FIRST AMONG SEQUELS
McGarry: Big Ange never stands still.. he’ll make Celts even better in second season
STEVEN McGARRY insists second-season syndrome might be an issue for the rest of Scottish football but it won’t be for Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic.
The former midfielder was at Perth Glory when the Hoops gaffer began to make his name in Brisbane with back-to-back A-League titles.
Since then it has been a success-filled road that has taken him from Australia to Scotland with a stop-off at Yokohama Marinos in Japan.
Postecoglou has been a breath of fresh air for Celtic, picking up a squad in tatters and turning them into double winners in his first season.
They are now guaranteed a spot in the Champions League and the question now is how far will the 56-year-old be able to take the Hoops?
McGarry, who had spells with St Mirren, Ross County and Motherwell, said: “Ange is never the type of coach to stand still. He has always been quite innovative in terms of formation, tactics and styles.
“He’s not afraid to try new things and to mix things up.
“As an opposition coach or manager, it is hard to second guess him because he is constantly trying to evolve and make his teams and players better.
“Ange’s teams definitely get stronger with every season. They won a couple of A-Leagues at Brisbane.
“He kept them winning at Roar and it’s hard in Australia because there is a salary cap and a lot of the teams have similar budgets. Then it becomes more about your tactics and your recruitment.
“There are so many aspects that Ange can tweak and will use to his advantage.”
Key to Celtic’s success is Postecoglou’s recruitment.
Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi and Yosuke Ideguchi all arrived from the J-League – a market he knew well – while Carl Starfelt, Liel Abada, Matt O’Riley, Josip Juranovic and Joe Hart settled quickly within his system.
Loan deals for Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers were also a big success and Celtic are in the process of making moves permanent.
Every signing so far looks to be pretty shrewd and McGarry said: “When I went out to Perth Glory, Ange took over at Brisbane Roar and made a lot of changes in his playing staff.
“Craig Moore and Danny Tiatto all left. Ange came in and made his own smart signings for Roar.
“There were Europeans who were top players for Brisbane and the A-League for two or three years. He has a real eye for a player and has shown that in his first year at Celtic.
“Look at all the players he has signed and the majority if not all of them have made a real impact. He knows players and the ones who fit into the way he wants to play.
“They have to fit into how he wants his teams to play. His teams have always played football, he likes to get the ball down and to have high energy and movement.”
Inverted full-backs are a trademark off Postecoglou’s Celtic side but McGarry reckons theree will be another contend withh next season because thee Aussie is a manager whoo likes to think outside of thee box.
The Scot said: aid: “At Brisbane he liked thehe full- back, midfielder and winger all rotating. I’ve seen a few Celtic games and I see a big play has been the inverted full-back going and joining in.
“You’ve seen Greg Taylor, Josip Jurnavic and Anthony Ralston have all done well. The other issue is that even when you predict what Ange’s teams are going to do it’s hard to stop them putting it into practice.”
A lot of arrivals have won plaudits at Celts but Postecoglou has also got the best out of those already there.
Captain Callum McGregor has been revitalised, as has Ralston, while Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton played a big part in their final season at the club.
McGarry, who has recently stepped down as Perth Glory assistant, said: “Ange is doing two jobs – recruiting and developing existing players.
“He’ll not only be improving their fitness but footballing IQ. Ralston is an example. He would have been on the periphery of the squad but is now a regular and in the Scotland side. Under Ange, he looks fitter, stronger, confident and an intelligent footballer who the manager is getting the most out of. He’s excelled and that’s what Ange does. That’s a sign of a good manager.”