Moyes is just the man to rebuild Paradise
APERFECT storm i s gathering, i ts elements all moving inexorably towards one man.
Results? Oh yes, they’re the main driving force in the tempest closing in on Ronny Deila; no-one would pretend that consistently dropping points and trophies won’t be the main f actor in deciding the fate of the Celtic head coach.
It is a truth as old as the advent of the modern football manager, however, that the job security of one man is affected hugely by the quality of potential replacements just sitting at home waiting for a call back to the front line.
In which case, the continued appearance of one David Moyes across various media platforms — a gentle reminder that he is free, eager to return and actively looking for a new gig — should be disconcerting for Deila.
This is the same logic which has seen the availability and blatant lobbying of Jose Mourinho fatally loosen Louis van Gaal’s grip on the reins at Manchester United.
Now, you may well think that the appointment of the Special Once — yes, that’s right — to the top job at Old Trafford is the worst decision since Mrs Lincoln suggested that she and Honest Abe enjoy a quiet night at the theatre.
The fact remains that boards find it difficult to ignore the promise of a high-profile, temporarily-under employed gaffer willing to even flirt with the possibility of attempting a rescue mission at their club.
And, just to put this out there right now, it would be entirely wrong of the Celtic board to not be atleast considering their options. With Moyes so obviously the most impressive stand- out option on the market.
Now, those close to Moyes stress that his first preference remains the Premier League; there is a general reluctance among any manager with experience of ‘the show’ to come and work for some farm team in our minor league.
And yet, listening to Moyes explain both his own personal philosophy and the kind of job he would like in conversation with Danny Baker — told you he was getting around — on Five Live on Saturday morning, i t was impossible to avoid the conclusion that a return to his former club would be a perfect fit for both.
He talked about picking a job that excites him. Somewhere he would be allowed to manage in his own way, building something from the ground up — just as he did at Everton.
Expressing mild dismay over how English clubs now seemed to gamble tens of millions on individual players merely because they have the money, he detailed his past joy at being given £5million a season to spend by Bill Kenwright — and his understanding that players bought cheap would be sold on when their market value reached a peak.
So, the challenge of getting Celtic back into the Champions League, a desire to really get stuck into a major project, an acceptance that big spending shouldn’t be the only route to success.
Seriously, is it beyond the wit and guile of Dermot Desmond to convince Moyes that working for his old club would be more rewarding, more f un, than a Sunderland or Watford?
That Moyes would be a good appointment should be clear. Damaged by his experience at Manchester United, he has been redeemed by the mess created by LVG, while Real Sociedad was the wrong club at the wrong time.
Deila? He’s already done for, surely. Because a manager’s job is about more than tactics and style of play.
He has failed to inspire, failed to imbue his players with the skills needed to win games.
Most damningly, he hasn’t provided them with the decisionmaking tools needed to cope under even mild pressure.
A storm is heading his way. Should Moyes show even a flicker of interest, it is likely to blow him all the way back to Norway.
Shame, because Deila is a top guy. But, then, when did that ever matter?
Obviously the most impressive candidate