Kris Commons stood on the steps of Celtic Park last night , waving his new contract in the air, to the cheers of an adoring crowd. Well, he didn’t, but he could have.
The Celtic playmaker and goalscorer finally got what he -and the vast majority of the support-wanted when he penned a two year deal which means he will probably end his playing career in the hoops.
He sounds happy enough;
“It’s awesome, a great feeling and a huge burden off my shoulders. Now I can concentrate on the proper stuff – playing football and winning more trophies for this club.
“I’m absolutely buzzing. It has been a strange couple of months and speculation is never good for the mind when you’re trying to play at the top level.
“The contract is a massive relief to myself and my family.
His landlord will probably be a little relieved as well.
“More league titles would be wonderful as well as a few more cups in the cabinet.
“However, when you think of Celtic you think of Europe and it would be a huge achievement for us to make the Champions League next season and the season after that.
“The club is in a great place. We’re still in four competitions this season and already have a cup final to look forward to.”
Commons has scored 74 goals in 175 appearances for Celtic, and he just might be the next player to join the goalscorers 100 club, after John Hartson, which is a tremendous achievement for a midfielder.
Manager Ronny Deila, who has said all along that his priority was to keep his top men, added;
“I am really pleased Kris has committed his future to the club.
“He is someone who has already made a great contribution to Celtic and I am sure he will continue to be an important player as we work to bring our fans the success they deserve.
“We have had a good week after reaching the League Cup Final and following the signings of Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven, Kris’s contract extension is even more great news.”
We have, haven’t we ? Commons, along with Scott Brown and Charlie Mulgrew, is exactly the type of player needed to help the new lads get to grips with their new lives at the club, and the new contract is a clear message that if you do the business for Celtic, we will look after you towards the end of your career as well.
Commons secured, two of the brightest talents inScotland, and one of the brightest from Ireland signed up, an extension for the promising Eoghan O’Connell, a cup final, another cracking cup game to look forward to at lunchtime tomorrow, and of course the two matches against struggling Inter Milan later this month.
Struggling ?
Well, they just got knocked out of the cup by a late, sloppy goal, which infuriated manager Roberto Mancini;
“You just can’t concede a goal like that, I’m shocked.
“The goal we let in was absurd. We shouldn’t have lost this game.
“We played really well throughout the game, but every time we go and hand the opposition a free goal. We were far too lax.
“Higuain is a smart player and he nipped in there before anyone else on the throw-in.
“We were like a bunch of chickens – it was five against one. It was a ridiculous goal to concede.
“We did the same on Sunday against Sassuolo.”
Smart player takes advantage of their mistake ?
Where can we find one of them ?
Wait until Peter gets back from his January break and sees whats been going on. Leaving the Khazak general in charge and hoping no-one will notice has backfired.
Ach, thats unfair.
Lawwell has backed the manager, he’s decided to ignore whoever was telling him that Scottish players weren’t good enough, and this could be the start of a fantastic run in to a special season.
We hear that the bold Peter has been happy enough with the acquisition of two people, and his next move is to ditch two who he feels haven’t been pulling their weight;
If he does that, and signs up to the living wage for Celtic Park employees, then I’m going to personally carry him on my shoulders to his seat at the following home game.
Or buy him a pint.
Whichever involves the least effort.
Lawwell is often slated by the support, and accused of not having the clubs best interests at heart. So its only fair that when he shows he does actually care, such as this last couple of weeks, he receives adequate praise for his actions.
Although posting a selfie was probably a step too far.
Tomorrows cup game won’t be easy. Dundee have already despatched Aberdeen, and will be more than up for the battle.
Their manager, Paul Hartley, has been in charge for a year now, and wants to celebrate the anniversary with a win;
“A win would be a nice way to celebrate a year in charge.
“Not many managers last a year these at clubs these days so I’m quite happy to still be in a job after a year!
“That’s just the way it is but I’m happy here.
“It’s been a good year and an eventful one too.
“It’s been exciting and a good challenge on and off the pitch.
“We have rebuilt the squad since coming up from the Championship and are now in the top-flight doing all right.
“What has been satisfying since taking the job is that we have built a squad that’s been able to compete.
“That’s been the main thing for us, building a squad strong enough to play at the top level, then we can consolidate and build again like other teams have done.
“We want to progress year by year.
“Now we have another big game and I don’t think the pressure is on us on Saturday.
“Celtic are obviously the favourites but in the games against them so far this season we’ve ran them close.
“We have given them two good games and we will give ourselves a chance on Saturday.
“We will set a team out to be as attack-minded as possible.
“I think the run we are on shows that we’ve got good character within the ranks.
“And that’s all credit to the players.”
Teams talking about beating Celtic ? Teams talking about a good run in the Cup ? Look, just because the trophies have been spread around in a more competitive environment since Rangers left the scene doesn’t give these clubs a divine right to win. Why can’t they just park the bus and go for damage limitation like they used to ?
There are only six Premier League teams left in the competition, so there will still be a lot of players dreaming of a day out at Hampden, and Dundees will be no different.
We love it really, because it means that despite everything you hear from the doom-mongers, the game is actually thriving, and although no-one in the media wants to admit it, and no-one in the corridors of power wants to try to sell it, the game is doing very well.
I’m looking forward to what will be a tense , exciting game, and whilst I’m confident, theres that little edge to the tie that means I can’t be certain.
Oh, and by the way, if you are heading to the game, watch out for the new hi-tech police motors. They will be intercepoting busues and cars on the way to the game, and don’t forget, they hate weegies.
Manager Ronny Deila seems to have fianlly settled on his first eleven-Gordon, Lustig, van Dijk, Denaayer, Izaguerre, Brown, bitton, Johansen, Commons, Stokes and Griffiths.
That always helps, and he has shown that if you perform, and do things the way he wants you to do it, then you will get a shot in the team, and after that its up to you to stay there.
Early in his tenure, I wondered if he had the man management skills to earn the respect and loyalty of his players. He’sproved he has, and proved a lot of us wrong.
Now lets see some silverware.
In the postscript to yesterdays Diary, I mentioned the video of a grilling poor Kenny MacDowell was on the end of, firstly because it was unusual to see an Ibrox manager facing difficult questions, and it means that we are actually getting a glimpse of what might happen next;
A sign that the end game is upon us ?
Well, its starting to look like thats part of the plan as they start to tear apart whats left from within.
Empires always crumble from within.
The papers are full of the rescue plan on the table from convicted fraudster Dave King, and his pals who helped the original club to die. He is going to call an EGM where he reckons he will drive Mike Ashley-still the only person to spend his own money on the club in the last thirty years or so, even if technically he’s lending it them, and an announcement needs to be made today in order to set this meeting up.
I have to tell you, that as of the time of writing, no such undertaking has been received.
For all their spouting, for all their posturing, they actually can’t do anything that they have said they will. Whether the SFA “tips the wink ” to King and his merry men, the simple fact is that Ashley can deny them an EGM as he could deem it “frivolous ” because the men who sunk Ibrox once cannot serve on the board of another company, which means, in turn, the EGM serves no purpose.
Its the law.
Meanwhile, MacDowell has been told to retract his claim that he isn’t picking the team, by the people who told him he was, and the whole thing is teetering on the abyss again. No-one really knows whats going on, and as the days pass, more and more people don’t seem to give a toss.
In fact, Kenny shiels, who used to be involved in football somewhere or other, has criticised the Ibrox club for ruining his sons career. Dean Shiels, who joined the new club shortly after it was born, has been asked to help supporters park their cars at the ground, and its upset daddy.
The player was the subject of a bid from Premier League side Hamilton, who presumably have never seen him play, and the Ibrox entity knocked it back. Probably something to do with loading the club with debt ready for when they have to sort their tax bill out.
Shiels senior was raging, and , in what has to be the single most moved from reality statement ever issued, told the Record;
“I don’t think Rangers not letting Dean go is as big a surprise as him not playing in the team.
“It’s remarkable when you have one of the most creative players in Scotland – something Rangers are lacking – and he’s not playing.
“Looking from a neutral perspective with my football head rather than as his parent, he should be in the side.
“Rangers have had a problem fitting No.10s into their team as far back as Charlie Adam, John Fleck and Andrew Shinnie.
“They were all quality players but none got much football in rigid 4-4-2 formations.
“Dean is now in that bracket as well but if you look at his record, his goals and assists are very good.
“He is Rangers’ best player and one of the top six in his position in the country.
“Every other team in Scotland – perhaps with the exception of Celtic as they have Kris Commons – would take Dean.
“These last three years have ruined his career.
“He has lost international caps because of what has happened but he trains hard every day.
“It beggars belief he hasn’t been playing.”
Away from all that nonsense now, and its time to raise a few quid for charity. and so we should;
The wee fellows an inspiration, and deserves our support.
O. Dixie Dixie, Dixie Dixie Dixie Dixie Deans was the man in the picture yesterday, wearing the colours of the team that sold him to us. Just one of a number of great strikers to join the hoops from Motherwell.
Heres another from Motherwell who did quite well for us. Who is he ?
The one and only Choccy Eclair. Fantastic player. Not averse to putting the ball in the net against the former Rangers. Or anyone else, for that matter.
shiels ruined his own career by joining a zombie select, he thought his mural would be up on the walls in the loyalist heartlands in east belfast and beyond. The thought of him being in the top 6 creative midfield players in scotland is a good as his da thinking he’s top manager.
Brian Mclair, what a player.. HAIL HAIL
Brian Choccy McClair. I worry about O’Connell despite signing a new contract. O’Dea got a big new deal when Mowbray took over but never got a fair run to prove himself. Can’t see the point playing Denyer with VVD when O’Connell could be getting game time and learning from a skilful centre half.
Just wanted to say…
If you never really paid much attention to Bitton’s performance last Sunday…and you are able to watch the game again…
Do it…and look for an almost faultless performance from the big Israeli…
He was diffrent class…and strolled it.
Most impressive…
Only “argument” about the article is the ” first team” selection…and Stokes.
Far too inconsistent…widnae get a gemmme in ma team….in fact he widnae make the bench either.
Just my opinion.
Mike B
I am with you re Stokes. I do not think he should in any capacity be first choice. he makes too many wrong decisions about keeping or passing the ball. He is a fairly hard worker and that means a lot in my book but there has to be an end product and there rarely is.
I was thinking the opposite about Bitton too. He is a player who seems to know when to expend energy and when to use it. Consequently, he is cool on the ball, makes a lot of good passes but puts in the tackles when he knows they will be productive. He droll play means he is often not noticed but, in fact his calmness is often the main reason the defence is not put under pressure. Yep, deserves more recognition, in my opinion. Just wait and see, it will be my luck he has a stonker tomorrow.
H H
Oh and meant to say…
Sir Alex Ferguson said Choccy was one of his best ever buys.
I remember him playing at Ipox for Utd…( some diddy tournament) and getting sectarian pelters from the great unwashed.
He destroyed them anyway..:0)
Mike,
Do you remember Mcclair getting pelters during a Scotland match at Ibrox?
I ,against my better judgement,took my teenage daughter to that tournament because she wanted to see Man U. We saw Sampdoria ,Newcastle United Man Utd and them.It was a pleasant August evening until McClair got sickening abuse every time he went near the ball as did most of the Man Utd team. Sampdoria being from Italy were also harangued after all they must have known the Pope personally. They worked their way through the song book of bile and were upto their knees in Fenian blood all night.Newcastle fans were not much better.
Her view of them and their fans was fixed from that night.
Soon after that she asked to come to Celtic Park with her uncle and I.
Monti
There is no ream of paper long enough to list the Celtic players that got pelters at Scotland matches. Nor one long enough to list Celtic players whose international playing record is an utter insult. That is why I went to but 2 years and years ago and swore I would never, ever again. It was like being in the Ranger’s (IL) end playing against us – and to pay for that? No way! They could not have paid ME to go and listen to the bile. For much of my life it was clearly not my country that played internationals.
H H
Brian Mcclair, excellent striker who graced the Hoops!
Great that Kris has been signed up again. A great month for us. More like it Peter, better late than never. Keep it up.
Bittons performances have improved no doubting that but he is still very much a lightweight in the challenge especially in the air.
Stuart Armstrong I believe will take his place alongside Brown as the regular in the central pairing as he is a much better all round player.
On the Stokes debate here is his Stats on the Left side this Season compared to the much heralded Commons.
Stokes:
Total Games 26
As Sub 3
Goals 8
Assists 9
Shots 54
On Target 21
Commons:
Total Games 23
As Sub 7
Goals 8
Assists 5
Shots 65
On Target 29
When you consider the effort both put in aside from scoring ,shooting and setting up goals I think it could be argued Stokes actually has contributed more to the side this Season than Commons.
Although in Commons defence he has upped his output in the last 3 games and is contributing more which I think was a factor in him getting a new deal.
With the Addition of Mackay-Steven we now have options on the left and right side of the Attack and more quality coming on from the bench than previously no matter who starts.
Charlie,
Agree ‘re Bitton.Not got the energy of Armstrong
or the drive or bite in the tackle.Will be in the team soon.
Stokesy? Yes,he does work hard.But,wants a move.
Nearly left in the window,or fell out the window
He will be off in the summer.GMS is his natural successor in that position.
Guys I’m not comparing Bitton to anyone…
All I said was…he was outsytanding on Sunday…no argument…
unlike Stokes who was anonymous..
IMO of course
HH
Mike,you’re right,he did have a good game.
And in Europe,he can be an asset.If we play 3 in the middle,Bitton would complement both Broony and Armstrong’s styles.He keeps it simple,and plays his position well.The game’s all about horses for courses.That’s why,you need a good squad.IMO m8.Cheers.
I agree, thought he was strong in the tackle and read the midfield really well. Don’t want to comment on Stokes because I felt Izzy was not great and the park was shocking
Biton and Armstrong are very different players. I don’t see why both can’t be in the same side.
Brian McClair…mind he was great and he had a great partnership with, oh what was his name again,boy from Watford and Partick, och mind he played in france..ginger heided, he played for Scotland….och what was his name again….nup its gone!
Judas?
That can’t be the same guy that got done,with passing on stolen tracksiuts?
You know for years I have been racking my brain trying to remember who it was that gone for that Holy?
I have asked the question so many times and no one had a clue what I was going on about hehe.
I thought I had dreamed it up ffs!
So it was McClair then..cheers 😉
Great player and one half of one of the best pairings I have seen at Celtic it was just a shame they never got on with each other so well.
Ritchie,great diary.
I love that picture of pistol pete’doppelganger.
Fair play,to him,after wasting 2.3M on Scepovic,
he has turned the corner,and must have sacked all the scouts.
Great how Kris Commons looks at the bigger picture,and Champions League football is in his thoughts.As I have said ad nauseam,on the diary,
WE have to be playing in group stages every year.The finance lost this year,was a blow.BT will put an extra 8M,into the group’s,next year.
Everything should be geared,towards qualifiers,
of course,hopefully,when the league is won!
McClair was a great player for us but shafted us when he was leaving. We were prepared to give him everything he asked for but then instead of coming to the meeting to sign the contract, he failed to turn up as he was driving to Manchester to sign the deal he had arranged with them. Great player but should have been more respectful to the club that gave him his ‘platform’ to move on.
Always remember the Fee being decided by a tribunal after Man United valued him at 10 Bob.
Shower of cunts that they are..anyway he went for far less than he should have as the Tribunal more or less voted on Manures favour.
They had the money too at that time and he went on to become one of Fergusons most trusted players.
Bastards.
We’ve done well getting strikers from Motherwell: McBride, Deans, M’Clair and Walker…
I think we should be giving more credit to our manager in showing some flexibility in his pre-conceived ideas, and to our Chief Executive in apparently changing his mind about retaining Commons.
Tom,
Did he change his mind ? Or was he forced into it? After,Kris’s goal,against the diddy team,
fanpower would not have let,Lawwell wave goodbye to Kris.
It is my opinion had Commons not upped his output in the last 3 games..ie tracking back and closing down then he would not have been offered a new deal.
The ball has always been in Commons court Holy it was always down to him to up his input and change hi approach as the system now being deployed relies on every player doing so.
He looks fitter and hungrier than he has since his arrival and all credit must go to him for that.
Deila has rightly rewarded him now.
Ralph, what a change in attitude towards Delia. Not so long ago you were slating him every day and stating he had no clue. Glad he’s proved you wrong.
Deila*
Slowly but surely I m coming round to Ronny, but still having nightmares about our performances in Europe this season particularly the CL. Inter will be a indicator of our improvement or lack of.
Totally agree..HH
kris
I fear Ronny might have got things going a bit too late for an effective challenge in Europe this season. I think we ought to concede that to him given what appears to be a real transition taking place. Personally, I am happy for our progress to a better standard in Europe to be completed for next season rather than this. I can see us being in with an excellent shout for next year if we continue to improve like we have over the last month or so and with the strengthened squad, of course. Replacing the central defence will, of course, be crucial to the fulfilment of my contention.
H H
Hail Hail to that PB the changes may well take a full 12 months to fall into place.
Transfers in the Summer will be key to Europe I think.
VVD will be punted and hopefully that cash is spent on a replacement and perhaps a quality striker should Guidetti and Scepovic fail to deliver.
Sheils just what is he on his boy is in the top 6 in his position ffs
hebs just a filthy hun
Don’t think Bitton will drop out for Armstrong. Two different types of player. Bitton ideally suited to deep playing holding midfielder, Armstrong is a more dynamic forward thinking midfielder. Two great players that could easily play in the same team and will hopefully compliment each other. Excited at the prospect.
Great week for the diary. Top read.
A good week,let’s keep it going. Congrats to Commons and Lawwell. I’ve been a Deila-sceptic but willing to eat lots of humble pie, especially in the coming month. Got to keep the Treble alive so C’mon the Hoops! Hartley won’t sit back against us but that is better for us anytime. I think 3-1 to the Bhoys.
Griffiths/Commons/Johansen on the score sheet. I hope we can do better on set pieces as well.
Free kicks? Commons/Griffiths/Van Dijk/Stokes.
p.s. Our defence is becoming better than even last year.
i see the monkeys egm is to be held in the orchard suite plenty bananas in there then somebody is trying to wind the mugs up surely ha ha
Yeah Choccy McClair was a great player for us but remember thinking during his last season he never actually said he wanted to leave but was also never totally convincing that he definitely wanted to stay always felt he was just holding out for a better deal from down south which he eventually got.
Utd got an absolute steal that day made a deliberately low offer and the tribunal did their usual & went for the middle ground – £850,000 or so – scandalous.
Yeah Bitton is an excellent addition to our midfield him & broonie really slot in well together – I too noticed he strolled it at the weekend.
hey hey hey, whats going on here – Ralph in a good mood, posters in a good mood – we re supposed to be Celtic fans here!
I m feeling positive too- hopefully Armstrong can kick on & become a mainstay of the team in the next few years, not sure where to play him but is a good problem to have, GMS not convinced he s at teh level we need but he deserves his chance.
Agree with others re Biton too – I m not just saying this now, if anyone can be arsed they can check old diaries, I ve always felt Biton was a player and needed a fair go, same with Griffiths. Another one who I still believe will come good if given a chance is Scepovic, I think he is a classic poacher – wont do a lot outside the box but get the ball into the right areas and he’ll score us goals. Finallly ready to admit defeat on Pukki and Derk however.
Really glad to see what appears to be a change in transfer policy, get local players at a good age who can improve, if they do well enough they can be sold on, if not, not a great outlay to begin with, having actually heard of the players coming in is a pleasant change again.
I ll admit I m not a huuge Commons fan, I just cant overlook how slow he is, but he deserves his new deal and is very capable at domestic level.
If in the summer some more dead wood goes out – Derk, Pukki, Balde, Stokes – just dont get what he does, though Sunday the pitch was so bad I d not hold it aginst him, Forrest – I think this is make or break now – if he cant sustain a run of games its time to say goodbye – hes not a wee boy anymore and a copuple fo centre halves sourced I think we ahve a squad good enough to get into CL again
I watched the Kenny Mc Dowall thing, jeez, it just needed some one to walk up and put a syringe in him to quietly end the pain- what an utter utter shambles. And the solution, as per Dave “the King” King – fans to pony up again! brilliant solution there
Okay, Ive got a negative. Upcoming Inter game – Italian team, getting pelters from own fans, in crisis, manager on the edge, its all so similar to Milan last season – Italian club in crisis, Celtic getting tipped to do tehm at Celtic Park. Result – complete let down and a 3-0 doing. Oh dear!!
Had to post this guys… This punter will be right at home with Sevco…. Check out the last paragraph…
Lalit Modi, the first commissioner of cricket’s Indian Premier League, has expressed an interest in buying a large shareholding in Rangers.
BBC Scotland has learned Modi’s representatives made contact with the chairman of Rangers’ football board, Sandy Easdale, earlier this week.
The groups talked about the potential sale of the 26% stake Easdale controls.
It is believed a price has already been discussed. And a meeting could take place as early as next week.
Modi was banned for life by the Indian Cricket Board of Control after they charged him with misconduct relating to financial irregularities
mike b
Did you not know that a criminal record is an essential qualification now to join The Rangers now that no signing Coflics is aff the statute books.
H H
Ralph
That is a cracking Diary (definitely deserves the capital). Like watching an old black and white classic it brings wonderful memories of the old days. It is a worry someone might recognise your potential and offer you a job in the MM. No chance. Essential qualification there is no writing talent.
Just want to say thank you for giving Ronny the recognition he deserves so far, at least even though there is much still to be delivered. And to bring you up to date, apparently Ashley has agreed to the EGM but I recommend you read the board’s statement to the AIM. It is outlined in Phil Macgiolla Bhain’s latest article. If King and his “mob” get in it will be the biggest farce in the financial industry as well as football.
Brian McClair is up there with the best. What is worrying is that I am so old now there are actually kids who might not have heard of him – including you and Desi.
H H
Ralph
I must have written a cracker for the Diary. That bloody monitor’s stolen it again. Not worth searching. Everything has been more eloquently said by others before me.
Fab Diary today – God, I sound so with it!!
H H