Wilfried Nancy has certainly come under the cosh after Celtic’s defeat to Hearts at the weekend.
The number of people who have taken the Celtic manager’s quotes out of context to beat him around the head with, have been absolutely shameful.
And not to mention the criticism of Nancy using a tactics board to get his message across to his Celtic players during the Hearts defeat. Again, this is well over the top.
This tidal wave of criticism was summed up perfectly by radio show and Sky Sports man Gordon Duncan, who wasn’t having journalist and pundit Roger Hannah’s critique over the new Hoops boss using the now infamous tactics board pitchside on Sunday afternoon.
And the conversation about it got more heated as Duncan hit back at Hannah’s assertion that the use of the communication device at Celtic Park wasn’t a good look.
Gordon Duncan’s furious defence of Wilfried Nancy is one Celtic fans should be praising
Now, we get that there are people in the media and some Celtic supporters who are simply not having Nancy. That is their preference but they really should remember the impact Ange Postecoglou had when he implemented his own style at the club.
Nancy is under immediate pressure at Celtic after the Hearts defeat and that is how it should be at a club with the demands the Glasgow giants have.
However, that pressure should always be balanced with the time that the Frenchman has been at Parkhead and, right now, the criticism aimed at Nancy seems disproportionately unfair.
But when Duncan heard the criticism from Hannah about Nancy’s tactics board, the Superscoreboard presenter simply was not having it.
Hannah said on Superscoreboard, “The optics of a manager continually bringing his captain over and going through it all blow by blow at the side of the park, I didn’t think was a good look.
Duncan replied, “Does he not just think maybe he just believes in that sort of visual messaging and visual learning. Managers pass on notes all the time and nobody bats an eyelid.
Hannah: “I can’t imagine Martin O’Neill, Brendan Rodgers or Ange Postecoglou doing that. That was what I kept going back to. I think they would have a greater trust in their players to sort it out themselves on the pitch.
Duncan: “But then it’s different, because he’s only in the door three days.”
Hannah: “Exactly, exactly, but I think he would have given him some a better chance had he not immediately gone for that 3-4-3, if you know what I mean.”
Duncan: “There’s a balance to be struck, because I was the same as everyone else, right? And I see it and you go, ‘Oh, look at this. This is going to become a meme’.
“I do think here in Scotland, we tread a fine line. I think we’ve got to be careful not to pull too hard on the ‘We don’t do that here’.
“I think we’ve got to be a bit careful with that. Does that send the best message from us? If Wilfried Nancy passed Callum McGregor a note that had the player information written on it, you wouldn’t be batting an eyelid.”
Hannah: “But…”
Duncan: “But what?”
Hannah: “When Ian Cathro, did it, he wasn’t winning games. When Pep did it, he was winning games.
Duncan: “So we’re all focused on the outcome rather than…”
Hannah: “When Wilfred did it yesterday, Wilfried wasn’t winning games.”
Duncan: “He was trying to win the game though.”
Hannah: “If Wilfried shows that to Callum McGregor and Celtic storm in and win 4-2, then they’ll be selling the tactics board in the superstore tomorrow. The bottom line is they didn’t.”
What Brendan Rodgers used to do at Celtic that not one person ever mentioned
Hannah’s argument is a fallacy. Trying to compare Nancy’s approach to that of O’Neill, Postecoglou or Brendan Rodgers is a strawman argument.
Are you concerned by Wilfried Nancy’s post-match comments?
And what Hannah is conveniently forgetting is that each of these managers had their own way of getting their message across on the pitch.
O’Neill used the dressing room, Postecoglou used to shout from the sidelines. Rodgers had his pen and notepad as he furiously wrote down notes as the game unfolded.
Not one of those managers (maybe with the exception of Postecoglou) received the same amount of criticism that Nancy is getting in such a short period of time.
If the new Celtic boss’ tactics and style are still not working after, say, five games, then fire away with the criticism.
But the vitriol being spewed after just 95 minutes of football? Duncan is right, it’s not a good look.
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