About Parkhead boss’s ability to deal with adversity
spent £9 million on Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths is there as well. They can’t play three strikers in one game, can they?
“I haven’t seen enough of the lad Lewis Morgan but he is highly rated and they also have Scott Sinclair there who hasn’t featured a lot this season.
“I think that Celtic don’t need to replace Dembele this season as they still have enough quality in the forward areas to win trophies and to continue being successful and doing well.”
McNamara, a truly versatile player in his day, was interested to watch the way Alex McLeish has tried to get Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson in the Scotland team.
“I think it worked well against Albania and the more they do it the more they will get used to each other,” he said. As Kieran has gone forward, Andy has gone inside. It’s not often you get two top left-backs and we need to use them the best we can.
“The other option is Kieran at right back, which has been a problematic position, but he’s gone to a three at the back. And the more they play that system the more comfortable they will be.”
And what about McNamara? He is now away from York City and his good work at Partick Thistle and Dundee United seems a long time ago.
Still only 44, there is plenty of time for him to get back in the management game. But that’s not going to happen tomorrow.
“I think you need to miss something to want to do it again,” said McNamara. “I actually enjoy just watching games now. There is still a sour taste there but I enjoy watching football now.
“It is nothing to do with pressure, as I was at Celtic for 10 years, it is more a frustration.
“When you lose the enjoyment and it becomes about survival then that’s not for me. I was never in football just to survive. I wanted to go into management to make a difference. I would never say never but not at this moment as I do not miss it.”
■ Jackie McNamara helped to make the third round draw of the IRN-BRU Cup in Glasgow.