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Dad, We need to talk about Ronnie..

I’ll never forget that day my 23 year old daughter said those chilling words that no Father wants to hear. It was a Thursday, it was 11:30am. I was sitting alone when she walked into the room. I looked up with a smile that was soon to vanish as my daughter said “Look Dad, I got us tickets for the Astra game tonight!”. “Bugger” cried my inner voice as I faked a half smile and said “Oh great” in response whilst watching the rain continue to fall outside in a grey miserable Glasgow.

6 hours or so later we were heading to the game. The Rain was still falling but the mood had lifted and the bets had been placed. Talk of “3-0” or “4-0” filled the car as we drove round and around Dalmarnock way looking for somewhere to park. The difficulty wasn’t the vast amount of cars due to a massive attendance, no, it was the lackof actual parking places now the big green fields of old have been replaced with a cycling track which had approximately no-one on it by the time we ditched the car on a blacked out street and headed up to the ground.

To be fair, the Emirates Arena-Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is a welcome and impressive addition to the East End landscape and it was good to see the five aside pitches were all full as we walked up towards Paradise via The Celtic Way, the newish entrance up to Celtic Park. It’s a lovely sight with white and green lights showing the way towards our beloved stadium. 

No doubt come our return to the Champions League, reporters will stand up on the Velodrome step talking to camera whilst taking in the new impressive walkway in the background. As this was just the Europa League, there were no reporters, hardly any police and not even traffic on London Road. A few folk still gathered for photo’s as always, just for that “I’ve been there” feeling:

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 So it was with a wee nod to statues of Jinky, Jock and brother Walfrid, we walked round and into the less than half full stadium. After half an hour mulling about inside to avoid the rain, we ventured out for team arrival and kick off. Who knew the Europa League had a tune? Nope me neither but I suspect Pensionerbhoy remembers when it first topped the Harpsichord charts. With Guidetti ineligible ( who’s brilliant planning was that btw?) Celtic lined up with :

Gordon

Izzy, Denayer, VVD, Mikel
Mulgrew, Broon, Johansen, MacGregor
Stokes, Scepovic

Celtic were in the Hoops while Astra from the back appeared to have lined up wearing Celtics old Black and Gold Away top. Im sure my daughter still has one in the loft with ‘Maloney’ on the back somewhere. As it was to turn out, we really could have did with a ‘Maloney’ in the Hoops.

I could go on and on about the dire first half from Celtic. I could rant about Danayers obsession with passing to an opponent or big Virgils lackadaisical attitude. I could moan about Tony Stokes having a Tony Stokes European Night. I could suggest Callum McGregor would have been better off in his bed for school in the morning given his lack of input. I could sigh at the defence for switching or backing off so many times that Craig Gordon was yet again our ONLY player turning up having to make numerous saves to keep Astra out.

But I wont.

Instead I feel the excitement of the first half can be captured by this one poignant image, an image that brings to mind a classic Only An Excuse match report sketch from Dundee when “a chip poke has blown onto the park”. Yes folk,I was so bored watching Celtic that I ended up taking a photo of a pitch invasion:

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Mind you, I wasn’t the only one searching for something decent to watch ( look at that banner…and try not to cringe a little)

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The second half could only get better. And it did. Well kinda. Celtic scored. Twice. One a header from our £2m striker Scepovic who is now off the mark. Scepovic scored after putting home a Tony Stokes free kick that actually met the danger area for once. The Serb had missed a few chances and finally got one on target and hopefully it’s the start of a decent run. It was clear to see the whole team were glad for him.

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And Im glad to report whilst the striker thanked the support for their backing and applause, there was no badge kissing to sigh at.

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Scepovic to be fair had some decent touches and made some excellent runs which often went unnoticed by a Celtic midfield who were bereft of any vision.Oh for a Lubo, a Nakamura or even a wee Shauny, just someone who can make that split second pass into the path for a rushing forward.

Of course for that killer pass, the strikers need to do their bit and we’re back to Tony Stokes. He offered nowt bar the free kick for Scepovics goal and you wonder just how long it will be before Deila gives Griffiths a go or considers changing the front line to Guidetti and Scepovic,for the domestic encounters for now at least.

Celtic did perform better in the second half after the dire first 45 and the points duly seemed sewn up when Stefan Johansen rattled in a loose ball following a fumble by the Astra keeper. At 2-0, with most of those left in the stadium expecting the Hoops to steamroll the Romanians, Astra duly ran up the park and managed to score with 10mins left. The crowd found ourselves transported into that “Oh mammy daddy” territory watching the clock on the big screen.

Thankfully there weren’t any true heart in mouth moments but the bloodpressure was raised every time Izzy forgot how to defend and kept bombing up the park. When youre relying on Wasako for cover, that does not fill anyone with confidence with the game on a knife-edge.

The ref blew for time and the points were on the board. Ronnie Deila soon after on the radio was clearly relieved to win but was honest in his assessment whilst respectful to Astras performance.

Deila highlighted the first half slackness from Celtic and he has to make sure this is curbed. I would suggest benching Denayer and giving Efe a role back at Centre half. Sadly with the focus being on Craig Gordon passing it out from the back to a centre half to start the play, Efes bombscare dribbling seems to mean this suggestion is dead in the water. Regardless of how pretty it looks on paper or how expensive they are deemed in “potential value”, Big Virgil and Denayer are nowhere near the finished article and are still very much a work in progress.

No-one in the Hoops came out the game well bar Craig Gordon.The only worrying thing about Gordon is the way that Ronnie Deila says “We hope we can keep him”. Is this just a short term shop window arrangement? Will we see our best player head away despite proving his fitness, robustness and importance to the side? I really hope not as he is vital for results and he really is the only inspiration to any young Hoops fans at present.

At the back,Lustig is showing his class and is a welcome return but we still need decent back-up for Izzy. In the centre, I would even suggest Charlie Mulgrew could be considered as wellas Efe, as the current 2 were far too complacent last night and may need a challenge to buck up their ideas.

With Kris Commons still carrying a glutimus maximus (aka ‘a pain in the arse’)  injury, Celtics midfield were totally bereft of any vision and its clear come January we need to find a creative player. A midfield of Brown, Mulgrew, Johansen and McGregor may be able to run about or help break down attacks but they’re never going to consistently have the other sides defenders backing off fearing that clinical touch forward.

John Park, for whom the Jury is still out,  found Nakamura, and hopefully he can find us someone with the same football brain. Then again hopefully Peter Lawwell will then authorize the wages needed. Living, minimal or otherwise.

As many on Etims know, Ive championed Ronnie Deila and still back the guy and his methods. He made a few positive changes (Tonev,Wasako) when it wasn’t working last night and it helped Celtic go forward and ultimately win the game. However there is no hiding the fact that overall it was an ugly, depressing performance and the buck for that ultimately sits with him.

If Ronnie/Park/Lawwell cant find that playmaker or find a system that fits with what he has ( with or without Kris “He says hes happy here” Commons), then our progress in the Europa League will be lucky to get passed the next step and the pressure will only increase on all parties concerned.

The league will be won, of that I have no doubt, but I hope somehow we can find a way to play Guidetti and Scepovic as they both clearly have a football brain, its up to the manager to make it work overall and for the men behind the scenes to deliver the personnel he needs.

So, the intriguing/despairing ( delete as appropriate) rollercoaster continues to run and next stop is Kilmarnock at home. Its part of a 2 for the price of 1 scheme which along with all those empty seats last night must have Peter Lawwell wondering if this plan really is working?

Only time will tell.

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Monti
9 years ago

As much as I want Deila to succeed I just don’t see it.
Celtic were shocking last night and as much as I’m glad we won, where is the evidence of a quality team developing here?
On chances Astra should have won!
Celtic have no real creativity in the team whatsoever, Callum Mcgregor should not be in the starting line up in my opinion.
What does he bring to the team?
Fuck it I can’t be bothered moaning anymore..

jpm 88
9 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I have to agree. I too, hoped Deila would bring something new to the club .
However , with each passing game and no real improvement , a day of reckoning may be approaching.
If we’re going to be honest , we have to accept that whilst 7pts -9 is great , without Gordon (yes, I know that’s his job) it would likely be 0pts. (and Deila would be a gonner).
So he seems to be lucky. But his luck will only take him (and us) so far.

John
9 years ago

Efe Ambrose. That guy is a joke.

I was unhappy to see him on the bench last night as i thought that he may cost us the match in some inadvertent way by even being within 200 miles of the stadium such is the calamity that occurs when this clown is anywhere near a hooped jersey.

I sincerely hope he’s sold in the January transfer window, i, along with many others will rest easier in the knowledge that he is plying his comical brand of defending on a continent far away from PArkhead.

Don’t let the door hit your arse on the way out Efe.

johann murdoch
9 years ago

Halfway through the first half I was praying that Astra hadnt registered all their players correctly….bummer they had!!

johann murdoch
9 years ago

Monti-what exactly has Mcgregor done for us-how about aqueducts-roads-tunnels- ..sorry………. that was the Romans wasnt it?

Monti
9 years ago
Reply to  johann murdoch

You calling me a biggus dickus?

johann murdoch
9 years ago

Big Virgil wandered about all night thinking-new pad in East London-West london_north London????

Celtic125
9 years ago

I agree with your fears but I’m wae Brennan on this one.
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=16270

holy sea
9 years ago

I feel sorry for Ronny.Downsizing has not helped his cause.
Any team would struggle,bereft of talent and quality.
I agree Desi,Park/Lawwell have to give the guy a better standard of player.
2/3 Quality players can give the team and fans a boost.If it means paying 30-40k a week,so be it.Our board have no vision.
Show the fans,that our blind faith,should not be taken for granted ?
Good article,Desi.

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  holy sea

Thanks,Desi !

jpm 88
9 years ago
Reply to  holy sea

Park/Lawwell’s abilities( or lack of) aside , they both only take their remit from Dermot Desmond. He is the BIG decision maker.

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  jpm 88

Yes,jpm,Desmond sets the budgets.He does NOT buy the
players.Park/Lawwell recruit players,and have wasted Millions on duff strikers.Are they accountable for this ?
Another point,RD was right re Astra.They are a better team,
than anything,we will face in the league.

jpm 88
9 years ago
Reply to  holy sea

holy sea,

Yes , DD sets the budget , and that includes the wage structure ; therefore the 30-40k a week wages you talk of would have to be OK’d by DD ( as in the case of both Keanes).
Although you do highlight another problem . Yes Lawwell and Parks DO recruit (i.e. pick) the players . That’s an immediate undermining of who-ever is the manager . It makes him merely a head coach. Again this would not be happening without Desmond’s permission.

holy sea
9 years ago

Post went awol ?

London celtic
9 years ago

Owen coyle and brien kerr on irish tv summed it up perfectly last night. Celtic were shocking. Passing was truly dreadful. Kerrs take on johansen was that the guy, aldo he scored looks way out of his depth in Europe. Fans won’t pay to watch rubbish like this. Watched the game with fans of the overhyped epl. Had to listen to there ‘whats happened to celtic’, ‘there not the club they use to be’ comments every so often. Really annoying when your trying to enjoy your pint and watch the game. Sad truth about it is, there right. Last night’s victory strangely felt like a defeat.

jpm 88
9 years ago

Desi Mond ,

I can totally relate to your article. I too have a daughter who is blinded by the optimism of youth .After failing to persuade me (in York) to go to the game , she drove up herself ( from Manchester Uni),
without my knowledge . I only found out this morning after my wife “spilled the beans” now that she was safely back in Manchester.

pipster
9 years ago

Charlie mulgrew was worst player on field. Stpkes was ok. Your article seems crap and all these cpmments are crap. Sounds like huns. I see progress and will back ronny all the way and not be brainwashed my the hun media wanks. Coybig.tiocfaidh ar la

andybhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  pipster

^ Deluded or what?????

Monti
9 years ago
Reply to  pipster

Pipster,
Show some respect to fellow Tims….ya prick!

Macca
9 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Progress?? What progress??? We defo going backwards, and at a rate of knots

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  Macca

If you want to see a (new) club going backwards,look over Ibrokes way !

yestim
9 years ago
Reply to  holy sea

Ironic to see Pipster you conclude your post with our day will come, but you want to deal in the todays or last nights to be precise

jebus
9 years ago

sadly with the players we have performances like this are the norm, and will be whilst they are still here. We need a massive squad clearout only 4-5 of them are anywhere near the level required for europe, one of them is inelligible and not even ours and one of them (virgil) is a certainty to be sold. we have a team of average to poor footballers and shock horror it results in average to poor peerformances. Thanks to the boards strategies this wont change so we better get used to it because they just dont care.

andybhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  jebus

Oh they will care alright, when the 25,000 become the 10-15,000 and those days aint far away.

deadhead67
9 years ago

This rubbish team has all the players that cantered to the league last season,and lost only 1 game due mainly to scotlands top ref,doing his usual job of bigoted decision making,the defence which included the much(and wrongly)maligned Ambrose set up a record of clean sheets.Since this nobody was appointed the defence has become a sieve
and the attack is looking very poor.RD should have went or been sacked after the Legia debacle,but that might have reduced pirate pete,s bonus,time for Rd and the ceo to fuck off

frank logan
9 years ago

What a load of moaning minnies you are. Why cant you guys give Ronny a break, he’s only been in the job two or three months and he currently has Celtic involved in more competitions than under Lennon this time last year. Come on you lot your making the team fodder for the sceptical press. Bolton just got beat by Charleton on wed night, he’s taken a big step backward and there’s no way back for him at this club so look on the Brightside and get behind the new coach then maybe he’ll surprise you moaners.

andybhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  frank logan

Surprise us?? You must be one of the most optimistic people on the planet.
The guy is a dud, no more, no less.

Macca
9 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

The guy has been in the job two or three months and in that very short time has turned us from runaway champions with a half chance of Champions League qualification to an embarrassing outfit that no one wants to watch, who cant string 3 passes together and who wont be able to attract a decent player. Progress?? What progress???

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  Macca

With every post,you smell,more and more like a hurting
Zombie !!

deadhead67
9 years ago

Frank are you a sevconian

Dom The Bomb
9 years ago

Good Article – Desi. Articulate, informed, proportionate as well as being honest and emotional.

Other contributors on etims could learn a thing or two from you.

Hail Hail

9 years ago

Been trying to give Rd lots of time but its very trying ….
The shape of the team, the interesting changeovers in his flexable but rigid system is not working.
McGreger young so dont play him
Ambrose not to blame forr everthing and needs rest.
Mulgrew is just not good enough in Europe, but neither is Stokes or Commons , oh and dirk diggler, or pukki etcetc
Any 30/40 k per week , costing 5 mill would staynwell away from us and Scottish football.
I would get Moyes if possible, Rd as no 2 not a long term solution as eventually a decent job will come for him .
4 4 2 was what was required last night .
And Big scepovic dose not seem to be the answer….
Great article, brilliant headline , thanks

Fraser Iain Munro
9 years ago

I desperately want RD to succeed, but can’t see it
Why keep it simple when complicated is driving everone mental ….

chorleybhoy
9 years ago

Boy was I wrong 30 nil for Celtic I predicted almost that score for the Romanians in the first half Awful performance, Mcgregor should have been hooked after 15 minutes Van Dyke Denayer heads somewhere else Scepovic missed two great chances Stokes nver looked like scoring
every Celtic player seemed to find an opponent with a pass Oh this too fucking depressing

chorleybhoy
9 years ago

3 nil not 30 nil.. I wish

9 years ago

Where are Una and Charlie Saiz – embarrasing and I will not be back to watch this rubbish. One week we look world beaters the next shocking! what are this management team doing to my club! I despair!!!!

andybhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  Franco Baresi

World beaters? What , against Dross County?
Oh how I weep.
How can we allow Lawwell’s wet dream to continue to embarrass our clubs great name.

Monti
9 years ago

Celtic must start each game with two strikers, home and away!

holy sea
9 years ago

Yes,football wise,it’s not pretty,at the moment.
Then you pause,and have a good laugh,at the ugly Zombies.
They gave it a big Hail Hail,for their saviour,the Lying King.Only
for the Easdales and Ashley to book his ticket,back to SA.
Now this will ALWAYS bring a smile to our faces,as we watch them SUFFER ! KARMA ! For the cheats.

Macca
9 years ago
Reply to  holy sea

No comfort Holy Sea in the demise of the Huns. We’re crap and we know we are…sad

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  Macca

Macca,
You’ll find your are in very small minority of Celtic fans,with
those thoughts.As for being crap ? Let’s see……

andybhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  holy sea

HS. I think Macca might mean there is no comfort in the new Huns demise with Celtic imploding at the same time. If the people that mismanage our club were doing the job properly, we would all be required to wear nappies from the continuing hilarity over Ibrokes way.But as it is, the joy is withering, due to the malaise unfolding at the Park.

Macca
9 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Exactly Andy, thanks

Sean cahill
9 years ago

Pipster is Ronny’s maw btw!

9 years ago

Looking at the bigger picture for us rather than gers demise. No progress whatsoever is depressing, we had the chance when they went bust to capitalise on it and get all the best youngsters in Scotland in, Gauld should have been first one in, great prospect as far as sporting Lisbon are concerned yet he is under our nose and we don’t make a move, a Scottish international for years to come in young Robertson who instead goes down to Hull. Should have been looking to the future but what did we do, sat on our arses That’s what. we are left now with Danayer who stated midweek that he is off Guidetti who again will be off. Don’t want to mention Berget or Tonev. loan signings, Is that the best we can do if so it really is a depressing state of affairs. Our manager is clearly out of his depth and if the same football standard continues the malaise will only get worse.

Rab Wallace
9 years ago

It truly is depressing isn’t it?
Seeing the team I love reduced to Sunday league standard.

9 years ago

Celtic were abysmal on Thursday night our back four were all over the feckin place 2 centre backs 40 yards apart Lustig 20 yards further forward and Izzy even further forward…this has nothing to do with players individual skill this is down to Ronny FFS they need to play as a collective unit I keep saying Izzy should be playing wing back and stick Mulgrew or anyone in at left back ( No cover for Izzy for years) First job for a defender is DEFEND!!! Midfield McGregor just not good enough..Mulgrew is not a midfielder nuff said..Brooony is just Broony..Johannsen too lightweight…Scepovic jury’s still out…Stokes struggles in the middle so absolutely no chance of doing anything playing out of position..The manager’s a dud and sadly way out of his depth..Chris Sutton was correct in his analysis we are going back the way.

Morto
9 years ago

Oi! Where’s my post?

Ed McGurin
9 years ago

For me, Ronnie has to show that he is also willing to develop by making changes to his formation, play to the strengths of his resources and find a route to goal. Balls wide and crosses have proved of little value, but he continues.

A cause of much frustration for me is the continual comments that come from an area of the (wider) support. Half empty stadium, need to spend money and continual reference to the past. The stadium is half empty because the wider support are away shopping, playing golf or riding their bikes. Money isn’t in the Scottish game for a number of reasons and with our dwindling attendances we need to cut our cloth to suit and that’s part of the reason we don’t have the finished articles on the pitch and is part of the reason why we can’t attract a better quality of player.

However, I buy my season ticket each year, and whilst I can afford it I always will. I can’t chuck it and pick up a club or buy the Sky package.

So, I’d much rather a full house at Celtic Park, but will remain content with being one of the Faithfull Through and Through.

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