Celtic Diary Thursday January 15: Deila: We Are Fit Now

Whilst debate rages, well, maybe not rages, amongst supporters as to the benefit of the mid season break in the Canaries, Ronny Deila has offered his tuppence worth, and it sounds like he’s where he wants to be with the squad.

 “I’m not hard. If you are not fit then you have a problem. But these players in this squad now are fit.

“Pressure is on here from July so to get one week when you can get your head rested a bit, to have some fun and play some good matches, is so positive.

“The things we were talking about six months ago are not there any more.

“The players look much sharper. It’s not just about doing all the wrong things. It’s okay to relax.

“They eat very well, there is no problem with that. What this was about was relaxing their heads. But they also have to be in shape and train and be prepared.

“We had some good training and played the games. It’s about bonding but it’s also about relaxing.

“We have done good work on small injuries, getting them fit again and now we are in better shape than before we left. This whole week has been positive and it’s not just about next week.

“It’s about when we come into May and if you haven’t had one week off you find it very tiring in the end.

“Also, if we had been at home we wouldn’t have been able to train because of the bad weather. It was the perfect week to be away.” 

“I’ve only been in Scottish football a few months now so it’s hard for me to say. This is one for the other coaches as well.

“But to have quality football you have to have quality pitches and players who can give 100 per cent on the pitch.

“If they play for too long without a rest the tiredness tells. And the quality will not be the same.” 

He’s got a point. Seventy minutes is usually our limit.

 With early indications that the game in Hamilton might be cancelled, despite the artificial pitch, there might be another chance to give them a night out this weekend, but its fair to say we are all looking forward to the game, and hoping that it will go ahead.

 Celtics last competitve game was at Kilmarnock, and it looked like the players enjoyed the astroturf-or whatever the trade name for it is-and the pitch got the credit for the improved performance, but if what ronny says is right, and the players are now at the level he wants, then maybe it was more than just the plush, luxurious surface.

 Although I’d have been hesitant about leting them go out on the beer, especially as there are still a number of court cases hanging over some of the squad. If I’m up in court my wife won’t even let me take the dog out. I guess as long as they avoided any Elvis nights, gypsy fortune tellers and made sure everybody tucked themselves in before they left the toilet, it would have been okay.

 Of course, any group of lads away for a week or so will either bond or batter each other, and hopefully its more a case of the former, as the league race is beginning to get more than interesting, and its unusual, and refreshing, to have a must win game ahead of us, which is exactly what is on the cards at New Douglas Park, which is named in such a way to eliminate any links with anyone who wants to invest in another SPFL club.

 Well, we’ve seen how tight the rules are on dual ownership.

 Celtic have “joined the race ” to sign Dutch under 21 defender Wesley Hoedt, who has been earning rave reviews at AZ 67 Alkmaar. The Dutch team, which incorporated the number 67 in their name as a tribute to the Celtic European cup winning side of that year , ( no, they didn’t-Ed ) have reluctantly concluded that he won’t be staying, and the hoops, along with Lazio, who had a £1m bid rejected this week, are keen to acquire his signature.

 He looks the part, and plays in a sort of controlled aggressive style, unless he spots you taking a photo of him.

 We hear that Gary Mackay Steven has signed a pre contract for next season, but talks are under way to bring him in now, with a fee of around £250,000 mentioned. Whether or not this means Celtic didn’t get, or are no longer  trying to get Ikeche Anya, is unclear, but its probably fair to say that deal won’t happen. If it did, no doubt the papers would complain about there being too many left footers at the club, at a time when we stress that we are open to all.

Any hope of any further movement into the club was diminishing rapidly, as John Collins added to the managers claim that he wants to keep who he has got as a priority, when he was asked about the prospect of playing a possible fourteen games in forty nine days;

 “But we’re used to playing two games a week. We’ve done that for the majority of the season.

“We’ve got a big squad. A healthy squad. The injured boys are all coming back. So it’s not something we can’t cope with. We just have to deal with it.”

 Apart from the obviously structured and leading question, the underlying theme seems to be we could be stuck with what we’ve got, which is fine as long as the other team doesn;t get the ball in the Celtic half.

 Virgil van Dijk may have admitted he’s happy where he is, but you get the feeling his fingers were crossed when he said it. From his contentment at staying in the summer he’s moved to a noticeably less partisan attitude;

“I have recently been thinking a bit about it [his career]. I am now 23 and have played at Willem II, FC Groningen and Celtic and am now linked to clubs like Arsenal. Isn’t that great?

“There are a lot of clubs interested, but Celtic is holding on to a big transfer fee. The club is clear: they don’t want to let me go in the winter, because we’re playing for four trophies.

 “I understand the attitude of the club and see it as a compliment that they do not want to let me go. But we must be realistic. If a nice club from England comes, we must sit down. I would also develop as a player.” 

To save time, I’ll put in his quotes for the rest of the week.

” ———– are a fantastic club in a fantastic league and its where I want to be, but if Celtic want me to stay then I will”

“ I’ve no problems at Celtic, but the wife hates Glasgow. Somebody upset her in the town the other day ”  

” The offer from ———— was too good to turn down, and it was decided it was best for everyone if I moved on ” 

Simply, if he doesn’t want to be here, cash in. Its not fair to keep someone out of the team who wants to be at Celtic whilst fielding  someone who clearly has one eye on the door. And the street.

 The Diary often criticises newspapers which are a little economical with the truth concerning the events surrounding the clubs which have played out of Ibrox, so its only fair to offer praise for the courage it may have taken for the Metro to publish this letter.

Which caused consternation at the Evening Times, where their Ibrox  correspondent , having missed the story, tried to play it down;

Glad SRY of Hamilton got that off his chest then. He must feel so much better. 

 Lets be honest, someone had to tell people. Lindsay and his cronies have consistently left the important bits out when it comes to the Ibrox scandal.

 Perhaps he is spending his time talking with the papers finacial news team, and maybe looking into why David Murrays companies are going down like flies, owing almost half a billion pounds to creditors.

A number of companies run by former Rangers owner Sir David Murray are being wound up.

The metals and property entrepreneur has petitioned the Court of Session to appoint Deloitte as liquidators for Murray Group Holdings.

The action is also being taken for subsidiaries Murray Group Management, Premier Property Group and Murray Outsourcing.

Notice was given on 5 January but only published on Tuesday 13 January.

The documents state that a meeting was held in Edinburgh at which Sir David Murray conceded that company liabilities have forced the action.

His business empire has run into conflict with its pensioners over a lack of funds to fulfil their expected pensions. It has been reported that there is a £22m shortfall in the pension fund, and pensioners will have to take reduced pay-outs as a result.

Liquidation follows moves, under pressure from the Bank of Scotland, to sell off various assets which Sir David Murray had owned.

Incredibly, despite his disastrous record in business, the MSM ( The Scotsman, in this instance) want to know his opinion on how best to run Second Rangers, just a couple of years after he destroyed the first one;

 “The way I see it at the minute, and this isn’t trying to be smart, is people have changed seats at the table. 

But the fact is the club needs money and resources as quickly as possible. Dave Kind and the Three Bears, I’m sure, have the right intentions for the club, but they must be in a dilemma about how they take it to the next stage when the other sides don’t seem to be willing partners.”

Sir David added that efforts by suitors to gain control, while admirable, would need “more money”. He also criticised the apparent lack of strategy from both the board and those bidding to gain control of the club.

“I don’t know what anyone is trying to do at the minute,” Sir David said. “What we’d like to see is Rangers in the hands of Rangers-minded people. But I wish someone would come out and tell us what their strategy is.”

 “Would need more money “

Fancy Dave coming up with that solution.

Perhaps he could ask his pals at the Bank of Scotland to help out.

Oh, wait, they bit the dust as well.

 Anyone spot the link yet ?

 But there is good news for the beleagured Ibrox club. And hope on the horizon both on the field and off it.

Fraser Aird, the latest product of the lucrative and impressive Auchenhowie academy, following in the footsteps of John Fleck, Jamie Ness and Lewis MacLeod reckons that the Cup game need not worry the Ibrox hordes;

“I think the boys are confident. It is a one-off game and anything can happen 

 And off the field, big hearted Lynsey Sharp, commonwealth games star, presumably she didn’t win anything judging by that description, has urged the support to join the Rangers Supporters Trust, as she has done;

“Rangers is in my blood and it’s heart-breaking to see the most successful club in the world like this. The fans have so much passion and we need to use that passion to bring the club back to its best.”

Oh dear, they are not the most successful club in the world, and neither was the predecessor. The fans passion was there for all to see, and still is, while their club was killed off and the carcass ripped apart for anything useful.

And you can’t bring it back. Its dead. but if you do manage it, show me how. I still miss my old grandad, and if you have a reliable method for resurrection , I’ll give it a shot.

 Her backing was welcomed by the equally blinkered Gordon dinnie, of the RST, who added;

“Every fan can help to make sure the problems that have plagued our club are never allowed to happen again.” 

 I think we can safely say they won’t.

This wasn’t a documentary.

 The man pictured yesterday was Michael Gray, and we could add an interesting or amusing anecdote here about his time at /celtic , if there were any, that is.

Heres another from times gone by, perhaps one who doesn’t get the praise and credit he deserved. Who is he ?