Tiers for Years: Former Celtic man Si Ferry backs Eddie Howe and Bournemouth system

By Euan Davidson

February 27, 2021

Former Celtic midfielder Si Ferry has back Eddie Howe for the Hoops job.

Ferry, who spent his youth in the Celtic academy, has offered different reasons to back the ex-Bournemouth boss, though. Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show (-1.09.46) the Peterhead player and coach insisted that Howe was a “bigger name”. The Open Goal presenter also gave some other, very interesting insights into how Howe operates.

Ferry said:

“I think Eddie Howe would be the choice. They’re talking about this Director of Football, the guy David Webb… would be a no-brainer. Howe would come in here, get a style of play, he would let somebody else, maybe David Webb go and select players for him.

“Eddie Howe’s the type that happily come in and get a style of play. He would let somebody else, be it a David Webb, go and pick players for him and say: ‘I’m going to play this style, in this position I want this type of player. In a wide player I want this.’

“I think he’d be quite happy to let David Webb go find them, although he’d make the end decision.”

Si Ferry, seen here chasing some wee guy for Celtic, has backed Eddie Howe / (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Former Celtic man Si Ferry offers Eddie Howe inside source

Ferry expanded on Celtic’s search for modernity, with Eddie Howe central to a sustained structural change at the club. That starts with the Academy, and Ferry insists Howe would get everyone playing the same way.

Ferry said:

“Also on Eddie Howe, my mate is an U-19 coach and he (Howe) makes it the first-team, the U-20s and the U-19s – the three tiers – are coached and play the same way.

“You’ve seen it with Rangers on Thursday night. You can tell Nathan Patterson has been coached the way the first team has been coached.

“As soon as he comes into the team he’s a James Tavernier.”

Taking it in: Eddie Howe / (Photo by AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

Encouraging stuff, but doubts remain

Eddie Howe is a talented coach. His record speaks for itself, having achieved unbelievable success with a small club like Bournemouth.

However, it’s that pedigree in England which could complicate matters. There’ll be boardrooms across the top two English leagues with Eddie Howe on their mind. The former Burnley manager has proven himself at an excellent level. Although the lure of chasing trophies and European football is strong, Howe may want to prove himself in the Premier League once more.

After all, he led Bournemouth to consistent finishes in the English top-flight. That’s gold-dust for a manager. Even Champions League winners like Carlo Ancelotti are battling it out in England, with no guarantee of silverware at the end. The finances and reputation incentives are hard for Celtic to compete with.

However, once again we agree with Simon Ferry here. It’s encouraging to hear that kind of universal footballing policy being put in to place. No doubt, it’s something Celtic could dearly use.

READ MORE: It’s a firm no to this managerial “candidate”.