Has Jens Berthel Askou got the right credentials to manage Celtic?
Jens Berthel Askou is the man championed for the Celtic managerial position by so many in the Scottish media and the Celtic support alike, but is he the man for the job? And more importantly, does he have the credentials to be the next Celtic manager? Let’s have a look at the pluses and negatives.
Jens Berthel Askou – Let’s start with the positives
Let’s start with the positives. Under Askou’s leadership, Motherwell have become, in terms of the Scottish Premiership, a formidable opponent for all sides in the league. And despite sitting in fourth place, they have had a terrific campaign. Maybe in a different set of circumstances they would have finished in the much sought after ‘best of the rest’ spot which in Scotland is third place.
In this somewhat ‘freakish’ season with periods of significant turmoil at both the Rangers then Celtic, both Hearts and Motherwell took advantage with the Tynecastle side in with a chance of winning the title on Wednesday night if Jens Berthel Askou can complete a Fir Park double over Celtic and Hearts beat Falkirk at Tynecastle.
Yet it should be noted that Motherwell’s early season form, as Askou was busy imposing his ideas, was no better than the Rangers’ results under Russell Martin in the opening stages of the season.
Motherwell is a tactically astute side under Askou
The Steelmen are clearly a tactically astute side under Askou, while also playing an entertaining brand of football. His team looks secure at the back as their goals against column of 33 (currently the second best in the top flight) clearly proves.
The Dane has taken a band of mostly ordinary pros, combined with a few talented additions and got them all playing with great confidence. He’s been able to maximise every player’s ability as Motherwell looks very much like an effective and efficient unit.
Askou has more than proved his coaching credentials
Jens Berthel Askou this season has more than proved his coaching credentials, but his lack of experience at a higher level is for me, a major doubt on his capability to manage a much bigger club such as Celtic, with all the expectations and pressure that brings.
Yet he does appear calm yet always willing to fight his corner, as his comments before the Hearts game on Saturday showed as he referred back to the controversial Hearts penalty at Tynecastle that robbed Motherwell.
Askou’s lack of experience managing a top club is a concern
That lack of experience managing a top club is where the negatives come into play. Without sounding disrespectful, is managing the likes of HB Torshavn, Horsens, IFK Goteborg, and Motherwell really the right credentials needed to manage a club as big as our own?
He’s only had one full season in Scottish football, and despite doing a superb job at Fir Park, managing Celtic is a totally different ball-game, with all the added pressures that go with it.
Jens Berthel Askou is undoubtedly an attractive choice for many and I can fully understand why, but for me there’s a few other names I’d be interested in considering first. More on that to follow…
Askou being linked to Ibrox job after Glasgow Derby defeat
Incidentally I noticed yesterday that amid the mounting pressure on Danny Rohl after the 3-1 defeat to Celtic on Sunday ended his season, the Rangers are being linked with Steven Gerrard, Derek McInnes and also Jens Berthel Askou as potential replacements for the German coach who was schooled by Martin O’Neill in the Premier Sports Cup, the Scottish Cup and the Scottish Premiership.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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1 Comment
Don’t disagree with your assessment upon Askou as our potential next manager.
But the vital information that you left out, is i personally would compare him with Ange, in regards of joining ourselves also,without any European football credentials whatsoever, and how did that work out for ourselves?
The massive plus side for both Ange and potentially Askou is that they both were able to adapt a style of football, which the players bought into, and were able to excel within it imo?
Don’t think that was the case for a fair few players under Rodgers in the end, after they reached maximum levels in Munich.
And certainly wasn’t the case under Nancy, with trying to change to much to quickly, without having the profile of player, that he required for the system of play he was trying to introduce imo?
As the quality factor is something that’s going to be hugely tested during this summer period. Especially with the expected amount of players moving on?
There’s is going to be a massive demand for such replacements, who will have to be able to fit straight into a playing structure, right from the very off, especially without much time available for a player to adapt to.
So therefore, any potential managerial candidates, will have to assess what we already will have in place regarding our squad, and can they adapt to the changes that a new manager will want to bring with himself?
Personally, don’t think we are in a position to totally change the entire set up of how, we end up forming a squad, with the playing style and set up of our team as it currently is imo?
Potentially to much change, especially with the amount of changes within player personal expected imo?
With the prospect of the core group that Ange formed, and Rodgers added to slightly, all nearly gone, or potentially will be in the making. Then any new manager is going to be looking for players he can trust, within making a new core group of players for ourselves?
That is the massive challenge that awaits, especially when we are looking for, and the demands that they can adapt between the challenges that European football brings, with the totally different challenges involved within an SPFL campaign?
Totally different approaches taken by Ange and Rodgers in that regards, and Nancy totally out of his depth also.
Even MoN has had his struggles also, but potentially adapting better in regards of gaining winning away European victories, with a squad with so many difficulties within it imo?
So there is plenty for the decision makers to currently ponder upon at present imo?
Personally wouldn’t totally rule Askou out of the picture just yet either, especially when other candidates will be in the frame for the managerial position with ourselves.
Think that we are also looking at a bigger project involved, than just the usual 2 year turnaround also imo?
And that could well be the deciding factor for our job, when a bit more stability is required in order to make more headway in European football, as the chances remain very slim of expecting it to happen straight away imo?
Even though it’s becoming a growing demand within our club.