Rousseau

I think the point is that they couldn't get a 'keeper in, not because they were not allowed but because they couldn't get a deal done. However, if a team has no 'keeper, surely that game must be postponed? And if it happened for Hearts last year... stupidity from the SFA.

I was coming round to the idea of Alex Neil, but if he is indeed a Celtic fan then in the words of the sacked McGhee: "Get that tae f***!" I'd prefer a more tactically astute manager, and certainly one able to change with the opposition; for me, Monk is a good option in that regard. Rowett is a bit too pragmatic for me, and he doesn't really have a philosophy -- certainly not one that would fit with what, I hope, we are trying to do. I don't know much about the Portuguese guy -- much to my annoyance -- but any foreigner must be more tactically astute than any British manager, but then might not understand the British game. DoF has to be appointed first, though.

The man is a machine; it's not natural.

He was before my time, but that was stunning; the Scottish Iniesta indeed -- my only reference unfortunately! Thanks for posting the video.

That can't be true as those good performances came in the middle of our games. If teams had figured us out, then we should've been doing well at the start of the season then fade away, but we started poorly then had a little good spell then fell away again. It might be true that teams have always had us sussed, but then our good games show that we were able to overcome that. Anyway, those few good games don't excuse the many poor ones.

I agree, and I'm not saying we've hit that level often -- far from it -- but when playing at our absolute best, this team is capable of playing much much better than what they've shown for most of the season. I'm not "profoundly wrong", I'm actually correct in my statement that this team can play a lot better. That was my point. It does not mean that this team is not absolutely woeful for the most part, and will go down as one of our worst squads -- I still think Ally's League 2 and 1 squads were worse, however -- because it will.

I am demonstrably correct. We wiped the floor with Aberdeen and Hearts, so clearly we have a much better/higher level than we've shown. Most of the time, unfortunately, it has been utterly dreadful.

Looking back on the game, I can't believe we lost. As bad as we were for spells -- large spells at that -- I lost count of the number of glorious chances we missed. That's not management or the board; you can argue management is getting them into the position to create those chances, which they did. Ultimately it's down to the players to take them. We (the team) are desperately short of confidence. I truly believe we are much better than what we've shown. The number of mistakes is just incredible. It's desperately disappointing.

That's a good point. Clearly they shouldn't if they understand the role, but I can appreciate it may be difficult for traditional former managers.

Does he really think he is so good that he can pick and choose when he plays and that we'll jump at the chance to add him? I'd chase him. Then again, Chesney is the boss so he'll be able to do what he likes.

While I'm not sure Martin Jol is the right man -- for manager or DoF -- I do think the idea of getting someone in now to then take on the DoF role in the summer is a good move from the board. Of course, it is pure speculation at this point.

What for? I thought we were trying to convince him to join?

If that's how he treats a journalist, imagine what he'd say to the players now! Brilliant.

I'm astonished Leicester got out of Sevilla with only a 1-goal deficit. I was thinking it would be a case of how many for Sevilla; and although they did dominate, they couldn't quite take their chances. I'm a big fan of Jorge Sampaoli, a tactical genius; his sides are always brilliant to watch.

Just wait and see how that turns out, though. I think Venkys just pull any old name out the hat -- no wonder they've gone through several managers in the last 3 seasons. We need to get the DoF in first, if that is the route we're taking. It will take time, as it is an important decision.

It sounds a bit short-termist to me. Of course, the best time was 2012 but we wasted that be being owned/run be wasters. Southampton are just the nearest successful example; they implemented their model when they reached their lowest ebb, and it helped get them back up. There are many teams that have a demand for success that have implemented this model, like Bayern, Ajax and Barcelona; and it's not mutually exclusive with winning. We can get a coach in that can get us winning, but we can also implement a DoF model. To me, it sounds like you want to buy success now and then implement a DoF structure, which sounds counter-intuitive to me. How can we ever expect the youth set-up to work if we don't have the structure in place? Surely, we need to get the structure implemented as soon as possible to give us the best possible chance of success in the long-term? Even if we get a new manager in that gets us winning, we'll be successful only in the short-term. Eventually he'll leave or get sacked and we'll need to rebuild the squad again. All the while trying to pounce on any Champions League crumbs. I don't believe that is sustainable. We are some of the most impatient fans in the world but we just need to deal with it; for I believe if we can get the right structure in place we'll be in a much better place long-term so these cyclical crises are mitigated as much as possible. We're already going through a turbulent time, what's a little bit more turbulence?

Brilliant read! Thanks! I find it fascinating how full-backs are used -- predominantly as wingers nowadays -- and their development. I think we all have a fixed perception of a certain position, but in truth it evolves with time. Also interesting to see that Guardiola has essentially used a formation (MW - 3-2-2-3) first used over 60 years prior!

Dougie Freedman... [tweet]834015248692740096[/tweet]

I was thinking about Chelsea's less ideal model. They have a DoF who has singed for them the best young talent in Europe -- Lukaku, Courtois, De Bruyne etc. and loaned them out -- it's just that they've signed managers that don't fit with that model. So, Mourinho, who is a manager in the traditional sense, didn't like those players for whatever reason. If they had signed a coach that fit into that model they'd have an outstanding squad of young talent. If those players (Lukaku, De Bruyne etc.) had been part of say, Southampton's model, they would've been given a pathway into the first-team and would be first-team players -- before being sold on for mega-bucks!

Oh, please no...

I don't think it matters what the guy's age is. All that matters is that he can implement a club-wide philosophy and scouting network. The coach needs to fit into it. (Southampton's scouting network is incredibly technical so I can't see an older guy being able to implement it.)

I think the building blocks are in place. For me, a DoF is responsible for the overall club philosophy, playing style, scouting network/system and acquisition of the type of players that suit our way of playing etc. Like at Southampton, they have a distinct playing philosophy throughout the club, from youth to first-team, and all players are scouted to fit into that system. I think too many of us are thinking that because MW is gone that we need to start again. That is precisely the type of thing we need to avoid. MW has started to implement a club-wide philosophy and this should be continued. We now need a new manager/head coach that will be able to fit into it. Southampton, because they have a DoF and a club-wide philosphy, can target managers that cause little disruption -- Pochetino, Koeman and Puel were all chosen because they fit into the club's -- and DoF's -- philosophy; how many thought Pochetino was a ridiculous appointment at the time? It really wasn't because he was a coach that fit into their system. Ideally, we'd want a DoF in first to 'direct' the club philosophy. In essence MW was doing most of it himself. A DoF would not interfere with team-affairs, otherwise he's not doing his job. He would be responsible for the players brought in, though. If the coach said he needed a left-back, the DoF would draw up a list -- ideally the list would already be there because they'd have a detailed scouting network of all positions and players with attributes that would fit into our club philosophy and price range -- and present that list to the coach, who would have a final say and choose the left-back he would want. We can't have a manager choosing any old left-back. The left-back would need to possess certain attributes that means he can fit into our philosophy, so any future manager can use him.

When you get excited about possible names like Pako Ayestaran, Gary Rowatt and Frank de Boer only to see the next name is Alan Irvine...

It's an interesting question. If you are talking first-team, then very few. Perhaps, Foderingham, Wallace, Wilson, McKay, and maybe Garner -- depending on how he fits in. (And Hyndman but he'll be away.) If you are talking squad, then I'd keep most. Even the much-maligned Halliday and Tavernier are 'decent' players that can be good squad players. A good coach can elevate the current squad, so in that regard I don't think it's a total rebuild. It's certainly clear we need upgrades all over the park, but I don't think that necessarily means a complete re-build; merely better quality additions -- perhaps a few!

I agree we were crap and I'm looking forward to seeing where we go, but I think we had a settled way of playing that was semi-successful. We just needed better players, and MW failed to add to the group over the last few windows. I don't think we require a total rebuild. He has started the build. It is for another to continue it.