CATCH HIM IF YOU CAN
Eddie will have his work cut out as Gerrard bids to take Rangers on to a whole new level...
IF and when Eddie Howe joins Celtic, there will be more top, young English managers working in Glasgow than any other city in the UK. It’s like a reverse of the historical situation that has seen so many Scots succeed in management south of the border. In my eyes, it would be fantastic to have both Howe and Steven Gerrard in the Old Firm environment. These guys bring profile and elite knowledge. And the head-to-head contest between them promises to be absolutely fascinating. Howe would be a statement addition at Parkhead. He is clearly a coach of real talent. His obvious task is to drastically improve Celtic’s performances and catch Rangers next season. The problem, however, is that he will be trying to grasp a moving target. Gerrard won’t stand still. It’s simply not in his personality. He has raised the bar in the Scottish Premiership this season and will continue to try and do so. This year’s title is just the start of his ambitions at Rangers. He’s clear about that. Celtic are facing a huge turnover this summer but their rivals are able to build from a position of strength. Gerrard knows from his time as Liverpool captain that it’s always good to introduce fresh blood to the squad each season. As a club, Rangers have had a lot of time to think about who they could add. I read first-team coach Michael Beale talking recently about trying to take it to the next level after the summer. To me, that means aiming to compete in the Champions League, with all the financial rewards that could bring to help maintain their dominance in the Premiership. Gerrard will want more quality to help — no doubt about that — but the basis is there. He knows the backbone of his team. In contrast, Howe would be coming in to almost a blank canvas. He will be doing an incredible amount of homework. Trying to hit the ground running and implement his ideas will not be easy, even after a pre-season. We know Celtic fans around the world are looking for a response to this season as quickly as possible. That’s perfectly understandable. But are they, and Celtic as a club, prepared to offer Howe time? It’s a quantity that’s always in short supply in Glasgow. But I think he will need it once the deal is finalised. Rangers gave that time to Gerrard. People at the top of the club decided they wanted to back him to grow and develop as a manager. They knew Celtic could keep on winning trophies but had their eye on what was best in the longer-term for Rangers. It was a decision proven right when Gerrard and his team delivered at the very point the club needed it most. But the starting situation to that process was different. Rangers were struggling for direction before Gerrard arrived. It had already been seven years since the club’s last major trophy after working back through the divisions. You could argue it was easier for them to show patience after investing in Gerrard’s potential. For Celtic, this campaign has come as a huge shock after so many years of winning. Have they got it in them to accept that they might have to wait a year — or maybe two — for a new manager to build, implement his ideas and create
his own squad before he is truly able to come good? To me, that’s the biggest question of all. And I imagine it was one Howe might have been asking in his conversations with Dermot Desmond and other senior figures at Celtic. The fact they are going for Howe suggests they want longevity from the appointment. He is still quite young in coaching terms but has good experience. I followed his career at Bournemouth and admired the style of football. Keeping a club of that size in the Premier League for so long was seen as over-achievement. It would be different at Celtic, of course. At 43, Howe is the same age as Brendan Rodgers was when he took over at Parkhead in 2016. Although there had been some disappointing days for Celtic before Rodgers’ arrival, the club was still in a winning momentum back then. Rangers couldn’t really compete. Saying that doesn’t take anything away at all from what Rodgers achieved. His record in domestic competitions was remarkable and he improved players who were there before. But next season will be a completely different situation. There is going to be a huge transition. Scott Brown is leaving. The expectation is that a number of other players will follow this summer. Right now, I think it takes a lot more for a manager to come in and make Celtic successful again. Of course, this current season isn’t done yet. The Old Firm Scottish Cup meeting later this month adds a real centrepiece to the calendars of both clubs. The trophy has been Celtic’s for the last four years. For Rangers, what an opportunity to end that hold and move a step closer to the Double. Making it five successive Old Firm games without defeat would also send another message about the current state of play. For Celtic, the players who want to stay have to prove they can be part of things in the next campaign. Whether or not Howe has actually taken charge already, you can guarantee he will be watching the Ibrox tie extremely closely. The size of the looming task is apparent, but I still see joining Celtic as a no-brainer for Howe. He isn’t going to get the chance to manage one of England’s top six right now, so moving to a world-renowned name is a fantastic opportunity. Howe could be a very good capture by Celtic but the reverse is also true. What a stage Glasgow provides. Rodgers proved that before. But so, too, has Gerrard. The Rangers manager will not easily give up his hard-won crown. For Howe, this allEnglish battle may well define the next stage of his career.