Oh Bhoy, Mowbray had to go

25 March 2010 11:52
I didn't think it was possible for Celtic's season to get any worse until Wednesday night but a 4-0 thrashing by the SPL's second-bottom side took it from 'disastrous' to 'laughable' and his sacking was a foregone conclusion.[LNB]Their title hopes had gone long before this latest defeat - even victory would have left them seven points behind Rangers having played two games more - but it was notable in that it was their seventh of the SPL season.[LNB]The last man to preside over more than six in a season was John Barnes in 1999-2000 and that, in my opinion, says all you need to know about Mowbray.[LNB]I'm not sure he's quite as inept as Barnes but he proved in his time at Celtic, and with West Brom in the Premier League, that he is simply not good enough to manage at the top level.[LNB]He did a very good job at Hibernian, leading them to a top-four finish in consecutive seasons, but he can't live off that success any longer and the stench of failure is starting to follow him around.[LNB]Some people in the media couldn't praise him quickly enough when he led the Baggies to the Championship title in 2007-08 but I for one was always wary of a man that damn right refuses to ever alter his gameplan.[LNB]That stubborness arguably cost Albion promotion a season earlier and it most definitely made their task in the Premier League tougher. He believed his side could pass their way to survival but the players he bought were nowhere near good enough to fit in with his philosophy and West Brom never looked capable of staying up.[LNB]Mowbray made the same mistake at Celtic, shipping out proven SPL players like Gary Caldwell, Stephen McManus and Barry Robson in place of untested ones that once again have not cut the mustard.[LNB]He deserves some praise for trying to get his teams playing attractive, attacking football but the operative word in that sentence is 'trying'. Ask the Celtic fans whether they found it attractive watching a side that cannot defend and isn't even particularly good going forward.[LNB]The Bhoys are now lacking players that can get stuck in and lead the team when the going gets tough. Bizarrely, players exactly like Mowbray himself 20 years ago.[LNB]The fact he was a tough and uncompromising centre-half makes it all the more baffling that he seemingly does not see the ability to tackle as an important quality.[LNB]He once remarked he would never sign "a plank" and that explains why Caldwell and McManus have been moved on but even Arsene Wenger, Mr Purism, likes his centre-halves to be big, strong and experienced.[LNB]Against St Mirren Celtic had 19-year-old Josh Thompson starting alongside Darren O'Dea, who is impressive but still learning himself at 23. Make your own conclusions about how it worked out.[LNB]Mowbray's response to the latest defeat was to attack Rangers' style of play, suggesting they play "defensive, negative football." The same Rangers that will win the title at a canter and have scored eight more goals than Celtic in two less games.[LNB]Never have I known a man so deluded. Every good side is built on a good defence and the fact is Mowbray is incapable of building one of those. In fact the only thing he does seem capable of is dismantling a half-decent one and replacing it with a shambles.[LNB]Now I could almost find some sympathy for the man if defence was his only problem but, just like his spell at The Hawthorns, he did a poor job in the other half of the pitch too.[LNB]Passing football is not so attractive when you lack the quality players to make killer passes and that was Albion's biggest problem in the Premier League. Pass, pass, pass until the ball is lost and then the opposition hits you on the break. [LNB]It was never going to be quite so disastrous at Celtic and they still boast a team good enough to beat any side, barring Rangers, on the top of their game. But the bottom line is that Celtic are closer to Dundee United in third than they are Rangers in first. [LNB]Mowbray can criticise Walter Smith's side until he's blue in the face but they have scored more goals, won more games and will win the title. If he sees that as negative then it's time to call the men in white coats.[LNB][LNB] Celtic 1/5, Draw 11/2, Kilmarnock 12/1  

Source: Team_Talk