Ange has edge with freedom to sign his own
First a Brian Clough quote before a few home truths about Old Firm recruitment.
“Players lose you games, not tactics. There’s so much c**p talked about tactics by people who barely know how to win at dominoes.”
How true.
That sentence couldn’t have been more on the money than on Wednesday night when Celtic did a job on Rangers.
The difference between the managers at both clubs is Ange Postecoglou has been allowed to sharpen his own blade.
Local knowledge and personal experience of a relatively untapped market is what’s making the difference in this title race. Last summer’s transfer window comings and goings at Ibrox led to a call from old mate Ross Wilson.
Rangers’ sporting director was taking issue with a column that laid bare the failings in signing and selling at his club. Ross was incredulous at my belief that nobody would pay through the nose for either Ryan Kent or Alfredo Morelos.
Now another window has come and gone and the likes of Leeds or Aston Villa haven’t forked out for a one-game-infive player.
The chat was about opinions, one man’s prize asset can be another man’s pub player.
Even a well-trained scouting eye can be fooled into buying into footballing fool’s gold.
We agreed to disagree and the reality will be borne out in the months ahead while Glen Kamara, Borna Barasic and Joe Aribo remain in situ in what is a buyers market.
What was laid bare at Celtic Park was Clough’s belief in a nutshell, good players, average players and a stark reminder about success and failings in recruitment. Celtic’s rebuild has shown the club don’t require a head of recruitment figure like former employees Nick Hammond or Lee Congerton.
Both hailed as recruitment specialists with Marvin Compper, Vasilis Barkas,
Omar Colley, Shane Duffy, Charly Musonda, Diego Laxalt, Jonjoe Kenny, Albian Ajeti and Patryk Klimala all added on their watch.
Modern clubs now operate with a structure that has a director of football who is supposed to lighten the load of a manager and provide a seamless transition for recruitment in the event there’s a change of boss.
An assessment of both clubs tells a story which is being played out.
Joe Hart,
Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate,
Josip Juranovic,
Liel Abada,
Matt O’Riley,
Carl Starfelt,
Yosuke Ideguchi and Giorgos Giakoumakis combined with Cameron CarterVickers, Jota and Daizen Maeda who have arrived on loan in a successful Celtic revamp this season.
Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide would appear to have been recruited by Jay Lefevre, head of scouting operations with the help of his contacts down south.
Rangers have brought on board Jack Simpson, Scott Wright, John Lundstram, Fashion Sakala, Juninho Bacuna, Nnamdi Ofoborh and James Sands.
The loan of Aaron Ramsey from Juventus is being hailed as a game-changer but again it’s a financial gamble on a player who may only become match fit when it’s all a bit too late.
Wilson will no doubt be on the blower again but to use another old Clough quote: “We’ll talk about it for 20 minutes then we decide I was right.”
The chat was about opinions .. one man’s prize asset can be another’s pub player