Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou already finds himself under huge pressure – and Charlie Nicholas has compared him to Ronny Deila.
The Bhoys could only draw 1-1 at home with Dundee United on Sunday afternoon, squandering a 1-0 lead in rapid fashion.
The 1-0 defeat at Livingston earlier this month was another concerning result for Postecoglou, whose Europa League campaign started with defeat at Real Betis.
Nicholas compares Postecoglou to Deila
Pundit and former Celtic man Charlie Nicholas has now offered his view on Postecoglou – and it’s not a particularly flattering one.
Nicholas has written in his Scottish Daily Express column (28/09, p57) that he thinks Postecoglou is ‘the next Ronny Deila’.
Nicholas feels that Postecoglou didn’t realise just how big Celtic were when he took the job, and doesn’t understand the magnitude of the job.
“Ange Postecoglou looks to me to be the next Ronny Deila,” said Nicholas. “I am not sure Postecoglou realised how big Celtic are before he came in. I believe he has missed a pitch – I think Ange thought he would just come in here and his playing style would get him over the line, no problem. But it’s not about style, it’s about winning.”
“Ronny came in and thought ‘I will get the players really fit’. He then brought in John Collins to help him and it got results but, in the long-term, teams were getting closer to Celtic and they had to bring in Brendan Rodgers. People are casting him as the next Tony Mowbray. In Tony’s defence, he was told before he took the job there were funds but they never produced. Tony was then left exposed and what followed was Neil Lennon’s first spell at the club. I am not saying Ange is being exposed but he is not making the best of things,” he added.
Postecoglou deserves time at Celtic
Look, the Deila comparison could be worse – he won 64% of his games as Celtic boss and won two league titles.
Largely, Celtic were disappointing under Deila, but there have been signs that Postecoglou can be a success.
This is a major rebuild job, and a stunted summer transfer window means Postecoglou needs time to get Celtic moving.
Talents like Liel Abada and Kyogo Furuhashi have impressed. Giorgos Giakoumakis and Liam Scales should add plenty when they’re ready.
Postecoglou wasn’t Celtic’s first-choice manager target, but he is trying to bring a positive style of play.
Celtic lost their identity under Neil Lennon, and Postecoglou is trying to rediscover that. There will be painful results along the way, but Postecoglou deserves time.
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