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Celtic Diary Monday June 29: Revolutionary Technique At Lennoxtown

We’ve seen a vast improvement on the pitch over the season in the players, as they gradually adapted to the style of play the new manager wanted, but he also wants players to think about what they are doing, and analyse their own peformances.

Is that happening ?

Adam Matthews, speaking in the Evening Times, shows that it is. He was talking about the Inter milan games last season, when Celtic made an arse of the defending at home.

In the first game against Inter we tried to play like we did in the Premiership in Scotland and against better opposition you just can’t do that.

“Sometimes Emilio Izaguirre and I were caught up the pitch at the same time and they punished us for that. We had a meeting after it and agreed if one of us goes forward the other one tucks back.

“In that situation, we know we can defend crosses. I think we have learned from our games in the Europa League and will be well placed going into our European games now.” 

Now thats fairly basic stuff, and we could ask what they were playing at, but at least they have realised their mistake and worked out for themselves why they went wrong.

To illustrate the point, we’ll refer to a book by Jim White. No, not that one, this guy knows what he’s talking about. It’s called “You’ll Win nothing With Kids ” and is the fairly true tale of a Manchester sports reporter who coaches a kids team in his spare time.

 Worth reading.

Now, in his line of work, he got to spend a day at Carrington, where Manchester United train, and ends up meeting Brian McClair and Rene Mullensteen.

 Naturally, he picks their brains for help in coaching his own team, and learns one startling thing. At Carrington, when the kids are playing, the coaches don’t offer advice from the sidelines, which at a young age will encourage kids to decide what to do for themselves.

 We’ve all been to, or played in, kids games, and advice is often at hand whether it’s needed or not from over enthusiastic parents and enthusiastic but ultimately clueless coaches.

 As a result, McClair explains in the book, the kids don’t know what to do as their thoughts are blotted out by cries of “pass it ” , “shoot” “get rid of it “, or in my case “who picked that stupid fat bastard ? “.

 All of which confuses the player because he doesn’t get time to think for himself.

At one game early last season , I watched Ronny Deila watching the players from the sideline, arms folded and hand across his mouth. Maybe he was trying to stop himself from screaming at the players, having seen a few things he didn’t like.

 At the time, I was reminded of Tony Mowbray, and feared we’d landed another passionless dud. However, it appears that part of Ronny’s philosophy is to encourage the players to not only play a certain way, but to understand it as well.

 After all, whats the point in training players to play a certain way all week and then having to spend the entire game shouting at them ? Might as well just accept they won’t do as they are told and get rid of them.

And bring in someone who will.

And once you’ve taught them one way, they will be more receptive to other ideas, which in turn will make the team more adaptable, and more able to think for itself. After all, a manager can do very little once the players are on the park, so it does make sense to encourage them to think more about what they are doing.

 This is going to be an interesting season.

Not one that will interest Amido Balde, brought  to replace Gary Hooper by perhaps one of our more optimistic staff members will be joining Metz, in France, after his contract was terminated , presumably shortly to be followed by that of the idiot who found him.

With Teemu Pukki also away, at a loss, after failing to make the grade, no wonder Celtic are taking their time over adding another striker.

Then there’s John Guidetti.

Former Celtic Striker John Guidetti Chased By Three Italian

Clubs

Which takes it to a total of four that have chased him this summer.

 

Jelle Vossen, who according to some sources, is not actually on Celtics radar, has been told by his club to make his mind up over his future.

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Note it’s Genk who are demanding an answer, and not Celtic. No doubt the hacks are hoping that the player Celtic are not in for can decide that he wants to stay put, so they can say he has snubbed the East End.

 They do like a bad news story at the Record. for some reason, they think it sells papers.

Nikita Jelavic, Ricky Lambert, and pretty much anyone else you care to name has been linked with a move to Celtic Park this summer to add to Deilas strikeforce, but this speculation simply proves that the hacks have got absolutely no idea.

Image result for you don't say

 This week sees the start of the season. Celtic face Den Bosch at St. Mirren Park, and the Europa League starts.

Talk about sneaking in the back door.

Have a look at this fixture list;

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 Fair old achievement for Spartans.

 Meanwhile, the campaign to sell season books at Ibrox continues. With John Eustace, the man they wanted to be captain having headed south to consider the offer from Mark Warburton, well, when he stops laughing he will, the next hidden gem to be dug up is Reece Wabara, recently released by Doncaster Rovers.

Dean Furman, a product of the Murray Park conveyer belt of talent, speaks very highly of them, thanks to Level 5PR.

 “Reece is very 
attack-minded and he’s very much in the mould of Barcelona full-back Dani Alves because he’s very quick and 
loves to get forward. Defensively he’s strong too. 

Dani Alves ?

“He has lovely ability, loves to beat a man and puts good deliveries into the box. He had quite a few assists last season and if I’m honest, he should 
have had many, many more.

“I can’t speak for the new manager at Rangers but if he’s looking for a young, athletic full-back who can 
create and join in play, Reece ticks all the right boxes. 

Hang on, Dani Alves ?

“He has been a real pleasure to play with. He came to Oldham from Man City having been in and around their first team and their reserves.

“Reece stepped up to men’s 
football very quickly and adapted very well. In the last year or so, I feel he has really kicked on.

That Dani Alves ?

“He was one of the top 
performers at Doncaster and he has progressed an awful lot.

 “I know Reece very well. We travelled into Doncaster just about every day for the last year.

“He’s a very exciting player and Rangers fans would love him. 

Dani Alves of Barcelona ?

“I’m not at all surprised he has gone up there because I know the club very well and I’ve told him all about it.

“We would talk about different 
things in the car and any time there has been a mention of Rangers, I’ve only said good things.

“Reece has asked me a few questions and I can’t speak a bad word about the club. I had a great time there. 

And Brazil ?

“The size of the club, the fanbase and the history attached to it is fantastic and I just tried to let him know what it’s all about.

“I don’t know his plans but if 
something is happening and he does want to know any more than I’ve told him already, I can only give him a glowing reference.” 

Apparently, he’s just like Dani Alves. In what fucking way ?

Here’s Alves ;

Club[edit]

Bahia
Sevilla
Barcelona

International[edit]

Individual[edit]

and here’s what a Doncaster fan said about whatever his fucking name is, I’ve forgotten already.

coppsisgod

After two years I can’t remember coming away from a game thinking ‘Wabara was brilliant today’. I think that is an indication of his ability.

And Furman himself ? 

Furman himself is continuing his own search for a club and is biding his time before deciding where to go. 

I suppose it might be a little too early for him to move into scouting.

I have been genuinely embarrassed for the Scottish sports media before, but never quite to this extent. What is wrong with them ? do they have no professional pride ?

Surely they must know that the average fan is a little more knowledgable than this lady;

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Mind you, look at what they cater for…

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Yes. Yes, it might.

Perhaps they fear the backlash from supporters of the now defunct club, if , for instance they point out that they are now defunct. That sort of pressure can affect newspapers, tv stations, even toy companies.

Lego, who make bricks for kids you can build with, as opposed to chucking them through peoples windows, had a wee publicity boost with this model of Celtic Park

Image result for celtic park lego

Image result for celtic park lego

Afraid of being seen to favour one side over the other, a tactic often employed in the past , the company then commemorated the UEFA Cup final of 2008 ( Thanks to Celtic Chuck for tweeting the advance publicity shit. )

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Worried about where to go on holiday ? How about somewhere you can sing a few traditional irish songs in peace ? Paul The Tim found this place;

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That was Henrik Larsson, in yesterdays picture,  coming on for Helsingborg earlier this summer, as he made his first appearance for his first club for a second time. (eh? -Ed )

Today, we’ve a picture from pre season training. all you have to do is identify the players;

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Karen McKee
8 years ago

Calum McGregor, Jackson Irvine & Eoghn O’Connell.

Althetim
8 years ago

That’s McGregor, Lustig and Dani Alves

pensionerbhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  Althetim

Althetim

I thought Lustig at first too but I checked Karen’s Jackson Irvine on line (Cheat – moving to Ibrox) and I submit to a stranglehold by “the lady”??? I hope.

H H

San Miguel
8 years ago

the drummer from U2 (Larry Mullen), David Beckham and KAmye West.

Lovin that lego photograph (The Manchester one- genius !!

8 years ago

I originally read that as “John Eustace, the man they wanted to be captive”. Freudian slip …

Raymobhoy
8 years ago

Excellent Dani Alves piece.

Brilliant

pensionerbhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  Raymobhoy

Raymohoy

Agree 100%. Dairy – and the Diary – have had a fantastic close season.

H H

Des Da Moaner
8 years ago

That full back stuff should be basic. Goes back to Craig and Gemmell.

Half_Fool
8 years ago

Larry Mullen Jnr, I am Zlatan, and that Dani Alves 🙂

Ralph you had me rolling with that Dani Alves piece, Cheers!

Enjoyed the coaching perspective also.

Tam The Tim
8 years ago

I remember going up to the next level when I played juvenile. The club was very successful in their age group because the men who ran the club knew the game. In my first match I was offside a few times, no shouting at me just a few quiet words at half-time. Second half wee tam the Tim ran riot. Ronny Deila as you say Ralph watches from the touch line, no daft histrionics from him. That behaviour does nothing for young guys trying to make their way in the game.
HH

pensionerbhoy
8 years ago

Ralph

I simply love conversion and your Ronny turn-around is up there with Paul’s Damascus Road. But now may be the time to curb your enthusiasm just a little by taking your Ronny trumpet away, clipping your wings and bringing you back down to earth. You know that I have had faith in Ronny from the day he stepped off the bus at London Road, harpoon in hand (for deadhead67). But, while his coaching achievements are progressive and outstanding, while his speak is enlightening and encouraging, while his plans are bold and innovative, we still have no idea how successful all this will be. Now, I believe and have said so several times, it has all the makings of taking Celtic to a level not experienced since Stein, taking account of today’s Scottish football environment, but I am realistic enough to know the shell of an egg is easily cracked and its contents can make a hell of a mess of your face. So, I am tempering my own enthusiasm so that my dicky ticker can stand either the excitement of fulfilled promise or the deflation of “um big let-down”. My faith and hope are controlled by NOW. I am a follower of Ronny but as yet he has not had time to perform the miracles I expect from him. Being aware of this, I will not be overly disappointed if they do not come to pass. On the other hand, I have not looked forward with so much anticipation and expectation to the start of a season since……………………and that was a long, long time ago. I write all of this because I care, Ralph, and do not want to hear that, come September, you have been seen on the parapet of the Cauldon Canal Bridge with a pocketful of chuckies. Think of the lads and the mini bus and all the changed game times. Ach, come to think of it, just fucking jump!

I guess toilet paper closest to home is the one that smells most. Therefore, the shit displayed on the dr roll is no great surprise to us tolly experts. We are kind of browned off after looking at SMSM excrement for nigh on a century – I go back to when they shit bricks, well more boulders actually and each one more bigoted than the other. Giving them space anywhere, even in the cludgy is expansive and I decided about thirty years or more ago I had expanded enough. The implications of their fertilised imaginations go far beyond your questions, “I have been genuinely embarrassed for the Scottish sports media before, but never quite to this extent. What is wrong with them ? do they have no professional pride ?”. I fear they indicate symptoms of a degenerate attitude among many in Scotland who believe they have a mandate to denegrade anything Celtic, Irish or Catholic. Perhaps we may never change these peepil but at least we can let them know we are no longer “the downtrodden” and will expose the lies they speak and print. Phil Mac Giolla Bhain has an interesting article today which rather highlights what I am saying. It will be interesting to see what the Belfast Telegraph finally come up with. I have to confess a bit of a guilt complex at relying on the likes of you, Ralph, and others to keep me informed what these manure spreaders churn out. Perhaps if I am to play my part in challenging them, I should pay more attention to what they are saying. And after all, it could save me a fortune on Andrex or making a mess of the dog.

I recognised McGregor and O’Connell in the photo but not sure who the bunny bhoy is.

H H

Bhill the Tim
8 years ago

Re. Manchester 2008 Lego. “…advanced publicity shit.” (??!??). Typo or Freudian slip?

Binkabhoy
8 years ago

Is the bhoy on the right Tom Rogic??

San Miguel
8 years ago

I see Kris Commons shooting hasn’t improved . How he managed to hit that silver ball through the dressing room wall in that photo is beyond me.

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