My old Granda’ used to say you should never bet on the games between Christmas and New Year. Celtics 0-0 draw with Ross County was a case in point. But was it more than a bad day at the office ?
The highland side defended as though their lives depended on it, although to be honest, despite Leig Griffiths getting a start, he was out wide and reduced to cutting in and taking long range pops most of the time. John guidetti is now finding out that professional defenders, regardless of ability , now know that they simply have to crowd him out, and the one up front system means they don’t have to worry about anyone else lurking nearby.
You can’t take anything away from County, they had a plan and stuck to it. Celtic , however, also had a plan, and they stuck to it as well.
Its just not a very good one.
Manager Ronny Deila looked genuinely shocked after the game, and perhaps the penny i finally dropping that he needs to vary things a wee bit, and perhaps throw in a few surprises from time to time.
“It was a very frustrating game. We had the ball for 90 minutes but didn’t manage to break them down and get the tempo up.
“With so much possession we need to create more and that’s what’s disappointing today.
“It’s about learning to deal with teams like this but it’s not the last time we’re going to meet a side that will sit in. They did it well and we have to give them credit for that but we needed to create more than we did and that was disappointing.”
“If you can get an early goal against these teams it’s important because they have to attack and then there’s more space but in the end it was a lack of creativity and tempo,” he said.
“We had a lot of crosses that we need to get more in front of the players to create chances.
“We played with two strikers because we wanted more crosses and more players on the pitch that can score goals.
“We have to work in training now every day and really go through what we can do to get that going.
“We know John Guidetti can score goals, he has done it before and has played good games. He hasn’t become a bad player in a month. It’s just small details we need to turn around.
“He has been out for a long time and came in with a lot of energy, now it’s dipping a bit but he will turn it around. My challenge is to get that back as quick as possible.
“His ambition is very high and he is more disappointed than everyone else.”
Er, I wouldn’t say than everyone else.
At times it was like watching last years team. Side to side, back to front, and then falling apart near the box. Which, of course , begs the question…
Have Celtic progressed in the six months or so under Ronny ?
Statistically, yes, of course.
Still in both domestic cups, top of the league, and a place in the last 32 of the Europa League.
But that hides a few things, most notably the fact that teams know how to play against us. And the fact that if you mark Guidetti out of the game, you pretty much guarantee that Celtic will only at best score once or twice.
The Swede is buckling under the pressure of his lonesome role up front. It might even be the reason he’s wavering over staying in Glasgow. He needs someone alongside him to allow him a wee bit of freedom and space.
Anthony Stokes was forced to leave the proceedings early doors yesterday, and he was replaced by Calum MacGregor, who in turn, after about an hour or so, was replaced by Kris Commons. We missed Stokes. We also missed MacGregor and Commons while they were on, but coming into a game is always harder than starting one.
In fact, the whole day was summed up when MacGregor finally managed to hold onto the ball for a second or two, and fired a shot which rebounded off the bar-to John guidetti who actually managed to head wide when in front of an empty net. A clearance which matched an earlier interception from a Leigh Griffiths shot, which although not exactly goalbound, didn’t need the Swede to make sure it didn’t go in.
Lack of cohesion, lack of passion lack of creativity and imagination. Thats a lot of lacks, and Ronny needs to do something about it next month. The way we are just now isn’t good enough.
So far, Ronny Deila has been lucky. Now he needs to make things happen, rather than watch them happen.
Transfer news-well, news in the loosest possible meaning of the word. The Sunday Star claims Arsene Wenger is ready to blow all the competition out of the water and bid £20m for defender Virgil van Dijk. Etims are considering legal action as we thought we held the monopoly on ridiculous transfer stories. Still, in the English league they pay more than that for diddies, so it might not be that far fetched.
Martin Odegaard might still end up at Celtic, and its a bit much to expect a fifteen year old to change our season, but you never know.
Oh, wait, yes we do.
Still, Deila is confident of getting his man, which would be a massive coup for him.
“I don’t know what is happening with him but we will see.
“He knows me, he knows how I work with young players.
“He got his debut from me when he was 15 years old, so he knows he would get his chance here also.
“I don’t think he would get that at Barcelona. You have to take the right steps.”
Elsewhere, things went from bad to worse for the stricken new club plying its trade out of Ibrox.
Is it so wrong, especially during this period of peace and goodwill to all men, to mock them ceaselessly ?
Frankly, no.
Second Rangers were hilariously destroyed 4-0 by Hibernian in Edinburgh yesterday, which combined with Hearts winning 1-0 in Livingston means that they are now fifteen points off the pace in the First Division.
Manager Kenny MacDowall seemed a little shellshocked by what he has inherited;
Still, the support were defiant;
Bless him.
The ruthless dismantling by the Edinburgh side had the crowd appealing for mercy;
Perhaps the Human Torpedo on twitter summed it all up best;
Och, away from all that nonsense now. Its getting tedious. ( No , it isn’t. Remember the nineties -Ed )
Lisbon Lion, also on twitter, posted this wee story last night, which when you read it will bring a wee tear to your eye. It did to mine;
Derek Johnstone went on to handle the ball on the line in yesterdays picture, which allowed Andy Lynch to step forward and score the penalty that won the cup in 1977.
He then spent thirty seven years debying it at every possible opportunity, but thats Derek for you. absolutely no grasp of reality, which makes him an ideal panelist on the Radio Clyde phone in.
Caption competition today. Tell us what is written on the pad
On the pad the message reads…..”Dear Santa……i need a clue”
When this ipad due back to cash convertors !!!
Chips. Curry Sauce, Irn Bru and Skittles for your Jukebox? Whits Bell wanting …Bitter Orange drink as normal ok.
We have gone backwards under Ronny,why won’t he play a 4-4-2 formation? All this rubbish playing one up front is shite!!!
And WTF Is he doing on the training ground,we don’t seem able too make a weighted pass ffs.
Yes I know we are still in Europa, but let’s be realistic here, we’ll get pumped nxt game, because that defence is woeful.
On a lighter note, Kenny is writing a letter to Ally, asking if there are any apprenticeship Gardening jobs going..HH
‘How do you spell ‘resignation’?’
SHIT! 2 AND 2 DOES MAKE 4
Crossword time,4 down,Dury does not look so sure,if Kendo has
spelt HUMPING right !!
Deila is out of his depth…Taxi!
Ralph,all your talk of 7-0,before the game,I put £1 on 7-0,and
£1 on 6-1.After 10 mins it was clear,that this was not going to be the easy win we all expected.First time I have seen,a
4-2-1-3 formation deployed.NO semblance of balance and
shape.Why are our full-backs now wingers ?
We will win the league.But,not by playing stylish winning
football.More a case of the others teams beating each other,I’m afraid.
Is he putting a line through Ian Black’s 10 fold accumulator?
Dear diary,
why did I leave Celtic?
We had 2 up for most of the game yesterday.
We also spent most of the game passing it aimlessly across the park.
No shock there then …well not for me anyway 😉
4-4-2..gei us peace ffs it’s had it’s day folks the game has moved on now.
Poor finishing been saying it all season.
You can play 2-4-4 it would still be pointless if no cunt can finish.
15 corners yesterday…no goals.
Pathetic.
Language!
It’s not about formation it’s about ability … which is clearly lacking.
What formation are Man City playing at the moment ???
McDowall: It’s hot in here. Is someone pointing the bars of their electric fire directly at me?
Durie: “Look he’s doing that fancy attached writing thingy. Wouldn’t of happened in Allys day.”
Ralph,due to your positivity about a 7-0,I put a £1 on a 7-0
and a 6-1.After 10 mins,this wasn’t going to be a big score.Praise to County,they dug in,and wanted it more.Our
formation had no semblance of shape or balance.Are our full-backs now wingers ? Why was young Tierney not thrown on with half an hour to go,he plays well on the left ?
We will win the league.Not due to us playing stylish,winning football,but because the other teams will beat each other.
I found two posts, and have put them both in. Firstly, to remind everyone of the futilities of gamblng, and secondly, if you are going to gamble, don’t take any notice of me, I live in a flat above a shop.
Thanks Ralph,the second post was just a repeat of the first.
I’m more hopeful my 4 acca,Celtic,Chelsea,Hearts and Real Madrid win their respective leagues in May,I should win £80.
My gimme was Celtic at 1/40.Hearts at 2/1 was my concern.However,the way we are playing,Celtic are causing me more concern for my bet to come off !!
7-0 Ralph,posts lost m8 ?
During to Mcdowall.” If that’s Ally’s tactics notes, just ask me if you can’t read his writing, greasy pie fingerprints smudging the words!
Haw ralph ya cvnt!!!!
You owe me a feckin fortune. Thats about 5 games on the spin I have bet 7-0!!!!
I got the Ross County 0 bit right. Takes some doing with our defence. Would they have paid E/W ?
Stick to betting against Rangers, I’m making a fortune as the bookies don’t realise they are the 4th best team in that league at best and have them odds on every game. Had dosh on Hearts, QOS and Hibs (twice) to beat them.
Money won is twice as sweet as money earned, but money won betting against Rangers is sweeter still.
RD hasn’t got a clue….
I’m pissed off listening to his nonsense…
Truth is…We are shoite…and going nowhere fast.
Time for a change..he’s had long enough.
Totally agree!
No matter who Celtic sign, I and most of the support want him to be a success. This is certainly true for Guidetti. However recent performances were such that he should not have started yesterday. He is not an all round footballer and it shows all the time. Well what does that matter we only want him to score goals? True but he’s not scoring any. Several times yesterday he tried oh so slowly to switch the ball from left foot to right foot and was dispossessed. Surely he can kick with his left foot? Anyway sorry to say but I do not see him being a success, at this time of the season he just has not shown enough to merit being in the starting 11 any week. And I don’t think McGregor is any help. I’m fed up seeing both he and Guidetti kidding on they’re trying to head the ball when in fact they’re try to avoid doing so. It’s a fact, Guidetti can’t get more than 6 inches off the ground. Groan!
Frankly, a stud with a massive pair of balls like that would not be out of order next month …
I’m available!
*rofl*
To win the league, we also have to beat somebody! Not sure how 0-0 draws are going to do that.Every team who has ever come to Celtic Park parks their bus, yet Deila seems surprised. Does he get any help from his staff? Does he get advice? Does he take it? I think this must be the worst team in Celtic history at NOT scoring from corners.
What exactly does that fucking ridiculous phrase “early doors” actually mean?
Where did it come from and why has it been adopted as acceptable language?
The first time I heard it was when fat idiot Derek Johnston mixed his metaphors, now every cnut is saying it. Stop it.
The game yesterday isn’t worth talking about.
I really really want ronny to succeed I feel for him. But I’m starting to worry. How ordinary do some of the players now look. izzy, matthews and guidetti. I don’t understand why the passing is so poor. It’s absolutely shocking. What’s wrong that johansen can’t pick out a team mate I’d love to see the stats on this man’s distribution during a game. Why is ronny and jc not correcting this?. We don’t have a john Collins or nakamura in the side, a player that can change a game with a pass. To be honest were really missing joe ledley. Peter lawwel ballsed that one up.
Its a job application form for mcdonalds probably reads
Name:Kenny McDowall
Current position: zombie overlord
Position applying for: fecking anything but here!
After watching that dross yesterday it’s painfully obvious were lacking quality. Izzy, matthews, johansen, ambrose. These lads got heart but the board need to pony out. Side badly needs quality. Get the cheque book out peter.
That will solve nada, the problem is with the experiment that has been foisted upon us.
Totally agree…
RD wouldn’t know what to do with good players…
Well…He would actually…
and that’s the problem !
Lustig is missed as well!
Very, very true Monti, a bigger miss than any player at the moment.
Ronny Deila’s tactics are the root of our problem, from the moment the team was read out against Maribor at home I feared the worst.
I haven’t forgiven him for not going for Maribor’s jugular in the second leg.
I have tried to support him but it feels like a waste of time now.
This chat about still being in all competitions is papering over cracks.
He has left out our best and most creative player (Commons) out for lengthy spells, this has been detrimental to the team, Commons scored 31 goals last season and has been treated poorly.
John Guidetti started well but isn’t convincing anyone now, Griffiths and Scepovic or Griffiths and Stokes should start every game up front, with Guidetti on the bench.
Does Celtic really need 2 defensive midfielders in the team?
I have lost complete faith in Deila and this team! HH!
Like several posters I still have reservations over Ronny, one good game in every half dozen doesn’t do it for me, he’s been extremely lucky, humped by Legia, Maribor and Salzburg, embarrassed by Partizan, many poor league performances and he still seems to have the majority on his side!!
MONTI, your spot on. I’ve been saying this as well. Brown needs a partner of the nakamura mould. A midfielder that can open up defences. Quality player that can start a move,a player that can pass. I get the feeling delia would drop brown before johansen and that scares the hell out me. Scot is without doubt our main man.
London Celtic,
Broony is our main man, no doubt about that and you’re quite right about a Nakamura type to partner him.
Left back is a constant problem at Celtic and we also need a fit Lustig.
The reality is we are going backwards, yet Deila talks of progress?
WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE OF PROGRESS RONNY FFS!
Griffiths out wide having to cut in, guidetti can’t jump to head the ball and to slow, johansen going backwards every game, we are as bad as last season and slower where is this high tempest football that we here all about.
Ok in all the competitions but can anyone tell me they are enjoying there football this season its pure shite even boring.
I was one of those that said give the manager a chance BUT losing patience and keep him away from the media cause a load off crap.
Will still go to games but not with a spring in my step.
Guys only thing that I see were we’ve improved is fitness. We’re fitter than last year. That’s alot to do with jimmy mc guiness working at Lennoxtown these days. That’s about it. Playing five in mid field, stops attacks coming from wing backs, fans can say what they like about lennon era but perfect example was the game against rangers the game at parkhead we’re we pumped them 3nil. Our passing was sharper, izzy running up the wings supplying hooper we were magic. It was all about attack attack compare this to yesterday. It’s only now some fans realising how good Niall was. Look at Hibs yesterday, the passing and movement was top notch, stubbs got them playing like that already, why can’t celtic do the same?
That’s because we played 3-5-2 in that game and pushed both wingbacks up the park.
The way our CB’s are playing right now that would be a bad idea with the current side.
This was my preferred setup when Lenny was Manager and I still think it could be done by dropping Mulgrew in alongside Denayer and Virgil.
Push Lustig up a bit with Izzy and THEN play 2 up.
The players, and the so-called management team,have been complacent over the past few games,as if the league was in the bag.Well,the sheepies are now 2 points behind.So,game on.The next 2 months will make or brake Deila.Can he handle this PRESSURE at a big club ?
The test is now upon him.If he is looking for help in the
transfer window,I don’t see Lawwell being too obliging.Sqeaky
bum time for our Ronny,me thinks !!
I think the general opinion is that RD is not the man.
We want him to succeed because of our love of the Great Celtic but he appears not to be the man.
Aberdeen have closed on us and the runner closing on the leader sometimes can turn out to be stronger than the leader himself.
If Aberdeen get a sniff that they may just be a bit more street wise than us then we will be in for a real ding dong of a battle for this league, especially if the honest mistakes go their way instead of else where!
The end of January may be the measure of this coach and the end of February may be the end of him.
We do wish him well but time is now running out.
Inter to win home and away.
HH
Gents…all this Sevco crap is masking our worst team since Lou Macari was I charge. ..and our underwhelming and perfunctory delusional manager.
Even Mowbray knew more that was going on around him than Delighlah.
tosser needs to fuck off back to amateur fitba.
Deila talks of ” progress each day “??????
In defence?
In midfield creativity?
In lethal finishing?
In controlled skillful, incisive passing?
All of the above Celtic are lacking!
No chips on the menu tho? FFS!
Mowbray!!
Who had Dec in the absolute pish sweepstakes?
2 bad results on the bounce and the panic merchants are out in force lol.
On the moving forward thing.
Still in the League Cup and still in Europe after Christmas would be moving forward.
You talk some pish
….
In Europe only by default, if we had to play a qualifier for the Europa League, I think that would have been too much for us at that time.
Charlie Saiz,
” Still in the league cup ” WOW everything’s OK then!
Charlie Saiz,
Straight question and could you answer sincerely?
Do you really believe Deila is doing a good job so far?
Why would I reply to someone who thinks I talk pish?
Catch a grip ya clown.
Charlie Saiz,
I don’t need to catch a grip, I asked you a straight question and you do talk pish….sometimes.
We all talk pish Monti this is what Forums are for..
Talking pish in General.
Deila has done an OK job considering the size of the Job in hand and the fact he has never set a side up for Europe prior
to Celtic.
He has had to step and lift a side who were by no means a great Celtic side last Season.
Our Board have been complicit in that.
His brief should have been…
Try get into CL
Failing that get EL
Top of the League by week 15
In both Cups come the turn of the year.
Get them playing decent Football.
As far as I am concerned only 2 parts of that have failed to materialise .
The first and last.
The first was always going to be a big ask that early in the Season the last takes time.
I will afford him that time myself because I can see past a few bad results and look at the Big Picture.
We are creating enough chances to comfortably win all our games in the League.
It’s down to the players to finish them not Ronny or Johnny.
So yes I am fine with what has happened so far.
Fair enough Charlie,
I expect more from a Celtic team than what I’ve witnessed this season, the Champions league was there for us and it was Deila’s selection and tactics that contributed to our exit.
If it wasn’t for Craig Gordon we would have been embarrassed in the Europa league!
The defence is a shambles as Zagreb showed, we have no flair or creativity in midfield and he plays one up front who can’t score ( Guidetti) a loan signing yet keeps a £2.5m permanent signing ( Scepovic) on the bench, constantly?
The only guy in midfield who has a touch of class and creativity is Commons and he doesn’t play him, I don’t get it.
In my opinion Charlie, I think we are in for a fall…
ah understand your frustration bribhoy but calling the Celtic manager a tosser isnay really what being a Tim is all aboout though.
Bondibrian,
And playing with one up front isn’t what a Celtic manager should be doing.
Like I said we all talk pish at times…He played 2 up yesterday.
Sam result they drew a blank.
Charlie on paper we played two up front but that didn’t materialise . During game it got chaotic, griffin’s wandered out to the flanks almost lost. He must of been told to do that. Maybe that was because stokes was taking off. I think it’s terrible were now ringing man City asking them to extend the loan period of a young player that in no way will be playing with us next year. Why can’t we go out and invest in a proven international Centre back and put him in. Obviously ronny not been given money, hole thing is pathetic, it’s a sad reflection of the poor board we have running the club. They should be ashamed of themselves.
If Man City agree to Loan him to us for another 2 Season then what’s the problem?
We will have had the services of a very good CB for 3 years without having to lay out millions in Transfer fees.
All good for me.
I’d rather Denayer was in there than that useless lump of wood Ambrose.
Griffiths was given the freedom to roam.
The fact we started with 3 recognised strikers on the Park seems to have evaded most on here.
How do the posters here think previous mansgers of Celtic, like Stein, McNeil, Hay, Macari, Burns, O’Neill, Strachan, Lennon did in their first half term st the helm at CP?
The guy’s barely had a chance to bring in a single player of his own choice, ffs!
And God forbid Charlie should start being stupid enough to give the team he supports a bit of….. well, support, for being in four competitions , with a transfer window only days away.
What utter pish, eh?
I mean, why fuckin’ bother?
All those managers had Rangers to contend with. To have a win rate of slightly more than 57% he has a worse record than John Barnes and fairly similar record to Liam Brady, not exactly enthralling statistics.
‘All those managers had rangers to contend with’!!!!!!????
Are you listening to yourself ffs!!!???
What difference do you think the huns would have made this season?
What difference do you think they would have made over the past two and a halve seasons?
Did you ever see the huns play under john greig?
I keep hearing/reading about ‘a strong rangers’, what does that mean, they want the souness years back, lol.
I say, fair enough, if we can have the Lions back.
As the bold Bertie says, ‘ we might all be in our 70s now, but we’d still show them how to play the game’.
You are a clown with no comprehension of what’s happening at Celtic.
Yes I did see Greig play against us.
What the fuck has that got to do with anything??
You’re obviously a clown with no comprehension how to read and understand a question.
I’ll take it from your garbbled answer that you actaually ‘seen greig play under’ Celtic, to mean that you, actually, seen greig play against Celtic.
So keeping that in mind I’m sue I can assume with some degree of certainty that you seen the hun play under him….that would be greig being the manager (ish) and the hun being the players (ish).
When you get someone to help you out with what that’s got to do with anything, please get back to me.
HAil!HAil!
Are you dyslexic or are you just a fucking twat?
When trying to be smart in your reply, try and get your spelling and grammar correct.
As I have already stated, you know fuck all with what’s going on at the Park.
I never asked you if you’d seen greig play against us you fucking moron, I was asking if you had seen the huns play under greig you diddy.
So if someone is going to make comparisons about achievements at CP depending on the presence of, what can only mean some form of, rangers, then the rangers managed under john greig would be quite something else frome the rangers from souey the beast, wouldn’t you think, you complete cretin.
Now Alloa mcoists The rangers would be something completely different altogether, wouldn’t you think, dick?
But hey, if the huns want to play greig, I’m sure he wouldn’t be much worse than the tadgers they’ve got playing just now.
HAil! HAil!
A quick ps. Why not ask Neil Lennon the benefits of playing in a league without A hun.
Do you think his hunless leagues and cups are tainted?
Don’t even fucking answer that, mug.
There is only one mug posting on here and it aint me. Listen, we could go back and forth with this till the cows come home, you have your beliefs and I’ll have mine ( of course, mine are correct and you,well you are simply a retard with a big mouth), now toddle off and enjoy the game on Thursday, maybe we’ll bump into each other, that would be fun.
Q: ‘Did you ever see the huns play under john greig?’.
A: ‘Yes I did see greig play against us.
What the fuck has that got to do with anything?’.
Lol
A mug and a daft wee cardboard internet gangster to boot, how perfectly charming.
HAil! HAil!
You are easily amused.
‘A mug and a daft wee cardboard internet gangster to boot, how perfectly charming.’
Sows how thick you really are.
Shows.
AFPMSL!
It’s best if you just panic after 2 poor results Mick that way you don’t stick out from the baying crowd 😉
I remember the days when we would be looking up the Table at United and Aberdeen at Christmas wishing we were that good.
Too many been spoiled over the past 10 years or so methinks Hunnitis is setting in methinks.
Mick67,
You have the platform on here to make your views known, if you are happy with the way things are going and want to support the manager then that’s fine, however a lot of the support including myself are disillusioned with the manager and we are allowed to share that too.
Our views may differ but we all love the Celtic, we just want the team to be playing good stuff most weeks…..but we aren’t!
It’s not a matter of being disillusioned, monti, It’s a matter of letting the guy get his jaikit aff, before turning him round st the door.
I’m under no misunderstanding monti, this is a big step up for the man, as it has been for many before him, but I’ll be giving him every opportunity to prove himself .
I think some of the shit being slung around about OUR MANAGER/CELTICS MANAGER is quite frankly deplorable. The laptop loyalists don’t have to sharpen their pencils to get the dirt on OUR MANAGER/CELTIC MANAGER they just hit Cetic sites like this and cut & paste, and if there’s nothing there? They can just stick in a nice juicey fishy (Norwegian salmon?) story and sit back and watch them all jump into the net
What pisses me off is. Someone at parkhead really needs a talking to. How robertson and gould weren’t sounded out and brought in. Instead we loan and gamble on unproven players from far flung leagues some playing in lower leagues of these countries. On top of all that were playing absolute shite. Players that can’t make a simple pass. A manager that talks the talk and then does the opposite. A board that are so up there on arseholes they think we don’t know we’re been bloody downsized. I’m sick of it. It’s poison. I’ve put on a stone eating shite over Christmas but yesterday game I felt like throwing it all up. The frustration that celtic cause me, I’m suppose to be relaxing on my holidays.
About 5 weeks ago Guidetti was the greatest thing since Henrik – I questioned this and reckoned Scepovic would have been a better choice, butmy opinion was shot down in flames. So it’s funny to see some of the posters on here who ridiculed my opinion now agreeing with it.
Yesterday was dreadful, but, had Guidetti managed to head a ball straight from 2 yards, we’d have won the game.
Once again we had the majority of possession, chances and corners, but couldn’t take advantage of this.
Who’s to blame, RD, PL or the players?
I reckon the players.
Why can’t the players control a ball first time and play a simple pass to one of their own team. Who’s to blame for this the manager or the players?
I reckon the players.
Most people on here want to blame RD (and PL), but he isn’t the one misplacing passes or missing open goals.
Whether we like it or not, Celtic had to change style. We had to find a new way of competing in Europe whilst reducing the wage bill. We don’t have the money to buy / pay wages for star players, therefore, we need to find a system that works for us on a limited budget.
Maribor, Legia & many other teams have managed this. They don’t have star players and they don’t pay huge salaries. They find a system that works for them and stick rigidly to this. That’s what Celtic need to do.
I won’t pretend to be happy with what’s happening at CP, watching the game is no longer enjoyable. However, we needed a radical transformation and that’s what RD is attempting to achieve.
Posters on here have been clamouring for 2 up front, we got that yesterday, but the players failed to take advantage of that. Teams in the SPL come to CP and park the bus and if they are as well organised as Ross County were yesterday, we need to get an early goal in order to open the game up. We had chances, but failed to take them.
Guidetti is also too selfish, choosing to go for it himself when a pass to colleague might be the better choice. Scepovic is more of a team player and just needs a bit of luck in front of goals to get his Celtic career up and running.
As for Kris Commons, he is a good player, but doesn’t fit into the system as he slows down moves. If he is to play, we need to change the system and that means going back to the way we were and the revolution is over – we might as well beg NL to come back.
I’m still not 100% convinced with RD, but I am 100% convinced that Celtic needed to change in order to compete in Europe. NL’s last season was embarrassing. We got lucky the season before and punched way above our weight, but got found out last season.
Are fans just happy to go along to CL nights to watch the best in Europe or do you want us to compete? Is it just about collecting the £20 / £30 million on offer or about watching Celtic actually competing with Europe’s best ?
If you want us to compete we either have to spend serious money – a £5 million striker, a decent left back (£3million), a decent CH (£4 million and hold onto VVD), 2 decent midfielders (£6 – 8 million in total) – so a minimum outlay of £20 million, plus the associated wages that lot would bring (a minimum of £10 million per season) and even then there is no guarantee of success.
Could Celtic afford to do this? Only if we are guaranteed CL football every season, but would we be and is it worth taking the risk? We’d also need to freshen up the team every season and probably spend £8 – £10 million doing so, increasing the wage bill each season. Is it worth the risk?
Alternatively, find a system that works. Buy young players from across Europe, develop them and sell them on for a profit, using the money to bring in other young players to develop and sell on. In order to achieve this we need a good scouting system and a system on the field that works and that players can fit into. It’s about a team, not individual players.
Celtic PLC have decided to go with the latter and reckon RD is the man to bring this about.
As I’ve said, I’m not convinced yet on RD, but I am convinced we needed to change.
I’m hoping that come this transfer window several players who are on the fringes (Commons, Kyal, Berget, Boeriggter, Puki, Balde etc are all allowed to leave (Ambrose as well if anyone will take him) and RD can bring in 3 or 4 players (scandanavians?) who are able to play to his system. Maybe then we’ll see his plans coming to fruition.
Sorry for the rant,but I really think we need to accept that change is upon us and that it’ll take us time to get where we want to get to.
Superb post Andy and I think 100% spot on on all accounts.
This is the reality time folk woke up to the reality and actually gave this transition time to kick in.
Best post I have read on here in a long time.
HH
Your talking pish again and so is Andy Docherty!
Deila is out of his depth FFS!
No your deluded Monti you and a fair few others who think we are some kinda Uber Club that has a devine right to win every game,stroll into Europe and mix with the Elite.
Newsflash: We aren’t.
We have a half empty ground most weeks.
A club with a turnover of £64m
And a Board who are reluctant to spend any more than £3m on any signing.
We ply our trade in a Sub Standard League with no Sponsor
And to Cap it all we have made 3 European Finals in 60 odd Years.
Winning one Trophy.
Catcha grip we have been downsizing since the O’Neil era year on year and the results in Europe have been mediocre on a whole ever since.
Now stop talking pish and get with the programme.
Nonsense!
Are you deadhead’s twin?
How many times does Lawwell refer to us as a CL club?
Commons ‘slows down moves’ what a stupid thing to say.
Some of you guys think this guy is a revolutionary, wrong, the guy is totally out of his depth and leading this club to more embarrassment.
As I stated in Saturdays diary, he hides his inadequacies behind the fitness and weight of the players, some think he is a big head and has all the motivational skills of General Haig.
Andy, Celtic took this appointment of Deila as a last resort, not as you suggest,a a great piece of visionary expertise on Lawwell’s behalf.
The guy is a dud, no more, no less.
Yes,slate Lenny all you like.FFS,LUCKY 2 years ago in the Champions League ?? Rather, ‘economical with the truth ‘
their.If you KNOW any Celtic players,ask them about Lenny’s
motivational skills !!
I’m tending to agree with most of montis comments. I wasn’t at the game but I’m always uncomfortable seeing a manager sitting looking clueless on the bench when we need some sort of motivation. Now that things are amusing again across the city I think we are being distracted . HH
Celtic best football club in the world bar none.
Just need a team a manager & board to live up to the above statement.
I think kenny is saying “. Shut it , who cares about this game, I have a free gardener and I am drawing oot how ally is to plant Ma roses “.
Charlie if you’ve only seen two poor results this season, then I question if you have been living on planet earth.
andy docherty/Charlie Saiz: great posts.Well done. Keeps my old brain sparking.I’ve pretty much seen it all at Celtic, from Big Jock to Bilbo Biggins. However, I also once thought Lou Macari would be a brilliant manager and I also supported Barnes and Mowbray at first! Humble pie, bhoys, humble pie. I support Celtic with my heart and not my head. I don’t know much about football tactics. I think andy docherty’s post is pretty close to the truth for all of us.
The Champion’s League is where all of us want to be. Not so long ago we could beat Man. United, AC Milan and Barcelona so this team should not be far away from the CL but we are. Our Scottish League is our only route there, so, we MUST win our own league. Right now, I’m not sure we can do that. What all of us wonder is: can Ronny Deila consistnetly pick a team that can win the league? If he can’t let’s wish him well and get somebody who knows our game and league better than he does. If he can’t we also can’t give him too much more time. That’s all I’m saying. Deila is not a tosser: he’s an intelligent and sensitive guy who probably should have been brought to Celtic as an assistant, in order to learn how badly we can do things in Scotland, from refereeing to packed defences to pandering to bigots. A promise from the old Fenian Devoy: our next three league matches are away, against teams we should beat comfortably. If we win them all, I will try eat more humble pie and will try shut up. If we are still only two points ahead after that, I think our club needs to re-think the Deila appointment.As the speech therapist told the man who couldn’t pronounce “f” and “th”: “Well son, you can’t say fairer than that.”
And so I am submitting my application to join ally on gardening leave forth with
We won the league at a canter last year and a lot of those games were as dire as this season.we have reached a level that is difficult to pull away from.
Andy very well written post. You made some good points, your post could almost be an official club statement, are you a board member?. I hope Andy we can turn it round, I’m cheering for delia but I’m getting worried. I really want to be wrong on this one. Hail hail
I’m no great supporter of the board, but I am a pragmatist.
There is no money in Scottish football.
We need to learn to live within our means.
Is it at all possible that the events across the city have had some bearing on PL’s mindset?
If you look at the CL groups, they almost all panned out per the seeding. This means that had we qualified and been in pot 4 of the seeding, we’d likely be out of Europe now.
Real Madrid after winning the CL last year spent over £100 million on a couple of forwards.
I have no idea what Chelsea, Barcelona, Man City, Man Utd etc spent, but I do know we cannot even pretend to compete with them. Man City have spent how much and still struggle to get through the group stages.
We need to learn to live with the money we are guaranteed and treat any money from Europe as a bonus.
Having 3 qualifying rounds each season there is always a likelihood of us being drawn against a vey good unseeded team (Legia?).
The clamour to spend money is based on flawed logic. Spending £10 million will not guarantee entry into the CL.
Would £20 million?
£30 million?
I have no idea how much we would need to spend to ensure CL qualification, but I do know it would mean the club using up any resources they have and committing to wages that are only sustainable with guaranteed CL entry every season. Can anyone guarantee that?
We need to learn to make what we have work for us. That means finding a system that works and is sustainable on the money we are guaranteed each season in Scotland. Any money we get from Europe should be use to bring in young payers who we can then develop and hopefully sell on for a profit in the future.
I’m sorry if people see me as an apologist for the board, I’m not, I’m just someone who is looking at the bigger picture.
Would I prefer to e watching a Jinky, Bobby Murdoch, Kenny Dalglish, Henrik, Lubo, of course I would, but the only chance we have of this happening is to unearth the talent while it is still undiscovered and develop it, knowing full well that after a couple of seasons they will move on.
Porto has done it for years as has Sporting Lisbon and several other European teams. That has got to be our model for the future.
Looking at the bigger picture ??
If you are happy watching a B movie,good luck to you.
Lenny qualified TWICE.Being seeded,should not be difficult for us to qualify.Don’t need to spend millions.Deila blew it,against
a poor Maribor team.We have WASTED millions on sub-standard players.If Deila does not qualify for groups next season,then he has TO GO !!
Which players has Diela wasted money on?
Most of the deadwood at CP are NL’s acquisitions.
Whether you like it or not, we need to change. Diela was never first choic, but I reckon he was going to be assistant / coach in order to get the players fitter and able to play the high pressing game. He’s been promoted before his time, however, his methodology was always going to be part of Celtic’s future.
Our best result in Europe for Decades….
Celtic 2 Barcelona 1 Dominated defended well took chances
Possession 34%-66%
Chances 3-25
On Target 3-14
Corners 2-7
This Seasons poor results:
Dundee 1 Celtic 1 Deserved draw for Dundee fought well.
Possession 37% – 63%
Chances 10-13
On Target 2-6
Corners 4-5
Celtic 1 Motherwell 1 Battered them failed to take chances
Possession 63% – 37%
Chances 27-4
On Target 10-1
Corners 8-0
Celtic 0 Hamilton 1 Dominated failed to take chances
Possession 60% – 40%
Chances 16-5
On Target 7-2
Corners 11-4
Dundee Utd 2 Celtic 1 Tighter game created plenty denied good goal
Possession 47% – 53%
Chances 6 – 17
On Target 6 – 7
Corners 6 – 5
Celtic 0 Ross County 0 Dominated created plenty failed to score.
Possession 62%- 38%
Chances 14 – 3
On Target 4 – 1
Corners 15 – 0
Poor results yes indeed but quite clearly games we could and should have won.
Nothing to do with the Manager or the System but everything to do with the lack of finishing by all of those entrusted to do so.
Barca battered us we defended for our lives and hit them on the counter.
They destroyed us last Season scored 6 could have scored 10 against a defence that broke records in Scotland.
Time folk realised the gulf between us and Europe is larger than the gulf between us and teams at home.
That aside though as Morton proved against us and we proved against Barca…
Any team can win a game of Football regardless of gulf in class.