TRENDING:

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 Grace

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
  • Print

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

Tony Mowbray – Is it Over?

Tony Mowbray – Is it Over?

11/03/2010

Win Against Rangers Is Vital For Champions’ League Hopes

Win Against Rangers Is Vital For Champions’ League Hopes

22/02/2010

Something Better Change

Something Better Change

14/02/2010

Time For A Return Of The Sweeper

Time For A Return Of The Sweeper

08/05/2010

Login

Register | Lost your password?

RSS NEWS NOW

  • Mikey Johnston Celtic transfer latest as Ange Postecoglou gives loan exit approval 10/08/2022
    The 23-year-old's looking to kickstart his career after an injury-plagued few years
  • Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon would be a 'major coup' for SPFL club insists pundit 10/08/2022
    Lennon's currently at the helm at Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus
  • Celtic's Josip Juranovic a 'target' for Premier League Chelsea 10/08/2022
    The 26-year-old has already been subject to transfer speculation this summer
  • Alan Stubbs on the two things Moritz Jenz achieved on his dream Celtic debut and what the German must do now 10/08/2022
    IT took a long time, probably well over a season, for Alan Stubbs to come good at Celtic, perform at his very best on a consistent basis and justify the record £3.5m transfer fee which it took to land him.
  • Giorgos Giakoumakis reveals brutal Benji Siegrist Celtic initiation and his own training ground trolling 09/08/2022
    GIORGOS GIAKOUMAKIS is thrilled to have been given his own song by the Celtic support - however he revealed he's less excited to hear his team-mates singing it in training.
  • Celtic showed they are best team but Rangers rivalry 'back to what it should be', claims pundit 09/08/2022
    JOHN BARNES insists the Celtic and Rangers rivalry is "back to what it should be" but insists Celtic proved they are the best team in Scotland.
  • Celtic Champions League schedule preparation detailed by Ange Postecoglou 09/08/2022
    ANGE POSTECOGLOU has revealed Celtic will play bounce games as part of their preparation for their upcoming Champions League schedule.
  • Former Celtic transfer misfit could be set to link up with Ronaldo 09/08/2022
    Jack Hendry has been linked with Real Valladolid after failing to impress Brugge boss Carl Hoefkens

Recent Posts

  • Season opener 2022-23
  • Tifo or Tifno…?
  • JOHN HUGHES: AN APPRECIATION
  • Maddison interest sparks new O’Reilly moves
  • CU Podcast – Happiness Edition
  • CU REVIEW OF THE SEASON

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

  • Season opener 2022-23
    Season opener 2022-23
    Aug 7, 2022 | Images, Multimedia
  • Tifo or Tifno…?
    Tifo or Tifno…?
    Aug 7, 2022 | Multimedia, Podcasts
  • JOHN HUGHES: AN APPRECIATION
    JOHN HUGHES: AN APPRECIATION
    Aug 3, 2022 | Season 2022-2023
  • Maddison interest sparks new O’Reilly moves
    Maddison interest sparks new O’Reilly moves
    Jul 31, 2022 | Articles, Season 2022-2023
  • CU Podcast – Happiness Edition
    CU Podcast – Happiness Edition
    Jul 31, 2022 | Multimedia, Podcasts, Season 2022-2023

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
This site uses cookies: Find out more.