John Guidetti. Summed up perfectly in the new version of the song, by James Doleman on twitter;
Amended
There’s only one John Guidetti, His physical presecene leads to a defender accidently putting the ball in the netty.
End of Diary.
Alright, maybe not. The Swedish striker forced one and finished another sublimely to give Celtic a 2-1 win in Paisley yesterday, when it looked as though the referee would cal a halt to the game at half time on the grounds it would cause drowsiness and prevent people in the crowd from being allowed to drive home.
As usual, manager Ronny Deila surprised us with his line up, but not the formation-if indeed there is a formation out there somewhere-, with Wakaso Mubarak becoming the twenty eighth Celt to start a Premier League game this season. No one has started all seven.
Its not even October yet, but the squad rotation policy is in full swing, and it doesn’t seem to be working. Players don’t come out of a tunnel at Celtic Park anymore, its a revolving door.
Eoghan O’Connell started in place of Jason Denayer, and Kris Commons was left out, having picked up a little injury.
Which meant there was no creativity. Players were huffing and puffing, but , in the words of Arthur Montford and Archie MacPherson from yesteryear, no-one was prepared to put their foot on the ball and dictate play.
But, in Guidetti, it looks like we have found a goalscorer. And should the team finally settle, and advance in the Europa League, he could be the difference between a memorable season and a forgettable one. Make a note of the date. I’m not kidding.
However, theres the job of keeping pace in the title race at home first.
For a brief moment, around the sixty minute mark, Deila realised he was knee deep in poopy kaka and switched to two up front. Two minutes later, Celts were 2-1 up.
Stokes and Guidetti combined to split the St. Mirren defence, and Celtic were ahead. Then , minutes later, Deila removed those two-granted, Guidetti had tweaked his hamstring, which is probably more serious than it sounds .
(“please excuse Johnny from PE today as he has tweaked his hamstring” ” Piss off, it’s cross country running in your pants son ” Maybe that was just my school.)
He replaced them with Stefan Scepovic and Jo Inge Berget, and you kind of knew the scoring was finished. Scepovic has that look of someone who wishes he’d never heard of Glasgow, and would rather be anywhere else, while Berget isn’t quite sure where he has landed up, and is waiting for someone to tell him.
The win keeps Celtic in touch at the top of the League, with Hamilton thrashing Motherwell and Dundee Utd beating St. Johnstone.
Give me a shout when these teams start dropping points, which doesn’t seem like anytime soon. Looks like we got our competitive league, but I’m already fed up of it.
Celtic have regressed, while others have improved.
Of course, the headlines will speak of our regression, and not give any credit to any other side who have stepped up to the plate now that Rangers have exited stage left, and they , too, will be light years ahead of the new club when it finally arrives at the top level, should, of course, they get their finances sorted.
St. Mirren, though, have some way to go to reach that level, and they knew it yesterday, with the likes of Jim Goodwin doing his best to rival the likes of Keith Lasley in the “hired Goons ” stakes. Their boss Tommy Craig claims they only need a goalscorer to make an impression, whilst general opinion would say they have a long way to go to be a top football team, but would have more than a shot at the Rugby title.
As you can see, when Guidetti got his first-referee Craig Thomson told him it was his- both St. Mirren defenders were clearly going for the ball.
Guidetti confirmed it was his goal after the game;
“I had EVERYTHING to do with the first goal.
“The referee’s come to me before the start of the second half and said, ‘John, I’ve given you the goal and you know what they say, don’t argue with the referee’.
“So that’s good enough for me. I don’t argue, I just say thank you very much. To be fair, I was just going to tap it in and then I got absolutely smashed for the third time by the No.6. I didn’t know which planet I was on for a brief moment. Then I said to the ref, ‘Red card surely or something?’
“Then I saw the ball in the back of the net. The referee’s given me the goal. I’m very happy, I’m a striker.
“The tackle before, even the No.6 came to me right after and said it should’ve been a penalty.
“He said it was a stone cold penalty, 100 per cent. I don’t think he would say it if it wasn’t.”
Unless the referee asked him…..
No doubt Guidetti’s the next one up on a charge of bringing the game into disrepute-remember the controversy when Neil Lennon commented on Goodwins ging ho attitude and the telly mics picked it up ?
Speaking of charges, Aleksandr Tonevs charge of racial abuse has been put on hold. Until they find some evidence, presumably.
Meanwhile , Ronny Deila wasn’t happy with the players yesterday, but he blamed their lethargy on playing three games within a week.
We’re doomed .
“I feel a bit irritated inside but it’s tough to play three games in such a short time and you need to be strong to win on a day like this,” the Norwegian said.
“We got the win, that’s the most important thing of course, and it was good to come back after losing a stupid goal so that’s the positives.
“But I think we looked tired and heavy in our legs. We were always one metre behind in the second balls and we didn’t get compact enough.
“On the ball we were taking too many touches and didn’t get up the tempo we wanted. We didn’t create as many chances as we wanted.
“It was a hard game and St Mirren were pressing hard and had a lot of enthusiasm so in the end I’m happy to win but the performance could be better.
“We have now played three matches in six days which is hard. We haven’t changed very much in the team so you get a lot more heavy legs and the players need to get used to it.
“We work hard in training every day and we have to look at everything we do to get as best as possible energy into the games.”
The players were used to it, until he upped the training schedule to eighteen hours a day. No wonder they are knackered.
However, with Dinamo Zagreb the visitors on Thursday as the Europa League campaign returns to the fore, Deila reckons a good result and performance will silence his critics.
Well, it would. And it would surprise a few of them as well.
“Of course – we want to win every game and we’re going the right way,” Deila said. “We’re getting the players into the shape we want them in and I know that’s getting us results.
“We have a goal to be in Europe every year and we want to be in theChampions League every year. If you don’t play European games you don’t get experience of that level of football. This competition is a good possibility to get experience and also go as far as possible. If you get through the group stages you don’t know what will happen.”
One of Ronnys problems is that what he sees as an achievement, we see as a necessity. His aims appear to be lower than what we have become used to, or maybe even take for granted. Someone tell him he’s not at Stromsgodset anymore before its too late.
“We’ve seen their first game against Astra and we saw them today at Slaven Koprivnica,” Deila said. “They’re a good team but here at Celtic Park we have a good chance to win and that’s what we’re aiming for. In the first game the guy El Arbi Soudani who plays up front or coming in from the right – he’s strong.
“Zagreb are known for developing good young players and they’ve sold a lot of good players to big clubs around Europe. Their style of play has been there for many years and I think the current crop are a good generation but it’s hard for me to say what level Astra are at.
“Zagreb scored with every chance they had in the first half, so when it’s 3-0 it’s tough for the other team. I think the four teams are quite equal and it’s up to us to use our home advantage. It’s important.
Notice he says “we ” have seen them, and not him personally.
Surely after the balls up of the UCL qualifiers you would take over the spying missions yourself ?
And as for home advantage….. dear me, we’ve lost twice at home already this season.
“Celtic have been fantastic at home in Europe for many years. We’re going the right way – we look like a team now and I enjoy that. I’ve been here before when the stadium is full on a European night. It has an effect on the Celtic players and it has an effect on the opposition as well.
“Teams from the Balkans are always very good tactically – they do what they need to do to win and I expect Zagreb to be the same – but they also have good attacking strength and they like to play football. I’m expecting it to be a very good game.”
I started by looking at the positives-and trying to find a few others.
Deila needs to wake up and play to the sides strengths, and not some imaginary fantasy football that is only played out in his head.
This could be a memorable season. There are some very good players at the club, but at the moment they are not being used to their full potential.
Come on Ronny, sort it out.
Andy Lynch scored the penalty in yesterdays picture, back in the 77 Cup Final.
Another reminder why we don’t miss a certain club from south of the river now. whats happened here ?
Celtic player crocked in penalty area. Players from rangers (a club that used to exist) call for a penalty for them, sending off and automatic 10 point deduction as per rule 1872 of the masonic/lodge handbooks. Cue referee searching his apron for red card.
I feel Peter Lawwell should be publicly backing Tonev and assuring the fans the SFA aren’t going to blame one of our players of something they have no evidence of, without a serious fight.
Q.C.Paul McBride is sadly missed!
The SFA need put in their place!
Wee boaby brought down at ipox wae big greggy, penalty to the Popes 11
HH
Anybody…apart from the writer of this article….as pissed off with Ronny as I am ?
He not only talks garbage….he’s managed to get the players to play that way as well.
We are going nowhere fast..and something needs done…quickly.
Yesterday was the last straw for my 15 year old grandson…he’s now told me he’s not going back until Ronny has gone.
How sad is that?
Not that I blame him…I’m on the verge of doing the same thing.
Somebody upstairs needs to take action…this is getting serious.
It’s sad for me to say, but Celtic have now become an average team. Where we once used to strike fear into teams, and many knew they were in for a right hard game, they now think ‘aye we can get all 3 points’. All this tippy-tappy shite with nothing to show for it is a waste of time. Yep Guidetti looks good, but will we have him next season? As for Skelpovic and Berget …..Scepovic looks uninterested and Berget runs around clueless. Does anyone know what is happening with Griffiths? How these pair of clowns can get a game before him is beyond me. Yes we won yesterday, but it was far from convincing.I really fear that we are not going to take the league this year, and as for the treble…dream on.
When did celtic strike fear into teams ? Our squad has mote international player now than ever before.
We have a manager who wants to genuinly improve the players and the way we play. making such a big change is never easy as was demostrated in Liverpools 1st year under Rodgers (and more recently) and Martinez’ first season at Everton.
It would be easy for us to bring in a manager who would give us more of what Lennon did. Someone to make us sound at the beck and win turgid games though set peices in Europe.
But at some point you have to try and at least compete. It took Swansea years to implement their playing style and it sets them aside form every other yoyo team who have been promted in recent yeats in England.
So your saying we should have to watch shit for years in the hope this twat really is a good manager,sorry but we should be progressing every season given our financial performance and be getting further and further away from our rivals, and be preparing for the inevitable promotion of the second version of the ipox cheats,instead were going backwards with every game,This guy should have gone after the Legia disaster,he seemed to slag celtic off when he said he was going to change us to an attacking side,just what did he think we have been all
our history and the first thing he does is get rid of Watt,and don,t say Tony was unmanageable ,Jock managed jinky who makes watt look like a saint,the guy bans fizzy drinks,remember jock spent a lot of his time trying to find which pub jinky and Murdoch were in after training two ot our greatest ever players,this over the top fitness regime looks to be knackering the players
You must realise this is a transitional season for everybody: manager, players and supporters. We have to give the manager a real chance to implement his ideas, and I note that the failure to qualify for the Group Stages of the CL was down to failure in execution: missed chances at Maribor, and Van Dyck’s last-minute miss as well as Ambrose’s header at Celtic Park. Perhaps qualification there might have silenced some of the persistent critics – at least for a while.
Shots on target yesterday? Two each. No wonder supporters aren’t turning up anymore. Ronny said the other day he would rather win 5-4 than 1-0. Really, how’s that going to happen when you only have two shots on target?
Aye the PE teacher (he’s not a manager) managed to get 5 wide players in the squad yesterday but decided only one up front was enough, and that would be the guy on loan (ineligible on Thurs) and the 2.5mill striker ,that needs games, sits on his arse.
And here we see the 1st fault in the PE teacher not actually having a say in player transfers, he’s quite right not to pick players he does nt rate or deems unfit but with our horrendous striker transfer record recently we needed someone to come in and improve the 1st team, not just add numbers to a very average squad
Worried.
I was at that game sitting in the Ibrox press box as a 19 year old! That incident spawned the classic joke: “Bobby – when did you realise your leg was broken?” “When I saw that Greigy was about to tackle me!”
This could be a memorable season. There are some very good players at the club, but at the moment they are not being used to their full potential.
Who exactly?….only Griffiths was fit and not selected so who do you define as very good but not being used?
Bitton or Kayal to stiffen the midfield. Griffiths to score goals. Stokes as a supportive striker, Brown as an attacking midfielder, Johansen as an attacking midfielder. Its not just about the players left out, its what he does with the ones he picks.
Totally agree with Auldfart !!
Why is Berget on the bench anda far superior player in Henderson nowhere to be seen,this idiot we have in charge obviously has favourite who get games even when their shit,or Norwegian like the other useless git Johansen ,and it,s obvious Mcgreggor need a rest his
performances have fallen off big time,we won yesterday in a game we dominated possession but created very few chances,and then the goalie gave away a poor goal with his ridiculous quick throw out and poor save that put the ball straight out to the middle of the area,
We have went from a team that dominated last season to disorganised
bunch,and we only lost our goalie,the board must act and get rid of Delia and Collins a s a p,it says it all when half the stadium is closed for a european game.
Delia needs to forget Berget. Can’t believe he has more to offer than Griffiths. Johansen looks nothing like last year and appears to have taken passing lessons for Brown. Neither complete many attacking passes. Brown did manage one yesterday. Again, we need an attacking center of the park midfielder. Neither of the above mentioned or Kayal or Biton fit that bill either. I agree with deadhead, give Henderson a chance. Can’t be worse then the alternatives. As I have said before Delia needs to coach better and talk less.
Lets look at the negatives!
We don’t have enough space for that…
I agree with trying to get the team fitter we need that but we need to be physically stronger Johnasen is muscled off the ball far to easily.I believe Ronnie got the two boys from Man City as he had done some caoching there. Both are pure class Denayer as the back & Guidettii will score a barrel load for us.Now consider the stikers we have signed since Hooper they have not been able to score in a brothel withn a shed load of cash (will not include Griffiths as he can score)
Also like Commons earlier on Griffiths is not fit enough.
As for quality of fottball it was prretty turgid last year if I remember correctly.
Interviewer: Bobby, when did you know yer leg was broken?
Bobby: When I saw John Greig was going to tackle me….
Bit harsh on Ronny, I can recall equally tosh play last season against St Mirren. Seems to be criticized constantly both for what he does and what he doesn’t do. Ralph you are a funny man but completely inconsistent in your attacks on the man.
Does anyone else believe, as I do, that you find your eleven best and stay with them, letting them play and gel? Any manager can get creative with the subs he makes. So here is my best 11:
Gordon
Matthews/Ambrose/Van Dijk/Izzy
Brown/Johansen/Mulgrew
Commons
Griffiths/Guidetti
Using: Lustig/Denayer
Forrest/Wakaso
Stokes/Scepovich if and when.
We have depth,let’s use it: Biton, Kayal, and so on.This team ought to be good enough to stroll through the League.That will give them the confidence to do better in Europe.
Ronny, love the one(s) you’re with. Our players are fit enough and good enough.
Fraser, you ask when we ever struck fear into teams? Well I’m auld enough to recall this line up
Simpson, Craig, Gemmell, Murdoch. McNeill, Brogan, Johnstone, Lennox, Wallace, Gallagher, Hughes. When we had Bobby Lennox, once of the best strikers I have ever seen. When we had jinky who could dribble past 5 and cross a bonnie ball. When we had Caesar marshaling the team at the back. When we had big Tam with a thunderbolt of shot. When we had messrs Murdoch and Hughes who wouldna be shoved aff the ball, when we had Jim Brogan, one of the finest link men in the game. Do you wonder my heart sinks when I see the likes of Baguette and Scepovic. Believe me these ( and others…stick in Chalmers, Bertie Auld if you like) put fear into teams.
Sorry for the rant….I get depressed when I see the shite that is served up
Well said auldfart the amount of money we have to spend these days to watch celtic and what delia is putting out every week its not good enough! We take one step forward then two back and if delia doesn’t Start improving performances he needs to go.
Ralph,with you,re 2 up front.Guidetti was getting battered from their two centre halfs.Add in Goodwin,their sitting midfielder(he literally sat on Super Guidetti at times)and he had 3 players to contend with.He fought bravely and shows great passion.So,why did the magician not start 2 up front ?
Wakaso,left footed,was excellent on the left wing against Salzburg. Why ? Because that’s his position.He can use his pace,by running onto balls.But,yesterday,the Tinker man plays him on the right.Plays McGregor,who should have been rested,more central ?
Even Des and Charlie Saiz,cannot argue against these observations.To have used 28 players,at this stage, is unbelievable.I am now of the opinion,that he makes it up
as he goes along,and his master plan,is in fact a red herring.Collins say’s, ” they are not magicians ” I agree.They would be good face painters,with Halloween,coming up shortly,they should seek worthwhile employment in this area.They could then paint
mugs,instead of making mugs out of us !!
Haha, quality post!
How come our players are always “tired” according to Delia? It’s only September FFS. What shape will they be in come May?
Timbuffy,
I am tired of his tired excuses.He hasn’t got a fecking clue !!
sakeman, what is his obsession on fitness, christ sake we know players have to be fit, we get it. But ti slaver on & on & on aboot it is tireing me oot. Smoke screen for ‘ma tactics are fine, its the players fitness level is the problem’ Aye right.
Getting wee bit annoyed wi manager. however…
HAIL HAIL N aw that !
I’ve worked it out, Deila is a Norwegian Baldrick & he has a cunning plan.Just wish the effen eejit would let us in on it.Helen Keller could see this is a shit sandwich.Punt him otherwise we will be struggling to reach 2nd place in the north of Britain league never mind win it.
Totally and utterly sick of the Norwegian Baldrick with his cunning plans. Punt him or we will end up also rans in the north of Britain league.
Helen Keller was said to utter” even I can see this is a shit sandwich”.
Anyone – anyone at all who thinks that Deila and Lawwell actually approached this thinking they were finally going to change the way Celtic would play in order to build a team that would compete is a complete nut. Spot ineptitude when it is there – do not bullshit people. What we saw at St Mirren on saturday was not so much of a disaster as a senseless waste of resources – no plan, rationale. Deila doesn’t have experience to draw on and you can see by the body language and on collins face that every goal comes as a surprise. We are on an airplane with a cvouple of guys who just got their gliders license. If you believe that there is a new wave of football on the horizon you should know that under Mogga Celtic played some nice stuff there was evidence of the style he wanted. It didn’t pan out and fizzled in distressing circumstances. Deila’s tenure is going to result in a massive blow – possibly this week against Zagreb. there has never seen any evidence an apparant style under Deila and we will almost definitely not see it – HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT STYLE ACTUALLY IS. He is inept. blaming players for being tired when he changes their diet and training methods. Pissing off the veterans like leading scorers and player of the year like Commons and Brown – both who have previously played more football in a 6 month period than this clown played in his life. C’mon wake up – if this guy was the gaffer in your pit you would refuse to go down the rig. However, Deila doesn’t even know where he is – this sojourn is a bit of a joke to him. He can’t even talk to the press properly. Can’t imagine how bizarre things must be at Lennoxtown. He’s the tourist who tries to feed the hyeenas or who goes out for a short jog in the Sahara without a compass. Out of his depth – everyone knows it except him. Stop this nonsense.
Agree,Maurice.
The analogy,of novice aeroplane pilots,with constant turbulence around them,can only lead to a Mayday call,to end their distress.Here’s hoping it’s long before May.
Or they are captains of a rudder less ship.Sorry,Des, but your niece wee football triangles,will see these 2, take us to the Bermuda Triangle,before a Mayday call can be put out.
BTW – Stokes takes every corner kick on the right and hits it to the same spot – cant this be watched on a video and changes in training. Stokes ball placement on any set-piece is as predictable as an organized stroll in Airdrie in mid-july
Those who want to give Ronny time – time to do what exactly? Genuine question, if you can tell me – outwith the sound bite / headline / all talk no action stuff we’ve heard – what is the plan?
We need a football manager, not a fitness coach. Read my post from yesterday with regards to players who have achieved plenty at the top level with our club and in the modem day.
That’s the only comparison I’ll make to other Celtic sides – no matter what they have achieved (or not) , you only have to look at this current side and a blind man can see it’s utter pish.
However, even if Ronny did leave, who would our board bring in to match THEIR level of ambition? Someone from the Moldovan 4th division (no disrespect to them but it appears to be our boards level)