Steven McGarry insists ‘second season syndrome’ is perhaps a difficulty for the remainder of Scottish soccer – nevertheless it received’t be for Ange Postecoglou ’s Celtic.
That former midfielder was at Perth Glory when the gaffer started to make his identify at Brisbane Roar with back-to-back A-League titles.
Since then it has been a success-filled street with Australia, Yokohama Marinos within the J-League and now in Scotland.
Postecoglou has been like a breath of recent air as he picked Celtic and turned them into double winners - who are actually assured a crack a spot within the Champions League group stage.
The query now could be how far will the 56-year-old have the ability to take the Hoops?
McGarry, who had spells with St Mirren, Ross County and Motherwell, stated: “Ange is rarely the kind of coach to face nonetheless. He’s all the time been fairly progressive by way of formation, ways and types.
“He’s not afraid to strive new issues and to combine issues up.
“As an opposition coach or supervisor, it's onerous to second guess him as a result of he's consistently attempting to evolve and make his groups and gamers higher.
“Ange’s groups positively get stronger with each season. They received a pair A-Leagues when he was at Brisbane.
“He saved them successful at Roar and it’s onerous in Australia as a result of there's a wage cap and lots of the groups have comparable budgets after which it turns into extra about your ways and your recruitment.
“There are such a lot of elements that Ange can tweak and can use to his benefit.”
Key to Celtic’s success is Postecoglou’s recruitment – Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Yosuke Ideguchi all arrived from the J-League and a market he knew properly, whereas Carl Starfelt, Liel Abada, Matt O’Riley, Josip Juranovic and Joe Hart settled shortly inside his system.
There have additionally been the loans of Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers who're within the course of of creating strikes everlasting. Each single one has made an impression or at the least had go marks.
McGarry stated: “After I went out to Perth Glory, he took over at Brisbane Roar and made lots of adjustments in his taking part in workers.
“Craig Moore and Danny Tiatto all left. Ange got here in and made his personal signing they usually had been good signings.
“There have been Europeans who had been high gamers for Brisbane and the A-League for 2 or three years. He has an actual eye for a participant and he has proven that in his first 12 months at Celtic.
“Have a look at all of the gamers he has signed and the bulk if not all of them have made an actual impression. He is aware of gamers and those who match into the way in which he desires to play.
“They've to suit into how he desires his groups to play. His groups have all the time performed soccer, he likes to get the ball down and to have excessive power and motion.”
Inverted full-backs are a trademark of Postecoglou’s Celtic sides however McGarry reckons there will probably be one other deal with subsequent season as a result of Postecoglou is a supervisor who likes to assume exterior of the field.
The Scot stated: “At Brisbane he appreciated the full-back, midfielder and winger all rotating. I’ve seen just a few Celtic video games and I see a giant play has been the inverted full-back going and becoming a member of in.
“You’ve seen Greg Taylor, Josip Jurnavic and Anthony Ralston have all completed properly. The opposite problem is that even once you predict what Ange’s groups are going to do it’s onerous to cease them placing it into follow.”
Lots of arrivals have received plaudits at Celts however Postecoglou additionally bought one of the best out of these already there.
Captain Callum McGregor has been revitalised as has Ralston, whereas Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton performed their half as Celtic did the double.
McGarry, who has lately stepped down as Perth Glory assistant, stated: “Ange is doing two jobs; recruiting and creating present gamers.
“He’ll not solely be enhancing their health however footballing IQ. Ralston is an instance; he would have been on the periphery of the squad however is now a daily and within the Scotland aspect.
"Beneath Ange, he appears to be like fitter, stronger, assured and an clever footballer who the supervisor is getting probably the most out of. He’s excelled and that’s what Ange does. That’s an indication of a very good supervisor.”