Hugh Keevins went on the defensive when it came to the appointment of Ange Postecoglou and challenged the perception and assumptions being made about the new Celtic boss.
When a rival fan called into the show and branded Ange the equivalent of Pedro Caixinha — the veteran pundit wanted to set things straight.
“I would say this in his defence straight away. I cannot think of any manager in my lifetime, who has gone to Celtic with a greater burden on his shoulders than Ange Postecoglou is carrying.” Keevins told Clyde One SSB.
“Because there is a monumental rebuild required. The club has been turned upside down in the space of a year. The players who really mattered for Celtic are going out of the club. Brown, Edouard, Ajer and perhaps more to follow.
“The rebuild is substantial. And he has no experience of working on this continent. I think I feel sympathetic towards him because it’s a heck of a job.
It has to be done in a short space of time, but whether it’s Dominic (caller) saying he is the next Pedro Caixinha or Celtic fans saying he could be the next Wim Jansen. Nobody knows for sure until we start playing matches.”
Keevins is absolutely correct — we’re going into the unknown and while the reviews from people who have followed the new Celtic gaffer’s career to this point are glowing — we must wait and see what the new season brings.
The task ahead is enormous. Celtic have taken a massive gamble after their embarrassment of a season last term.
Many thought Dermot would go for a managerial big gun and perhaps that’s what the billionaire thought Eddie Howe was going to be until the Englishman bowed out very late in the game.
Ange isn’t a novice manager — but just like most men who could have taken the job — the Celtic role is unique and nothing can really prepare you for the pressure it brings.
We wait to see what the new man will bring.
He needs 2 or 3 seasons, realistically he has ten months. It is not enough time. The next guy will be more successful. Wrong time to take this job. Gerrard won nothing for 2 seasons, if they had any money they would have sacked him. He has won one trophy in 9 in as easy a season as Deila had with them out of the division. In effect Celtic were missing and applied no pressure meaning they didn’t do their usual and bottle it. The only pressure games they played they bottled and got knocked out of the cups. Europe is no pressure nothing expected. There will be more pressure on them this season but with Celtic starting so far back they should be OK. But Ange will be gone before they win it