Thought it was about time to declare our entry into the round Britain “Worst Pun Of The Year Associated with a Beatles Song ” competition.
The new boss flew in from Miami Beach BOAC , -he didn’t get to bed last night- ( Thats enough Beatles lyrics -Ed ) and sorted the finer points of his move with Peter Lawwell ahead of being announced as Celtics new manager today.
Stromgodset, Deilas previous club, were supposedly looking for half a million notes to ease the pain of losing the man who turned their club around, but the bold Peter turned his pockets inside out, pointed out that his kids have no shoes on their feet, and got him for around £300,000.
He will now go on his annual holiday to recover, and probably beat up a few homeless guys on the way to the airport.
Deilas assistant, David Neilsen , told the Daily Record that Celtic were getting a man destined for the very top of world football, while he set about ordering carpets and curtains for his new office.
Supporters could be forgiven for thinking this appointment has come out of the blue, and is the result of a couple of weeks patient and thorough research to make sure they found the right man.
However, former boss Neil Lennon, talking to the Irish Independent, claims that Deila is not a stranger to the board at all.
“He was going to be brought in as No 2 when Johann Mjallby left,”
“He came highly recommended, he’s highly thought of. I don’t know if it’s confirmed with Celtic yet, but I know from contacts in the game that he is well respected as a coach.
“We recruited Stefan Johansen from Stromsgodset, so we were aware of his work. It’ll be interesting to see if Ronny gets the job.”
A week ago Roy Keane seemed set to takeover with the departing hoops boss surprised that the Ireland assistant resisted a move to Glasgow.
“I was surprised and a little bit disappointed,” Lennon said about Keane’s decision. “I think he’s ready for it. He’s had, what, three years since he was out of the game as a manager and he’s been watching a lot of games, he’s been at Champions League games, and he’s got vast experience.
“He fits the identikit of a Celtic manager. I can totally understand his situation, that it’s a personal decision, but I was hoping he would take it. He would have given the club a big lift.”
It seems strange that Lennon would comment at all on his successor, its not something you see a lot of in the world of football, and the very nature of the interview adds fuel to the fire that the fiery Irishman ( copyright MSM ) didn’t leave on the best of terms. In fact, it suggests that we were right all along, and he didn’t leave at all. He was fired.
Theres a bitterness about Lennons words, which makes one feel slightly uncomfortable. He may not have been pushed, but he almost certainly wasn’t pulled back in when he was close to the edge.
No doubt his exclusive will either be in a book, or in the papers. I suppose he’ll have to pad it out a bit, because once he’s told us what McCoist whispered into his ear that night, no-one will really pay that much attention to the rest of it.
Anyway, the new guy will be at his desk on Monday, and he will have the backing of the support. Strangely enough, he’s one of two only Celtic managers to have won a league title with another club, either before or after their spell at Celtic Park.
The other was Davie Hay, with Lillestrom, also in Norway.
Lets face it, it was never going to be John Barnes.
Thats if he is going to be the manager, and not the head coach. It appears that Celtic will go down the line of appointing a “Director of Football ” , who will look after the more mundane aspects of the managers role, such as signing players, sorting contracts and generally interfering with the managers business as much as he can.
John Collins has been mentioned as a candidate, though no-one has fully explained exactly why, especially to John Park, who is , according to John Park, favourite for the position.
Its not like he hasn’t been doing the job for the last couple of years anyway. Or trying to.
Davie Hay , in the Evening Times, explains how it all would work;
“I was used to having been the boss of Celtic, involved in almost everything.
“With board approval, the manager ran the club, the playing side, agreeing contracts, negotiating transfer fees, and identifying new players along with the scouts and bringing them in.
“Then I went to Norway in 1989. I knew things were done differently there, but not as differently as it turned out.
“I was the coach. That was the extent of my responsibility. The general manager dealt with everything else, from the day-to-day running of the club, to contracts and even selling and buying players.
“Everything financial was his domain.
“I actually enjoyed the fact I could focus entirely on training, playing and winning.
“Once a month, I sat down with the general manager to discuss things like training times and travel arrangements.
“But, that was it. I still don’t know to this day who earned what among my players.
“I was not involved in recruitment, or anything like that, which managers in this country take for granted.”
But there was a drawback. After he took some time off during the mid season break, he returned to find he was minus his top striker , Jan aage Fjortoft, who had been sold…
“I was stunned to discover Jan Age was no longer there when I got back to Norway,”
“When I asked why I had not been consulted, I was told simply, ‘That’s not your job’.
“Worse still, the guy they had brought in to replace him – again I had no say in this – was no good.
“I could see that straight away in training, and he never played for us.”
You get the impression that if the club had signed Lionel Messi he would have been “no good “, and would ” never have played for us. Especially as he would only have been two years old at the time ”
“Eventually, I did become comfortable with the way things were set up,” he explained.
“The only thing I wasn’t happy with was the issue of player recruitment, and I decided to come home after one season.
“But those are the parameters under which coaches work in Norway, and they accept this.
“Deila would have had such a set-up at Stromsgodset with Jostein Flo the general manager, and it clearly worked well, given their success.
“Can it transfer to here, if it’s the way Celtic want to go? That’s down to the individuals involved.
“It’s certainly not for everyone. But the Scandinavians seem to be happy with it.
“Perhaps we will see recruitment of players being left to Peter Lawwell and John Park.”
No shit.
If we are to install a director of football, we could do a damn sight worse than Davie Hay. but you get the feeling that after removing one man who stood up to Lawwell and Park, there won’t be any rush to bring in another.
Still, none of that really matters to us who sit in the stands. As long as we get a team to be proud of thats enjoyable to watch, we don’t really care.
Another chapter in our illustrious history is about to be written, and if we are changing direction a wee bit on the road to glory, I’m all for it if it gets us there.
Now to the first page in that chapter. Celtic are looking to make their first signing of the summer. and given the movement by Scotlands newest club as they continue their journey through the leagues, its essential we get it right straight from the off.
Ally Mccoist -well, actually not Ally McCoist-he’s disappeared off the face of the earth, and no-one knows where he is
There is no suggestion that these two chaps have removed him, or offered any form of gentle persuasion to get him to vanish.
After all, how big would that car boot have to be ?
Sorry, I’m rambling again.
Second Rangers have declared their intent by snapping up Kenny Miller, and encouraged by this, we hear they will have scouts at the World Cup as McCoist reckons he could secure one or two big names for the campaign in division one.
We shouldn’t laugh , really.
In fact, I had to breathe into a paper bag for a while when I saw this, on Newsnow;
Rumour mill: Deila | Celtic in for Gordon | Miller The Scotsman 08:11
Fortunateley, though, its not Gordon Marshall. Its Craig Gordon. I may have used the word “fortunatley ” in completely the wrong context there. And thats the second time I’ve spelt it wrong. I really do need a new keyboard.
The Scotsman explains-well, someone has some explaining to do…
Celtic are in signing talks with former Scotland no. 1 with a view to offering him a contract. Gordon has been training with the Scottish Champions for the last few weeks and is expected to be given a medical today. The deal could make him the first signing of the Ronny Deila regime.
If they are all going to be of this calibre, may I humbly suggest that we also make it the last ?
Gordon has previously trained with Hearts and Rangers, been a coach with Dumbarton and attracted interest from a host of other clubs. The keeper, who cost last club Sunderland a record-breaking £9million from Hearts, has won 40 caps and recently vowed to win back his place in the national set-up.
Please tell me he’s coming in as a coach. Actually, don’t. Stevie Woods is an excellent coach. Okay, please tell me he’s coming in as third choice-a back up for Forster and Zaluska. Or just as a back up for Forster , but please, please, tell me he is not coming in to replace Forster.
Okay, he’s not coming in as a replacement for Forster
Feck off. I don’t believe you
We’ve ignored all the transfer hullaballoo while the new manager was being wooed and bedded in, and if this is a sign of what we can expect, then we’ll carry on ignoring it.
Julain Schieber, of Borussia Dortmund has also been mentioned. The striker is quitting the German side because of lack of game time, and insider told us exclusively why;
” He hasn’t scored any goals when he does play “
Ach, its just teething troubles….Isn’t it ?
Meanwhile, is this the new away top for next season ?
I don’t know who chose this one. I don’t know if its even genuine. But tartan is for the rugs we put on our knees at the football. not for the shirts.
Not ever for the shirts.
There are several, equally objectionable ideas for a new top floating around in cyberspace…
Whoever keeps coming up with these ridiculous ideas should be taken out into the car park, made to wait until we all put on our tackety boots, and then given a proper kicking. Its not rocket science. The clubs colours are green and white. Not yellow, not black, and certainly not orange.
Hoops for first strip, and either a plain green top-any shade-with white shorts, or a white top with green shorts. Or both, if we have to have a third one.
We are kind of keen on our tradition.
Speaking of new strips….Second Rangers, tired of opposition supporters singing you’re not Rangers anymore, have now given them the opportunity to sing you’re not British anymore after the referendum takes place in September. with a astonishing lack of foresight, their desperation to cling to the old clubs identity-unless the taxman or any creditors ask- has led to this latest fashion faux pas…
The Union flag has been included, just months before the Union is set to disappear in the autumn. Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes, as most people reckon the club will have gone by then as well.
And so, perhaps Craig Gordon and tartan tops isn’t all that bad when you think about it.
Unless someone decides to put a a thistle on the badge.
Feck. I hope they aren’t reading this….
The Brazilian legend Pele has the most World cup winners medals, withe three. ( 58, 62, and 70. ) It could have been four, but in England in 1966 other players just kept kicking him until he couldn’t cope anymore-he’s not really a hard man as such, ( oh for fecks sake-Ed ) .
He has the most wins, but who has the most goals in finals tournaments, and who has a chance to overtake him this time round ?
Just Fontaine, for France.
Everyone that is playing at this summers World Cup has a chance of overtaking him.
Wee Izzy has the chance to become top scorer ever, just has to score 30 in the fjrst game!!!
. . . including Giorgios Samaras . . .
Didn’t see that coming, is he the next Lubo or the next Harold,in terms of what we know about him,frankly not very much. Neil Lennon’s view is a bit interesting and he was also described as the best coach in Norway, well that’s an easy translation to Scottish football and Glasgow media coverage then!
He likes his teams to play like Barcelona, well that will make us 6 goals to the good in every match if we can persuade Messi etc to join the squad. The element of bringing through young players is good, the bit about being comfortable with a small budget not so.I hope that wasn’t the deciding factor.
I want it to be about setting out the team tactically, recruiting a couple of good additions to the squad, motivating the players especially on a winters’s night in some obscure part of the country where shinty is the preferred local sport.I want a capacity to do well in Europe although Strachan ballooned the first time and look at what he achieved.
We will get behind the guy, need to give him bit of time and see how the players respond.
Ronaldo, and Klose.
Looking forward to seeing what Deila can do, certainly all the right noises are being made.
Second Rangers seem determined to continually find something to keep the entertainment going. I guess they can’t do it with their football, so they may as well make us all laugh. Quintessentially British, wha?
Just Fontaine has the most goals for one tournament. Fat Ronaldo is the all time goal scorer and Klose can beat that this time around….I think.
Is it Kenny Miller ?
No. Its never kenny miller
Miroslav Klose to overtake someone else…
When I started typing that last response, the only other response answer was about Izzy!
Fat Sally McCostive and Kenny Ah look as if ah’m burstin’ furra shite Misser.
The quintissentially British lavatory humour just keeps coming.
nice of the pug uglies to advertise the soon to be 32 county socialist republic ha ha i dont think they have thought this one out as usual
CELTIC have confirmed that Stromsgodset manager Ronny Deila will become their new manager, succeeding Neil Lennon.
The Norwegian is set to be unveiled at a press conference later today after the Parkhead club thrashed out a compensation package with his current club Stromsgodset.
Deila has a growing reputation for unearthing top young talent and a brand of exciting, attacking football.
Celtic’s interest in him came as a surprise to many. But according to those closest to the 38-year-old he has all the attributes to be a success with the Scottish champions.
I hear Ronny is to announce the appointment of fellow Vikings Ragnar Hairybreeks and Harald Bluetooth as his 2nd and 3rd in command.
Let’s all go a viking!
Delia as Lennon’s No2 ? Don’t think so.
Could you see Peter paying 300k for an assistant?
And I think (unlike Keane) this guy sees himself as a No1.
This is a fresh and innovative move, if also a gamble, but look, we all know the business model we’re working to at Celtic right now. Better to have a guy who embraces this enthusiastically, than someone fighting against it.
At least everyone is now “on the same page”.
Bearing in mind most of the so called big names mentioned for the job were coming with “sacked” on their CV, I see this guy as an “up and coming” and currently successful manager. Let’s be honest, if Henrik had Delia’s managerial CV we’d be hailing him as the new Stein. Unfortunately though, he hasn’t.
I welcome Ronny Deila to Celtic.
The business model we’re working too has to be given a chance. Think of the billions wasted by our Club and others with the old model under the numbskulls that used to be and in many cases still are. Deloittes report on the English Championship tells you all you need to know about the old model; get rid.
Welcome to paradise Ronny!!!!!!!!! All the best.
Looking forward to press conference at 12.30!!
COYBIG
Fáilte to Ronny and hail hail!!
Rumours are that Rangers wanted him first, to play up front with Kenny Miller!
Another cheap option on a rolling contract and were trying to sign A crocked goalkeeper who has not played for 2 years WTF is going on,Lawell out
STOP THE BLOODY WHALING NO WAY NORWAY
Jeezoh Deadhead,
What would it have taken for you to be happy, a ouija board and a seance to bring back Jock Stein ?
Try and take a reality pill, it wont hurt honest.
The clue’s in his name.
A wee bit of a pedantic point on Hay being the only other Celtic manager to have won a league title elsewhere. Did King Kenny not win league titles with Liverpool and Blackburn before taking over from John Barnes for 18 games???
That is pedantic, but nonetheless accurate. I never really count Dalglish as a manager, and i’m sure he’d rather forget about it as well.
In 1973, Josef Vengloš was appointed as manager of Slovan Bratislava. During his three years in charge, he twice won the championship.
Wim Jansen – appointed as Technical Director at second division SVV, where he won the league alongside his manager
Tony Mowbray guided West Brom to the Football League Championship title,
Lou Macari – Swindon Town (Fourth Division champions in 1986). The 1992–93 season saw Stoke win the Second Division title after amassing 93 points and also went on a club record unbeaten run of 25 games
Alright, apart from Dalglish and Venglos, Hay is the only other manager to have won a title. Bastards.
Us or Dalglish, Ralph?
Could you point out the “bitterness” in Lenny’s quotes please? I can’t see any.
It was actually the lager talking, Nick.
They wanted him as my no.2. Implying he is the better manager. On keane: I think he’s ready for it. Same implication.
I agree. At best ‘prickly’ and at worst immature response from NL. Didn’t need to say anything other than congratulations.
Alright – apart from roads, education, security, sanitation, etc…..what have the romans ever done for us?
Ralph
Aye, an auld heid is a real pain in the arse but I did tell you all to wait and see. A hat-ful of names and not one fished out. Keane turning down the post when he had not even been offered the job. All the would bes turning out to be has been. As I say, it is always best to wait and see.
Having waited, I see we have a potentially great prospect and the possibility of the most exciting era at Celtic Park in a long time. I admire those who take a chance provided it is based on reason. Success is most often the consequence of risk. I think Celtic have taken a massive risk but one that could bring enormous glory. It is hard to argue the logic behind the club’s thinking in making this appointment. Ronny Delia’s credentials are as good at his level as any going about. And given Celtic are not that far above his football experience in terms of domestic competition and standard of football, he has only two major learning curves as I see it, how to handle our club’s status and our unique ethos. If words are to go by – and words were the basis of Stein’s and O’Neil’s philosophy – Ronny would appear to have either been well aware of both or has very quickly recognised them (I refer to his quotes when interviewed). Personally, I think this is an exciting and potentially rewarding choice and I am more than willing to take the chance on him. There is just a nice feeling in my gut about the guy and my gut has not experienced good feelings for a long time now.
As for his second in command, here is my take. Let’s just wait and see – surprised?
Signings whether ours or anybody else’s, strips or The World Cup are of no interest to me right now. I am totally absorbed by the future of Celtic.
Scotty’s, Big nut and Spuds are all either worthy of a Mastermind chair or they just got to Google quickest.
Some real laugh out loud bits in there today, Ralph. Oct, f**k you! I thought they were hilarious!!
H H
As for ‘ Director of Football ‘,there are 3 reasons why
John Park should NOT get the gig.1/ Boerrigter 2/ Balde
3/ Pukki.
Why are we sighing Justin beiber ? 3goals in 2years ffs!!!
Here goes -I don’t have sfa badges -I don’t play champ mgr-but ffs can we just sign a striker that scores goals !!!!
( what’s that matron? — no no I’m not talking to anybody -)
Must dash meds are coming:)