Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, so I’ve heard, and it appears as if the other side of the Old Firm have decided that by copying our successful management model, they have a chance of closing the enormous gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
With Roy Keane apparently one of the front runners for the Celtic manager’s job, appointing a “big name” seems to be their strategy, but it’s not quite as simple as that and Alan Hutton, speaking to Football Insider, feels that it could be a decision that Rangers are well placed to take advantage of:
“He’s done well, he did well at Sunderland, he’s been at Ipswich, he’s had that experience. People definitely listen to what he’s got to say. Whether he’s the man for the rebuilding job, I’m not so sure.
“He’s a huge name. It would be a great rivalry to see him come up against Steven Gerrard again but it’s a difficult one. I’ve actually thought of this before and I’m not too sure, if I’m honest.
“Whether he’s the man to do that, I’ll suppose we’ll have to wait and see. I’m not sure. I’ve only had him as a number two, I’ve never actually seen him out on his own. It would definitely be fascinating for him to come up north and have a go at it.
“You need to remember, you have to add into that the pressure situation. We’re talking about a goldfish bowl where you’re under pressure daily to produce.
“It’s such a big job. They have to get it right and quickly or Rangers will be miles in front of them.”
There is a reason he hasn’t been a manager in his own right for ten years, he may have played the modern game but even in his punditry it’s clear to see that he is far from a modern thinker.
It’s the exact same principle with Celtic fans wanting to appoint Frank Lampard – Gerrard isn’t a success because he is respected, he is a success because he knows his limitations and has a team of specialists around him, I can’t imagine Keane being the sort of manager that reacts well to being told he is wrong, he struggles enough in a TV studio.