Celtic Diary Friday December 19: By Jove, I Think We’ve Got It

Leigh Griffiths rounded off a good couple of days for himself by scoring both  goals as Celtic came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 in last nights .

The win means Celtic are top of their English Premier League International Cup qualifying group, and with just one game to come, against Villareal in Dartford, ( Jan 21 ) theres an excellent chance of progression to the quarter finals.

Group-stage matches will be played between 15 October 2014 and 31 January 2015. All matches will be organised by the Premier League. Clubs will play each team in their group once and all matches, including those between international teams, will be played in England. Upon completion of the group stages the winners and runners-up from each group will progress to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, all to be played as single-leg ties in England. 

Theres a full report on the official website-Sunderland 1, Celtic 2

The big team are looking ahead to the crucial visit to Tannadice on Sunday, and despite hardly any mention  in the papers, we can confirm that the game will go ahead as planned on Sunday with a 12.15 kick off.

A cynic would say that with Celtic now six points ahead in the league, the press have resigned themselves to the fact that Celtic have already sewn up the title, and theres no point in talking about it any more.

Though Jackie MacNamara won’t be looking at it like that. Celtic only beat teams 1-0 most of the time, and although his side have faltered a wee bit of late, they are still a handy outfit, and nothing can be taken for granted up in the City of Discovery.

If you are going to the game, don’t have beer on your bus as you approach the city. Tayside Police officers hate Weegies, and will take any opportunity to spoil your day out. One trip I had up there recently saw the driver of another bus apprehended for allowing drink on the vehicle, and there were rumours of Celtic fans being strip searched, beaten and held in custody for days, but to be fair, it was me who started them.

Ronny Deila appears to have now settled on his best line up, but thats no guarantee he will use it.

Craig Gordon is likely to start in goal, but with Mikael Lustig still maybe not quite ready to start, Adam Matthews having decided he can’t be arsed any more and Danny McGrain perhaps a little past his best, there may be a start for Darnell Fisher at right back, which would almost certainly mean the end of the road for Matthews.

Or the beginning of it;

Emilio Izaguerre is immovable at left back, firstly because he’s quite good, and secondly because theres no-one else to pick anyway.

Virgil van Dijk, apparently already in negotiations with Arsenal over a move to join their reserve team will also start, but it will most likely be Efe ambrose alongside him, as Jason Denaayer is tired after his stint in the club shop.

Scott Brown and Nir bitton in the protective roles, and then we should have James Forrest, Stefan Johansen and Anthony Stokes supporting John Guidetti in the attacking zone.

Anthony stokes has come in for a bit of praise lately, and he’s also back in amongst the goals. This is because he has bought into the managers style now, and I think its becoming plainer what the Norwegian wants the midfielders to do.

I’d prefer two up front, but the idea behind the way Celtic play is that if Stokes on the left is in possession, the two up front become Guidetti and Forrest, and if Forrest has the ball, it becomes Stokes and Guidetti.

That takes a lot of hard work, and the idea of Johansen supporting the three means that we should have three up front with one ready to pounce and regain possession if one of the forwards loses it.

Incidentally, Johansen has that rare combination of attitude and abilty, which makes him more and more important to the team as the season progresses.

And he loves it;

“Right now I’m starting to find my way, really, into the team. I’m delivering assists, goals and creating chances.

“When the new manager came we knew it’d take time with everyone. It’s not something that can happen overnight and it’s not as if everything will be fine if we lose a game.

“We need to work hard and all of us have done that and if we keep on doing it then the team and the players are going to develop.

“For me it’s important to always to try to be better and that’s what I’m trying to do every day.”

 No wonder it took months for the system  to sink in. Its not that it was complicated, but that it required a lot of thinking, a lot of discipline and a lot of effort.

Stokes has now got it, Johansen has got it, Guidetti has got it, its just whoever fills in on the right. Which won’t be Wakaso. Boerrigter, Tonev or Commons.

Middle to front is coming together, its just the uncertainty at the back that maybe needs a couple of fresh faces , thouhg the return of Mikael Lustig will go a long way to helping out there.

Centre half is looking like where the money needs to be spent next month, especially van Dijk could be away, and Denaayer isn’t a long term solution.

The Tonev row looks like it will just fade away, with neither the player or the club seemingly interested in taking it any further.

But that hasn’t stopped Derek McInnes, the Aberdeen manager from stirring the soup, by telling everyone he’s not going to talk about it any more;

 “We will always support any of our players when they feel they have been wronged.

“But now we just want to draw a line under it and move on. That’s right for everybody – I think enough has been said on it.” 

 Hang on, isn’t there another manager who doesn’t mention things by talking about them ? Wait-maybe ex -Rangers player MacInnes is after the job at Ibrox ….

 “I’m really happy here at Aberdeen.

“I think it’s unfair [to be talking about who will take over at Rangers] when there is still a manager in charge. He’s a friend of mine as well and for me I have no desire to leave Aberdeen at the moment.

“I’m really enjoying myself and I feel we have work to finish.” 

 Yup. Seems that way.

Speaking fo the Ibrox clusterfuck, they have appointed Mike Ashley puppet Derek Llambias as Chief Executive, blatantly ignoring the rules the SFA have on dual influence.

 Its almost like they want to be punished.

 But the fans are revolting …..

 Okay, rebelling….

Presumably uncle joe is a lot more cleverer than the rest.

Transfer rumours ? Did you ask about transfer rumours ?

 Kris Commons may well be in the managers plans, but with his contract up at the end of the season, its hardly certain he will still be here in Febraury.

“Under no circumstances, will Celtic be interested in selling Commons for an insulting figure. Crystal Palace paid £800,000 for Joe Ledley a year ago when he was coming to the end of his contract. 

 That came from a “source”, in the Scotsman, and reading between the lines here, its likely that its a messgae saying the forward is available at the right price and the club won’t be difficult to deal with.

 FootballFan Cast has Robbie Keane lined up for a sensational loan stint at Celtic while the MLS is in recess.

 I think we’ll settle for Ikeche Anya and a couple of sturdy centre halves.

 Yesterdays picture was from a 2-1 win over Inter Milan back in 1967.

Whats odd about this picture ?