Can You Manage Celtic?

This week, over on the excellent Football365 Mailbox, theres been a recurring thread running from readers, asking one major question of all Football fans

Can you make up a decent side, based purely on your clubs former Managers?

Oh theres a challenge thought I,  lets see…after a whistle-stop tour of CelticWiki and the old Memory Banks…here is my suggested team….

In Goal

Well, logic dictates that only Frank Connor would be worthy of a place in Goal, as he was the only real Keeper who managed Celtic ( unbeaten at Home and in Europe no less including picking a team that whipped the Huns!) but then I remembered that there’s another former goalkeeper who looked after us during those crazy 80s and 90s. A world famous Polish goalkeeper no less, a man who was never slow to get those hands up in the air, a man who certainly didnt fear crosses and was always brave and eager enough to get down,  face level to the ground in amongst it regardless of how hostile the away venue was.

Therefore, my keeper is Karol Józef Wojtyła, the original Keeper of the Faith, aka Pope John Paul II.

Defence

I was tempted to go for 3 defenders and play a true cavalier Celtic Way style but then I checked  the  ex Managers list, and decided out of love and respect that I would have to include someone possibly deemed “Caretaker” in some eyes. I don’t think anyone here would complain though.  Some, like Hector Bandido has already, may in fairness question my centre-pairing but I think its fair to say that  it would take a Panzer division to get passed these guys. Strikers win you games, defenders win you titles and all that, so I’m in it for the long haul.

My 4 man defence consists of :

• A true Celtic legend who played his heart out and gave his all for our club in our biggest ever games and stepped into every role whenever called upon. A true stalwart to shore up our defence.
• A man who was the most famous Captain our club ever had and picked up the BIG cup, setting a record that could never be emulated.
• A man who was the greatest leader our club ever had and picked up the Queens Cup no less.
• A man who won the UEFA Cup, played in and won a European Cup Final ( beating Celtic no less!) , and also played in 2 consecutive World Cup Finals, which is no mean feat.

This is my Celtic Manager defence, I’ve christened it “The Dam Proof Course” :

Midfield

Oh we’re spoilt for choice here. I was going to go with a 3-5-2 if  Caretakers weren’t allowed but Sean had to be included so its a 4 man midfield made up from our former managers. I’ve went for balance with some solidity and some style, but pure skill. Not sure about the ability to track back mind you but we can let the defence worry about that. When you have such richness of talent at your disposal, it would be a crime not to use it. My 4 man Manager midfield consists of :

• A man who won the European Cup and was Captain  of the legendary Northern Ireland Squad of World Cup Spain ’82
• A man whose silky left foot skills had the world in rapture winning an FA Cup  in England and 2 Serie A titles in Italy as well as scoring against Brazil for his country.
• Only 3 words needed here, The Silent Assassin.
• 22 goals in a season, from the left wing, this man also scored against Brazil and was deemed by Peter Beardsley as ‘possibly the best player in the world for three or four years at the end of the ’80s‘. And he could rap!

My Manager based Midfield of Majestic Mayhem is:

Up Front

If there is anyone in the World who can think of a better forward line, EVER, let alone purely based on Celtic Managers then I would like to see it. I reckon this is the easiest decision in the world. The goals would fly in faster than shredding machines at Edminston House and the Celtic fans would skip home with joy after watching this front pair run absolute riot against any opposition.

My choices can be summed up by saying :

• The Greatest striker this land has ever produced
• The Greatest player this land has ever produced

Simples!

My Management based  unstoppable Goal Machine is

The Subs

Well we have a right solid bench with a right touch of footballing class. From League and Cup winners to European finalists, all bases covered from back to front. Its a simple lark this Manager Management eh?

My Super Sub bench is :

So, what do you think?

Think you can do better?..Are you really upset Tony Mowbray didnt make the cut? Should care-takers be allowed?

Well lets hear your team please…add it into the comments below.

Check out the brilliant CelticWiki for all the Management  info….you can use former managers, or even caretakers….I even found a right good team from our ex Coaches\Assistants that my side could practise against :

Looking forward to seeing your suggestions!

Desimond

PS – Yes I did check the Huns out for a Managerial Old Firm Game…talk about a Walkover