Speaking on the PLZ Football Podcast, Steven Naismith has given his view on Eddie Howe amid rumours he’s going to become the next Celtic manager.
Howe has been linked for a long time, and it seems as though he’s the fans’ first choice, but Naismith has warned the Bhoys that it may not be the dream appointment that many Celtic fans are expecting.
“I think people just look at it in general, but if you look at it subjectively, his coaching credentials, what he can do with individual players and teams on a budget, second-to-none what he’s done with Bournemouth,” Naismith said.
“The other side and the layer that is missing there is the mentality of a club like Celtic and what they expect, expectation and working under extreme pressure. I guarantee you that not many managers have been in a more high-pressure job than either of the Old Firm, and that’s a side that hasn’t been as tested as the coaching side and how he wants to build a team, his philosophy of how he wants to play as manager.”
Naismith is right.
As much as Howe’s work at Bournemouth should be commended, there’s a huge gulf between expectations at the two clubs.
Howe was under pretty much no pressure at the Cherries as they were constantly exceeding expectations, while at Celtic every loss would pile the pressure on him as the title race in Scotland is likely to be that competitive.
We don’t know how Howe will cope with that sort of pressure, and if he’s going to come up against Steven Gerrard, a man who knows all about winning, he may struggle.
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