Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, or the deposit on Peters new house , as he’s referred to in the boardroom, has spoken out about the speculation he was going to leave in the summer.
“I think everything was out of hand in the last few weeks and months.
“I’m happy at Celtic and always will be. This is the club that gave me a chance.
“I’ve never had problems with anyone here.
“It’s a compliment for me that the club wanted to me stay.
“But I didn’t say literally that I want to leave. Never.
“If there was a chance to go and play Champions League football somewhere else at that moment and it was a step forward, then I might have considered it. But I never said, ‘I want to leave now’.
“It was out of hand but I am focused on Celtic.
“I am happy here. I play with a good bunch of boys.
“I’ve never had any problem with the gaffer.
“He’s a good guy and now we want to get results with the team.”
He could have said that in August, but I suppose it’s better late than never, and there may even be some truth in it. after all, it wouldn’t be the first time the media have cranked up the pressure on the club to sell players or to hint that they may be unsettled.
Welcome to Glasgow, Virgil.
“You never know what can happen in football. “ he continued
“But I’m happy here. I’m happy to play for the club that gave me a chance. I always will be.”
Van Dijk couldn’t help but throw in a wee disclaimer there, but hopefully we’ll get the full season out of him before he inevitably heads down south.
Leigh Griffiths, who hasn’t really been given a chance by manager Ronny Deila has been told by the boss to become a “24 hour athlete ” in order to succeed, which is a bit harsh considering it will mean curtailing his burdgeoning musical career, but if thats what the boss says, then thats what he has to do.
“Leigh knows how he is standing and what the situation is.
“I’ve always said people have to improve all the time to get the chances and that’s the same for Leigh as well as the others.
“We talk all the time. He’s a nice boy and we have good communication.
“I know it’s a possibility to loan players to the Championship but Leigh is here now and I want him to get his fitness up so we know what’s within him.
“He really wants to succeed at Celtic. He’s at a very big club, he knows it and this is his big chance.
“Wanting is one thing but knowledge is another.
“You have to see all of the time if you have the attitude or the knowledge.
“We work with both things now and Leigh looks like he wants to do it.
“Everyone knows what they must do to develop and that’s for Leigh also.
“Playing matches is important but being a 24-hour athlete is important as well and that goes for everyone.
“What you do in matches is important but also to be very aware of what you do every day in training and off the pitch – we have a big focus on that.”
Actually, it would be interesting to see what a fully fit and focused Griffiths would be capable of. Not that he looks unfit, but perhaps a change in habits off the field is what Ronny is referring to. Its certainly worth a shot.
Griffiths can play a bit, he knows where the goal is, and if he reacts properly to this advice, and works hard, he could go from being a good striker to a truly great one.
He’s still young, theres time for him yet. Time for him to change his off field habits, which Deila is obviously not impressed with, because he goes to great legths to play down any concerns he has ;
“There has been no problems with Leigh off the pitch, that’s not why I say this.
“But he needs to get fitter. Of course that is about playing games but it also comes from hard work in the gym and also off the pitch.
“It’s a culture and it takes time to change culture but we have to work every day to get the knowledge into the players.
“When you are playing at this level with the pressure at this club it is very easy to be into whether you are playing or not, or whether you are winning or not.
“If you are doing that and are not playing, you get a big problem.
“You have to think, ‘Why am I not playing?’
“If the team loses or draws a game I have to think, ‘Why are we not winning?’
“I have to find reasons and work with things. It’s the same for players.
“When you win you ask why you won and try to do more of the same.
“If the processes are good I get the results. I make mistakes but you have to do something with the things you can.
“The players who reach the highest levels look into themselves and think, ‘How can I do better?’
Deila does seem to know his stuff about fitness and attitude. Maybe when he has that the way he wants it, he could take a crash course in tactical awareness and flexibilty.
One thing he does need is, based on the last quote, a wee bit of an assessment of his man management.
This line;
“The players who reach the highest levels look into themselves and think, ‘How can I do better?’
could also be looked at as giving the impression that he’s never bloody satisfied, to use a cliche, and that can have a negative effect on players and staff.
For instance, whenever you dig the garden, or decorate a room, when you are finished and feel you have done a decent job, there is always a moment when you pause to admire your work. It’s almost endemic in human nature.
No one would stand back and say
” Now, how can I make that better. ” The jobs done, if you did it well, use that as the basis for the next job.
It’s only when you make an arse of it that you have to either ask yourself where you can improve. In my case, I usually make an arse of it anyway so my wife doesn’t ask me to do anything again, a policy which has worked well since 1989.
It makes me wonder though, whether or not Ronny has decided to sort out what may have been a low overall level of fitness and commitment before moving on to tactics, Perhaps the stubborn refusal to alter his system is because he thinks its simple enough for the players to catch on to while he works on the sports science side of things.
Then, when he feels they are up to it, he will move on to a more sophisticated style.
Or perhaps, as we first thought, he’s just a diddy.
Time will tell, and if theres one thing we have got, its the time.
10.30am, to be precise. I got up late this morning.
After the drama of the Europa League, its back to Premier League action tomorrow, Sunday matches being something we are all going to have used to, and Motherwell, the club who portray the family image-the Manson family, that is, roll into town for their first visit of the season to Celtic Park.
Motherwell , in recent seasons have started slowly before building up a head of steam and usually finishing quite strongly. In fact, they are quite confident about the visit to the east end tomorrow, and Keith Lasley, their silky midfield playmaker, isn’t afraid of Celtic at all.
Well, he needn’t be. He’s usually got the referee as back up.
“Times have changed since Martin O’Neill was at Celtic.
“They and Rangers at the time spent millions and millions on transfers and there was no doubt it was a tough old afternoon.
“They had real size and strength of squads but now they are not spending as much money.
“However, when you look at Scottish football as a whole there is still a gap there and they have that strength and depth.
“It is still a tough afternoon and we need to be 100 per cent prepared mentally and physically.
“There has been downsizing in terms of money being spent by them but that is all across the board in Scotland.”
“Celtic will be a strong side again and I’m sure the new manager will come in and implement his own ideas and philosophies.
“You hope Celtic are not at their best and we will certainly come up with a game plan.”
We had a man at one of their training sessions to see if we could spot anything useful;
Looks like they will stick with what they know. Wakaso Mubarak won’t need to feign pain this time round.
Aleksandr Tonev has been issued with a notice of complaint in relation to an alleged breach of Disciplinary Rule 202 – ‘excessive misconduct by the use of offensive, insulting and abusive language of a racist nature.’
Silly Bulgar. ( See what I did there ? ) ( No-Ed )
Celtic have issued a statement;
“As we have said before, we have spoken to the player and he has stated the accusation is not true, and, he will, therefore, be defending the charge.”
In front of those kilt wearing, haggis munching, claymore swinging ,shortbread eating deep fried mars bar lickers, the player did not add.
As you wouldn’t have seen on Sky, the BBC or ITV last night, there was a wee bit of bother in George Square, Glasgow last night. Well, when I say a wee bit of bother, it was almost a full blown riot. Although channel 4 quoted a police officer as calling it “handbags ”
That woman from the tv ad for Bitter Together was spot on;
Without a team to support, a certain section of society have found another outlet for their inherent bigotry and intolerant ” culture ”
Theres a few Orange Walks today as well. If there was a ever a day to just stay home and watch a bit of telly, its today.
No doubt the BBC will cover any problems impartially and with respect for the truth. Especially they have now upgraded on the technical side….
Like all the other puppet shows used to be.
Speaking of putting undue influence on an issue to determine an outcome that suits you, have a look at this. Its the final of the who is the most popular club in the world competition, and voting finishes on Monday.
Its Benfica v Celtic. Follow the link, although there is no suggestion I am asking you to vote for one side or the other. That is entirely the choice of the individual voter. And you can vote numerous times… purely, of course, as an indication of the strength of your admiration for your chosen candidate.
Anton Rogan, the do or die left back from the heady days of the eighties was the man who shed blood for the cause in yesterdays picture.
Heres two players this time….
Who are they ?
Keep up the good work , enjoy these posts.
Collins and Davie Moyes ?
Great Diary again Ralph.
Collins and Moyes
Quite ridiculous to put better together on the picture of the scum ,that salmond courted by keeping the royal family and saying he was not opposed to orange walks,the yes mob and thats what they were really are bad losers,who would have ruined this country had they won,
Iv,e been fighting nat scum all my life ,and was very proud to vote no and joyous at the double we achieved of winning and getting rid of the fat bigot,now we have to fight MR STURGEON
‘Dickhead’ comes to the fore again….
Gey yerself an education son, and get tae FUCK off this site
‘GET’
the best part of it all was nearly seeing Kirsty warke’s fanny in brought ferry
See you kiddo, you are truly well named, without the 67.
Deadhead67.
About time you just shut the fuck up.
For a high %, the Yes vote was not about Nationalism or Separatism.
Just let it go, I think we’ve all had enough of your rantings.
The Professionals, Collins & Moyes.
andy bhoy—Have we spotted someone not being able to win with any grace—remind you of the Hun websites? It does me.
NO equals some of my best friends who have been good winners.Decent, thoughtful folk who disagree with me for what they see as good reasons. I voted YES even though I had some fears because who can read the future? No me. A lot of us auld folk fear the future. After the vote, I REALLY fear the future.
I’m a Labour voter (don’t belong to any party) with no great love of the SNP but in days gone by, Labour did support independence before their puppet masters in Westminster took over. In 1707 no people of our class/religion/outlook could even vote. Salmond at last got us to the position where the people could finally be heard. Even “Ra Peeple.”
The Scottish people have finally at least been heard. So be it.
But NO also included the Orange Order, UKIP, BNP, and the majority of “Ra Peeple.”= not my friends.
Pays yer money and takes yer choice.
Deidheid 67: I can at least agree with a coupla things:
1)1967 was a very good year 2) the Royal Family can go quietly but quickly.
Not sure about this one but— maybe we even both support Celtic?
Calm doon man. You won! Enjoy your victory. Maybe as a dignified winner you can tell me/us what winning team to put out against the Steelmen the morra?
For me:
Gordon
Fisher/Denayer/Van Dijk/Izzy
McGregor/Brown/Kayal
Commons
Stokes/Griffiths
Wakaso and Scepovic to come on.
Fitness or no, I am still a big fan of Griffiths. He’s fit enough to control the ball well and score goals. No other fitness matters. This ain’t the Olympics.
Well said,Andy.
Ralph,I can’t see Virgil being here,beyond January.
Lawwell has probably promised a move then.Anything to balance the books.Add Forster’s 10M,and 7M for Virgil,that’s
Lawwell made his lost CL riches.
I hope Guidetti starts tomorrow.He looks to have something about him.With Wakaso supplying him,from the left wing.
Do some posters no nothing ,picking fisher who is still injured,do they not keep in touch with whats happening at the club
As indicated earlier; an education needed! ..’Think the word you’re lookin’ for is : KNOW?
The sad thing is that any celtic fan would vote for the bigot salmond
who brought in a bill aimed at our support,and who talks crap over and over again,try,s to sell a romantic william wallace independent rubbish philosophy ,and just ignores all the economic realities that would make independence a disaster,like it or not we do not raise enough money from tax etc ,and we get a big handout from westminster,much more than any other part of the uk(under the barnet formula) we would be short about 7-8 billion a year,that would mean higher income tax or vat,and oil only brings in about 3.5 billion and that includes English oil fields,and it,s not even certain we could claim all the so called scottish oil fields,all are in international waters,and were divided up in the seventies and were allocated to the uk,and would not automatically transfer to a new country , we would be using monopoly money,out of europe for years and years there are many countries wanting in which would be in the queue before us,and thousands and thousands of workers would lose their jobs,just ask how many yarrow workers or rosyth workers voted yes not bloody many ,it was a overwhelming defeat for nationalism and should never ever be raised again,the snp should disband and let us get back to normal party politics,without a daft pressure group ,who have been thumped
Do you not feel that you’ve been shafted up the rear you fucking imbecile. You don’t have a clue, spouting pish with every sentence.
Think about it. You and the rest of the 55% are nothing but shitebags, with no backbone, fed on a diet of shite from Westminster and gobbling it up, while the elite pish themselves laughing at athe most gullible twats on God’s earth.
yeah i know it is ive got english qualifications but no point in being to accurate with all these daft yes voters online
makes no difference yes/no Westminster is now finished. Ironically the no vote sealed its fate.
What English qualifications would that be?
Possibly, the completion of ‘Jolly phonics work book’ for pre 5 year old’s.
Deadhead why don’t you just fuck off and stay out in George square or out in walks with all your Union Jack waving pals. Nobody cares about your opinions
I notice the morons dyed heid 67 are still spouting bile. Any true supporter saw what the No vote brings, George Square and surrounding areas a shambles last night. I could not believe I was out in the centre of Glasgow for a meal and a drink, and the bitterness and hatred from the fascists running around rapped in the Union rag. I hope all Celtic supporters who voted No now realise that the only way to change as previously called by the Labour First Minister’The greatest little country in the world’ was to rid ourselves of the three stooges and reinvent this country
Gentlemen we have one more vote to cast
This one is just as important
http://bgdvuboy.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/BENFICA-vs-CELTIC.html?m=1
Yes, no, does it really matter now? The vote is finished, the count over, the winner and loser declared. Can we get back to the football now please?
yes. A yes vote would have made it ever more difficult for celtic to join the EPL.
Haw deadhead did your tribute act get pumped at Alloa today that why your in a stinking mood or was it getting soaked at your orange march moron
Lucas aye, Aye, deidheid is in a foul(er) mood because his team dropped points today.
He did “tell” me (in so many words) that Fisher was injured. Thanks deidheid. Maybe you’ll remember several posts ago I asked the forum about Fisher and nobody replied. I’m impressed that a Sevco supporter knows more about my team than I do but an injured Fisher might still be better than a fit Ambrose? Once upon a tim, right back was strongest position.
Hey, I would rather talk about football than almost anything else. Football talk, bring it on bhoys, bring it on.
NO and politics will take care of itself. One last thing though: I’m placing a bet on how long it takes the first NO voter to regret his choice. YES voters have nothing to regret since we made no promises (lies) we can’t keep. I know some supporters of a certain club who believe every lie they’re told.I would be surprised if any Hun voted YES.Do you ken any Hun who voted YES?
Bhoys 3 Motherwell 1
Frankie Boyle summed it up….the majority of the No voters were indeed the gers union pish…he asked why and the reply was that the sums don’t add up Frankie if we went indy…and his reply was…and you support rangers!!! ferkin class!!
I like reading ur diary, however I think that you need to calm urself a wee bit! all I’m gonna say about ur comments. I think the manager inherited an average squad of players which based on results has been proven! Give him time, it’s only mid September, ur more reactionary than the tabloid press.