we fail in this and continue to under spend then Rangers will be looking at three-in-a-row, something unimaginable only 12 months ago.

With the greatest respect to Neil Lennon, we cannot go for the cheap option in him. Do we go for another relatively cheap option in Paul Lambert, with only a little more experience than Lennon? Or does the board go out, spend money and get someone who can put us back where we ultimately belong?

The general consensus is to go for Mark Hughes, someone who is also free and available now. He made his Blackburn team a bunch of physical players who were hard to beat, and often bought a sound bargain (Christopher Samba, Roque Santa Cruz, Benni McCarthy, David Bentley, etc). He is someone who ticks the boxes, but I believe he is bound for claret colours this summer in the shape of West Ham (if they survive) or Aston Villa (if O’Neill walks).

Whoever we get, it must be someone who can pull us out of this nightmare. The board will be mad if they don’t contact Avram Grant about the Celtic job, as he took on an impossible role at Chelsea (Strachan after O’Neill anyone?) and went so close to winning a treble, more so the Champions League that they so covet. He also did the impossible by taking quite a literally a joke club to a FA Cup final through pure spirit, and hopefully, if the board have any sense, he can do the impossible and pull this club out of relentless misery.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

0%

Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, string given in /customers/b/b/1/celticunderground.net/httpd.www/wp-content/themes/Extra/single-post.php on line 97

Share:

Rate:

PreviousHypothetically Speaking…
NextThe Georgios Samaras Diaries: April12th 2010

About The Author

The Celtic Underground

The Celtic Underground

Follow us on Twitter @CelticRumours.

Related Posts

Guess The Celticunderground Top Ten for 2009/10 and Win

Guess The Celticunderground Top Ten for 2009/10 and Win

24/05/2010

A Matter of Convention

A Matter of Convention

25/06/2010

World Cup Time

World Cup Time

13/05/2010

Go Compare

Go Compare

03/03/2010

Login

Register | Lost your password?

RSS NEWS NOW

  • Celtic handed UEFA fine after pyro set off at Feyenoord 04/10/2023
    Prior to last month's group stage opener against Feyenoord in Rotterdam, a section of the travelling Hoops supporters set off flares. 
  • Celtic captain Callum McGregor sceptical of 'Lazio in crisis' talk 04/10/2023
    IT was no great surprise to seasoned followers of Scottish football when Celtic scored a winner in the seventh minute of injury-time in their cinch Premiership match against Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday afternoon.
  • Jota pictured all smiles in Al-Ittihad training despite transfer saga 04/10/2023
    The former Celtic winger moved to the Saudi club in the summer for a bumper £25million fee, but the switch simply has not gone to plan since.
  • Celtic hero Gary Hooper finds new club at 35 after Masters appearance 04/10/2023
    Hooper was a huge hit during his time at Celtic between 2010 and 2013, netting 63 goals in 95 appearances.
  • Celtic vs Lazio: TV channel, live stream & kick-off time 04/10/2023
    The Scottish champions are back on home soil on matchday two and they will fancy their chances of getting some points on the board.
  • Callum McGregor taking inspiration from a Celtic double ahead of Lazio 03/10/2023
    CELTIC captain Callum McGregor has grown accustomed to toasting trebles during his trophy-laden career at Parkhead.
  • Rodgers ponders Postecoglou contrast amid Celtic 'control' Euro plan 03/10/2023
    LIONEL MESSI called it the best atmosphere in Europe. Xavi Hernandez said it was the best atmosphere he had ever witnessed...
  • Brendan Rodgers' advice for Rangers foe Michael Beale 03/10/2023
    BRENDAN RODGERS has backed Michael Beale to bounce back from his disappointment at Rangers...

Recent Posts

  • STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE
  • Win Tickets for an evening with Martin O’Neill
  • Celtic ease past Dundee in 3-0 win 
  • Can it really be 45 years ?
  • Celtic secure dream draw ahead of Champions League Group Stage
  • Brendan Rodgers – Lets Go Round Again

Articles

  • Season 2022-2023
  • Season 2021-2022
  • Season 2020-2021
  • Season 2019-2020
  • Season 2018-2019
  • Season 2017-2018
  • Season 2016-2017
  • Season 2015-2016
  • Season 2014-2015
  • Season 2013-2014
  • Season 2012-2013
  • Season 2011-2012
  • Season 2010-2011
  • Season 2009-2010
  • Twitter
  • News Now

Multimedia

  • Podcasts
  • Video
  • Images

TWITTER

Tweets by HarryBradyCU

Follow Us

  • Facebook

  • Youtube

  • Vimeo

  • Twitter

About Us

In the summer of 2006 a few of us decided to set up the Celticunderground website. At the time we were somewhat disillusioned at the cosy relationship between some fansites and the board which was developing and felt that we wanted to be part of something that wasn’t being influenced by the PLC. We were angry middleaged men and we weren’t going to take it anymore. Under the heading “About Us” we attempted to articulate something akin to a vision statement for the site. Looking back on what was written it’s clear that in some aspects we were spot on and in others we were hopelessly naive. The site has evolved into something that none of us could have predicted and we’d like to think that we’ll keep changing in the coming years. It might not be to everyone’s tastes but it will always be about genuine fans saying what they think because they love the club.

Contact Us

    Recent Posts

    • STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE
      STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE
      Sep 24, 2023 | Articles, Season 2022-2023
    • Win Tickets for an evening with Martin O’Neill
      Win Tickets for an evening with Martin O’Neill
      Sep 18, 2023 | Articles, Season 2022-2023
    • <strong>Celtic ease past Dundee in 3-0 win </strong>
      Celtic ease past Dundee in 3-0 win 
      Sep 17, 2023 | Articles
    • Can it really be 45 years ?
      Can it really be 45 years ?
      Sep 9, 2023 | Season 2013-2014, Season 2022-2023
    • <strong>Celtic secure dream draw ahead of Champions League Group Stage</strong>
      Celtic secure dream draw ahead of Champions League Group Stage
      Sep 2, 2023 | Articles

    Quick Links

    • Home
    • About Us
    • Articles
    • Multimedia
    • Twitter
    • News Now
    • Sitemap
    • Contact Us

    © The Celtic Underground | Website Design by Redwing Creative

    Login

    Forgotten Password?

    Lost your password?
    | Back to Login