Celtic eased past Dundee in the Scottish cup with an early goal in each half which made it too difficult for the Dens men to put their own plan into action. From the start, the Taysiders were always chasing the game, and it was another professional performance from Celtic which put the result as a priority.
Leigh Griffiths headed the first on six minutes, and with a minute on the clock in the second half, it was his header which was only palmed away by the dundee keeper that allowed Stefan Johansen the chance to place the ball into a gaping net from the rebound.
Celtic were denied further goals by keeper Scott Bain, who had been recruited from Alloa, proving there are decent players in Scotland if you take the time to look for them, but the truth is that the result was never in any doubt after Griffiths early opener.
Dundee boss Paul Hartley was disappointed, but honest;
We just weren’t at it today, we’re not going to dress it up, we were second best all over the park.
“Our goalkeeper was outstanding, I think he made four or five magnificent saves and he’s been doing that for the last few weeks. He’s a top young goalkeeper and today he kept the scoreline down.”
There was a worry before the game when someone set the fire alarm off in the team hotel, but Deila laughed it off, and it didn’t seem to affect the players game;
“We had a team meeting at 2.30am!
“I don’t know if the fire alarm was deliberate but we were laughing. I haven’t experienced it before.
“I thought it was my phone waking me up but it was a bit more than that. We were on the street for 15 minutes.”
Who could that have been ?
Any ideas ?
Anything on cctv ?
Well, I’m fresh out of clues.
The only worries after the game were the injuries to Kris Commons and Mikael Lustig, both of whom were replaced, but although they may miss Wednesdays Glasgow derby at Firhill, there are no real worries in the camp that there are any serious problems.
Ronny Deila said afterwards that
““Commons felt something on the back of his thigh but I don’t think it’s serious.” and “Lustig has twisted his ankle and hopefully that’s not so bad either.”
Looks serious to me. Theye’re not even on first name terms.
Ronny seems happy enough though, and he’s been telling us why;
“I love winning and developing things and that’s what we’re doing now, We’re starting to look like a Ronny Deila team and that makes me happy.
“I’m very happy with the performance, the team spirit and the energy. We seem very quick and sharp, and I saw that in training last week. We are improving all the time.
“If we needed it, we had another level to go to. Today we won in a very good way, Dundee is not an easy team to beat and they have very good confidence now – they hadn’t lost for five matches and I can see why.
“There is a very good team spirit and we’re having a lot of fun, you can see that on the pitch. People are enjoying running, enjoying chasing. Also, now the offensive side is coming more and more, and that’s the thing we have to work even more on, to get more tempo in the last third of the pitch.”
He keeps driving them on, and that constant demand for improvement is beginning to pay off. Many have been asking if there are any signs of improvement since Deila took over, and there are one or two, quite subtle, but important differences from the first few weeks of his tenure, that we may not have noticed.
Theres no longer a marked dip in the pace after around seventy minutes, which means the players are that little bit fitter, but thats to be expected as the season goes on, and the team plays more often.
But theres one big difference, that if it is a difference and not just a coincidence, that might just mean that the Europa League will be more than a distraction from the treble.
In the early European games back inAugust, Celtic had a habit of scoring first, and then chucking it all away. Look at the last he last two cup games, albeit against a lower standard of opposition, which may be a little disrespectful to Dundee, but not to Second Rangers. They truly are a couple of steps down the ladder.
In those games, Celtic have taken an early lead and held on to it quite comfortably. The introduction of Nir Bitton as a holding midfielder might be the main difference, but the gung ho attitude has gone. Not so much in league games, but the two cup games have seen a more professional “hold on to what we have “display.
If we can carry that into the Inter game, then anything can happen. It may be that the step up will be too much, but the point is the attitude is there, and keeping possession and shutting the door when in front is something that Celtic have not really ever got to grips with.
Optimism in the Diary ? Did we just get a new writer in ?
One final, one quarter final, a last thirty two and top of the league ? Nothing to moan about there, is there ?
There isn’t, but there is a note of caution. Theres two league games this coming week, bith away from home,and both of whih need to be won as Aberdeen drew level on points with the Hoops while we were playing in the Cup. The Dons don’t look like they will give up, and its worth noting that they are out of both cups and can concentrate solely on the league, which means they will put up a strong and consistent challenge whatever else you may hear.
So why is Ronny already dreaming about the Inter game ? There will be time enough for that after the Partick and St. Johnstone trips, neither of which are six points in the bag just yet.
He told the press;
“I’m really looking forward to those matches against Inter now.
“This could be the best the team have played since I arrived. I think so.
“For 90 minutes, it was the highest tempo. But there’s still more to go.
“I’m much more confident now in that we’re together and know how we want to play. We’ll have a big test against Inter but I’m excited about it.
“The team developing the most will win the tie. And my teams develop all the time, we never stop.
“We’re working hard every day to get the small things right. We’ll see how far we’ve come when we face Inter.”
The league is the priority, the cups are a bonus. Of course, its hard nit to look ahead to these games, and the press will want to talk about it as well, but maybe the boss should try to avoid it until after the Perth game.
Theres two more Cup games today, with Dundee Utd at Stranraer, and Raith Rovers visiting Ibrox to face the new look Second Rangers. The Ibrox club have moved to bring in five new faces as they attempt to claw back what is now a 19 point deficit at the top of the First division, with Hearts beginning to disappear over the horizon.
Mind you, the other sides can’t be faulted for their commitment, if thats the right word. One Livingston player made his bid for palyer of the week with this tackle, which merited a yellow card as opposed to an assault charge;
Will the new loannees fit in at Ibrox ? Fraser Aird, who played ( in the first half ) against Celtic last Sunday wants another crack at Celtic, so he’s hoping that it all goes swimmingly. Apparently, Scott Browns comments after the game have upset the delicate little flower;
“If players are saying that they are pretty much saying we were s***e on the day. But Brown can say what he wants because that’s his opinion. I would love another crack at Celtic, definitely. I’m a Rangers fan so I would always want to play Celtic and it would be an opportunity to redeem ourselves. We didn’t give ourselves the best chance on Sunday because we had quite a bad first half. But if we got them again in the Cup I would definitely take them.”
Rangers Noise, an Ibrox fan website, sort of disagrees;
It must be national Fraser Aird idiocy day because not content with making ridiculous comments in the press in recent weeks, as addressed in my previous entry, young Aird has now decided to poke arch-rivals Celtic with further nonsense in the red tops.
I shudder to imagine how Rangers would fare against Celtic again, given how humiliatingly we underperformed at Hampden against a Parkhead side barely in first gear.
Aird is getting a bit of a name for himself as the brand new ‘Rent-a-Quote’ at Ibrox ever since McCulloch rather relinquished that role in the recent years.
This is not to absolutely castigate the defiant sentiments Aird has made above, in their own context anyway – but for a Rangers player to disagree with the notion Gordon was ‘bored’ (I would personally say ‘asleep’) for 90 minutes and imply, with foul language, that the opposition are calling Rangers poor, is astonishing.
It must be due to the failure to do any talking on the pitch whatsoever that is provoking Rangers players to do all theirs in the press now.
With news today that the three bears are about to make another statement regarding their plans for the club, things are a little uncertain south of the river, but whilst its obvious that Celtic fans don’t want another game against the new club, it appears that neither do they.
Oh, and that statement ?
Ashley may well have struck the killer blow with his statement yesterday. Or, as its known, his “scorched earth” policy
More rumours, and New Balance, as we mentioned months ago in the Diary , are deep in negotiations to take over from Nike as kit suppliers to Celtic, and have even leaked, or giot someone to leak, or got someone to design , or it could be none of the above, this picture, of next seasons away top…
Good days to be a Tim.
Sometimes we moan about our lot, but its always worth remembering that there are some worse off than us. Not just the wandering hordes formerly supporting Rangers, now without a club and an identity, but others.
A QPR fan, for instance , paid £38 for this seat;
And a Grimsby fan took an inflatable football to the game;
Or you could be Stewart Regan, who received this in his mailbox. Which, if he doesn’t deal with satisfactorily, he should tender his resignation;
Hats off to Angelasemple472 for that one. We await Regans response.
Marc Reiper was in the colours of West Ham in the picture yesterday, he joined Celtic and helped Alan Stubbs become a player.
Heres another wearing the shirt of the team he left to join Celtic .
Who is he ?
Margaret Thatcher?
Monti
That has just sent me round a U bend.
H H
🙂
The league is the priority.The Inter games are a bonus.Although,now,we have a 50/50 chance.
However, our FOCUS,with the window shut,has to be The Treble.
The difference berween Ronny’s team and Lenny’s,
is one of fitness.Players can get lazy.If you don’t put a shift in for RD,then you don’t get picked.The work-rate of Broony,Johansen and Griffiths,is what he wants ALL players to give.
The Treble is the goal.
Morning Holy sea,
If we just could take more of the chances that we are creating, no one would lay a glove on us.
I think the team is in good shape now and I think the confidence is there.
Trebles are difficult to achieve, especially when you aren’t using EBT’S and paying your bills and taxes on time.
I think we will do the treble, but we need to score more goals.
The Inter games are very interesting, a lot of people talking Inter down at the minute, this isn’t wise.
Inter have some top players in their ranks especially Shaqiri.
We just have to go for it as Inter aren’t playing with confidence at the moment.
I’d take a 1-0 next week.
Monti
Can’t argue with any of that.
H H
Afternoon Pensionerbhoy,
I’m actually pleased for Deila that he is getting somewhere with the team, I have been a big critic of his this season for a few reasons,but I think Ronny is learning as well about the demands of being Celtic manager.
I think he is a genuinely nice man and represents the club well, he speaks well but I wish he would stop talking about trebles publicly, you think John Collins would advise him to keep it quiet.
The squad is in a good place just now on all fronts.
I would rather get to the Europa league final than do the treble Pensionerbhoy!
Europe is our gauge, not league cups.
What about you?
Europe or the treble?
Monti
This season I just want Ronny and the team beded in and playing quality, attractive football in the Deila way. I know there are going to be crucial changes come the summer but these look like being confined to central defence. If Ronny can get the rest of the team playing consistently well, then there should not be the same upheaval as he faced at the start. Getting capable substitutes for the departing defenders is, of course, crucial. While I accept that ideally Europe should set our benchmark, it is not going to be a level playing field for a long time to come. There is financial inequality that will be the main dictate of who is biggest and best and we are currently small fry in the spending fish pond. Rightly or wrongly, fairly or unfairly, that is the stark reality in Europe. Consequently, in reality Celtic should never get beyond the group stages without a fluke. That being the case, the fans will demand trophies and if domestic success is the only practical source, then achieving the maximum at home has to be a priority. To sum up my response, I have to go for trebles for the foreseeable future. They are potentially achievable whereas European trophies are pipe-dreams till the order of things change.
H H
Inter still have more than enough to dispatch of us very easily. Our progress can be measured if we seem to be more streetwise and give them a bloody nose….
hs
“The difference berween Ronny’s team and Lenny’s,
is one of fitness.Players can get lazy.If you don’t put a shift in for RD,then you don’t get picked.The work-rate of Broony,Johansen and Griffiths,is what he wants ALL players to give.”
I think many of us did not see this at the start. It was too much of a revolution in approach for us to absorb at the start of the season and it came across as abject failure. Thankfully, the future seems a lot brighter now.
H H
That’s exactly what Deila stated he wanted the team to be playing like at the start.
The fact he dropped Commons seemed to irk a great many who could not see past his goal tally.
Deila staed he wanted us playing a higher tempo pressing game.
In a team like that you cannot afford passengers.
Commons was becoming exactly that a passenger unwilling to dig in or track back the way the rest were prepared to do.
His Interview in the Scotsman vilified every thing Deila has set out to achieve and it is only through Commons change of physical and mental approach that has seen him gain a new Contract at Celtic.
The ball was always in Commons court (as it was the rest of them).
Thes are the facts of the matter.
Thank christ the penny has dropped regarding him as he is a good player and one we needed to keep.
Deila has to be acknowledged for changing his approach.
Totally agree on the European comments PB the gulf between the top teams and the also rans is getting wider by the year.
We are no longer a big fish some folk need to realise this and get real.
Alan thommo
Did he not join from villa? Bolton before villa? Unless im wrong lol
Ralph
“Hats off to Angelasemple472 for that one. We await Regan’s response.”
I know you ended with these words but I am compelled to begin by quoting them. Why? Simply because I have stated for the last two years at least that the focus of our annoyance and derision should be on the governance of Scottish football rather than a single entity. Sorting the former issue will resolve the latter. Angela’s contentions are most admirable and exceptionally well expressed, one would say straight from the heart aimed at the heart. It is time we all recognised her arguments and challenged Regan, Doncaster and Mr. handshake himself, Ogilvie, en mass. We also need to encourage other clubs to join us and from some comments by supporters of other clubs in recent weeks, we would not need to look far for those who share our dissatisfaction and contempt. Angela will no doubt be left hanging dry as an individual but strength in numbers could bring her the desired effect. Well done to her, but surely it is now time for genuine solidarity. I do not tweet or twitter, only natters. But I would love to add my voice to Angela’s. Suggestions would be most appreciated.
Now to the most positive Diary of season 2014/15. At long last Charlie and others have convinced you Ronny has more than a mouth. I really believe there is genuine excitement returning to our club and we should wallow in it. The anti-depressants seem to be working and recovery is forecast by June 2015. God, I sincerely hope there is not a relapse in July. However, fair dos to you Ralph. It takes courage to do a U turn. That is why Thatcher looked best in yellow. In all seriousness, bogs like the Diary have a tremendous influence on our feel factors and when it is down we are down but when it is good, we are really good. There’s something Yorkshireish in that statement. I hope nothing green has slipped in unnoticed.
Finally, your regular shock was a belter today. That piece from the Rangers Noise is breathtaking. So there is someone in the real world supporting them. More voices like this and they could actually recover – Oh my God! I read it elsewhere last night but it was nice to have it confirmed as genuine rather than some figment of a tired imagination.
Alan Thompson is the face in the photo. I think, going by the shirt, it is in his Bolton days. I believe he has sorted himself out now and it was really good to see his confession that he was in a bad place when he had the bust up with Celtic. Good luck to Alan. For all the acrimony, he was a decent servant to us both as player and coach.
H H
Ralph
Great Diary. And I had an even greater comment but guess what?
H H
That is of course Alan Thompson, hun skelper.
I think we have a chance against Inter but as has been said, anything we get will be a bonus
That’s Alan Thompson in a Bolton strip although he actually left Aston Villa to join Celtic. It gives me no joy to correct you. I always thought this diary was accurately researched.
You’re right. The researcher responsible is also the man who writes the history over at Ibrox.
Is he dead as well?
A Ghostwriter perhaps 🙂
“He keeps driving them on, and that constant demand for improvement is beginning to pay off. Many have been asking if there are any signs of improvement since Deila took over, and there are one or two, quite subtle, but important differences from the first few weeks of his tenure, that we may not have noticed.”
I noticed it 4 weeks into the campaign.
If there was any more proof needed we have moved forward as a Team from last Season have a look at this:
# Following European Game
Season 2013-14 Lennon Season 2014-15 Deila
1 # 2-1 Win Ross County 3-0 Win St.Johnstone #
2 2-0 Win Aberdeen 6-1 Win D.United
3 # 2-2 Draw ICT 0-1 Loss ICT #
4 # 1-0 Win D,United 1-1 Draw Dundee #
5 3-1 Win Hearts 2-1 Win Aberdeen
6 # 2-1 Win St.Jonstone 1-1 Draw Motherwell #
7 0-1 Loss Moton l/cup 3-0 Win Hearts l/cup
8 5-2 Win Killie 2-1 Win St Mirren
9 # 2-0 Win Motherwell 0-1 Loss Hamilton #
10 1-1 Draw Hibs 5-0 Win Ross Countty
11 # 2-1 Win Partick Th. 2-0 Win Killie #
12 1-1-Draw D.Utd 6-0 Win Partick l/cup
13 # 4-1 Win Ross County 1-0 Win ICT
14 3-1 Win Aberdeen 2-1 Win Aberdeen #
15 # 7-0 Win Hearts S/cup 2-1 Win Dundee
16 5-0 Win Motherwell 4-0 Win Hearts S/cup #
17 # 1-0 Win Hibs 1-0 Win Partick
18 2-0 Win Hearts 1-0 Win Motherwell
19 1-0 Win StJohnstone 4-1 Win St.Mirren #
20 1-0 Win ICT 1-2 Loss D.United
21 1-0 Win Partick Th. 0-0 Draw Ross County
22 4-0 Win St.Mirren 2-0 Win Kilmarnock
23 3-0 Win Motherwell 2-0 Win Hamilton Accies
24 4-0 Win Hibernian 4-0 Win Motherwell
25 4-0 Win Kilmarnock 1-0 Win Ross County
26 1-0 Win St.Mirren 2-0 Win Range2s L/Cup Semi Final
27 1-2 Loss Aberdeen s/cp 2-0 Win Scottish Cup
By this stage of the Season last year we were out both Cups and Europe.
GF 65 GA 15 GD +50 GF 60 GA 12 GD+48
Bit of advice to any Hoops fan when evaluating our sides performances at the start of any Season.
Try looking beyond the result.
I have noticed if we drop points 2 games on the spin all hell breaks loose in some fans heids.
Titles are won over a Season not 1 or 2 games.
Not so fast Charlie,
I think we are all aware we can’t win every single game we play, however personally speaking it was the manner of the teams performances and the regularity of consistently dropped dropping points that caused concern among the support.
We are all different and have varying viewpoints and patience levels surrounding team performance and results.
Me? I just feel we shoukd should be puting domestic sides to the sword, there is no excuses really, Celtic should be more consistent and convincing domestically.
There were many factors to be taken into account as to why that was though Monti.
Factors a rising number chose to ignore as they cited Deilas change of Direction,Ethos and Formation.
Injuries to key players.
The loss of 2 Key players through Transfersin Samaras and Forster
Form of Key players.
Bedding in new Ideas.
Bedding in a New Manager and First Team Coach
Bedding in of New recruits
The improvement of other sides around us
A manager with zero European experience
When you now look at the above set of results it has become abundantly clear that even though Deila had all these issues to contend with this team has delivered beyond that of last Season on the Domestic front.
Some of us had little doubt that this may turn out to be the case as some of us do tend to look beyond results.
It has allowed many of us to enjoy the transformation far more than others.
Fair enough Charlie,
All relevant points you make there.
Spot on Chaz!…
Monti,
Charlie likes his stats.Yes,Ronny is growing into the Celtic Manager job.However,with the resources,that we have,43 goals in 22 league games,is a very poor stat.If this continues,it will be the lowest amount of goals,we have scored,in a league campaign for many a year!
Where is our star striker? 2.3M Scepovic,sitting up in the stand.Another duff striker.Did Ronny buy him?
Let’s keep our feet on the ground.Ronny is NOW progressing,no more,no less.
hs
Charlie’s stats seem to have set you off searching for your own 🙂 I think we underestimate how big a task Ronny undertook when he arrived. He was under great pressure, like all our managers, to provide instant success. Instead, he had a vision of a style of football and decided to implement it come what may. That entailed an almost complete reverse of Lenny’s solid but, if we are honest, rather grim performances – I think many fans stooped going to games because they were boring. He also seems to have had a difficult time winning over the players. Finally, though he may have brought in a couple of duds or, and I agree, someone brought them in for him, he inherited probably the biggest group of dead wood the club has had on its books for a long, long, long time. I am not so sure “Ronny is NOW progressing,no more,no less.” I believe his football is progressing, no more, no less and that might be a bit negative too. If it is either or both then it is win, win. Six months ago many could not foresee anything but lose, lose. Your stats prove there is a long way to go, but given the journey for at least some players has only just begun, if you believe Kris Commons’ statement, then we should leave comparisons till we have figures that can justly be compared.
H H
PB,
100% with you.Stats can mask a lot of things.
I a happy,Ronny’s happy.His personality and drive are showing now.His Ronny Roar has now become,’iconic’.Like you,one step at a time.
When the trophies are won.Then,Ronny will get ALL the praise going!
hs
I just knew you were a true Celt at heart – keeping the faith as always. That’s what I love about all you guys. No matter what, you stick in there, even after a good punch up with one another 🙂
H H
Good result yesterday, but we need to keep the momentum going for Wednesday, 1 game at a time, not beyond this, it’s the Derby and its a must win game.
C’mon the hoops!!
there is now noticeable changes in the team where as a few months back there was no improvement only regression. i don’t think this improvement has been married with the squad buying into RD more. commons comments about him and others being unprofessional on and off the park for the last 4 years shows the culture he had to change.
stokes and forrest can now no longer give us empty performances. commons is proof of that that.
i still think we have at least a further 12 months before we will see the full RD effect.
now, this will be a journey…
sorry, that should be do think, not don’t think…
Spot on it will take time and patience Giggsy.
If Ronny manages to secure the League and a Cup, give Inter a fucking game worthy of a Celtic side in Europe then I think that’s a fair return on a first Season.
If it’s a treble then all the better.
We are capable of doing these things.
A few more decent signings in the summer ie put any money from a VVD sale straight into QUALITY REPLACEMENTS and I think we could be in for
a good Season next year.
Christmas just came early!
*happy dance*
*massive Broony in the direction of iPox*
Dear oh dear se the ronnie fans are at it again,the idea that celtic players were not fit before this joke of a manager arrived is ridiculous,we play 1 up front against diddy teams ,very rarely get more than one player in the opposition box ,and drop our best player for months,WE were fit enough and give me a skilful player rather than
a no talent fitness fanatic any day
You might want to go read this Emptyhead67..
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/kris-commons-i-had-to-change-ronny-deila-s-mind-1-3683108
“I absolutely had to change Ronny’s mind about me,” said Commons. “He was probably a little bit sceptical about whether I could change the way I am at 31. When my age was spoken about in terms of why I might not get a two-year deal, I thought that was just an excuse, something he said because he didn’t want to say I was lazy or not fit enough.”
“It has taken hard work and dedication to show him I am willing to not so much change my game, but adapt to give him what he wants on the pitch while winning matches. It was mainly off-the-ball things he wanted. Being a ‘number 10’, you can get away with being a little bit lazy in the SPFL. I wouldn’t say I was lazy, I would just say you can probably get away with it.”
“There are certain games where you don’t have to produce your best football but can still find yourself in good areas, bright enough and intelligent enough to hurt the opposition without actually putting in the work. But Ronny wasn’t asking me to do anything I wasn’t capable of.”
“He wants us to be elite athletes, 24 hours a day. That was a big hit for lads who had not done that for four years and getting that way when you are not winning games, as it was at the start of the season, is more difficult than when you are winning.”
“But we are all on the same page now and going in the right direction. The lads are flying and we have some good games to look forward to.” Kris Commons
Give it a rest Brain Dead…
A lot of people on here need to take a long hard look at what they wrote a few months back . The Deila doubters were calling for his head as I recall but this was predictable feeding on the MSM crap filled diet they were almost as gullible as the Sevconians . He has still not won anything yet but the product on the park has improved beyond recognition . Biton is a class act and RD is getting the best from this group now that they are singing from the same Hymn sheet.. I think they will fail on the Euro stage at some point before the final but he can get this team over the line with the other three trophies and if he does look out for the Premiership Scavengers Circling in the summer. What will the RD Doubters be saying then?
Dan,
We are all entitled to our opinion on the club we love.
But I’ll be delighted if Deila makes me eat my words.
Deadhead 67 ……. You know what I can’t be bothered!!!!
Yeah Alan Thomson hunskelper extra-ordinaire. In his Bolton days & he did arrive from Villa unless he had been on loan at Bolton but I don’t think so he just wasna getting a game for Villa.
My main issue with Ronnie in early days was what he would say to press & I appreciate there is the fact his 1st language isn’t English but he just reminded me so much of Tony Mowbray it was frightening!! He still has that tendency but he appears to understand Scottish football better now & knows the battles have to be won first on the field then we can try & play teams off the park.
Really looking forward to seeing the new signings getting a run out as well & see what he has planned for them.
Agree let’s keep talk of trebles till we have 2 in the bag & are in the final of the third.
Is a quadruple too much to dream of though??