Celtic Diary Tuesday January 6: It Just Doesn’t Feel Right

Celtic got back to winning ways last night with a 2-0 win over “Kickers ” Kilmarnock, and proved yet again that you don’t actually have to watch a game to be able to report on it. Which is useful for the media.

We even did it without Scott Brown, according to the pre match team sheets, though i’m sure i spotted him out there once or twice.

Loads of possession, plenty of corners, a few glancing off the woodwork but only a couple of goals to show for it. Sometimes it was down to great goalkeeping-one or two saves by Killie keeper Craig Samsun were outstanding-sometimes it was down to desperate and heroic defending, and sometimes it was down to the simple tactic of just kicking the player in possession. The latter tactic clearly  the preferred option when it took just thirty seconds for Lee Ashcroft to make his mark on Kris Commons.

Yet it was a much more cohesive and enthuiastic performance than of late. Everyone did their job well, players helped each other out, and the unforced errors were pretty much kept to a minimum. Liam Henderson provided strength and vision in the middle, which must have made Ronny sit up and notice, because he actually showed more of what we’ve been missing than the much heralded Kris Commons, who proved that he can miss at least as many chances as all the other strikers put together. The difference with Commons , though, is that he actually makes his own chances, often out of nothing.

Where those two are concerned, you could flip a coin to decide who was man of the match. both were excellent, and both deserve a run in the side based on what we saw last night. Others who did well included Efe Ambrose, who apart from one slip in the first half, covered his man quite well, and kept it simple. Adam Matthews , too, bounced back from recent criticism to have a splendid game on the right flank, combining well with whoever happened to be in front of him, largely because the midfield was a lot more flexible than usual. Bitton covered and the other three went a wandering.

Which left a little extra space for Commons, and meant that all Scepovic really had to do was hang around for opportunities to arise. The Serb got the second goal, poking an ambrose header through a wall of Kilmarnock defenders on the line, and it secured a win that still looked a little uncertain until that point, as the hoops failed to add to Emilio Izaguerres first half volley.

Ronny Deila was happy after the game. He did his now customary fist pumping to the crowd at full time, which will become more enthusiastic when the trophies start getting handed out. He certainly cares, even if sometimes it looks like he doesn’t, and the travelling support appreciate it, and lets be honest, when you’ve gone to Ayrshire on a freezing cold Monday night in January, its nice to see that you’re not the only one who actually gives a toss.

The manager told the media;

‘It was a good performance, particularly in the first half, and we scored two good goals. It was a very good answer from the players.

‘I believe in them and this performance shows what is in the group. It was the right response after the Ross County game when we had domination but didn’t create enough chances. 

‘Today we had a better tempo and created the chances we needed to win the game.’

He took time out to praise Kris commons for his contribution;

‘Especially in the first half, Kris was very good – as was the team.  He worked very hard. There were good reactions when we lost the ball and he created a lot of our chances. 

‘He did a lot of things well and that’s what I wanted to see. 

‘Ninety minutes like that is what we want from Kris. If he does that, he is a very important player for us. 

So, is he going to keep him ?

‘The contract situation with Kris is the same as with Guidetti and all the others. We are talking together and we will see if we can get agreement.

‘I don’t think it is so much closer with Guidetti. We will see. He is going forward with everything but the final message is still some days away.

‘He had a good attitude when he came on the pitch tonight. We know what he can do and he is an important player for the team.

‘It is just a little break for him. We know we are going to get John back on the best level again.’ 

 Ready for his next club ? Something not right about this anymore. Guidetti might be a wee bit tired, he might even be a little overwhelmed at his elevation from Manchester City reserve-very much a reserve-to first choice striker at one of the worlds best supported clubs.

 However, now that the other teams have played against him, they appear to have got the hang of him, and he needs to prove he can go up a level.

 Incidentally, that was one of the reasons that Henrik Larsson stood out from other forwards. In a league where teams played each other so often, he still managed to remain a consistent goalscorer, which whatever opinion you hold of Scottish football, is still a remarkable achievement, comparable with anything anyone else as done, if only for managing to keep motivated.

 With negotiations to keep Kris Commons and John Guidetti taking up a lot of time and efort, there doesn’t seem to be much room for bringing anyone else in, although Celtic are keeping tabs on Stephen Hendrie, a left back currently at Hamilton, as well as Chris Humphrey, formerly of Motherwell , now almost out of contract at Preston.

 Wow, bet you need to sit down after reading that.

Hendrie, to be fair, would be worth buying and then loaning back to Hamilton to help him improve. It wouldn’t do him any good to join our development squad. Far better for him to continue where he is, just let us get first dibs.

Derry City forward Michael Duffy is back for another trial. He arrived yesterday, and looked delighted to be here.

And he’s forgotten to put a shirt on.

 More gossip. We certainly won’t be signing Ched Evans, we hear we’ve  officially told him no, but no doubt he thinks that means maybe.

Still, theres one contract we’ve renewed.

The caterer Centerplate has managed the public concourse at the stadium for the past decade and will now refurbish the 40-plus kiosks for the remainder of the season as part of it long-term contract extension.

The custom branded retail outlets trialled on the West Stand concourse in the 2013-2014 season drove per capita sales increases of more than 60%, which has been a contributing factor to Centerplate retaining the contract.

Robin Buchanan, Celtic FC’s stadium general manager, said: “Expanding and enhancing the range and quality of the food on offer and Centerplate’s investment in developing the catering facilities on the public concourses throughout the stadium this summer means that fans had a fresh new look to start what we anticipate will be another successful season.”

Adrian Dishington, chief operating officer of Centerplate’s UK division, said: “It’s always rewarding to renew and extend contracts with existing clients as it pays tribute to the commitment, effort and commercial success the Centerplate teams have achieved at these venues.” 

When will they get it ?

Pies, hot and edible.

Burgers, affordable and edible.

Chips , more than a dozen.

 Drinks-hot, but not to the point of reproducing the feeling that you’ve just stubbed a fag out on your tongue.

It doesn’t matter how pretty the stall is, or whether you attach the word Celtic to it, we’d just like something to eat, something to drink, and not have to sell the car to pay for it.

What on earth is a Celtic Fish ?  Lets ask google….

 I’ll give it a miss, if you don’t mind.

Sunderland have reportedly either made a bid or are going to make a bid of 8m euros for Virgil van Dijk.

Sunderland.

 Lovely place.

 Its also the only place in England where its deemed better to actually jump in front of the train rather than get on it and try to get out of there.

 So, returning to the football.

 Thats the team away out to Gran Canaria now, and the next match isn’t until the 17th of January, when the hoops face Hamilton, who will probably be ahead of Deilas men in the league by then.

 Is it a good time to be taking a break, just as the horses begin to jockey for position for the run in ?

Will the club lose whatever momentum is being built up, and more importantly, will Aberdeen continue to keep going ?

 Interestingly, as was pointed out in the Diary replies yesterday, the Dons are ahead of Celtic, despite two wins in the two matches for the Hoops, and therefore they cannot be counted on to falter against the lesser clubs.

 Whereas we have….

 Our regular drunk has had his ear to the ground at Lennoxtown-largely because he can’t get up- and has overheard a couple of interesting snippets.

 Look away now if you are John Collins.

 The assistant boss is not a popular man amongst the players. So much so that a few of them are actually dreading spending so much time in his company over in the Canaries. He’s seen as back-stabbing, sleekit, and not at all one of the bhoys.

 In fact, he’s causing a major problem amongst a squad already unhappy with training at substandard facilities when theres a league to be won…..

 Something will have to give, and we wonder whether or not it will be Collins, who hasn’t brought a lot to the table since he joined the club.

His job is to act as intermediary, to be a big brother or father to players, not to get on their nerves. Unless its deliberate, an attempt to force one or two out. In his post match interview last night Kris Commons looked uncomfortsable with questions about his contract offer, saying “he needs to pay the rent” -an ill advised quip from a millionaire footballer.

One who, incidentally, isn’t on the plane this morning…

 Like i said, it doesn’t feel right.

 Something else that obviously didn’t feel right was the bif for Second Rangers from another american business man. A man , apparently, with a vision.

Sky sports explains;

Why is he interested in a basket case that needs regular pay day loans ?

Aye, okay. 

 Anyway, the Eadales have rejected it, as you would with any first offer.

Meanwhile, the share price will go up, and someone will make a few bob. Unless you can figure out why a club that has admitted it is skint, and needs a huge injection of cash would say to a potential buyer that he can get together with others and possibly lend them some….

 It was Bobo Balde and Rab Douglas celebrating a 1-0 over Boavista in portugal, a result that led to the biggest airlift in peacetime aviation history as every man and his pal headed to Seville.

 Continuing with a happy, celebratory theme, who is this, and whats he celebrating ?