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Celtic Diary Friday May 15: Kennedy Speaks As Ronny Runs Out Of Words.

We learn today that blues legend BB king has passed away. A week or so ago U2 frontman Bono had been in touch to perform a duet with the great man. Of his death, Kings wife said ” it’s what he would have wanted. ”

BB King, Ben E. King. I’m off to Burger King while I still can.

Celtic are in Perth tonight to face St. Johnstone, and for John Kennedy it’s a chance to meet up with an old mentor, Saints boss Tommy Wright.

Tommy was actually the goalkeeping coach when I was at Norwich for a short period so I know him from my time there and he’s done a fantastic job with St Johnstone.

“He’s got a team there who really work hard for each other and they’re probably a team that you respect most in regard to the unit that they have.

“They go out there and they fight for everything and in everything they do they’re together.

“That’s great credit to what Tommy’s built there and he’s taken the club up to a position where they’re fighting for Europe, albeit depending on the cup final, and he deserves great credit for what he’s done there. And he’s a good guy as well.” 

With manager Ronny Deila’s voice worn out from talking all week, it was down to the first team coach, who is largely responsible for the defence and it’s fantastic  record this season, ,  to look ahead to tonights game;

“It’s been great. If we look at where we started when the manager came in, he brought new ideas and we were working on things, and from then until now there have been big changes.

“We’ve gone into games and controlled them a lot better. We’ve still been winning games but regarding the number of chances we’ve been giving away and the number of goals we’ve been conceding, that’s improved steadily as the season has gone on.

“That was our objective early in the season. If we’ve got a good defence, it gives us a terrific chance to go and win games and that’s been the case.”

Speaking of the defence, in yesterdays diary comments, wag the dog, who gave the information to Jake the Snake, confirmed it was a left back, and not a right back, that Deila was looking for.

Which makes a lot more sense.

Especially as Willem II left back Mitchell Dijks has said Celtic have put in a bid for him.

Although the current rumour doing the rounds, that a former player, thought to be Aiden McGeady or Gary Hooper is returning to the club in  a swap deal, doesn’t seem to fit in with current club policy. We sell our top men, we don’t swap them for our old cast offs.

Kennedy, still only 31, may be that link between players and management that is necessary to keep the lines of communication open, which means problems such as discontent can be dealt with before they spread. He spoke of his satisfaction in the role;

“Some of them are a bit cheeky – they think I’m late 30s!

“What you do as a coach is get in and around the players and form a connection with them. Get to know them and make them feel comfortable. That’s what we do – we ask about them, find about their families and likewise they come and speak to us.

“That’s when I tell them what happened to me. They ask or hear things and you chat about it.

“If they ask me anything about my playing career I will tell them but I don’t go out my way to make that the case.”

Some of us still remember Kennedys performance against Barcelona, which was one of the best by any Celtic centre half, and of course all of that early promise was shattered by Romanian Ionel Ganea during the Celts Scotland debut.

Kennedy doesn’t dwell on it, though;

“No. It’s totally gone, 100 per cent. Early on I was given the hope of coming back to play and managed to do that for a short period.

“But as soon as it happened I thought, ‘That’s it. It’s gone’.

“There was no point in wasting energy on a tackle that put me out the game for two years.

“It is done and dusted and I gave myself the goal of trying to get back fit again. When I did get fit I tried to get back in the first team. From there I set a new target and eventually reached the end.

“But there is no bitterness there at all. It’s one of these things that’s in the past, it’s not something I think about any more.

“I don’t regret anything. When I got injured it happened and I gave it everything to get back to where I was.

“I’m in a new place now. A new position and that’s all I focus on.

“My career was cut short but this is an opportunity for me to get a head start on guys who will play until they are 35 and that’s exactly what has happened.

“I’m in a position I didn’t expect to be in so soon and I want to build on that. At no time did I think I’d be first-team coach at Celtic by the age of 31.” 

It’s fairly safe to say his promotion was a surprise to all of us, but given that Ronny makes changes as soon as he feels he has to, then Kennedy must be doing something right.

 Tonight ronny will have to decide whether or not to go with his usual line up, or introduce a few fringe players. It’s unlikely that anyone will do anything to alter his thinking on who can stay and who can go however, as he seems to have already made his mind up on that one.

 Word is that the door is still open for John Guidetti, but his head won’t fit through it.

If there are any surprises when the team takes to the field tonight, it’s more likely to be youngsters given a run out than fringe players, although Charlie Mulgrew is likely to be involved at some stage.

If you are at the game tonight, have a read of this;

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A great gesture.

Another picture from Celtic Park, this time taken at night, shows that whoever came up with the idea of putting banners around deserves a pat on the back;

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Since the old school was knocked down, and work began on the new “footprint “, there has been a tremendous improvement in how the place looks. Credit to those who overrode those of us who didn’t think it would work, because it has.

 One or two of you may have a Celtic video where Hugh McIlvanney comments on the new front facade, some time in the eighties, as being part of “an impressive modern stadium ” .

 I think it’s fair to say it wasn’t, but this one certainly is.

With Neil Doncaster celebrating the new deal he’s secured to sponsor the Scottish league, it’s worth taking time out to listen to what Barbara Slater has to say about the game up north.

 She’s the Director of Sport at the BBC.

The sports rights market is intensely competitive and there are all sorts of dynamics that are taken into consideration when you put together what you would bid for rights,’ she said.

‘And it is quite correct that, the licence fee, we are trying to get as much as we can in terms of sports rights with the investment. So we are, to a degree, going to be dictated by the market rate.

‘And the fact is – and I know the comparison you’re going to draw between highlights of football in Scotland and highlights that we would pay for the Premier League.

‘The truth is, the Premier League is a global brand. It is loved by audiences and we think it’s incredibly important that Match of the Day, as the highlights broadcaster of Premier League football, is an incredibly important programme for us to invest in.

‘The message from audiences across the UK is crystal clear: they love Match of the Day and they want Match of the Day to stay on the BBC.

‘The strength of reaction we got when the BBC renewed those Match of the Day highlights this time is probably the most positive reaction that we’ve had to a set of sports rights because I think there were real concerns in that current marketplace about how tough it is to secure rights.

‘So, yes, there is inequality, in fairness, but, as a broadcaster, as someone investing the licence fee, I’ve got to invest it in the way the market dictates.’ 

She has a point, but she also seems to have forgotten what a public service broadcaster is, and what responsibilities they have. 

 Perhaps if Scottish football was on instead of the English league on a Saturday night, more people would watch it. The late night sunday show, as piss poor as it is, is on too late for kids, and anyone who wants to see the highlights would have already seen them on the web.

 That means the show has to rely on in depth thought provoking comment.

 

 I may be on the point of spotting the problem with that.

Time for Jim Spence, Richard Gordon and Ally Begg to step up from radio. Surprised the BBC haven’t thought of that themselves.

Doncaster has a duty to fight for the game. He has vowed to pursue the broadcasters for better deals, but given that the fuckwitted fool played a major part in negotiating them in the first place, again, I may be on the point of spotting the problem here.

 It appears that Doncaster is looking for empathy in his battle, but he’s not going to find any here.

 Or anywhere else, for that matter.

Over at Ibrox, another long term plan has bitten the dust.

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At least the trucks doing better than this bus, booked last summer to enable them to parade the First division trophy around Glasgow.

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 Incidentally, the latest on the missing person appeal is that Dave King still has to present the SFA with a vital piece of paperwork before they can decide whether he’s fit and proper.

 Presumably they already have the court report, the sentence details and the appraisals from the South African judiciary.

Maybe it’s a note from his mum who says a big boy did it and ran away.

Mind you, there was something in the Sun that made me re-assess my opinion on the David Murray years. The fun filled frolicking through the nineties finaced by his pal at the bank.

 Rangers signings at the time were usually grossly inflated, mainly to rub into the rest of Scottish football how they planned on leaving us all to our own devices, which is actually what happpened, just not how they thought it would.

 So why would they understate this one ?

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 surely some mistake, or was it entirely deliberate ?

Anyone care ?

By the way, Chuka Umunna has just withdrawn from the Labour leadership battle. Shame, his hit a few years ago, about getting knocked down and getting up again is exactly what the party needed.

Edson Braafheid was the ex Celti who went on to play in a World cup final after leaving the club.

 No, I don’t know either.

This guy will be remembered for a certain goal that won a league title. Who is he, who did he score against ?

 Seven years ago today, a legend passed away.

Still thinking of him.

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Eduardo the vagrant
8 years ago

Tommy Johnstone n 3-1..HailHail oor Tommy

Tony
8 years ago

Tommy Johnson scored goal against St Mirren at Celtic Park to clinch Title RIP Tommy Burns

timbuffy
8 years ago

Tommy Johnson – duffed his first attemt against St Mirren but got there in the end.

timbuffy
8 years ago

Oops. Should read ‘attempt’.

Tommy
8 years ago

There’s a whole lot of Tommy action going on here today. After years of flirting around with “Tom” and “Tam”, my realisation that I was actually a “Tommy” was in no small part due to the Legend Tommy Burns. 🙂

dziekanowski's nightclub child
8 years ago

Tommy Johnson against Livingstone?

dziekanowski's nightclub child
8 years ago

ahh, St Mirren

tom campbell
8 years ago

Tommy Johnson against St. Mirren, and I think the attendance that day remains a record one for the re-built
Celtic Park

Monti
8 years ago

The posters lit up around the front of the stadium is really impressive, Tommy Johnson scored v St.Mirren and last but never least….God be with you Tommy Burns, my idol as a kid!

yestim
8 years ago

Arveladze £2m ? another way the cheating b######ds stole league titles and cups, I wonder how many others had their fees understated. If this is true then it is not a case for the HMRC, it could be construed as money laundering which is jail time or heavy fines.

Mike Annis
8 years ago

What a memory. Was standing on the steps opposite Bairds Bar ( when you were allowed to gather) with the weans when the goal went in. The Gallowgate went mental, well mentaller.

Hugh67
8 years ago

Lost a little pee pee reading the first paragraph !

As you say, 7years ago we lost Tommy Burns . I think it is also the anniversary of Bobby Murdoch (14 years) .

So many wonderful memories. May they rest in peace.

Raymobhoy
8 years ago

£8.5 Million was a lot of money for a not so magic Bean.

Geo
8 years ago

R.I.P Tommy Burns Legend

8 years ago

Ralph

Maybe I am just an old emotional git but I found today’s Diary very moving. Strangely, I have just returned from a funeral mass only to be reminded of those wonderful performers who have now left us. For me, what is so powerful about the anniversaries of great players when they come around, is they remind you of all the other greats who are no longer with us at the same time. So, especially to Tommy and Bobby but also to all those who graced the field at Celtic park and are now dead, Rest in Peace. We really will always remember them.

Do not be dismayed. Though the Diary reminds us of poignant moments in our history, it has more than enough humour to ensure our memories are more fond than sad.

H H

bigbananafeet
8 years ago

Great read. In Spain during the week Barcelona have been told there will be a court case against them regarding the deal involving Neymar. Barcelona are accused of deliberately under declaring the actual figure to avoid paying tax. They are talking about jail sentences for the ex president, Sandro Rossel, if they are found to be guilty. Between two and five years has been mooted. Hmmm.

chorley bhoy
8 years ago

seven years time flies what a player what a man and Bobby an artist and a guy who would take no nonsense, is it me getting on a bit and looking at the past with green tinted glasses or is it reality that we will never see the likes of these two again. I hope that I’m wrong and we will see on the holy ground once more true Celtic talent HH keep the faith

Brendan
8 years ago

Was reading Tommy Burns quotes and got carried away and came across this old favourite… Not George Galloway but the observer newspaper from the 1920’s.

In the Rangers end on Saturday, there was congregated a a gang, thousands strong, including the dregs and scourings of a filthy slumdom, unwashed yahoos, jailbirds, night hawkes, won’t works, burroo barnacles and pavement pirates.
All, or nearly all, in the scarecrow stage of venomous Trampdom.
This ragged army of insanitary pests was lavishly provided with orange and blue remnants..
How good was that….

Brendan
8 years ago

Just posted a great quote from observer newspaper but hasn’t gone through, it well worth trying retrieve if you can Ralph.

charlie
8 years ago

so after that petformance the thight we learned one thing the champs are on holiday mode and thats ok but these mugs fae the highlands will cop it on flag day were playing wae the mugs COYBIG

Devoy45
8 years ago

St.Johnstone, ach weel. Damned good game for excitement. Wee Forrest was just about there…It made me think how important Johansen and Van Dijk are to the way we play. Thought young Tierney looked promising. Praise to Deila for giving youth a chance.

Rest in peace B.B. King. Saw him play back in 1970 in a live, free outdoor gig in the States. I never liked his later big band sound.

Trust Bono to get in there with “BB and I… ….” Is there something in Irish drinking water that produces so much pompous, patronising bullshit: U2, Geldof, and so many other untalented others? Beware when Bono says “This may sound pompous…” It will sound pompous.Why did everybody like Rory Gallagher? Because he could play music and never tried to explain how important he was. So BB and Rory, RIP.Geldof and Bono— fuck off.
Rant finished, meds taken, the sun is shining and who is Dedryck Boyata?

Jimmy C
8 years ago

Looking forward to effe and Charlie being our central defensive pairing for the CL qualifiers AAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!.

ted crilly
8 years ago

Great dairy as always.

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