Celtic Diary Sunday June 29: Deila Starting to do it His Way

The first challenge, should he choose to accept it, for new boss Ronny Deila could be to make a player out of Tom Rogic, the forgotten Australian midfielder. Rogic went home on loan to try to get game time in preparation for the World cup, but sufered recurring groin problems, which prompted Paul Wade, the Aussie captain, to wonder of he will ever realise his potential..

“He’s got all the skill in the world, (he) looks like he’s not even trying,” Wade told SportsFan’s Bill Woods.

“But I dont know, maybe I’ll be a bit controversial here, but I don’t think he’s going to realise his potential for some reason.” 

 Acording to the “Secret Footballer “, a columnist with the Guardian who has put a couple of books into print, recurring injuries are often the cover for something else, while a club tries to sort out either “social ” or “personal ” issues…

 Makes you think. And not just about Rogic..

 But new boss Deila , based on his reputation with player development might well get something out of him, as he might with a number of others who never really got a run in the first team. The slate is now clean, there are no favourites, and we could see a different first team next year without actually bringing in any players.

 Training started back last week, and so far the signs are that the players are enjoying it, and Adam Matthews, now three years with Celtic, is relishing the chance to finally get a settled place in the team without having to hide Mikael Lustig;

The Welshman said: “This is the first time I’ve been at a club when a manager has left, so it’s a new thing for me.

“It’ll take a bit of time for everything to settle but so far new boss Ronny Deila has done really well. 

“The training’s a bit different from how it was under Neil Lennon, but he’s trying to get us to play the way he wants.

“If we get it right, we’ll be a very good team this season.

“We’re doing more passing drills and more shapes. I think he wants us to play more from the back, so that’s what we’ve been doing in training.

“It’s different but it’s good. And, in fairness, not a lot has changed apart from the manager – a lot of the staff are still here – and he’s been brilliant.” 

 Matthews and Lustig are both excellent players, and one of them will have to move to another position on the park if he wants a game every week. Personally, I think Matthews would make an excellent midfielder, having the strength, pace and skill to both help the defence and support the forwards, like midfielders are supposed to, really.

 If Deila likes a hard working team, in Europe away next year, three in the middle, Brown, Johansen and Matthews would give balance and power, and would make us that little bit harder to break down. Until Brown gets sent off, that is.

 Speaking of hard workers, and he is, even if perhaps the product sometimes leaves a little to be desired, Georgios Samaras paid tribute to Celtic for making him the player he is, which he meant as a compliment, by the way..

“I found my composure at Celtic and matured as a person.

“Celtic made ​​me feel important, they made me feel like I am one of the best players in the team and it made ​​me play better at all levels.

“I am only thinking about the national team and nothing else for now. At the moment I am thrilled because I have given joy to my countrymen.” 

 He still hasn’t made up his mind about what he wants to do after the World Cup. Maybe someone at Celtic wants a chat before he finally moves on….

 The team fly out to Austria today, for a pre season get to know the manager tour, and with the Reykjavik game just a forthight or so away, things need to take shape pretty quickly.

Everything at this point is geared toward qualification for the group stages of the UCL. It doesn’t bear thinking about the alternative. The Europa League is a bit of a consolation, but its not the same being in there before you’ve had a crack at the big teams. ( Not big clubs, note, there are not many clubs bigger than Celtic. )

 Charlie Mulgrew knows how important it is, and his words betray not a little nervousness..especially when he talks about the prospect of playing in Edinburgh for the home leg..

“There’s nothing we can do about it. We’d prefer to have it at Celtic Park of course but there’s nothing we can do about it. You just have to get on with it and not think too much about it and take the game as it comes.” 

Seems like it is playing on their minds.., but Mulgrew knows what they have to do.

“It’s massive in the season. We’ve had it the last two years and this is the third season where we’ve needed to qualify for the Champions League so it’s huge for our season. Everybody wants to be involved in the Champions League and it’s what we’re striving towards.”

 It would explain why there have been no moves in the transfer market, Deila clearly wants to have a look at what he’s got first, which makes a lot of sense. An early “victory ” in the dressing room, such as a little advice, or an idea that makes things simpler, goes a long way in winning the trust of players, which then allows him to put more and more of his own methods into place.

 Simply, failing to make the group stages might actually be forgiven by some fans-its still his honeymoon period, and we know he is starting from scratch. But if his new methods don’t work, then January-or even the last few days in August, could necessitate the installation of a revolving door on the dressing room at Celtic Park.

 Anyway, it’ll make a nice change to watch some football with an edge to it. For all the quality on show in Brazil just now, its hard to really get involved. Great football, but if theres no personal passion or tension, then its just a game of football.

 Fans without football are nothing, someone who knew about these things nearly said.

 Last night , Brazil beat a plucky Chilean side on penalties, managing -just about-to hit fewer of their penalties straight at the keeper than their opponents did, and Colombia overcame Uruguay and my insomnia by going two nil up before I dozed off.

 Theres slightly more interest today, The Dutch face Mexico, and perhaps they will fail, allowing me to say “Well.you should have picked Boerrigter then, shouldn’t you “

 And then Georgios Samaras and Greece face Coast Rica, the surprise package of the tournament to those who think that England is the only place where football is played.

 Greece looked good against the Ivory coast, and have got better as the tournament progresses. It would be nice to see them win, and Samaras coninue to enjoy himself, but I’m hardly likely to lock myself in a dark room or boil the cat up for soup if they get beat.

 No passion, you see.

 I saw that programme about Brazil, and their iconic yellow strip. It represents sunshine, and the style of their play is associated with that. England, presumably will be wearing a dark brown number the Euros…

Incidentally, the English players, embarassed as usual in a big tournament, say they need to play less football….Go on. fill in your own punchline. That ones no challenge.

Enrico Annoni, the cult ( I’m glad I spelt that right ) was pictured in his hirsuite Roma days yesterday, and here’s another face you might have forgotten

 He’s wearing his work clothes here, not what he goes out in..or comes out in…