Celtic Diary Thursday September 18: Returning To The Football For A Moment..

Ronny Deila hopes to avoid an RBS disaster of his own tonight over in Salzburg where Celtic face Red Bull in the opening game of the Europa League campaign.

See, who needs references to politics ?

One of the great things about European matches is we don’t have to worry so much about honest mistakes, as the referees tend to be of a higher calibre, and less prone to wondering whether or not they’ll have to buy their own drinks at the monthly meetings down the lodge.

Tonights referee is Artur Dias, from Portugal, and he recently drew a little attention to his own honest mistakes when he took charge of the Porto -Benfica game in January, which although a while ago, gives us something else to worry about apart from how many midfielders Deila will field tonight. Porto chairman Jorge Pinto da Costa said at the time;

“The decisions were scandalous and disgraceful. The errors of Artur Dias did not happen due to dishonesty. He needs to leave refereeing or ask to be excused from our games.” 

This because he sent a Porto player off and denied them two penalties. I’m guessing they didn’t win the game.

As a wise man once said, if you play well enough, the referee doesn’t matter. So, despite the scare story about the refs integrity in the Record, theres probably nothing to worry about, but it’s nice to see the MSM highlighting this sort of scandal. It makes you secure in the knowledge that if that sort of thing happened in Scotland, they’d be all over it and exposing the culprits.

For those of you interested in statistics, maybe if you fancy a bet on the game, just something to think about pre match, heres a run down on both sides, from Kick Off .com, who use the tag line ” for smart betting ” . Apparently such a thing exists…

Salzburg have won 60%, drawn 10% and lost 30% of their last 10 home European games.

Salzburg have kept a clean sheet in 40% of their last 10 home European games.

Salzburg have failed to score in 20% of their last 10 home European games. 

Celtic have kept a clean sheet in 0% of their last 20 away European games.

Celtic have failed to score in 55% of their last 20 away European games. 

So, how do we reverse the trend ? Another defeat will see a rise in the calls for Ronnys’ reign to be repealed, and he has to get it right.

He has a wee bit of an idea now about what the support demand, and a wee bit of an idea which of his players can play a bit. He should also know by now that pretty much none of them can play his system with any degree of competence.

So surely he should swallow his pride and go with a 4-4-2 this evening, or even a 4-5-1 ?

Anything , in fact as long as its not the tried and terrible four wingers, two midfielders and a striker given license to roam.

On the way to the game last week, no-one on our bus could pick the line up to face Aberdeen. Which in a way is good, it means the opposition can’t second guess it either.

Craig Gordon , easily the most successful of the new players, will start in goal. Go on, admit it, you can’t even remember what Fraser Forster looks like any more, can you ?

On tonights game, Gordon has given us his thoughts…

“They are a great team,” he said. “They press high up the pitch then try and force teams into mistakes.

“They have done very well in their domestic league in recent years so we know we are in for a big fight and a very difficult match but we’re here to get points on the board and get off to a good start in the competition.

“I think it’s fair to say we are getting the hardest game out of the way first, although all away games can cause more problems than home ones. We have to be solid and concentrate on what we do well and we will have to defend very well.”

Will Efe Ambrose start at right back ? They won’t have to try to force us into any mistakes if thats the case. The Nigerian has had a nightmare start to the season, and could do with a break. Say, for about six months. Unfortunately, both Mikael Lustig and Adam Matthews are injured, so he will probably play.

However, if Ronny Deila plays Scott Brown at full back, we’ll know that the Norwegian really is Tony Mowbray, and all bets are off.

Jason Denayer and Virgil van Dijk should play central defence, and Emilio Izaguerre will take his normal berth at left back.

But then it’s anybodys guess what Ronny will come up with.

Scott Brown is a cert, as is probably Stefan Johansen, but with Charlie Mulgrew and James Forrest unavailable, then he’s a little bit restricted for a third midfielder should he choose to go that way.

Its either Beram Kayal or Nir Bitton. One is more agressive , one tends to prefer a holding role. On that basis I’d pick Bitton to sit in front of the defence, with Kayal being saved to replace Brown when he gets tired, and thus keeping up the energy of the middle men.

Out left, and this might surprise a few, Aleksandr Tonev, recently given the vote of confidence by Deila over the allegations of racial abuse , seems a better bet tracking back to help Izaguerre, than Calum Mcgregor, but McGregor has more of a goal threat. I’m not sure which way to go here, but I’d have to go with the Scot. Goals win games, and are especially important away from home.

That leaves Kris Commons to try to link the middle and front, with Stefan Scepovic hunting as a lone striker, with Anthony Stokes ready to replace him when he’s tired. John Guidetti, of course, wasn’t signed in time, as nearly two fecking months wasn’t quite long enough to seal the deal.

Unlike against Aberdeen, though, I’d ask the Celtic players to remember they now have a penalty box striker with a bit of movement, so if in doubt, just play the ball into a space in front of  him. Scepovic should be told to make for the space in front of  him when he’s not in possession, and theres your communication problems sorted.

Prediction ? I’ve no idea.

Salzburg have a few players of their own to give our players nightmares, but they too appear to be short on confidence.

I would not be surprised to see a 2-2 draw, or a narrow win for Salzburg. As for a Celtic win, that depends on how we play the game.

Caution would be wise, but there is no evidence that the word has yet entered Ronnys vocabulary.

The flurry of replies to the Diary yesterday concerning todays referendum was as good a debate on the issue as I have seen thus far. Some excellent posts, and much food for thought. but there is something else you have all missed while this is going on…..

I can’t make the Motherwell game this Sunday, which is a shame. I’d like to be a part of the celebrations . But it looks like plans are already being made for those heady days of freedom.

Yesterday we showed a picture from the Celtic Dynamo Kiev clash in late 1967, when the hoops became the first holders of the European Cup to fall at the first hurdle.

I guess some clubs will always be leaders.

Today, here is an old one. Who are Celtic playing here, and when ?

And heres an old pre match haunt of mine. Anyone else remeber this place ? ( From Celticbars )

A wee spot of reminiscing there, on the day when everyone is looking to the future.

By the time the Diary re-appears we will know whether or not Scots have seized the moment and began rolling the ball which will eventually crash into Westminster and remove the established system that has brought so much misery and despair to so many within these Isles over the last forty years or so.

Go For It.

Bob Geldof will see it differently.

PS -I noticed Gordon Brown speaking to no supporters yesterday. And no, I didn’t forget the capital letter.

David Cameron can at least console himself with the success of one of his campaigns, and may not after all be remebered as the worst Prime minister in british history-some achievement actually, considering we’ve see Blair and Thatcher hold the post- .

His plan to cut binge drinking in Britain looks likely to hit its target.

Overnight.